From Friday to Sunday: French Championships Finals

by Etienne Mensch
8/16/2026 – The French Championship is taking place in Vichy from 7 to 16 August 2026. The competition follows a knockout format, with each match consisting of two classical games, followed, if necessary, by rapid, blitz, and Armageddon tiebreaks. Etienne Bacrot and Maxime Lagarde face off in the final match of the open, while Sophie Milliet and Pauline Guichard are the finalists in the women's chahmpionship. | Photo: Ambrose Ducable
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Finals and matches for third place

The finals and the matches for third place of the French Championships are taking place from Friday to Sunday (14-16 August). Classical games take place on the first two days, and tiebreaks, if needed, are set to take place on Sunday. The action starts daily at 14.30 CEST.

In the National section, Maxime Lagarde faces Étienne Bacrot in the final. In the Women's National section, the title is contested between Pauline Guichard and Sophie Milliet.

The third-place matches see Laurent Fressinet facing Marc'Andria Maurizzi in the National section, and Yosha Iglesias against Marie Sebag in the Women's National section.

French Chess Championships 2026

Live games and commentary

Open

Women's

Grandmaster Dr. Karsten Müller, one of the world’s leading endgame experts, guides you step by step through everything you need to know in this second volume.
Picture this: you’ve outplayed your opponent move by move, you’re clearly better – and then the endgame slips into a draw, simply because you lacked the crucial theoretical knowledge. That is exactly where this course comes in. Without solid endgame skills, there’s no way forward. Rook endgames are most essential: they occur more often than any other type of endgame, and often make the difference between victory and half a point. If you master them, you’ll confidently convert your advantages into wins!
Free video sample: Introduction
Free video sample: Bodycheck

Links

Topics: Etienne Bacrot, French Championship 2026
Etienne Mensch ist Internationaler Meister, Entdecker der digitalen Welt und ... der Geschichte des Schachs! Rund 15 Jahre lang war er sehr aktiv als Schachtrainer. Einer seiner Schüler, Bilel Bellahcene, gewann 2014 bei der U16-Jugendweltmeisterschaft die Bronzemedaille und wurde später Großmeister. Etienne verbindet seine Leidenschaft für Schach und digitale Technik, indem er sich bei Gelegenheit an der Organisation von Veranstaltungen beteiligt. Sein besonderes Interesse gilt Live-Übertragungen, darunter audiovisuelle Produktionen und die Übertragung von Partien.