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The French Championships 2018 ended in a three-way tie. After the round-robin tournament with ten participants Tigran Gharamian, Yannick Gozzoli and Romain Edouard were first with 6 out of 9 points.
| Rk. | Title | Name | Elo | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Pts. |
| 1 | GM | Romain Edouard | 2638 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6.0 / 9 | |
| 2 | GM | Tigran Gharamian | 2614 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 6.0 / 9 | |
| 3 | GM | Yannick Gozzoli | 2596 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 6.0 / 9 | |
| 4 | GM | Etienne Bacrot | 2699 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5.5 / 9 | |
| 5 | GM | Laurent Fressinet | 2645 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 5.5 / 9 | |
| 6 | GM | Christian Bauer | 2636 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 4.5 / 9 | |
| 7 | GM | Matthieu Cornette | 2593 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 3.5 / 9 | |
| 8 | GM | Sebastien Maze | 2612 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 3.0 / 9 | |
| 9 | GM | Jean Pierre Le Roux | 2539 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | 3.0 / 9 | |
| 10 | IM | Quentin Loiseau | 2417 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 2.0 / 9 |
A three-way playoff between Gozzoli, Edouard and Gharamian did not break the logjam as Edouard and Gharamian each scored 2½ points.
| Rk. | Title | Name | Pts. | |||
| 1 | GM | Romain Edouard | 1½ | ½½ | 2.5 | |
| 2 | GM | Tigran Gharamian | 0½ | 11 | 2.5 | |
| 3 | GM | Yannick Gozzoli | ½½ | 00 | 1.0 |
Finally, a head-to-head match decided the title in an Armageddon game, giving the French Champion title to Gharamian.
| Rk. | Title | Name | ||
| 1 | GM | Tigran Gharamian | 011 | 2.0 |
| 2 | GM | Romain Edouard | 100 | 1.0 |
The Rossolimo Variation of the Sicilian Defence (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5) is always an excellent choice with White if you want to avoid the deeply analysed main lines of the Open Sicilian. Alexei Shirov provides you with the requisite understanding of the opening's subtleties, by annotating extensively his most important games in this variation. During his career, he has played the 3.Bb5 system with both colours and he shares with you on this DVD his valuable experience.
Podium (L to R): Edouard, Gharamian and Gozzoli | Photo: nimes2018.ffechecs.org
Pauline Guichard made it look easy in the Women's Championship. The 29-year-old won the French championship confidently with 7½ out of 9 despite a defeat against third-placed Cecile Hausernot.
(L to R): Milliet, Guichard and Hausernot | Photo: nimes2018.ffechecs.org
| Rk. | Title | Name | Elo | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Pts. |
| 1 | WGM | Pauline Guichard | 2365 | 1 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7.5 / 9 | |
| 2 | IM | Sophie Milliet | 2389 | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 6.5 / 9 | |
| 3 | WIM | Cecile Haussernot | 2198 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6.0 / 9 | |
| 4 | WGM | Maria Leconte | 2224 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 5.5 / 9 | |
| 5 | WIM | Andreea Cristiana Navrotescu | 2247 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5.0 / 9 | |
| 6 | WIM | Natacha Benmesbah | 2255 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4.5 / 9 | |
| 7 | WGM | Anda Safranska | 2193 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 / 9 | |
| 8 | WIM | Andreea Bollengier | 2219 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2.5 / 9 | |
| 9 | WFM | Cyrielle Monpeurt | 2175 | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 2.5 / 9 | |
| 10 | WFM | Anaelle Afraoui | 2041 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1.5 / 9 |
Translation from German: Macauley Peterson
