Motylev is the new European Rapid Champion

Motlyev edges Donchenko and Pultinevicius

Rating favourite Alexander Motylev won the European Rapid Championship in Katowice after scoring 9 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss at the two-day event. The one loss suffered by Motylev, aged 42, came in round 5, when he was defeated by Polish grandmaster Michal Krasenkow, who is still going strong at 58.

A crucial game was played in round 9, when Motylev inflicted Alexander Donchenko’s only loss of the tournament. After move 20, Donchenko suddenly found himself confronted with a position that was difficult to handle.

Master Class Vol.5: Emanuel Lasker

The name Emanuel Lasker will always be linked with his incredible 27 years reign on the throne of world chess. In 1894, at the age of 25, he had already won the world title from Wilhelm Steinitz and his record number of years on the throne did not end till 1921 when Lasker had to accept the superiority of Jose Raul Capablanca. But not only had the only German world champion so far seen off all challengers for many years, he had also won the greatest tournaments of his age, sometimes with an enormous lead. The fascinating question is, how did he manage that?

Donchenko and Motylev during their crucial round-9 confrontation

European Rapid Chess Championship 2021 has just concluded!
After 11 played rounds 3 players tied for the top scoring 9.5 points each. Tiebreaks criteria decided the Champion and the medalists:
🏆Motylev Alexander🇷🇺
🥈Donchenko Alexander🇩🇪
🥉Pultinevicius Paulius🇱🇹

Congrats!👏 pic.twitter.com/EEJdGAP8cU
— European Chess Union (@ECUonline) December 19, 2021

Final standings after 11 rounds

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB4	TB5
1	1	GM	Motylev Alexander		2703	9,5	0,0	80,0	84,5	5	9
2	10	GM	Donchenko Alexander		2535	9,5	0,0	79,5	84,5	6	9
3	9	GM	Pultinevicius Paulius		2536	9,5	0,0	72,5	78,0	5	9
4	20	GM	Krasenkow Michal		2430	9,0	0,0	79,0	84,0	6	8
5	22	IM	Brodowski Piotr		2414	9,0	0,0	76,0	80,5	6	8
6	18	IM	Janik Igor		2462	9,0	0,0	74,0	79,0	6	9
7	39	GM	Bjerre Jonas Buhl		2330	9,0	0,0	71,0	76,0	6	8
8	36	IM	Keinanen Toivo		2341	8,5	0,0	81,0	86,5	5	7
9	4	GM	Balog Imre		2629	8,5	0,0	79,0	83,5	6	8
10	5	GM	Bernadskiy Vitaliy		2616	8,5	0,0	76,5	82,0	5	7
11	8	GM	Fridman Daniel		2542	8,5	0,0	75,5	81,0	5	7
12	14	GM	Stefansson Hannes		2513	8,5	0,0	75,0	80,0	6	8
13	3	GM	Kovalenko Igor		2649	8,5	0,0	75,0	80,0	5	7
14	44		Kyc Jerzy		2308	8,5	0,0	73,5	78,5	5	8
15	45	IM	Kosakowski Jakub		2304	8,5	0,0	73,5	78,0	6	7
16	43		Kozak Antoni		2308	8,5	0,0	73,0	79,5	6	8
17	60	FM	Mis Mieszko		2237	8,5	0,0	73,0	78,0	5	5
18	55	FM	Fus Jakub		2252	8,5	0,0	71,0	76,5	5	8
19	57	GM	Grabarczyk Miroslaw		2249	8,5	0,0	69,5	74,5	5	7
20	80	FM	Semjonovs Ilja		2165	8,5	0,0	65,5	71,0	6	8