Best of Poland in Warsaw
The Polish Championship and Polish Women's Championship are each a nine-round-robin tournament with ten participants, played in parallel. Once again, the Warsaw Stock Exchange hosts the events, which have the same sponsors as previous editions: LOTTO for the open and the contractor Budimex for the women. Games are played every day from May 12th to 20th. If necessary, rapid tiebreaks are possible on May 21st.
The first prize is 20,000 złoty (about 4,700 euros), with 13,000 złoty (about 3,000 euros) for second place, and 9,000 złoty (about 2,100 euros) for third, but players must finish in the top five spots to earn a prize. There are also awards per win scored for the remaining players of 500 złoty (116 euros). The prize fund for both tournaments together amounts to 118,000 złoty (about 28,000 euros) and, in a progressive move, both the open and women's tournaments receive equal funding.

Two strong fields in Warsaw
Budimex Women
As in the previous year, the favourites in the women's tournament, all over 2400, are Monika Socko from Katowice with the Grandmaster title (Elo 2458), WGM Jolanta Zawadzka (Elo 2424) from Warsaw and IM Karina Szczepkowska (Elo 2404) from Rybnik. Other top players present are IM Iweta Rajlich (Elo 2389) from Warsaw, WGM Klaudia Kulon (Elo 2353) from Trzcianka and WGM Joanna Majdan (Elo 2369).

Top seed Monika Socko (right) is the defending champion | Photo: mp2018.pzszach.pl
The Sveshnikov Variation of the Sicilian Defence is considered one of the most promising replies to 1.e4, often giving rise to sharp and complex positions which require precise and inventive play from both sides. Thus, an opening tailor-made for Alexei Shirov (FIDE World Cup finalist in 2007), who has included it into his repertoire with both White and Black and knows the mutual tricks and traps all too well.
After four rounds, Anna Warakomska is the surprise leader. She leapfrogged Szczepkowska, who started with three wins but lost to Rajlich in round four. Warakomska prevailed against Anna Kubicka in a sharp Sveshnikov Sicilian, after the latter sacrificed an exchange for an attack that never materialized, and ended up getting mated herself.
White to play and mate in two
Standings after four rounds
Games from rounds 1-4
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
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1.d4 c5 2.d5 e6 3.c4 d6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 a6 6.a4 g6 7.g3 Bg7 8.Bg2 Nf6 9.Nf3 0-0 10.0-0 Nbd7 11.Bf4 Qe7 12.e4 12.h3 Rb8 13.Qd3 Re8 14.Rfe1 Nh5 15.Bg5 Bf6 16.Bxf6 Nhxf6 17.e4 Nh5 18.Kh2 f6 19.Nd2 Ne5 20.Qe2 12...Ng4 13.Bg5 f6! 14.Bc1 14...Rb8N 14...Nde5 15.Nh4 f5 16.exf5 gxf5 17.h3 Nf6 18.f4 Ng6 15.Nd2 Nge5 16.Qe2 Nf7 17.f4 17.Nc4 17...f5= 18.Re1 Re8 19.Nc4 Bd4+ 20.Be3 Bxc3 21.bxc3 fxe4 22.Bc1 Nf6 23.Ne3 b5 24.axb5 axb5 25.c4 bxc4 26.Bb2 Nh6 27.Nxc4 Nf5 28.Qd2 Rb4 29.Na5! Bd7 30.Bc3 Rb6 31.Nc4 Rb7 32.Ra3 Bb5 32...Qf8 33.Na5 Rbb8 34.Nc6 Bxc6! 35.dxc6 Kf8 35...Nd4= 36.Qa2± Qf7 37.Qa1! Nd5 38.Ra7 38.Bxe4?! Nxc3 39.Bxf5 Qxf5= 38.Bh8!± 38...Re7= 39.Rxe7 Nfxe7 40.c7 Nxc7 41.Bxe4 d5 41...Re8= 42.Be5 42.Qa7 Rc8 43.Bd3 42...Ra8 43.Qb2 Ne8? 43...dxe4= 44.Bxc7 Kg8 44.Bg2+- Rc8 44...Kg8 45.Qb5 Nf6 45.Qb7! Rd8 46.Qb6 Rc8 47.Qa6? 47.Bh3!+- Nf5 48.Ra1 47...Rc6± 48.Qb7 c4 49.Bc3 Re6 50.Ra1! Re2 51.Bf3 Re3 52.Bb4! Qf6 52...Rxf3? 53.Re1+- 53.Rf1 d4 54.Bc6 Nd6 54...Re2± 55.Qb8+!+- Kg7? 55...Kf7 56.Bxd6 Nxc6 57.Qc7+ Ne7 57...Re7 58.Qxc6 Qe6 58.Be5 Rxe5 59.fxe5 Qg5 60.Rf4 60.Qxc4 Qe3+ 61.Rf2 Qe1+ 62.Qf1 Qxe5+- 60.Kg2 Kh6 61.h4 Qd2+ 62.Rf2 60...c3 60...Kh6 61.Qd8 1–0 - Start an analysis engine:
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Socko,M | 2458 | Majdan,J | 2369 | 1–0 | 2018 | A43 | Budimex POL-ch Women 2018 | 1 |
Kulon,K | 2353 | Zawadzka,J | 2424 | ½–½ | 2018 | C42 | Budimex POL-ch Women 2018 | 1 |
Warakomska,A | 2295 | Bartel,M | 2280 | 1–0 | 2018 | B12 | Budimex POL-ch Women 2018 | 1 |
Sliwicka,A | 2261 | Rajlich,I | 2389 | 1–0 | 2018 | C41 | Budimex POL-ch Women 2018 | 1 |
Kubicka,A | 2219 | Szczepkowska,K | 2404 | 0–1 | 2018 | B56 | Budimex POL-ch Women 2018 | 1 |
Socko,M | 2458 | Warakomska,A | 2295 | ½–½ | 2018 | C68 | Budimex POL-ch Women 2018 | 2 |
Zawadzka,J | 2424 | Sliwicka,A | 2261 | 1–0 | 2018 | C95 | Budimex POL-ch Women 2018 | 2 |
Szczepkowska,K | 2404 | Kulon,K | 2353 | 1–0 | 2018 | A89 | Budimex POL-ch Women 2018 | 2 |
Majdan,J | 2369 | Rajlich,I | 2389 | 1–0 | 2018 | C41 | Budimex POL-ch Women 2018 | 2 |
Bartel,M | 2280 | Kubicka,A | 2219 | ½–½ | 2018 | E97 | Budimex POL-ch Women 2018 | 2 |
Rajlich,I | 2389 | Zawadzka,J | 2424 | ½–½ | 2018 | A01 | Budimex POL-ch Women 2018 | 3 |
Kulon,K | 2353 | Bartel,M | 2280 | ½–½ | 2018 | D00 | Budimex POL-ch Women 2018 | 3 |
Warakomska,A | 2295 | Majdan,J | 2369 | 1–0 | 2018 | B67 | Budimex POL-ch Women 2018 | 3 |
Sliwicka,A | 2261 | Szczepkowska,K | 2404 | 0–1 | 2018 | B32 | Budimex POL-ch Women 2018 | 3 |
Kubicka,A | 2219 | Socko,M | 2458 | 0–1 | 2018 | C03 | Budimex POL-ch Women 2018 | 3 |
Socko,M | 2458 | Kulon,K | 2353 | 0–1 | 2018 | A81 | Budimex POL-ch Women 2018 | 4 |
Szczepkowska,K | 2404 | Rajlich,I | 2389 | 0–1 | 2018 | A50 | Budimex POL-ch Women 2018 | 4 |
Majdan,J | 2369 | Zawadzka,J | 2424 | ½–½ | 2018 | C54 | Budimex POL-ch Women 2018 | 4 |
Warakomska,A | 2295 | Kubicka,A | 2219 | 1–0 | 2018 | B90 | Budimex POL-ch Women 2018 | 4 |
Bartel,M | 2280 | Sliwicka,A | 2261 | 0–1 | 2018 | A04 | Budimex POL-ch Women 2018 | 4 |
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Checkmate. That's the aim of the game. There are numerous ways to checkmate the enemy king, but there are common patterns that recur over and over again, and having these at our mental fingertips is essential for when we want to finish the game.
Lotto Polish Championship
The tournament breaks several records in Polish chess: No prior national championship had such a high Elo average (2630), nor included two players rated over 2700 at the same time, and this is also the first time that only grandmasters compete.
Defending champion Kacper Piorun (Elo 2633) is unlikely to win the tournament with the same ease with which he became Polish Rapid Champion earlier this year. With Radosław Wojtaszek (Elo 2750) and Jan-Krzysztof Duda (Elo 2724), two elite heavyweights now stand in his way.
Wojtaszek, who recently moved to Warsaw, is seeking his fourth Polish individual title in his new hometown and 20-year-old Duda, the youngest of the ten participants and one of the most promising talents in Polish chess, still lacks this title in his collection.
In addition to these three, Mateusz Bartel (Elo 2604), already a four-time title winner, Grzegorz Gajewski (Elo 2599), winner in 2015, and 55-year-old tournament senior Michał Krasenkow (Elo 2628) may also be counted among the extended favourites.

Both men and women share the same playing hall | Photo: mp2018.pzszach.pl
After four rounds, Piorun has been the pacesetter with 3½ / 3. He played Wojtaszek two a draw in the first round but has since won three straight against Sadzikowski, Krasenkow and Bartel.
Bartel has been shuffling his pieces around, and now Piorun finally lashes out with 32.b4! Nd7 33.Nf3 — black would love to exchange pieces, but Piorun doesn't give him the chance — 33...Rde8 34.b5 and White has a winning attack.
Piorun's chances of defending his title appear to be quite good, as his nearest challenger Wojtaszek is a full point behind and Duda has yet to get anything going with four draws so far, including saving a losing position against Bartlomiej Socko (the husband of the Women's top seed).

Duda has yet to do much | Photo: mp2018.pzszach.pl
Standings after four rounds
Games from rounds 1-4
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bc4 Nb6 6.Bb3 c4 7.Bc2 d6 8.exd6 Qxd6 9.0-0 g6 10.b3 Bg7 11.Na3 cxb3 12.axb3 0-0 13.Nc4 13.d4 Bg4 14.h3 Bxf3 15.Qxf3 Nd5 16.Re1 Nxc3 17.Nc4 Qxd4 18.Bb2 Qf6 19.Qg3 b5 20.Re3 bxc4 21.Bxc3 13...Nxc4 14.bxc4 Be6 15.Qe2 Qc5 16.Ra4 16...Na5 17.d4 Qc7 18.Bd3N 18.c5 b6 19.g3 Bd5 20.Be4 Bxe4 21.Qxe4 Qd7 22.Ra2 Nc4 23.Bg5 h6 24.Nd2 Nxd2 25.Bxd2 bxc5 26.dxc5 Rfc8 27.Rb1 18...Rac8 19.Bf4 Qxf4 20.Rxa5 Qc7! 21.Rxa7 Bxc4 22.Bxc4 Qxc4 23.Qxe7 Qxc3 24.Rxb7 Bxd4 25.Nxd4 Qxd4 26.Rd7 Qc5 27.Qxc5 Rxc5 28.Rfd1 h5 29.h4 Ra5 30.Rd8 Rxd8 31.Rxd8+ ½–½ - Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
- Create an account to access the games cloud.
Piorun,K | 2633 | Wojtaszek,R | 2750 | ½–½ | 2018 | B22 | Lotto POL-ch 2018 | 1 |
Bartel,M | 2604 | Mista,A | 2590 | 1–0 | 2018 | B51 | Lotto POL-ch 2018 | 1 |
Socko,B | 2593 | Duda,J | 2724 | ½–½ | 2018 | E15 | Lotto POL-ch 2018 | 1 |
Tomczak,J | 2589 | Gajewski,G | 2599 | ½–½ | 2018 | C65 | Lotto POL-ch 2018 | 1 |
Sadzikowski,D | 2588 | Krasenkow,M | 2628 | ½–½ | 2018 | D30 | Lotto POL-ch 2018 | 1 |
Wojtaszek,R | 2750 | Bartel,M | 2604 | 1–0 | 2018 | D10 | Lotto POL-ch 2018 | 2 |
Duda,J | 2724 | Tomczak,J | 2589 | ½–½ | 2018 | A34 | Lotto POL-ch 2018 | 2 |
Krasenkow,M | 2628 | Gajewski,G | 2599 | 1–0 | 2018 | D38 | Lotto POL-ch 2018 | 2 |
Mista,A | 2590 | Socko,B | 2593 | 1–0 | 2018 | B18 | Lotto POL-ch 2018 | 2 |
Sadzikowski,D | 2588 | Piorun,K | 2633 | 0–1 | 2018 | D31 | Lotto POL-ch 2018 | 2 |
Piorun,K | 2633 | Krasenkow,M | 2628 | 1–0 | 2018 | B30 | Lotto POL-ch 2018 | 3 |
Bartel,M | 2604 | Sadzikowski,D | 2588 | 1–0 | 2018 | B50 | Lotto POL-ch 2018 | 3 |
Gajewski,G | 2599 | Duda,J | 2724 | ½–½ | 2018 | D10 | Lotto POL-ch 2018 | 3 |
Socko,B | 2593 | Wojtaszek,R | 2750 | ½–½ | 2018 | E10 | Lotto POL-ch 2018 | 3 |
Tomczak,J | 2589 | Mista,A | 2590 | 1–0 | 2018 | B76 | Lotto POL-ch 2018 | 3 |
Wojtaszek,R | 2750 | Tomczak,J | 2589 | ½–½ | 2018 | D74 | Lotto POL-ch 2018 | 4 |
Piorun,K | 2633 | Bartel,M | 2604 | 1–0 | 2018 | B18 | Lotto POL-ch 2018 | 4 |
Krasenkow,M | 2628 | Duda,J | 2724 | ½–½ | 2018 | D26 | Lotto POL-ch 2018 | 4 |
Mista,A | 2590 | Gajewski,G | 2599 | 1–0 | 2018 | C65 | Lotto POL-ch 2018 | 4 |
Sadzikowski,D | 2588 | Socko,B | 2593 | 0–1 | 2018 | E01 | Lotto POL-ch 2018 | 4 |
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The live commentary of the games (in Polish) was placed in the knowledgeable hands of Grandmaster Bartlomiej Heberla, who was a participant last year. He has been joined by WGM Alina Kashlinskaya, the wife of the Polish number one GM Radoslaw Wojtaszek.
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