15th European Individual Women’s Chess Championship

This event, organised by the Bulgarian Chess Federation under the auspices of the European Chess Union, is being held in the Plovdiv Hall of the Novotel Hotel in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, from July 5 (day of arrival) until July 18 (day of departure) 2014. The tournament is open to all players from chess federations which are members of the European Chess Union (FIDE zones 1.1 to 1.10), regardless of title or rating. There is also no limit in the number of participants per federation. The European Individual Women’s Championship 2014 is a qualification event for the next World Cup, for which 14 players will qualify.

The competition

The championship is an eleven-round Swiss. The rate of play is 90 minutes for 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with an increment of 30 seconds per move, starting from move one. Players may only agree to a draw after the 40th move has been made by Black. Players violating this rule will be forfeited. If a player is offered a draw before the 40th move she should call an arbiter. Her opponent shall be punished for distracting, according to the FIDE Laws of Chess. The zero–tolerance rule will be applied: players who are not seated at the board at the start of a round forfeit the game.

Round eight

Although this may look like the picture of an angel in blonde locks, it is really the portrait
of a serial (chess) killer.

At some point, if you don't let up on the pressure, even the most stalwart opponents will falter. Such is the case of Valentina Gunina, who has been running away with the tournament with a stupendous 7.5/8, winning her seventh game, this time against Georgian IM Lela Javakhishvili. With this win, she has now opened up a full point lead over her nearest rival, IM Melia Salome with 6.5/8, and a point and a half over a further group on 6.0/8.

Gunina - Javakhishvili

In a final flurry, Gunina finished off her opponent in style. White to play and win.

Although her rating performance of 2835 certainly qualifies her as the highest overperfomer as well, in that departement there are others peppered throughout the field, starting with Azeri WFM Gunay Mammadzada, who with 2182 FIDE, is on 5.0/8 and an impressive 2485 FIDE, worth a hefty IM norm should she draw her round nine game against IM Eliabeth Paetz.

Azeri WFM Gunay Mammadzada has had a remarkable tournament so far with a performance
that is 303 Elo above her actual rating. Bear in mind that she will be earning far more
rating now than had she played this event just a month ago by virtue of FIDE's new K=20.

Also noteworthy is Italian WFM Maria Grazia De Rosa (2081) who is also performing at 2337 and is easily on a WIM norm, but possibly even a WGM norm, she can theoretically score in round nine or ten. Her largest scalp of the event was her win over IM Sopiko Guramishvili (2402) in round four.

Solution to diagram: White plays 1.Ne6+! fxe6 (only move) 2.Re7 mate.

Photos by Boyan Botev

Standings after round eight

Click for complete standings

Links Official tournament site All games in PGN The games are being broadcast live on the official web site and on the chess server Playchess.com. If you are not a member you can download a free Playchess client there and get immediate access. You can also use ChessBase 12 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs.