Ukraine and Poland are currently leading their respective sections at the European Team Chess Championship 2025 in Batumi, Georgia, with three rounds remaining. This prestigious event has showcased some thrilling matches and remarkable performances from top players.
Highlights from the Open Event
In the Open event, Ukraine managed to edge out France in a closely contested match. Igor Kovalenko delivered the decisive win against Pierre Laurent-Paoli, which was pivotal for Ukraine’s success. Meanwhile, Ruslan Ponomariov faced Marc’Andria Maurizzi and aimed for more, but a critical winning idea slipped away, resulting in a draw. The other two boards also concluded in a draw, allowing Ukraine to stand alone at the top with 11 out of 12 match points.
The Netherlands kept pace closely behind Ukraine with a commanding 3–1 victory over Serbia. This win was fueled by impressive performances from Anish Giri and Jorden Van Foreest, while the remaining games ended in draws. Currently, the Dutch team trails Ukraine by just a single team point. Azerbaijan also had a successful outing, defeating Armenia 2.5–1.5, which propelled them into third place.
Women’s Championship Update
In the Women’s championship, Poland has significantly widened its lead to three match points following a 3–1 victory over Georgia. The standout performances came from Alina Kashlinskaya and Aleksandra Maltsevskaya, who both secured wins for their team, while the other games ended in draws. Poland now leads the standings with a perfect score of 12 out of 12 match points. Following them are Germany, Ukraine, and Romania, all closely trailing with 9 match points each.
As the tournament progresses, the excitement continues to build. October 11 serves as a rest day for the teams, giving them a chance to regroup and strategize. Round 7 is scheduled for October 12 at 15:00 local time, and fans are eagerly anticipating the next set of matches that will further shape the standings in this prestigious championship.