The European Women’s Chess Championship 2024 is halfway through, with five rounds left to be played. Three players headed to today’s free day co-leading the event: IM Ulviyya Fataliyeva (AZE, 2377), IM Marta Garcia Martin (ESP, 2349) and 15-year-old WCM Bozhena Piddubna (UKR, 2005).
Yesterday’s top-board encounter between Ulviyya Fatliyava dnd Marta Garcia Martin finished in a draw and the players kept their positions on the top. The game was quite balanced, and finished in a peaceful manner after the precise play of both players.
15-year-old Ukrainian WCM Bozhena Piddubna joined Fataliyeva and Garcia Martin in the lead after defeating eight-time Spanish Champion IM Sabrina Vega Gutierrez (ESP, 2383). Getting closer to the time trouble, Vega blundered a piece and resigned a few moves later. Rated only 2005, Ukrainian talent Bozhena Piddubna has the impressive performance of 2697, and already earns more than 150 rating points!
A group of 17 players follow the leading trio with the score of 4 points (each): IM Lela Javakhishvili (GEO, 2447), WIM Martyna Wikar (POL, 2214), IM Deimante Daulyte-Cornette (FRA, 2381), IM Mai Narva (EST, 2401), IM Klaudia Kulon (POL, 2348), WIM Alicja Sliwicka (POL, 2315), IM Irina Bulmaga (ROU, 2394), GM Anna Ushenina (UKR, 2418), WGM Govhar Beydullayeva (AZE, 2402), WGM Olga Babiy (UKR, 2306), WGM Beloslava Krasteva (BUL, 2220), IM Marina Brunello (ITA, 2353), WGM Mitra Hejazipour (FRA, 2376), IM Sophie Milliet (FRA, 2392), IM Aleksandra Maltsevskaya (POL, 2393), WIM Sofiia Hryzlova (SUI, 2251) and IM Olga Zimina (ITA, 2299).
Yesterday’s fifth round finished with the all-English encounter between 9-year-old WCM Bodhana Sivanandan (ENG, 2065) and IM Jovanka Houska (ENG, 2340). Jovanka Houska prevailed and won the game after more than six hours of play.
All results, pairings and rankings can be found here. The players will today have a free day, and the games continue tomorrow at 14:00 CEST with the sixth round.
Round five video recap:
Live commentaries by GM Alojzije Jankovic and Dragana Nikolovska can be followed through the ECU YouTube channel.
Rich photo gallery with photos by ECU and Jim Laga can be found on the European Open and Women’s Individual Chess Championships Facebook page.
European Women’s Chess Championship 2024 – Round 5