Marc’Andria Maurizzi and Yosha Iglesias win 2025 French Championship
Marc’Andria Maurizzi and Yosha Iglesias are the new chess champions of France, both claiming their maiden national titles. The 2025 French Championship took place from August 15–24 in Vichy and featured 16-player knockout competitions in the open and women’s sections, as well as several side Swiss tournaments. In the main events, ties after two classical games were resolved by a 2-game rapid match (15+10), followed if necessary by a 2-game blitz (5+3) and an Armageddon (5 vs 4). The event attracted France’s top players, with the exception of Alireza Firouzja and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, who were competing in the 2025 Sinquefield Cup. The open final pitted the youngest participant, Marc’Andria Maurizzi, against the previous year’s runner-up, Laurent Fressinet. Maurizzi confidently advanced through the Round of 16 and quarterfinals, defeating Christian Bauer and Timothé Razafindratsima, respectively. He then faced the experienced Étienne Bacrot in the semifinals, prevailing in a rapid tiebreak to secure his spot in the final. Fressinet’s path was more difficult. After defeating Marie Sebag in the Round of 16, he came close to elimination in the quarterfinals but snatched victory from Yannick Gozzoli in an Armageddon decider. His semifinal was more straightforward, as Laurent cruised past Sébastien Mazé. As many expected, the final was a tense battle. After three consecutive draws (two classical and one rapid), the 18-year-old Maurizzi took control in the fourth game and clinched the title. Bacrot secured the bronze medal by defeating Mazé. The women’s championship was equally exciting. Eventual winner Yosha Iglesias scraped through into the quarterfinals after edging out Marie Leconte but faced fewer obstacles in the later stages. In the final she played Mitra Hejazipour, who had successively eliminated Cyrielle Monpeurt, Andreea Navrotescu, and defending champion Deimantė Daulytė-Cornette. Unlike the open final, no tiebreak was needed. After a draw in the first classical game, Iglesias (pictured above) won the second to capture gold. Anastasia Savina claimed bronze by defeating Daulytė-Cornette in a tiebreak. Photos: FFE / Nathalie Daubry Official website: vichy2025.ffechecs.org/
23rd European Union Youth Championship reaches midpoint
The 2025 EU Youth Chess Championship has passed the halfway mark, with participants demonstrating fierce, uncompromising chess and a very high level of play. After five exciting rounds, the category leaders are: U8: Lev Jevglevski (EST) with a perfect 5/5 U10: Simon Perouin (FRA), also with a perfect 5/5 U12: Alexandru-Daniel Pasca (ROU) with 4.5 points U14: FM Vlad Petroff (ROU) with 4.0 points To celebrate the many combative and excellent games, the organizers are awarding a daily prize for the best game in each category. So far, the following players have received a best-game prize: Wojciech Szlendak (POL), Simon Perouin (FRA), Ivan Menkov (CZE), Simon Matejka (SVK), Nicholas Josephides (CYP), Stefan Grigorescu (ROU), Nikodem Cieslar (POL), Boris Pogorelskiy (CZE), David-Christian Talaba (ROU), Thomas Lobina (FRA), Iris Hamernikova (CZE), Edward Bundan (GER), Romeo Brentegani (FRA), Pavel Hlavacek (CZE), Lukas Janovicek (SVK), Andrii Diachek (POL), Romero Antonio Landeros (CZE), Matelo Vinet (FRA), Stella Maesepp (EST), and Tobias Komarek (CZE). The additional program began on Thursday, August 21, with a simul conducted by FM Josef Kratochvil. Eighteen young championship participants, playing with 30 minutes on their clocks against the FM’s 60 minutes, achieved a surprising 11-7 victory, with time proving to be the decisive factor. A blitz tournament was held on Saturday, August 23, attracting 12 players from four countries, including EUYCC participants, coaches, and parents. FM Josef Kratochvil (CZE) won the event with 10.0/11 points, finishing ahead of Olga Debowska (POL, 9.5 points) and Anna Hrckova (CZE, 9.0 points). All winners received prizes. Beyond chess, participants are enjoying the resort’s wellness center and playground, as well as the beautiful natural surroundings. All results are available HERE Written by Zdenek Fiala, director Sachovy klub Svetla nad Sazavou Photos: Official website Official website: chess.cz/mistrovstvi-evropske-unie/