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/