Nino Batsiashvili and Eline Roebers emerged as champions of the European Women’s Rapid and Blitz Championships, respectively, both securing decisive victories in the final round.
The 2025 European Women’s Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships took place from January 8–12, 2026, in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
The total prize fund for the two events was €46,500, with €15,200 allocated to the Blitz Championship and €31,300 to the Rapid Championship.
The 2025 edition set a new participation record, with 154 players from 32 federations registered for the Rapid event and 145 players for the Blitz competition.
The first event on the schedule was the European Women’s Blitz Chess Championship 2025, a 13-round Swiss-system tournament played on January 9 under a time control of 3 minutes per game plus a 2-second increment.
The blitz event was fiercely contested and came down to the wire. IM Bella Khotenashvili of Georgia seized the lead after Round 7 and entered the final round with 10/12, a full point ahead of IMs Oliwia Kiolbasa (POL), Yuliia Osmak (UKR), and Eline Roebers (NED). Top seed Roebers rose to the occasion, defeating the leader in their direct encounter to clinch the title.
Four players tied for third place with 9.5/12, and Oliwia Kiolbasa claimed the bronze medal on tiebreaks (superior Buchholz score).
Complete final standings – Blitz
The European Women’s Rapid Chess Championship 2025, an 11-round Swiss-system tournament with a 15+10 time control, was held from January 10–11 at the same venue – Hotel Novotel – and followed a similarly dramatic script.
GM Alexandra Kosteniuk of Switzerland surged into sole lead after Round 7 and held that position through the penultimate round. In the final round, she faced GM Nino Batsiashvili (GEO), who trailed by a full point. Needing a win, Batsiashvili delivered brilliantly, securing the gold medal with a final score of 9/11.
Kosteniuk finished second with the same score but had to settle for silver after losing their head-to-head encounter.
Six players tied for third place with 8 points each, and IM Sofio Gvetadze earned the bronze medal based on a superior Buchholz tiebreak.
Complete final standings – Rapid
The сlosing ceremony of the event took place on Sunday night in the playing venue with the attendance of the ECU President Zurab Azmaiparashvili, ECU Vice President and President of the Monaco Chess Federation Jean-Michel Rapaire, ECU Vice President Malcolm Pein, ECU Vice President Gunnar Bjornsson, ECU Vice President Alojzije Jankovic, ECU CEO Erald Dervishi, ECU Commercial Chief Advisor Moshe Slav, event’s supporter Evren Ucok, and other distinguished guests.
The ECU President addressed the players, congratulated the winners, and officially declared the event closed, and with the other distinguished attendees joined the awarding ceremony for the medalists of the European Women’s Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship 2025, and winners of the special awards – the best veteran 50+ players, the best Monaco players, the best players in different rating categories, the best PACA players, and the best Alpes Maritimes player.
Photos: Patricia Claros Aguilar