The European Team Chess Championship 2025 concluded on October 14 in Batumi, Georgia.
A dramatic final round decided the winners in the open section as Ukraine and Azerbaijan entered it tied for first place. Azerbaijan faced Serbia, while Ukraine took on England.
The higher-rated Azerbaijani team were favourites against Serbia, but the Serbians delivered a convincing 3–1 victory. GM Alexey Sarana (SRB, 2661) defeated GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE, 2742), GM Aleksandar Indjic (SRB, 2618) outplayed GM Rauf Mamedov (AZE, 2655), and GM Robert Markus (SRB, 2535) overcame GM Aydin Suleymanli (AZE, 2614). GM Eltaj Safarli (AZE, 2630) was the only Azerbaijani to score, defeating GM Velimir Ivic (SRB, 2638). Serbia’s victory secured them a medal.
With this result, Ukraine needed only a 2–2 draw against England to clinch the title. They already had the upper hand, as GM Ihor Samunenkov (UKR, 2568) held a decisive advantage against GM Luke McShane (ENG, 2614), while GM Anton Korobov (UKR, 2596) and GM Igor Kovalenko (UKR, 2669) both had extra material in drawish rook endgames. The first-board game between GM Ruslan Ponomariov (UKR, 2633) and GM Nikita Vitiugov (ENG, 2654) had already ended in a draw. Samunenkov eventually converted his advantage into a full point, while the other two games were drawn, allowing Ukraine to clinch the title with 15 match points.
Azerbaijan and Serbia tied for second place with 13 match points, but Azerbaijan had superior tiebreaks to claim the silver medal, while Serbia took bronze.
In the women’s section, Poland won the European Women’s Team Chess Championship 2025 after defeating Azerbaijan in the final round. IM Oliwia Kiolbasa (POL, 2388) outplayed IM Gulnar Mammadova (AZE, 2323), while IM Alina Kashlinskaya (POL, 2450) and IM Klaudia Kulon (POL, 2336) drew solid games against IM Khanim Balajayeva (AZE, 2351) and WIM Ayan Allahverdiyeva (AZE, 2220), respectively. IM Aleksandra Maltsevskaya (POL, 2394) also drew her rook endgame with an extra pawn once it became clear that her team had secured the match victory.
With a final score of 16 match points, Poland claimed gold. Ukraine — the only team to defeat the champions — took silver with 14 match points after a 2–2 draw against Armenia in the final round. Despite a final-round loss to Bulgaria, Germany secured the bronze medal with 13 match points.
The best individual players by board are:
Open
- Board 1 (Open): GM Richard Rapport; 2.GM Vincent Keymer, 3.GM Anish Giri
- Board 2 (Open): GM Alexey Sarana; 2.GM Jorden Van Foreest; 3.GM Laurent Fressinet
- Board 3 (Open): GM Eltaj Safarli; 2.GM Aleksandar Indjic; 3.GM Jones Gawain Maroroa
- Board 4 (Open):GM Igor Kovalenko; 2.GM Lorenzo Lodici; 3.GM Dimitrios Mastrovasilis
- Board 5 (Open):GM Ihor Samunenkov; 2.GM Isik Can; 3.GM Frederik Svane
Women
- Board 1 (Women): IM Mai Narva; 2.IM Stavroula Tsolakidou; 3.GM Alexandra Kosteniuk
- Board 2 (Women): GM Anna Ushenina; 2.IM Sabrina Vega Guiterrez; 3.WGM Hanna Marie Klek
- Board 3 (Women):IM Oliwia Kiolbasa; 2.IM Lela Javakhishvili; 3.IM Ann Matnadze Bujiashvili
- Board 4 (Women): 1.GM Bella Khotenashvili; 2.GM Natalia Zhukova; 3.IM Gulnar Mammadova
- Board 5 (Women): WGM Kateryna Dolzhykova; 2.WFM Bozhena Piddubna; 3.WIM Silvia-Raluca Sgircea
The closing ceremony was attended by the ECU President Zurab Azmaiparashvili, Head of Adjarian Autonomous Republic Sport Department Irma Nizharadze, ECU Vice Presidents Malcolm Pein, Gunnar Bjornsson, and Alojzije Jankovic, ECU Commercial Chief Adviser Moshe Slav, President of the Azerbaijan Chess Federation and FIDE Vice President Mahir Mammedov, President of the Georgian Chess Federation and FIDE Special Task Director Akaki Iashvili, and other distinguished guests.
Text and photos: European Chess Union
Official website: etcc2025.com/