IM Luka Draskovic emerged as the winner of the 73rd Montenegro chess championship. The 9-round Swiss tournament with the prize fund of €4,500 was held in Podgorica and attracted 35 players including two GMs. The champion scored 7 out of 9, with 5 wins and 4 draws, and clinched his first national title.

Grandmaster Dragisa Blagojevic came in second just a half-point behind. A group of five players with 6 points each tied for third place. The Buchholz favored FM Aleksandar Tomic who took bronze. The top-seeded eight-time champion GM Nikola Djukic finished eighth. 

The top four players are going to play knockouts from May 13-16 with the winner representing Montenegro at the World Cup 2021.

Semifinal pairings: 

Draskovic – Kalezic
Blagojevic – Tomic

Final standings: 

1. Draskovic, Luka  (2464) – 7
2. Blagojevic, Dragisa (2481) – 6½
3. Tomic, Aleksandar (2365) – 6
4. Kalezic, Blazo (2456) – 6
5. Vujovic, Savo (2167) – 6
6. Kisic, Bozidar (2301) – 6
7. Musovic, Armin (2258) – 6
8. Djukic, Nikola (2510) – 5½
9. Sukovic, Andrej (2254) – 5½
10. Pobor, Milo (2124) – 5½