Zdenko Kožul is a new Croatian champion. The 55-year old native of Bihac won his third national title with a round to spare. Zdenko completed the event unbeaten and scored impressive 8½/11
The Croatian Championship, a 12-player round-robin tournament with classical time control, took place at the Continental Hotel in Rijeka from 30 November to 10 December 2021.
The top-seed and three-time Croatian champion Ivan Saric faltered in the starting round but pulled himself together and competed for the title with Kozul almost until the very end, finishing just a half-point behind.
IM Leon Livaic scored a solid +3 (7/11), beating the silver winner along the way and suffering no defeats, just like the champion. The 21-year old earned bronze, completed a GM norm, and picked 11 rating points.
At the closing ceremony, the trophies were awarded to the winners by the president of the Rijeka Sports Association, Dorotea Pešić Bukovac.
Final standings:
1 |
GM |
Kožul, Zdenko |
2625 |
8½ |
2 |
GM |
Šarić, Ivan |
2665 |
8 |
3 |
IM |
Livaić, Leon |
2537 |
7 |
4 |
GM |
Jovanović, Zoran |
2523 |
6 |
5 |
GM |
Martinović, Saša |
2542 |
5½ |
6 |
GM |
Zelčić, Robert |
2540 |
5 |
7 |
IM |
Dorić, Darko |
2475 |
5 |
8 |
GM |
Ferčec, Nenad |
2415 |
5 |
9 |
GM |
Bosiočić, Marin |
2545 |
4½ |
10 |
IM |
Srbiš, Jurica |
2448 |
4½ |
11 |
GM |
Šarić, Ante |
2536 |
4 |
12 |
GM |
Kovačević, Blažimir |
2399 |
3 |
Official website: phrijeka2021.com/
Photo: official website