The European Women’s Chess Championship 2024 is halfway through. With five rounds to go, three players are sharing the lead on 4.5/5: IM Ulviyya Fataliyeva (AZE, 2377), IM Marta Garcia Martin (ESP, 2349) and 15-year-old WCM Bozhena Piddubna (UKR, 2005).

The Round 4 top board encounter between Ulviyya Fatliyava Marta Garcia Martin ended in a draw after precise play by the opponents.

This draw allowed 15-year-old Ukrainian WCM Bozhena Piddubna to joined Fataliyeva and Garcia Martin in the lead after defeating eight-time Spanish Champion IM Sabrina Vega Gutierrez (ESP, 2383).

Getting closer to the time trouble, Vega blundered a piece and resigned a few moves later. Rated only 2005, Ukrainian talent Bozhena Piddubna has the impressive performance of 2697, and has already earned over 150 rating points!

A group of 17 players follow the top trio sitting on 4/5: IM Lela Javakhishvili (GEO, 2447), WIM Martyna Wikar (POL, 2214), IM Deimante Daulyte-Cornette (FRA, 2381), IM Mai Narva (EST, 2401), IM Klaudia Kulon (POL, 2348), WIM Alicja Sliwicka (POL, 2315), IM Irina Bulmaga (ROU, 2394), GM Anna Ushenina (UKR, 2418), WGM Govhar Beydullayeva (AZE, 2402), WGM Olga Babiy (UKR, 2306), WGM Beloslava Krasteva (BUL, 2220), IM Marina Brunello (ITA, 2353), WGM Mitra Hejazipour (FRA, 2376), IM Sophie Milliet (FRA, 2392), IM Aleksandra Maltsevskaya (POL, 2393), WIM Sofiia Hryzlova (SUI, 2251) and IM Olga Zimina (ITA, 2299).

All results, pairings and rankings can be found here. In Round 6 that starts on April 25 at 3 PM local time, Ulviyya Fataliyeva takes on Bozhena Piddubna while Marta Garcia Martin faces Lela Javakhishvili.  

You can follow the games with live commentaries by GM Alojzije Jankovic and Dragana Nikolovska on the ECU YouTube channel.

Rich photo gallery with photos by ECU and Jim Laga can be found on the European Open and Women’s Individual Chess Championships Facebook page.

Text and photos: ECU

Official website: ewcc2024.eu/