GM Paweł Teclaf and IM Klaudia Kulon are the new chess champions of Poland. Hailing from Kartuzy, the 21-year-old Teclaf claimed his maiden national title, while Kulon captured her second crown, repeating her 2021 success.
Held at Kraków’s historic Wawel Castle from May 6-14, the 2025 PGE Polish Chess Championship featured both Open and Women’s sections. . Unlike several previous knockout editions, the 2025 competition followed a 10-player round-robin format. The total prize fund was 157,000 PLN, with top prizes of 30,000 PLN (approximately $8,000) awarded to the champions of both sections.
The Open tournament proved to be a tightly contested event, culminating in a thrilling duel between Paweł Teclaf (pictured below, left) and Jakub Kosakowski (pictured below, right). Entering the final ninth round as joint leaders with 5.5/9, both players drew their games, to finish tied at 6/9. A rapid tiebreak match was played to determine the champion.
After drawing the first game with the black pieces, Teclaf clinched the title by winning the second. Notably, he emerged the only undefeated player in the competition.
The 2024 champion Radosław Wojtaszek completed the podium edging out Szymon Gumularz on better tiebreaks.
Final Standings – Open
In the Women’s event, Klaudia Kulon started strong with three straight wins and took an early lead, which she never relinquished. Although she stumbled in Round 4 with a loss to Oliwia Kiolbasa, Kulon bounced back with another three victories, securing the title with a round to spare.
IM Aleksandra Maltsevskaya, the only undefeated player in the women’s section, delivered a consistent performance but managed only three wins, finishing in second place with 6/9.
IM Alina Kashlinskaya and GM Monika Socko both scored 5.5/9, tying for third place. Kashlinskaya claimed the bronze medal on tiebreaks.
Final Standings – Women
Photos: Julia Michniak and Jakub Pietraszewski
Official website: mp2025.pzszach.pl/