GM Bogdan-Daniel Deac and IM Corina-Isabela Peptan triumphed at the 2026 edition of the Romanian Championship. Deac won his second national title (his first came back in 2021), while Peptan claimed her 13th (!) women’s crown. The event took place in Timișoara from February 14–22 across three sections – Open, Women, and Amateurs – all 9-round Swiss tournaments with classical time control.
Top seed Deac lived up to expectations and emerged as champion, but it was no walk in the park for him. Deac got off to an excellent start, winning four straight games and taking the lead, but GM David Gavrilescu caught up with him in the very next round. Deac surged ahead again, only to share the top spot after Round 7 – this time with another strong competitor IM Filip Magold.
In the penultimate round, Deac scored a crucial victory over FM Artiom Vedmediuc and pulled away again, as Magold drew with Constantin Lupulescu. Heading into the final round a half point ahead of Magold, Deac drew with IM Henry Edward Tudor and secured the title with an impressive score of 7.5/9, as his main rival also split the point with Gavrilescu. Magold and Lupulescu (who pulled off a final-round victory) tied for second place on 7/9, with the former claiming silver due to superior tiebreaks.
Top seed in the women’s event, Corina-Isabela Peptan, also rose to the occasion, claiming her record-breaking thirteenth national title. Peptan reeled off four consecutive victories in Rounds 3–6 and seized the lead, which she never relinquished. Drawing three final games proved sufficient to claim the crown.
IM Andreea-Marioara Cosman finished a half point behind the champion for silver, while WGM Elena-Luminita Cosma edged out four competitors on superior Buchholz score to complete the podium.
Răzvan-Cătălin Tudoroiu emerged as the winner in the Amateur section.
Photos: Federația Română de Șah