GM Szymon Gumularz and IM Oliwia Kiolbasa are the newly crowned Polish chess champions, both claiming their maiden national titles.
The 2026 Polish Chess Championship, featuring open and women’s sections, was held in Warsaw from March 22–30. Like the 2025 edition, the 2026 competitions were 10-player round-robins with classical time control, attracting the country’s best players.
Gumularz (pictured below) made a spectacular start in the open event, notching up five consecutive victories that effectively settled the question of the eventual champion. Despite finishing with four draws, he confidently secured the title with a round to spare, scoring an impressive 7/9.
Last year’s runner-up, GM Jakub Kosakowski, again claimed silver with 5.5/9, while Łukasz Licznerski edged out Paweł Teclaf and Radosław Wojtaszek to complete the podium (all three scored 5/9).
The women’s event proved much more tense competition that came down to the wire. Despite her first-round loss, Alicja Śliwicka reeled off three straight victories and led most of the tournament. Still, heading into the final round with 6/8, she could not feel safe as Kiolbasa was trailing her by just half a point. In a dramatic turn of events, Śliwicka lost to the 2025 champion Klaudia Kulon, while Kiolbasa pulled off a crucial victory over Maria Siekańska to capture the title with 6.5/9. Notably, the new champion finished with five consecutive wins.
The top seed Alina Kashlinskaya, Monika Socko, and Śliwicka shared second place on 6/9, with Kashlinskaya and Śliwicka taking silver and bronze respectively on tiebreaks.
Photos: Polski Związek Szachowy