The closing ceremony of European Individual Women's Chess Championship was held last night in „Nikola Tesla“ hall of hotel Metropol Palace in Belgrade.
Ms. Sava Stoisavljevic, the Chief Arbiter of the Championship, declared the winners. The trophies for the winners were awarded by Mr. Dejan Vasovic, Deputy of Mayor of Belgrade, Mr. Miodrag Vukotic, President of Serbian Chess Federation, and Ms. Alisa Maric, Minister of Sport and Youth of Republic of Serbia and Chairperson of the Organizing Committee of the Championship.
After the anthem of Hungary, Alisa Maric declared the Championship officially closed.
Apart from Alisa Maric, the guests were welcomed by Mr. Vladimir Sakotic, who addressed to all the present on behalf of the European Chess Union.
„At the very end of this competition, it seems that the feeling of satisfaction is surpassing the feeling of fatigue, because I believe that the efforts made in the previous period have been visible. We have tried to organise the championship which will be remembered at least for some details and special characteristics. Your assessment, after this tournament, will tell us how much we have succeeded in this.” said Mr. Sakotic. He thanked all the people who helped in the organization of the tournament and expressed his special thanks to Ministry of Sport and Youth of Republic of Serbia and Minister Alisa Maric.
Sonja Kalaic's quartet was responsible for the music programme and the pleasant atmosphere.
GM Hoang Thanh Trang (2467) is the new European Champion for 2013! She drew with Viktorija Cmilyte in the last 11th round and won the Championship with 9 points out of maximum 11. The curiosity is that Hoang Trang is the first woman to win both Asian and European Individual Women's Championships.
Although Cmilyte had an advantage almost during the whole game, she still didn't manage to win, and with the unfortunate turn of events, she even stayed without the medal, and came 4th.
Six players with 8 points tied for the second place, but according to tie-break (Average Rating cut-1) silver medal went to IM Salome Melia (2428) from Georgia, and bronze went to IM Lilit Mkrtchian (2454) from Armenia.
Last round brought many exciting games. Monica Socko and Salome Melia played until the last atom of strength was squeezed. Socko was trying to materialize the advantage she had and win the game and the silver medal, but Melia defended well during the whole game and there was nothing more that Socko could do but to finally draw in 150 moves. With this draw Socko finished 7th with the worst tie-break among the 6 players.
Lilit Mkrtchian defeated Valentina Gunina in a game full of turnovers. The advantage was first in Valentina's hands, but she made many mistakes which Lilit used to turn the game and eventually win the game, which brought her the bronze medal.
Wins for the tied second place achieved Alexandra Kosteniuk, who came 5th and Bela Khotenashvili who came 6th.
Congratulations to the winners, and to all the participants for the fair play and a great tournament!
Nadezda Stojanovic
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the final press conference of the European Individual Women's Chess Championship 2013. Here with me is the new European Champion, GM Hoang Trang from Hungary, who drew in tha last round with Viktorija Cmilyte, and with 9 points won the title.
Trang welcome and congratulations for the title!
In the last 11th round of European Individual Women's Chess Championship she drew with Viktorija Cmilyte, and with 9 points out of maximum 11 she won this prestigious title.
Hoang Trang will attend the press conference today at 8 pm in the press center.
The leader Hoang Trang defeated Alexandra Kosteniuk with black in the 10th round of European Individual Women's Chess Championship. It seems Kosteniuk had a bad day, and practically beat herself. She chose a strange sequence of moves, which Hoang punished right away and now she has a full point advantage over the following players, since the other important matches were drawn.
Salome Melia drew with Viktorija Cmilyte, and the same happened in the games Pogonina vs Socko, Anna Muzychuk vs Mkrtchian and Girya vs Khotenashvili.
Serbian representative Irina Chelushkina lost to Marina Romanko, in a game full of turnovers. At some point she had quite an advantage, but in the time trouble didn't manage to use it well. Unfortunately, afterwards she spoiled the equal position and eventually lost in the rook endgame.
Important victories achieved Valentina Gunina against Lisa Schut, Ekatarina Kovalevskaya against Nana Dzagnidze, and Sopiko Guramishvili against Elena Cosma.
In the last 11th round Hoang Trang will face Viktorija Cmilyte and Socko will play against Melia, and these two pairs will decide the champion.
