The European Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships 2024 brought the best chess minds to Skopje, North Macedonia from December 6 to 11 . ...
The European Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships 2024 brought the best chess minds to Skopje, North Macedonia from December 6 to 11. Hosted at the prestigious Hotel Continental, this tournament delivered electrifying performances and unforgettable moments, crowning new champions in multiple formats.
📅 Event Overview:
| Event | Dates | Format | Time Control |
|---|---|---|---|
| European Rapid Chess Championship | December 7-8, 2024 | 11-round Swiss | 15 minutes + 10 seconds per move |
| European Blitz Chess Championship | December 9, 2024 | 13-round Swiss | 3 minutes + 2 seconds per move |
| European Fischer Random Championship | December 10, 2024 | 11-round Swiss | 10 minutes + 5 seconds per move |
The championship gathered 400 players from 38 European federations, making it one of the most competitive events of the year.
💰 Prize Fund:
Total Prize Fund: €47,000
Additional €3,000 in vouchers from Modern Chess for outstanding performances.
🔝 Final Results & Winners:
| Event | Winner | Federation | Points |
| European Rapid Champion | GM Vladimir Fedoseev | Slovenia | 9.5 |
| European Blitz Champion | GM Jorden van Foreest | Netherlands | 11.0 |
| European Fischer Random | GM Alexey Sarana | Russia | 9.0 |
🔥 Key Highlights:
🏆 Vladimir Fedoseev's Rapid Triumph: Fedoseev started with two draws but soared to victory with six consecutive wins. His strategic mastery and calm under pressure proved decisive, earning him the title of European Rapid Champion.
🏆 Jorden van Foreest's Blitz Brilliance: The Dutch Grandmaster dominated the Blitz section, showcasing lightning-fast calculations and bold attacks to claim the top prize with 11 points out of 13 rounds.
🏆 Alexey Sarana's Fischer Random Victory: Sarana's adaptability in the unpredictable Fischer Random format led him to success, highlighting his versatility across multiple chess disciplines.
🎉 Top 10 Final Standings (Rapid Chess):
| Rank | Player | Federation | Points |
| 1 | GM Vladimir Fedoseev | Slovenia | 9.5 |
| 2 | GM Rasmus Svane | Germany | 9.0 |
| 3 | GM David Navara | Czech Republic | 8.5 |
| 4 | GM Ivan Saric | Croatia | 8.5 |
| 5 | GM Benjamin Gledura | Hungary | 8.0 |
| 6 | GM Kirill Alekseenko | Russia | 8.0 |
| 7 | GM Anton Korobov | Ukraine | 8.0 |
| 8 | GM Alexander Motylev | Russia | 7.5 |
| 9 | GM Benjamin Bok | Netherlands | 7.5 |
| 10 | GM Andrey Esipenko | Russia | 7.5 |
🗰 Blitz Championship - Top 5 Standings:
| Rank | Player | Federation | Points |
| 1 | GM Jorden van Foreest | Netherlands | 11.0 |
| 2 | GM Alexander Motylev | Russia | 10.5 |
| 3 | GM Rauf Mamedov | Azerbaijan | 10.0 |
| 4 | GM Gawain Jones | England | 10.0 |
| 5 | GM Alexey Sarana | Russia | 9.5 |
🎯 Memorable Moments:
Fedoseev's dominance in the mid-game phase was reminiscent of Karpov's positional brilliance.
Van Foreest's victory was marked by aggressive plays and endgame precision, reminiscent of Mikhail Tal's flair.
The Fischer Random event had exciting upsets, making it a fan favorite for its unpredictability.
🌍 Why This Event Matters: The European Rapid and Blitz Championships continue to highlight emerging talents and established grandmasters, providing a platform where speed, strategy, and nerves are tested to the fullest. This year's tournament will be remembered not just for the titles, but for the intense rivalries and displays of tactical ingenuity.
📊 Looking Ahead: With the European Championship concluded, the chess world turns its eyes toward upcoming events like the Tata Steel Chess Tournament and the Candidates Tournament 2025. Stay tuned for more exciting chess battles!
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