Only 15 players remain perfect at the EWICC 2025
Following plenty of surprising results in round 1, the second round of the European Women’s Chess Championship 2025 was played today in Rhodes, Greece. The players had a tough day in the office, and the games were marked by plenty of turnovers. Only 15 players remained with the perfect score of 2/2 points, while 35 players follow them scoring 1.5/2 points each.
Just one player from the top 10 seeds is in the leading group, and that is GM Bella Khotenashvili (GEO, 2418) who defeated CM Wiktoria Smietanska (POL, 2254) after converting the engaging tactical motive to a winning Queens’ endgame.
EWICC Rhodes: European Women’s Chess Championship 2025 / EIWCC preview / Live games with computer analysis / List of European Women Chess Champions
The games played on the top three boards finished in a draw. GM Nino Batsiashvili (GEO, 2473) couldn’t prevail with Blacks against WIM Mariam Mkrtchyan (ARM, 2282). It was a very solid game where Batsiashvili showed an extraordinary idea that was addressed as a “2600-level-move” by our host in the ECU TV studio GM Alojzije Jankovic. Mkrtchyan saw the potential problems, didn’t accept the sacrifice, and kept with the precise play, so the players finally shook hands for a draw after 25 played moves.
Playing on the second board, FM Anastasia Avramidou (GRE, 2275) drew against European Women’s Chess Champion 2023 IM Meri Arabidze (GEO, 2447) . A very solid game that hadn’t gone far from the equal evaluation, concluded with a draw after 25 moves.
WIM Ayan Allahverdiyev (AZE, 2266) drew against the 2016 European Women’s Chess Champion GM Anna Ushenina (UKR, 2428). Allahverdiyeva had a clear edge out of the opening, but she made a mistake and Ushenina then got a chance for the victory. She went for the Queens’ sacrifice and got into a winning position, but missed the winning move and repeated moves in the time trouble.
One of the major surprises of today’s day happened in a game between WIM Zala Urh (SLO, 2244) and defending European Women’s Chess Champion IM Ulviyya Fataliyeva (AZE, 2387). Fataliyeva had a clear advantage in the late middlegame, but made a mistake and entered equal rooks endgame. When everything seemed safe for both players considering the time control and the position on the board, Ulviyya Fataliyeva made a huge mistake and allowed her opponent to capitalize with two connected passed pawns. Urh Zala was precise in the end, and scored a win for perfect score.
The third round is scheduled for 14:00 CET (15:00 local time) and live games can be followed through the ECU TV platform or through the ECU YouTube channel with commentaries by GM Alojzije Jankovic and Dragana Nikolovska. Photos by Jim Laga