European Women's Championship: A few upsets on opening day in Batumi (opens in new tab)

The 2026 European Women's Chess Championship kicked off in Batumi with 165 players from 32 federations competing for the continental title and ten places in the next FIDE Women's World Cup. The opening round saw several higher-rated players defeated, including Klaudia Kulon and Irina Bulmaga, while four games on the top ten boards were drawn after the favourites failed to convert or had to defend difficult positions. | Pictured: Oliwia Kiolbasa (Poland) | Photo: European Chess Union