15-Year-Old Ukrainian Crowned European Chess Champion

A 15-year-old Ukrainian, Anastasiia Hnatyshyn, has become the European chess champion.

The European Chess Union reported the outcome of the tournament, which took place in the Georgian city of Batumi from May 25 to June 5. A total of 131 female players participated in the event, which consisted of 11 rounds, according to the European Chess Union on June 5.

By the end of the competition, Hnatyshyn had secured 9 points out of a possible 11. Her final record included 8 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss.

In the final round, the Ukrainian faced Polish chess player Klaudia Kulon. Based on the standings from previous games, Hnatyshyn only needed a draw to secure the overall victory, which is how the match ended.

Meanwhile, the two players closest to the Ukrainian in the standings, Sabrina Vega of Spain and Olga Badelka of Austria, also finished their match in a draw.

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World

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The athlete’s world ranking shifted significantly following the tournament. Before the championship began, she held the 233rd position, but after securing the title, she climbed to 17th place.

Previously, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ordered the Russian Chess Federation to cease all operations in Ukrainian territories under Russian occupation.

The court determined that the previous penalty imposed by FIDE for these activities was grossly disproportionate and mandated that the Russian federation comply with the ban within 90 days.

This legal decision effectively challenged Russia's attempts to legitimize its presence in regions such as Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk through sporting events. Furthermore, the ruling established a legal precedent for other international sports organizations, as the Ukrainian Chess Federation emphasized that the normalization of aggression through sports would no longer be tolerated on the global stage.

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