A Prestigious Event by the Black Sea
The European Championship 2025 took place in Eforie Nord, Romania, from March 15th to 26th. Set by the Black Sea, it was a stunning location, but the tournament itself was as intense as ever.
With 400 players, including 100 Grandmasters and 75 International Masters from 40 countries, the competition was fierce. The event was spread across three tournament halls, each buzzing with high-level chess.
Bluebaum Matthias from Germany emerged as the champion, making history as the only player to win the European Championship twice, having previously secured the title in 2022.
Final standings: https://chess-results.com/tnr1080156.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=11&turdet=YES&flag=30
Tarun’s Solid Performance
As for my brother, Tarun, his tournament went fine. He held his own against strong opposition, drawing against two Grandmasters, Can Emre and Parligras. He played solid chess and gained valuable experience.
Tarun’s game in the 7th round lasted about 6.5 hours! It was a Rook and Knight versus a lone Rook, and the game ended in a draw after 155 moves.
Tough Experience
My tournament, on the other hand, was nothing short of a disaster. I lost around 60 rating points, and the results were simply not in my favor. I had good positions in many games, but somehow, things just didn’t click.
But that’s chess. Some tournaments teach you more through losses than wins ever could.
Off the Board Highlights
On the rest day, I tried to take my mind off things by going to the beach. The weather was lovely, and collecting seashells by the shore was a much-needed escape.
One of the big moments of the event was when five-time World Champion and FIDE Vice President, Vishwanathan Anand, visited to make the opening move of the penultimate round.
We also got to meet members of Killerchess, which was another highlight. Despite the tough tournament, these moments made the event memorable in a positive way.
This wasn’t the result I wanted, but setbacks are part of the journey. I’ll learn from my mistakes, work harder, and come back stronger in the next tournament. Onward and upward!