Ukrainian Hnatyshyn sensationally wins European Chess Championship

According to Sport.ua, the Lviv native entered the competition ranked only 74th among the 150 participants. Nevertheless, Hnatyshyn scored 9 points out of a possible 11 and became just the fourth Ukrainian woman in history to win the continental title, Ukrinform reports.

In the final round, Hnatyshyn faced Polish player Klaudia Kulon. Playing with the white pieces, the Ukrainian only needed a draw to secure the championship and successfully held her opponent. Meanwhile, her two closest rivals, Spain’s Sabrina Vega and Austria’s Olga Badelka, also drew their game, confirming Hnatyshyn’s triumph.

The victory caps an outstanding year for Hnatyshyn. In 2025, she finished runner-up at the Olympic team qualifying tournament in Uzhhorod, earning a place on Ukraine’s squad for the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand. In April, she helped Ukraine win the prestigious Mitropa Cup. Last year, she also captured the European Rapid Chess Championship title and won bronze at Ukraine’s national classical chess championship.

It is worth noting that the men’s European Chess Championship also produced a surprise Ukrainian winner, with 17-year-old Roman Dehtiarov from Kharkiv claiming the continental crown.

Photo: Europechess.org