Hailing from Caracas, the talented GM Eduardo Iturrizaga added yet another feather to his cap by securing his third consecutive championship title. On the other hand, IM Sarasadat Khademalsharieh, showcasing her remarkable skills, marked her maiden victory in the esteemed Spanish Women’s Championship category.

This grand chess event stretched from October 12th to the 21st in the picturesque city of Marbella. Formatted as a 9-round Swiss tournament, participants were challenged with classical time controls. One notable aspect of this championship was its inclusive nature: both men and women competed side by side in the same event. However, scores were maintained separately, ensuring that the top-performing female participant would be rightly recognized as the Spanish Women’s Champion.

Throughout the tournament, suspense and excitement were high. Many rounds saw a tight race, with several players often jostling for the top position. As the decisive ninth round approached, three stalwarts, Eduardo Iturrizaga, Alan Pichot, and Maksim Chigaev, found themselves tied for the lead. In a nail-biting scenario, Iturrizaga was paired against Pichot, while Chigaev was matched with Daniil Yuffa, who was trailing just slightly with half a point behind. Chess enthusiasts watched with bated breath, but all top board games concluded in draws. Yet, the title was destined for Iturrizaga, who, due to a better Buchholz score, emerged as the champion.

Parallelly, in the women’s section, Sarasadat Khademalsharieh and the former champion, Marta Garcia Martin, finished with an impressive score of 6/9. The final decision rested on the tournament’s ranking system, and Khademalsharieh was declared the winner due to her superior position in the final standings.

We invite you, the chess enthusiasts a to be experience the thrill, learn from the masters, and immerse yourself in the world of chess.