site.btaBulgaria Scores Wins in Both Women’s, Men’s Events in Round Two of European Team Chess Championship

Both the Bulgarian women’s and men’s national chess teams scored victories in the second round of the European Team Chess Championship in Batumi on Monday.

Bulgaria’s women’s team, who are reigning champions from the 2023 tournament in Budva, defeated the Netherlands 2.5-1.5 points. Wins for Bulgaria came from Nurgyul Salimova, who beat Machteld van Foreest with the white pieces, and Viktoria Radeva, who also triumphed with white against Marlies Bensdorp-De Labaca. On the top board, Antoaneta Stefanova drew with black against Eline Roebers, while Beloslava Krasteva suffered a loss on board three to Anna-Maja Kazarian, setting the final score. With this result, Bulgaria maintains a perfect record of four match points, following its opening-round victory over Czechia.

In the men’s competition, the Bulgarian team coached by Kiril Georgiev secured its first win of the championship, edging Iceland 2.5-1.5. Martin Petrov, playing white on board two, and Momchil Petkov, playing black on board three, claimed victories over Gudmundur Kjartansson and Hannes Stefansson, respectively. Radoslav Dimitrov drew on board four against Aleksandr Domalchuk-Jonasson, while on the top board, Arkadij Naiditsch was defeated by Vignir Stefansson.

The third-round matches are scheduled for Tuesday.