Matthias Bluebaum Wins the European Chess Championship 2025
The European Chess Championship 2025 has concluded, and Matthias Bluebaum has emerged as the champion after an intense final round. The tournament, held in Eforie Nord, Romania featured some of the strongest players in Europe battling for the prestigious title and coveted spots in the FIDE World Cup.
A Historic Achievement
Matthias Bluebaum becomes the first-ever player to win the European Chess Championship twice, having previously claimed the title in 2022 in Slovenia. His consistent performance throughout the event solidified his place as one of Europe’s top grandmasters.
A Thrilling Final Round
Going into the last round, two players were tied for the lead—Matthias Bluebaum and Daniil Yuffa, both standing at 8 points out of 10 rounds. Bluebaum had the advantage in tie-breaks, having defeated Yuffa in their direct encounter in the seventh round.
Final Round Pairings:
- Board 1: GM Daniil Yuffa vs. GM Frederik Svane
- Board 2: GM Matthias Bluebaum vs. GM Nijat Abasov
- Board 3: GM Maxim Rodshtein vs. GM Shant Sargsyan
Yuffa, who led for much of the tournament, suffered a crucial loss against Bluebaum in Round 7. However, he rebounded strongly with a critical win over GM Aryan Tari in the penultimate round, catching up with Bluebaum in the standings. Meanwhile, Bluebaum, who had been half a point ahead before Round 10, drew his game against GM Gabriel Sargissian from, allowing Yuffa to catch up.
With two players on 8 points and seven players close behind at 7.5 points, the final round promised high drama.
Matthias Bluebaum Claims the Title
In the decisive final round, Bluebaum played a quick 5-move draw with Nijat Abasov, securing a tie for first place.
Meanwhile, Yuffa, who needed a win to claim the championship outright, faced Frederik Svane with the Black pieces. Unfortunately for Yuffa, he was unable to rise to the occasion and lost his game.
Maxim Rodshtein won his final-round game against Shant Sargsyan, bringing him into the three-way tie for first place.
With Bluebaum’s draw, Svane’s victory, and Rodshtein’s win, three players—Matthias Bluebaum, Frederik Svane, and Maxim Rodshtein—finished the tournament with 8.5 points. Due to superior tie-break scores, Bluebaum was crowned the European Champion.
World Cup Qualification
Beyond the championship title, the European Chess Championship 2025 also served as a qualification event for the FIDE World Cup, set to take place later this year in India. The top 20 finishers in the tournament have secured their spots in the World Cup.
Final Standings
- Bluebaum, Matthias (Germany) – 8.5 points
- Svane, Frederik (Germany) – 8.5 points
- Rodshtein, Maxim (Israel) – 8.5 points
Full standings: https://chess-results.com/tnr1080156.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=11&fed=ISR&turdet=YES&flag=30
With the European Championship concluded, the chess world now turns its attention to the World Cup, where the battle for a place in the Candidates Tournament continues.
