Sofia Blokhin is the new world champion!

The World youth rapid chess and blitz championship took place in the Slovenian town of Terme Čatež. It was also where Woman FIDE Master Sofia Blokhin has triumphantly concluded her youth tournament career. Sofia is now the new world champion in rapid chess among U18 girls! Despite intense competition (in addition to Sofia, seven more WFM’s and one WIM (woman international master) participated in the tournament), she managed to get off to a great start and immediately take the lead. By the ninth round, the lead over the pursuers from Russia (the Russian participant competed under the neutral FIDE flag) and Kazakhstan reached a whole point, but a nervous ending could still not be avoided.

Medal games are always nerve-racking. Despite Sofia’s extensive international experience, only one point was scored in the last three games. Fortunately, the main competitors did not shine either and were only able to catch up, but not overtake the Estonian player. After finishing on a shared 1-3 place (8 points out of 11), Sofia became first via additional tie-breaks. The result is deserved and fair, because Sofia was in the lead throughout the tournament, and in direct encounters with the second and third places she scored 1.5 points out of 2. In general, all’s well that ends well. Congratulations to the world champion!

Maria Helena Rüdiger participated in the U14 girls tournaments. Maria performed at her best, taking 30th (rapid chess) and 31st (blitz) places and slightly increasing her rating. Having played a total of 33 games over three days, Maria gained excellent experience and a reference point for subsequent international achievements.

Thank you Sofia and Maria, thank you Slovenia – this is definitely our lucky country )