Poland's Jan-Krzysztof Duda wins European blitz chess title

Poland's Jan-Krzysztof Duda has been crowned the European blitz chess champion, while countryman Maciej Klekowski took the silver on home soil in the southern city of Katowice.

Polish chess player Jan-Krzysztof Duda.

Photos: PAP/Andrzej Grygiel

The bronze went to Russian Anton Demchenko.

#Katowice finally taken!
Not that easy and with some luck, but mission accomplished!
Congrats to GM Maciek Klekowski for silver and GM Anton Demchenko for bronze!@ECUonline #GrupaSportowaOrlen@LenovoPolska @Zinzinoofficial pic.twitter.com/U1NaUCIby3

— Jan-Krzysztof Duda (@GM_JKDuda) December 17, 2021

European Blitz Chess Championship 2021 concluded in #Katowice , Poland!
After 22 played rounds, the Winners are:
🏆Duda Jan-Krzysztof 🇵🇱, 18 points
🥈Klekowski Maciej 🇵🇱 17.5 points
🥉Demchenko Anton 🇷🇺 16.5 points

Congratulations! 👏

Final results: https://t.co/4iLtGwu0ye pic.twitter.com/j1QokCDpUL

— European Chess Union (@ECUonline) December 17, 2021

Meanwhile, Russia's Alexander Motylev won the European rapid chess championship, ahead of Germany's second-placed Alexander Donchenko.

Paulius Pultinevičius of Lithuania claimed the bronze.

European Rapid Chess Championship 2021 has just concluded!
After 11 played rounds 3 players tied for the top scoring 9.5 points each. Tiebreaks criteria decided the Champion and the medalists:
🏆Motylev Alexander🇷🇺
🥈Donchenko Alexander🇩🇪
🥉Pultinevicius Paulius🇱🇹

Congrats!👏 pic.twitter.com/EEJdGAP8cU

— European Chess Union (@ECUonline) December 19, 2021

More than 550 chess players from 21 countries took part in the 2021 European Blitz and Rapid Chess Championships, which were held at Katowice's Spodek Arena from Friday to Sunday.

Jan-Krzysztof Duda was in October awarded the Gold Cross of Merit, a high Polish state decoration, for his achievements in sports and for helping promote the country internationally.

The 23-year-old in August became the first Pole to win the Chess World Cup after beating Russia’s Sergei Karyakin in the final.

The Polish chess grandmaster, who hails from the southern city of Wieliczka, was also the first Pole to advance to the World Cup finals after knocking out world champion Magnus Carlsen in the semifinals.

(gs)

Source: PAP