Ukraine Secures Historic Gold at the European Team Chess Championship 2025 in Georgia
With resilience and strategic mastery, Ukrainian chess players once again demonstrated their strength by winning the prestigious European Team Chess Championship 2025 held in Georgia, a country renowned for its rich chess traditions.
The men’s team, comprising Ruslan Ponomaryov, Andriy Volokitín, Anton Korobov, Ihor Kovalenkо, and Ihor Samunenkov, achieved an impressive record of seven wins out of nine rounds, earning Ukraine’s second-ever gold medal in the tournament’s history, following their triumph in 2021.
Throughout the competition, the Ukrainian squad defeated reigning champions Serbia, as well as top contenders Germany and the Netherlands.
Notably, in matches against Germany, Ponomaryov and Volokitín defeated star grandmasters Vincent Kaimar and Matthias Blübaum, showcasing Ukraine’s extraordinary talent.
The women’s team, excluding the Muzichuk sisters, also demonstrated remarkable prowess, securing silver medals in Batumi.
Their roster featured Julia Osmax, Anna Ushenina, Inna Gaponenko, Natalia Zhukova, and Bozhena Piddubna.
These achievements not only affirm Ukraine’s dominance in chess but also symbolize the country’s formidable presence in international sports competitions, reaffirming their position on the world chess map.