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We are on the last day of the competition with a situation still susceptible to radical changes in almost all tournaments. We'll see if prudence or the will to fight will prevail in this last round, also because we remember that the title and the money prize are obviously important here, but the top three in each category of the European Championship (for a total of 12 players) will be entitled to free hospitality at the next world championship as well as the 12 from the other three continents and the first 12 from the last world championship.
But let's take a closer look at the situation
In the eighth round English GM John Nunn drew Slovakian GM Lubomir Ftanick who was only leading and this meant that English FM Terry Chapman joined him, both 6.5/8 out of 8 and playing against... In pursuit, ready to take advantage of the slightest drop, a small group with Nunn himself, the German Matthias Kierzek, the Spanish GM Fernandez Garcia Jose Luis and another German Wolfgang Polster, all with 6/8.
Georgian GM Nona Gaprindashvili leads with 5.5/8 followed by German WGM Gisela Fischdick, with 5/8. Third with 4,5/8 the German Mira Kierzek.
Here the situation is very complicated. Four players in the lead with 6/8 Georgian GM Zurab Sturua, Spanish IM Lacasa Diaz Jose Antonio, Italian IM Fabrizio Bellia and English FM Stephen Dishman. Considering that only the first two mentioned meet each other so anything can really happen.
Games done for the Greek WGM Marina Makropoulou, who with 6/8 is crowned European champion with one round to spare!! The Lithuanian Margarita Baliuniene and the German WFM Olga Birkholz are at 4.5/8 and are playing for the places of honor followed by the Latvian Polina Ni with 4/8.
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