Teodora Injac Makes Epic Comeback to Win 2025 European Women’s Championship

Serbian IM Teodora Injac emerged victorious at the 2025 European Women’s Championship after a stunning comeback from a first-round loss. Injac won nine consecutive games to claim her first continental title with a round to spare, finishing with an impressive score of 9.5/11. Her performance earned her the €10,000 first prize and a well-deserved spot in the upcoming 2025 FIDE Women’s World Cup.

The silver and bronze medals went to Romanian IM Irina Bulmaga and Estonian IM Mai Narva, with Poland’s IM Aleksandra Maltsevskaya narrowly missing out on a podium finish. Despite this, Maltsevskaya can take comfort in knowing that she still qualifies for the World Cup along with the top 10 finishers.

The tournament, held at the Rodos Palace Conference Hotel in Rhodes, Greece, attracted 136 participants from 34 countries, showcasing fierce competition with players ranging from 1470 to 2473 in FIDE ratings. Injac’s journey to victory was marked by tactical brilliance and resilience, with key wins against strong opponents like Natalia Zhukova and Bella Khotenashvili.

Injac’s remarkable performance drew praise from Serbian chess personalities, including the captain of the country’s open Olympiad team, IM Miodrag Perunovic, who commended her attitude, commitment, and mental strength. Other notable performances in the championship included rising stars like Anastasia Kirtadze, Zala Urh, and Agnesa Stepania Ter-Avetisjana, who made significant rating gains.

The championship also featured exciting games, with Narva’s positional masterpiece against Viktoria Radeva and the intense battle between Eline Roebers and Martyna Wikar standing out as highlights. Overall, the 2025 European Women’s Championship showcased the talent and competitive spirit of women chess players from across Europe, setting the stage for future success in the world of chess.