The seventh round of the European Women’s Chess Championship 2026 was played today in Batumi, Georgia, and only four rounds left to be played before the announcement of the new European Champion.

Playing on the top board, the 2023 European Women’s Champion IM Meri Arabidze (GEO, 2409) defeated 15-year-old WFM Anastasiia Hnatyshyn (UKR, 2207) to stop the Ukrainian rising star’s perfect run, catching her at the top with a score of 6/7 points. In the meantime, IM Sabrina Vega Gutierrez (ESP, 2375) scored a victory against IM Ulviyya Fataliyeva (AZE, 2450) to share the lead with Arabidze and Hnatyshyn on 6/7 points.

It was a very tense game between Meri Arabidze and Anastasiia Hnatyshyn. Arabidze pressed for a win with the White pieces but made a few mistakes in the middlegame, allowing Hnatyshyn to take the edge. In a clearly better position, the young Ukrainian faced time trouble and made a costly mistake with 39…Qd7?, entering a practically difficult position even though the engine evaluated it as equal. Arabidze transposed into a better endgame and eventually pulled out a win, which brought her score to 6/7 points.

IM Sabrina Vega Gutierrez (ESP, 2375) was victorious against IM Ulviyya Fataliyeva (AZE, 2450) with the White pieces. The game opened sharply, and Fataliyeva made a bad mistake with 18…Nc6?, immediately giving White a clear advantage. Sabrina Vega showed great technique and amazing precision to win the game without giving her opponent any chances.

The leading trio is followed by five players who were victorious today and now score 5.5/7 points each: IM Laura Unuk (SLO, 2289), FM Alexandra Zherebtsova (MNE, 2242), IM Eline Roebers (NED, 2389), GM Anna Ushenina (UKR, 2420), and IM Olga Badelka (AUT, 2392).

ECU