After three rounds of play at the European Women’s Chess Championship 2026 in Batumi, Georgia, seven players maintain a flawless 3/3 score, closely followed by a group of 15 players on 2.5 points.

The early leaders are: IM Mai Narva (EST, 2426), IM Oliwia Kiolbasa (POL, 2397), FM Anna-Maja Kazarian (NED, 2317), WGM Elmira Mirzoeva (ENG, 2265), WFM Anastasiia Hnatyshyn (UKR, 2207), WIM Gulenay Aydin (TUR, 2204), and WFM Varvara Poliakova (FIDE, 2108).

IM Mai Narva (EST, 2426) defeated WFM Charis Peglau (GER, 2238) after an interesting game which transposed into a winning rook endgame for the top-rated Estonian female player. Narva showcased excellent endgame technique to smoothly convert her advantage into a win.

IM Oliwia Kiolbasa (POL, 2397) was victorious with the White pieces against WIM Sofiia Hryzlova (SUI, 2226). Kiolbasa built a slight edge out of the opening, but the tables turned after 29.Rhf2?, handover an almost winning position to Black. However, Hryzlova missed her chance in severe time trouble, committing a decisive blunder to lose the game after 38 moves.

The 16-year-old Ukrainian WFM Anastasiia Hnatyshyn (UKR, 2207) stunned today after defeating Spanish representative IM Sabrina Vega Gutierrez (ESP, 2375) with the Black pieces. Hnatyshyn built a slight advantage from the early part of the game and gradually improved it until converting it into a winning endgame with an exchange up, which turned into a victory shortly after.

FM Anna-Maja Kazarian (NED, 2317) secured her spot in the leading pack by defeating WGM Michalina Rudzinska (POL, 2200). Playing French Defense with the Black pieces, Kazarian emerged from the opening sequence with a pleasant position and steadily grew her advantage. She ultimately won a piece to bring the game to a swift conclusion.

WIM Gulenay Aydin (TUR, 2204) joined the perfect scores after overcoming WGM Jana Schneider (GER, 2283). It was a well-balanced, solid game until Schneider played 29.Nf4?? – a fatal blunder that allowed Aydin to generate a decisive advantage. The Turkish player spotted the winning tactical motif instantly, winning a piece and taking the full point just a couple of moves later.

WFM Varvara Poliakova (FIDE, 2108) continues her sensational strike in the tournament. After upsetting IM Irina Bulmaga (ROU, 2361) in round one and defeating WGM Sofia Pogorelskikh (SRB, 2284) in round two, today she claimed a win against WIM Adela Velikic (SRB, 2277). Velikic seemed well-prepared in the opening, but mistakes in the early middlegame allowed Poliakova to seize the initiative. While the position remained complicated, 29…Rg8?? happened to be a critical mistake, letting Varvara secure a decisive advantage and the win.

WGM Elmira Mirzoeva (ENG, 2265) emerged on the top with a victory over WFM Polina Kobak (ARM, 2186). In an unclear and double-edged game, the young Armenian player made a bad blunder on the 40th move with 40…Qf8??, just before making the time control. Mirzoeva saw the tactical winning motif and ended the game in her favor after a couple of moves.

ECU