England and Slovenia Triumph at European Senior Team Championships
The European Senior Team Chess Championships concluded in Hersonissos, Crete, where England 1 claimed the title in the 50+ section and Slovenia emerged victorious in the 65+ category. The event took place from August 27 to September 4, featuring around 150 players competing in two age divisions.
England 1, the top seeds in the 50+ tournament, achieved a remarkable score of 17 out of 18 match points, winning eight matches and drawing one. Their only draw occurred in round four against Italy, which ended in a 2-2 tie. Following this, England won all four remaining matches to secure the championship, finishing with a total of 29½ game points, surpassing Italy's 26½.
In the 65+ section, Slovenia and England 1 both finished with 16 match points, but Slovenia won the title based on the tiebreak criteria. Slovenia remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, while England's sole defeat against Slovenia in round four proved pivotal. Slovenia's Alexander Beliavsky led the team, and individual medals were awarded to several players from both teams.
