French Chess Championship

The French Chess Championship is the annual, national chess tournament of France. It was officially first played in 1923 after the formation of the Fédération Française des Echecs in 1921. The first unofficial national tournament was played in 1880, in the Café de la Régence, where further edition were held in 1881 and 1883. The 1903 and 1914 tournaments were the first real predecessors of the official championship. They ran under the name Championnat de France des amateurs (Championship of the chess enthusiasts).

Unofficial championships

[edit]
# Championship Year City Winner
(1) National-ch 1880 Paris Samuel Rosenthal
(2) National-ch 1881 Paris Edward Chamier
(3) National-ch 1883 Paris Albert Clerc
(1) Amateur-ch 1903 Arcachon Adolphe Silbert
(2) Amateur-ch 1914 Lyon Alphonse Goetz

Official championships

[edit]
# Year City Winner
1 1923 Paris Georges Renaud
2 1924 Strasbourg Robert Crépeaux
3 1925 Nice Robert Crépeaux
4 1926 Biarritz André Chéron
5 1927 Chamonix André Chéron
6 1928 Marseille Aimé Gibaud
7 1929 Saint-Claude André Chéron
8 1930 Rouen Aimé Gibaud
9 1931 Lille André Muffang
10 1932 La Baule Maurice Raizman
11 1933 Sarreguemines Aristide Gromer
12 1934 Paris Victor Kahn
13 1935 Saint-Alban-les-Eaux Aimé Gibaud
14 1936 Paris Maurice Raizman
15 1937 Toulouse Aristide Gromer
16 1938 Nice Aristide Gromer
** 1939 The 17th French championship was scheduled to be played in Le Havre and Rouen from 8 to 17 September 1939, but was cancelled after the outbreak of World War II.[1]
** 1940 The Dictionnaire des Echecs by François Le Lionnais and Ernst Maget (PUF, Paris, 1974) states that a French championship was held in 1940 in Nice and was won by Aimé Gibaud; but no corroborating evidence of such a tournament has been found.[2]
17 1941 Paris Robert Crépeaux
18 1942 Paris Roger Daniel
19 1943 Pau Louis Bigot
** 1944 Paris The 20th French championship was scheduled to be played from August 17 to 27, but the tournament was abandoned after the second round on August 18 due to the liberation of the city by Allied forces.[3]
20 1945 Roubaix César Boutteville
21 1946 Bordeaux Maurice Raizman
22 1947 Rouen Maurice Raizman
23 1948 Paris Nicolas Rossolimo
24 1949 Besançon Claude Hugot
25 1950 Aix-en-Provence César Boutteville
26 1951 Vichy Maurice Raizman
27 1952 Charleville Maurice Raizman
28 1953 Paris Savielly Tartakower
29 1954 Marseille César Boutteville
30 1955 Toulouse César Boutteville
31 1956 Vittel Pierre Rolland
32 1957 Bordeaux Volf Bergraser
33 1958 Le Touquet Claude Lemoine
34 1959 Reims César Boutteville
35 1961 Paris Guy Mazzoni
36 1962 Paris André Thiellement
37 1963 Paris André Thiellement
38 1964 Montpellier Michel Roos
39 1965 Dunkerque Guy Mazzoni
40 1966 Grenoble Volf Bergraser
41 1967 Dieppe César Boutteville
42 1968 Charbonnières-les-Bains Jean-Claude Letzelter
43 1969 Pau Jacques Planté
44 1970 Mulhouse Jacques Maclès
45 1971 Mérignac Jean-Claude Letzelter
46 1972 Rosny-sous-Bois Aldo Haïk
47 1973 Vittel Michel Benoit
48 1974 Chambéry Jean-Claude Letzelter
49 1975 Dijon Miodrag Todorcevic
50 1976 Saint-Jean-de-Monts François Chevaldonnet
51 1977 Le Touquet Louis Roos
52 1978 Castelnaudary Nicolas Giffard
53 1979 Courchevel Bachar Kouatly
54 1980 Puteaux Jean-Luc Seret
55 1981 Vitrolles Jean-Luc Seret
56 1982 Schiltigheim Nicolas Giffard
57 1983 Belfort Aldo Haïk
58 1984 Alès Jean-Luc Seret
59 1985 Clermont-Ferrand Jean-Luc Seret
60 1986 Épinal Gilles Mirallès
61 1987 Rouen Christophe Bernard
62 1988 Val Thorens Gilles Andruet
63 1989 Épinal Gilles Mirallès
64 1990 Angers Marc Santo-Roman
65 1991 Montpellier Marc Santo-Roman
66 1992 Strasbourg Manuel Apicella
67 1993 Nantes Emmanuel Bricard
68 1994 Chambéry Marc Santo-Roman
69 1995 Toulouse Éric Prié
70 1996 Auxerre Christian Bauer
71 1997 Narbonne Anatoly Vaisser
72 1998 Méribel Josif Dorfman
73 1999 Besançon Étienne Bacrot
74 2000 Vichy Étienne Bacrot
75 2001 Marseille Étienne Bacrot
76 2002 Val-d'Isère Étienne Bacrot
77 2003 Aix-les-Bains Étienne Bacrot
78 2004 Val-d'Isère Joël Lautier
79 2005 Chartres Joël Lautier
80 2006 Besançon Vladislav Tkachiev
81 2007 Aix-les-Bains Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
82 2008 Pau Étienne Bacrot
83 2009 Nîmes Vladislav Tkachiev
84 2010 Belfort Laurent Fressinet
85 2011 Caen Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
86 2012 Pau Romain Edouard, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Christian Bauer, Étienne Bacrot [a]
87 2013 Nancy Hicham Hamdouchi
88 2014 Nîmes Laurent Fressinet
89 2015 Saint Quentin Christian Bauer
90 2016 Agen Matthieu Cornette
91 2017 Agen Étienne Bacrot
92 2018 Nîmes Tigran Gharamian
93 2019 Chartres Maxime Lagarde
** 2020 cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic[5]
** 2021 cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic[6]
94 2022 Albi Jules Moussard
95 2023 Alpe d'Huez Yannick Gozzoli
96 2024 Alpe d'Huez Jules Moussard[7]
97 2025 Vichy Marc'Andria Maurizzi[8]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Edouard, Vachier-Lagrave, Bacrot and Bauer were tied on a score of 7/10 going into the final round, when news broke of the death of Christian Bauer's four month-old child. The players decided to cancel the 11th and final round. Edouard, Vachier-Lagrave and Bacrot were to play off for the title, but on further reflection it was decided that all four players should share the title. [4]

Women's winners

[edit]
Year City Winner
1924 Paris Marie Jeanne Frigard
1925 Paris Paulette Schwartzmann (off contest)
Marie Jeanne Frigard
1926 Paris Marie Jeanne Frigard
1927 Paris Paulette Schwartzmann (off contest)
Marie Jeanne Frigard
1928 Paris Paulette Schwartzmann (off contest)
Jeanne D'Autremont
1929 Paris Paulette Schwartzmann (off contest)
Jeanne D'Autremont
1931 Paris Paulette Schwartzmann (off contest)
Louise Pape
1932 Paris Alice Tonini (off contest)
Jeanne D'Autremont
1933 Paris Alice Tonini (off contest)
Paulette Schwartzmann
1934 Paris Alice Tonini (off contest)
Maud Flandin
1935 Paris Paulette Schwartzmann
1936 Paris Chantal Chaudé de Silans
1937 Toulouse Angles D'Auriac
1938 Nice Paulette Schwartzmann
1941 Paris Long
1942 Paris Duval
1943 Paris Suzanne Dehelly
  • No contest held between 1944 and 1954
Year City Winner
1955 Toulouse Vazeille
1956 Vittel Isabelle Choko
  • No contest held between 1957 and 1974
Year City Winner
1975 Paris Milinka Merlini
1976 Saint-Jean-de-Monts Milinka Merlini
1977 Le Touquet Milinka Merlini
1978 Castelnaudary Milinka Merlini
1979 Courchevel Monique Ruck-Petit
1980 Paris Milinka Merlini
1981 Orange Josiane Legendre
1982 Orange Martine Dubois
1983 Montpellier Julia Lebel-Arias
1984 Loches Isabelle Kientzler
1985 Lille Christine Leroy
1986 Orange Julia Lebel-Arias
1987 Baud Sabine Fruteau
1988 not played
1989 Orange Sabine Fruteau
1990 Challes-les-Eaux Julia Lebel-Arias
1991 Montpellier Christine Flear (née Leroy)
1992 Le Havre Claire Gervais
1993 Nantes Claire Gervais
1994 Chambéry Christine Flear (née Leroy)
1995 Toulouse Raphaelle Bujisho (later Raphaelle Delahaye)
1996 Auxerre Claire Gervais
1997 Bastia Malina Nicoara
1998 Meribel Christine Flear (née Leroy)
1999 Besançon Christine Flear (née Leroy)
2000 Vichy Marie Sebag
2001 Marseille Maria Nepeina-Leconte
2002 Val d'Isère Marie Sebag
2003 Aix-les-Bains Sophie Milliet
2004 Val d'Isère Almira Skripchenko
2005 Chartres Almira Skripchenko
2006 Besançon Almira Skripchenko
2007 Aix-les-Bains Silvia Collas
2008 Pau Sophie Milliet
2009 Nîmes Sophie Milliet
2010 Belfort Almira Skripchenko
2011 Caen Sophie Milliet
2012 Pau Almira Skripchenko
2013 Nancy Nino Maisuradze
2014 Nîmes Nino Maisuradze
2015 Saint Quentin Almira Skripchenko
2016 Agen Sophie Milliet
2017 Agen Sophie Milliet
2018 Nîmes Pauline Guichard
2019 Chartres Pauline Guichard
2022 Albi Almira Skripchenko
2023 Alpe d'Huez Mitra Hejazipour
2024 Alpe d'Huez Deimantė Daulyte-Cornette
2025 Vichy Yosha Iglesias[9]

Some crosstables

[edit]
FRA-ch (Women) 77th Val d'Isere 2002
Player Rating 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 Points TB Perf. +/-
1  Marie Sebag (France) 2344 * ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 1 9 2417 +9
2  Christine Flear (France) 2176 ½ * 1 0 1 0 ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 35.50 2304 +19
3  Raphaelle Delahaye (France) 2166 ½ 0 * ½ 1 ½ 1 0 1 1 1 1 34.75 2305 +21
4  Roza Lallemand (France) 2301 0 1 ½ * ½ 0 1 1 ½ 1 1 1 33.75 2293 0
5  Sophie Milliet (France) 2173 ½ 0 0 ½ * 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 1 32.50 2304 +20
6  Anne Muller (France) 2169 0 1 ½ 1 0 * 0 0 ½ 1 1 1 6 2204 +5
7  Friederike Wohlers Armas (France) 2170 ½ ½ 0 0 ½ 1 * ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 2172 0
8  Marina Costagliola (France) 2238 0 0 1 0 0 1 ½ * 0 1 ½ 1 5 2135 -16
9  Claire Marchadour (France) 2081 0 ½ 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ 1 * ½ ½ ½ 2116 +5
10  Martine Dubois (France) 2049 0 0 0 0 0 0 ½ 0 ½ * 1 1 3 2014 -6
11  Aurelie Dacalor (France) 2123 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ½ ½ 0 * 1 2 1916 -27
12  Melanie Verot (France) 2077 ½ 0 0 0 0 0 ½ 0 ½ 0 0 * 1 1781 -30
FRA-ch (Women) 85th Belfort 2010
Player Rating 1 2 3 4 5 6 Points TB Perf. +/-
1  Almira Skripchenko (France) 2458 ** ½½ ½1 ½1 ½1 2498 +5
2  Sophie Milliet (France) 2367 ½½ ** 10 00 11 6 2396 +4
3  Maria Nepeina-Leconte (France) 2337 ½0 01 ** ½1 10 ½½ 2366 +4
4  Silvia Collas (France) 2333 11 ½0 ** ½0 ½½ 5 2333 0
5  Pauline Guichard (France) 2320 ½0 01 ½1 ** ½½ 4 2265 -8
6  Marina Roumegous (France) 2181 ½0 00 ½½ ½½ ½½ ** 2 2123 -6

Average Elo: 2332 <=> Cat: 4

FRA-ch (Women) 86th Caen 2011
Player Rating 1 2 3 4 5 6 Points TB Perf. +/-
1  Sophie Milliet (France) 2355 ** ½½ ½1 ½1 ½1 7 2445 +12
2  Nino Maisuradze (France) 2329 ½½ ** 10 00 11 2338 +1
3  Andreea Bollengier (France) 2207 ½0 01 ** ½1 10 ½½ 5 2327 +17
4  Pauline Guichard (France) 2305 11 ½0 ** ½0 ½½ 22.75 2274 -4
5  Maria Nepeina-Leconte (France) 2327 ½0 01 ½1 ** ½½ 21.50 2269 -8
6  Silvia Collas (France) 2323 ½0 00 ½½ ½½ ½½ ** 2198 -18

Average Elo: 2307 <=> Cat: 3

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Thimognier, Dominique. "1939 - non disputé". Héritage des échecs français (in French). Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  2. ^ Thimognier, Dominique. "1940 - non disputé". Héritage des échecs français (in French). Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  3. ^ Thimognier, Dominique. "1944 - Interrupted - Cancelled". Héritage des échecs français (in French). Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  4. ^ Crowther, Mark. "87th French Chess Championship 2012". The Week in Chess. Archived from the original on 31 October 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  5. ^ "French Individual Chess Championships 2022 LIVE". Chessdom. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  6. ^ "French Individual Chess Championships 2022 LIVE". Chessdom. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  7. ^ Deimante Daulyte-Cornette Championne et Jules Moussard Champion de France d’Échecs 2024 !
  8. ^ Marc'Andria Maurizzi Champion de France!
  9. ^ Iglesias Championne de France!
[edit]