International Master Artem Sadovsky wins Cyprus Open Chess Championship in Limassol

The Cyprus Open Chess Championship concluded on February 8 at the Elias Beach Hotel in Limassol with International Master Artem Sadovsky emerging as the winner. Sadovsky finished the tournament with 8 points out of 9, securing the title after a critical victory against the 2025 Cypriot Champion, Alexandros Isaakidis, in the eighth round. Seventeen-year-old Candidate Master Rafail Antoniou also earned 8 points but took second place due to tiebreaks, while Panikos Savva finished third. FIDE Master Marina Cherkasova won the women’s tournament. The event set records for both participation and prizes, attracting 101 players with a total prize fund of €5,000. Held with support from Freedom24 Chess Academy, the competition included the full national team and over 20 talented juniors. A pivotal moment occurred in the fifth round when Sadovsky defeated Antoniou despite both players reportedly suffering from fever. Sadovsky secured his victory with a draw in the final round to maintain his lead.