European National Chess Championships: Amar Dominates in Norway as Veteran Tiviakov Claims Dutch Title

The European national chess championship season reached its climax this week, delivering two starkly different narratives that highlight the generational spectrum of the modern game. In Kristiansund, a rising prodigy cemented his status as Norway's next great hope. Meanwhile, in Amsterdam, a seasoned veteran proved that classical resilience and blitz prowess do not fade with age.[1][3]

At the 2026 Norwegian Championship Elite, 21-year-old Grandmaster Elham Amar delivered an absolute masterclass. Competing in a grueling nine-round Swiss tournament, Amar finished with a commanding score of 7/9, clearing the rest of the field by a full 1.5 points.[1]

Amar secured the classical title with a decisive final-round victory over Kjetil A. Lie. His overall performance—six wins, two draws, and just a single loss—demonstrated a level of consistency that his domestic rivals simply could not match.[1]

But the young grandmaster was not finished with his Kristiansund campaign. Days after securing the classical crown, Amar entered the national blitz championship, aiming for a rare dual-format sweep.[4]

In the blitz final, Amar found himself tied for first place with Nicolai Maxime Østensen, both players finishing on 4.5/5. The championship came down to a high-stakes Armageddon tiebreak. Playing with the black pieces—where a draw is sufficient to win the match—Amar held his nerve to secure the victory, earning his second consecutive national blitz title.[4]

Amar's dominant week underscores his rapid ascent in the Norwegian chess hierarchy. Earning his grandmaster title in 2024, he is increasingly viewed as a torchbearer for the national federation, following in the footsteps of legends like Simen Agdestein and Magnus Carlsen.[5][7]

While youth reigned supreme in Norway, the 2026 Dutch Championship at the Renaissance Amsterdam Schiphol Airport Hotel offered a triumph for the old guard. With top-ranked Dutch players Anish Giri and Jorden van Foreest absent, the knockout tournament presented a wide-open opportunity.[2][3]

Entering as the eighth seed, 53-year-old Grandmaster Sergei Tiviakov navigated a treacherous bracket. Tiviakov dispatched IM Eelke De Boer in the opening round, survived a tense matchup against Erwin l'Ami, and defeated Eric van den Doel in the semifinals to reach the championship match.[3]

In the final, Tiviakov faced 24-year-old GM Liam Vrolijk, a rising star who had recently earned his grandmaster title in 2022. The generational clash lived up to expectations, with both classical games ending in hard-fought draws.[2][8]

The championship was ultimately decided in a blitz tiebreak. Relying on his decades of competitive experience, Tiviakov swept both blitz games, defeating Vrolijk 3-1 overall to claim the national title.[2][3]

The victory marks Tiviakov's fourth Dutch national championship, adding to his previous triumphs in 2006, 2007, and 2018. Known for his 'rock solid' positional style and his historic 110-game unbeaten streak in the mid-2000s, the veteran demonstrated that he remains a formidable force even in faster time controls.[3][6]

The Dutch women's division also delivered its share of drama, with upsets defining the later rounds. The top four seeds all reached the semifinals, but the ratings underdogs prevailed in both matchups.[3]

Machteld van Foreest emerged victorious in the women's bracket. After defeating veteran Zhaoqin Peng in a blitz tiebreak in the semifinals, van Foreest swept Anna-Maja Kazarian 2-0 in the final to claim the national title.[3]

The contrasting victories of Amar and Tiviakov serve as a fitting conclusion to the summer's national championship circuit. While Amar represents the aggressive, engine-assisted youth movement dominating the sport, Tiviakov's triumph is a testament to enduring strategic fundamentals, proving that experience can still conquer the board.[1][3]