Master Andrei Macovei became the new national rapid chess champion. The championship was organized on March 17-18 by the Chess Federation. The strongest chess players from Chisinau, Tiraspol, Balti, Comrat, Ribnitsa and Falesti with international ratings above 1,600, including seven masters, competed in the championship, IPN reports.

A graduate of the Specialized Sports School of Chess No. 7, international master Andrei Macovei of Chisinau accumulated 5.5 points out of 7 possible. With 5 points each, Egor Lashkin of Tiraspol got the silver, while Dragoș Cereș got the bronze. Cereș, who is the national classic chess champion, will represent Moldova at the individual European Championship in the Slovenian city of Terme Catez during March 26-April 7.

The women’s championship was won by Svetlana Petrenco, who accumulated 7 points out of 8 possible. The silver medal went to Victoria Bargan, last year’s national champion. Alina Mihailova of Comrat placed 3rd.

On Sunday, the new national blitz chess champions will be known as well.