Nona Gaprindashvili crowned European Senior Chess Champion

Georgia's chess legend and former World Champion Nona Gaprindashvili claimed the gold medal and first place among women at the European Senior Chess Championship that concluded in north-east of Spain on Sunday.

Gaprindashvili was confirmed as the winner of the women's title after the final round of the competition was played at the Cal Balsach Pavilion venue in the Catalan city.

The prize-winning player scored 5.5 points in the 65+ age group, with the result qualifying her for the first place, ahead of Russia’s Elena Fatalibekova on four points and Irina Kabanova third with three.

European Senior #Chess Championship for 2017 concluded in Sabadell, Spain. Congrats to the Champions! Final report: https://t.co/wOMQPQeMigpic.twitter.com/eDsoEEZhzy

— EuropeanChessUnion (@ECUonline) August 21, 2017

The 65+ category involved both men and women, however results were calculated separately. Georgia's Tamaz Giorgadze finished with silver medal among men in the same section, behind Sweden's title winner Nils-Gustaf Renman with 7.5 points.

Other categories of the competition included separate 50+ age groups for men and women.

Two other players took part in the event from Georgia: 50+ category top seed Zurab Sturua and eighth ranked Tsiala Kasoshvili competed in men and women's sections respectively.

The Championship ran from August 11-21 and was organised by Ione Techno Group and Spanish Chess Federation, under the auspices of European Chess Union.

The Championship involved players in two age categories for men and women participants. Photo: European Chess Union.

Born in the western Georgian city of Zugdidi in 1941, Gaprindashvili became the world's first five-time chess champion in 1975 when she defeated another famous Georgian female player Nana Aleksandria in the final match for the title.

The win followed her earlier world championship victories in 1962, 1965, 1969 and 1972.

She also holds the unique status of being the first female chess player awarded the title of chess Grandmaster among male competitors.

She also won 11 chess Olympiad tournaments from 1963-1992 as well as four Women's World Senior Championships in 1995, 2009, 2014 and 2015.

Furthermore, Gaprindashvili became chess champion of the Soviet Union five times from 1964 to 1985.

Gaprindashvili was officially recognised as the greatest Georgian female sportsperson of the 20th Century in 1999 and has served as honorary president of Georgia's National Olympic Committee since 1996.