Zdenko Kožul is a new Croatian champion. The 55-year old native of Bihac won his third national title with a round to spare. Zdenko completed the event unbeaten and scored impressive 8½/11
The Croatian Championship, a 12-player round-robin tournament with classical time control, took place at the Continental Hotel in Rijeka from 30 November to 10 December 2021.
The top-seed and three-time Croatian champion Ivan Saric faltered in the starting round but pulled himself together and competed for the title with Kozul almost until the very end, finishing just a half-point behind.
IM Leon Livaic scored a solid +3 (7/11), beating the silver winner along the way and suffering no defeats, just like the champion. The 21-year old earned bronze, completed a GM norm, and picked 11 rating points.
At the closing ceremony, the trophies were awarded to the winners by the president of the Rijeka Sports Association, Dorotea Pešić Bukovac.
Final standings:
1 | GM | Kožul, Zdenko | 2625 | 8½ |
2 | GM | Šarić, Ivan | 2665 | 8 |
3 | IM | Livaić, Leon | 2537 | 7 |
4 | GM | Jovanović, Zoran | 2523 | 6 |
5 | GM | Martinović, Saša | 2542 | 5½ |
6 | GM | Zelčić, Robert | 2540 | 5 |
7 | IM | Dorić, Darko | 2475 | 5 |
8 | GM | Ferčec, Nenad | 2415 | 5 |
9 | GM | Bosiočić, Marin | 2545 | 4½ |
10 | IM | Srbiš, Jurica | 2448 | 4½ |
11 | GM | Šarić, Ante | 2536 | 4 |
12 | GM | Kovačević, Blažimir | 2399 | 3 |
Official website: phrijeka2021.com/
Photo: official website
