The Grand Batumi Experience

In the land of ancient wine-making tradition, unique cuisine and stunning landscapes, let me take you along on an alternative trip, one spiced up with dirty tricks, food poisonings and memorable commutations between toilets, doctors and hospitals. 

European Team Chess Championships. Events where you represent your country are always special. They are characterized by a heightened sense of responsibility, but also a distinctive team atmosphere. The individual moves on the second place and one tries to inspire and support the whole. It is such that when you see your colleague in trouble, you in a sense stop being objective and try to compensate by maximizing your chances on your own board. This strategy worked well for us here, allowing us to finish 8^th when being seeded 17^th in the starting ranking list. But let’s not jump ahead and take it step by step.

I have noticed that the trend in traveling has changed lately. More people are trying to choose unusual destinations and authentic experiences rather than well-known all-inclusive resorts. Chess organizers seem to follow this tendency closely, bringing us to Batumi, Georgia, only for the 2^nd time this year and the 4^th time in the last 6, with another 2 to follow in 2026. I was so thrilled when learning it! The 2018 Olympiad in Batumi is still vivid in my memory! While playing there , I managed to lose 5 games in a row when failing to cope with what a professional chess player should excel at- having a stomach made of steel. If you can’t eat the same meat- freshly unfrozen on the 1^st day, with spices on the 2^nd one and with some sauce on the 3^rd- you are lacking essential skills. How lucky to be able to work on them! 

Earlier this year I missed on it, as it was not compulsory to stay at the official hotel during the Women’s World Cup and I rented an apartment. It was such a disappointment to have fresh salads, fantastic meats and heavenly tasting bakes… Who knew I’d get a 2^nd chance just a few months later! The 5 star Grand Bellagio Hotel, which was the official venue, looked very promising. It was boasting a 6,4 mark on Booking and promising rooms where there was almost no mold, very few broken appliances, a nearly clean carpet and a soon to be functional gym and spa. Add up the intel acquired from some players who stayed there at the above-mentioned Women’s World Cup, which indicated a high chance of our stomachs being seriously tested at the hotel’s restaurant, how could one not look forward to it?

Romanian Women's Team

I came prepared. With a bag full of pills and some extra hundred euros in the wallet, the plan was to indulge on the restaurant’s food only for the occasional lunch. It worked well. Sparing an extra 20 minutes on urgent toilet trips immediately after the midday food intake once in a few days could only make me stronger. However, there were players who wanted to enjoy the full experience. Eating 2 or sometimes even 3 times a day at the hotel’s restaurant sent several players to the tournament’s doctor with severe fever, chills, vomiting and other such symptoms. Sometimes they would get some medicine, other times- the chance to visit a Georgian hospital to get some IVs. I envy them. When else would I get such a chance? Ah, wait, I forgot- next year!

So, if you wondered why you wouldn’t see your favourite players paired for a few days in a row- here’s the most likely answer- they were getting the all-inclusive experience.

Batumi promenade

Now switching to the chess part. The 8^th place in the final rankings is a very good result for our 17th seeded team. We had chances for more, but I guess there always are. Personally, I didn’t have a stellar performance. But how else would my character get tested if not by missing out on some winning positions? By getting a dose of disrespect from the opponents. Why not indeed. As a friend told me- it only shows that they wanted a good result by any means. Offering a draw to your opponent when knowing that the only satisfying result for their team is a win on your board is not forbidden by rules- maybe they would lose a few minutes on their clock by consulting their captain… Offering a draw 2 minutes after making your move, realising you blundered and found yourself in a lost position while your opponent is in a deep think, why not disturb them? This one is actually forbidden by rules, but you have a good personal relationship-they would definitely not mind it. It can only strengthen your connection.

Concluding it- this European Championship even exceeded my expectations- body and spirit tested and strengthened like never before! Can’t wait for the next time!

 

(Photo credits: etcc2025.com)