Azerbaijan win European team chess championship

Azerbaijan won the European Team Championship for the second time in five years, as France stumbled in the ninth and final round. The French were unbeaten until they lost narrowly to Russia, who edged out Armenia for the bronze medals on tie-break.

The French took silver – quite an achievement in the absence of GM Laurent Fressinet who, I suspect, is assisting Magnus Carlsen. Armenia were poised for another victory at a major event after defeating Russia in round seven, but they could not overcome Azerbaijan on the final day. England finished equal seventh and 10th on tie-break, but lost only one match.