We Arrived in Greece! Our Experience at the 9th International Open “Vardaris”

Participating in the 9th International Chess Open Tournament “Vardaris” was both a competitive challenge and a deeply rewarding experience. Events like this remind me why professional chess is not only about results, but also about environment, preparation, resilience, and community.

A Well-Organized International Event

First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to "Vardaris" organization, and especially to Zoe and George for their exceptional professionalism throughout the event. From the playing conditions to the logistical coordination and constant player support, everything was handled with great care and efficiency.

Competing in a tournament where details are managed at such a high level allows players to focus entirely on performance. That kind of structure is fundamental in a demanding [International Open Tournament] with long rounds and strong opposition.

Sporting Performance: Fighting Chess Every Round

From a competitive standpoint, I leave the tournament very satisfied with my performance.

Each round was a true battle, with games lasting on average nearly four hours. In events of this nature, maintaining focus and emotional balance becomes just as important as preparation and calculation.

Tournament Results

• 4/7 points

• +9 [FIDE Rating]

• 4th place in the Women’s Ranking

• Tied for 40th place overall

Beyond the numbers, I value the quality of the games and the fighting spirit in every round. Competing in a strong [FIDE-rated Open Tournament] pushes you to constantly adapt, calculate deeply, and make practical decisions under pressure.

Stoinev, Metodi vs. Palao, Adriana

0-1 9th Vardaris Open Chess.com Round: 06

The Broadcast Experience: Connecting Beyond the Board

One of the highlights of this edition was the live broadcast of my games on YouTube & Twitch. The reception exceeded expectations, with outstanding audience engagement throughout the event.

The energy of the online community was truly felt during every round. Competing while simultaneously sharing the journey live creates a powerful bridge between professional play and chess fans worldwide.

I am especially grateful to official technological team in charge for Vardaris for making it possible to deliver a high-quality stream under tournament conditions: thanks a ton to Kleon Ballas for all, . The technical precision behind the scenes ensured everything ran smoothly.

A heartfelt thank you as well to my commentators, Luca Pontiroli @IAmShivaita – Chess Commentator & Streamer and Nasrin Babayeva @ChessMasterNasrin – WFM & Streamer, whose insights, preparation, and professionalism elevated each broadcast. Their analytical depth added enormous value for viewers following the games in real time.

Lessons and Takeaways

This tournament leaves me with:

• Valuable competitive experience: 2 FM - +2100 rated in most of the rounds

• Rating progress: +9 on my classic FIDE rating

• Practical lessons from long, complex games: Lucena bridge, dynamic positions, new openings and specific preparation that worked out!

• And immense gratitude toward the chess community: all the audience and +40k unique viewers in some rounds is just crazy! I hope this little chess journey is really inspiring some others worldwide.

High-level opens like “Vardaris” are not only about standings. They are about growth, adaptation, and the constant pursuit of improvement.

The journey continues.

Thanks a lot to Vardaris, & thanks a lot to Greece 💓

More info at www.vardaris.com/en