Zeng Chongsheng wins Paul Keres Memorial 2026

Chinese GM Zeng Chongsheng (CHN, 2565) took first place in the Classic Open A section of the 7th Paul Keres Memorial Festival, held July 27 – August 1, 2026 at the Estonia Resort Hotel & Spa in Pärnu, Estonia. He finished the 9-round Swiss with 8/9, a full point clear of the field.

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Second place went to GM Valery Kazakouski (LTU, 2594) on 7/9. FM Eivind Grunt Kreken (NOR, 2335) and GM Krzysztof Jakubowski (POL, 2424) tied for third on 6.5/9, followed by IM Toivo Keinanen (FIN, 2495) on 6/9. Top seed GM Maxime Lagarde (FRA, 2622) finishing with 6/9 as well.

The field numbered 67 players. Zeng entered as the third seed by rating but outscored both higher-rated players in the section, going through the tournament without a loss. The festival carried a guaranteed prize fund of €17,500 across its various sections and offered title-norm possibilities in the classical events.

Paul Keres Memorial 2026 final standings

Rk.		Name	FED	Pts.
1	GM	Zeng Chongsheng	CHN	8
2	GM	Kazakouski Valery	LTU	7
3	FM	Kreken Eivind Grunt	NOR	6.5
4	GM	Jakubowski Krzysztof	POL	6.5
5	IM	Keinanen Toivo	FIN	6
6	GM	Harikrishnan.A.Ra	IND	6
7	GM	Laurusas Tomas	LTU	6
8	IM	Maltsevskaya Aleksandra	POL	6
9		Povilaitis Tomas	LTU	6
10	GM	Lagarde Maxime	FRA	6
11	FM	Meessen Rudolf	BEL	6
12		Troselj Ivan	CRO	5.5
13	CM	Platonovs Nikolajs	LAT	5.5
14	WIM	De Seroux Camille	SUI	5.5
15	IM	Krivonosov Oleg	LAT	5.5
16	FM	Ostensen Nicolai Maxime	NOR	5
17	IM	Kirk Ezra	ENG	5
18	FM	Haitin Ilja	EST	5
19	WIM	Ter-Avetisjana Agnesa Stepania	LAT	5
20	FM	Grave Jacob Templen	NOR	5
21	WIM	Keinanen Anastasia	FIN	5
22	WIM	Zhao Yunqing	CHN	5
23	WGM	Berzina Ilze	LAT	5
24	FM	Fecker Noah	SUI	5
25		Praczukowski Stanislaw	POL	5
26		Du Yuxin	CHN	5
27	FM	Krustkalns Kristaps	LAT	5
28	CM	Juknis Paulius	LTU	5
29		Golsta Madara	LAT	5
30	FM	Ternault Mathieu	FRA	4.5
31	WIM	Kubicka Anna	POL	4.5
32		Rajandu Aaron	EST	4.5
33		Milius Ignas	LTU	4.5
34		Kavalnis Rytis	LTU	4.5
35	WIM	Jakubowska Anna	POL	4.5
36		Merivee Romet-Renee	EST	4.5
37		Ostlund Anders	SWE	4.5
38		Warcaba Jakub	POL	4.5
39		Mironov Ruslan	EST	4.5
40	CM	Mortensen Michael	NOR	4
41		Dijokas Jokubas	LTU	4
42	CM	Beniosev Daniel	LAT	4
43	FM	Viskelis Darius	LTU	4
44		Bleys Michiel	BEL	4
45	CM	Lazars Krisjanis	LAT	4
46		Malmsten Hans	SWE	4
47		Kalus Franciszek	POL	4
48		Roos David	BEL	4
49	WCM	Barinova Marina	EST	4
50	AIM	Hansson Markus	EST	4
51		Mazatis Benjamin	GER	4
52		Kolesnikovs Ivans	LAT	4
53	WFM	Blokhin Sofia	EST	3.5
54		Korchagin Oleg	EST	3.5
55	CM	Maddens Martijn	BEL	3
56		Juodziukynas Aidas	NOR	3
57	WCM	Olde Grete	EST	3
58		Dunn Alan	NZL	3
59	AGM	Bondarenko Dmitry	EST	3
60		Le Doan Minh Thuc	SWE	3
61		Kiritshenko Platon	EST	2.5
62		Falkenberg Hendrik	GER	2.5
63		Koosel Hans-Georg	EST	2.5
64	WCM	Damen Josephine	NED	2.5
65		Polin Giulia	ITA	2.5
66		Van Garderen Ton	NED	1.5
67		Gorkov Kirill	EST	0