The Latvian Chess Championship () is the annual national chess tournament of Latvia among men and women players, which was established in 1924. It is organized by the Latvian Chess Federation (), previously - Latvian Chess Union ().

History

The first professional Latvian chess players can be traced back to the 19th century, when Latvia was a part of the Russian Empire. They participated in chess tournaments and union congresses, organized by the Riga Chess Association which was founded in 1890. After World War I and the Latvian War of Independence and the establishment of the Latvian Chess Union in 1924, the official Latvian chess championship tradition was started as the Latvian Chess Congresses. The first Latvian Chess Congress took place in 1924 in Riga.

After the start of the Soviet occupation of Latvia the 1940 edition was not held, but in 1941 the first Chess Championship of the Latvian SSR was played. The tournament was also played once during the German occupation during WWII, in 1943. After the restoration of Latvian independence, the Latvian Championship returned in 1990.

The tournament has been mostly held in the capital Riga and the village of Mežezers of Pļaviņas Municipality in southern Vidzeme.

Championships and winners

{| class="sortable wikitable" ! Year !! City !! Men's Winner !! Women's Winner |- | 1924 || Riga || Hermanis Matisons || |- | 1926-7 || Riga || Fricis Apšenieks || |- | 1930-1 || Riga || Vladimirs Petrovs || |- | 1932 || Jelgava || Movsas Feigins || |- | 1934 || Riga || Fricis Apšenieks || |- | 1935 || Riga || Vladimirs Petrovs || |- | 1937 || Riga || Vladimirs Petrovs || Milda LauberteMatch victory over Elise Vogel 4:0 |- | 1938-9 || Riga || Vladimirs Petrovs || Elise VogelAdditional tournament results: 1. Elise Vogel 3 (+3, =0, -1) 2. Emīlija Šmite 2 (+2, =0, -2) 3. Marta Krūmiņa 1 (+1, =0, -3) |- | 1941 || Riga || Alexander Koblencs || Marta Krūmiņa |- | 1943 || Riga || Igors Ždanovs || Milda Lauberte |- | 1944 || Udelnaya, Russian SFSR|| Voldemārs Mežgailis || |- | 1945 || Riga || Alexander KoblencsVladimir Alatortsev played 'hors concours' in the 1945 Latvian Championship at Riga, and won the tournament (but not the title) || |- | 1946 || Riga || Alexander Koblencs || |- | 1947 || Riga || Zigfrīds Solmanis || |- | 1948 || Riga || Augusts StrautmanisMatch victory over Igors Ždanovs 4:3 (+3, =2, -2)|| Milda Lauberte |- | 1949 || Riga || Alexander KoblencsMark Taimanov played 'hors concours' in the 1949 Latvian Championship at Riga, and won the tournament (but not the title) || Milda Lauberte |- | 1950 || Riga || Voldemārs Mežgailis || Milda Lauberte |- | 1951 || Riga || Mark Pasman || Milda Lauberte |- | 1952 || Riga || Jānis Kļaviņš || Milda LauberteMatch victory over Lidiya Paramonova 3,5:0,5 |- | 1953 || Riga || Mikhail Tal || Milda Lauberte |- | 1954 || Riga || Jānis Klovāns || Milda LauberteMatch victory over Zara Nakhimovskaya 3,5:2,5 (+2, =3, -1) |- | 1955 || Riga || Aivars Gipslis || Milda LauberteMatch victory over Ārija Jansone 3,5:1,5 (+3, =1, -1) |- | 1956 || Riga || Aivars Gipslis || Milda Lauberte |- | 1957 || Riga || Aivars Gipslis || Milda LauberteOlga Ignatieva played 'hors concours' in the 1957 Latvian Women's Championship at Riga, and won the tournament (but not the title) |- | 1958 || Riga || Israel ZilberMatch victory over Aivars Gipslis 3,5:2,5 (+1, =5, -0) || Zara Nakhimovskaya |- | 1959 || Riga || Kārlis KlāsupsMatch victory over Pēteris Kampenuss 4:3 (+3, =2, -2)|| Zara Nakhimovskaya |- | 1960 || Riga || Aivars Gipslis || Milda Lauberte |- | 1961 || Riga || Aivars Gipslis || Zara Nakhimovskaya |- | 1962 || Riga || Jānis Klovāns || Zara Nakhimovskaya |- | 1963 || Riga || Aivars Gipslis || Astra Klovāne |- | 1964 || Riga || Aivars Gipslis || Astra Klovāne |- | 1965 || Riga || Mikhail Tal || Astra Klovāne |- | 1966 || Riga || Aivars Gipslis || Benita VējaMatch victory over Astra Klovāne 2,5:1,5 (+2, =1, -1) |- | 1967 || Riga || Jānis Klovāns || Vija Rožlapa |- | 1968 || Riga || Jānis KlovānsMatch victory over Valerij Zhuravliov 4:2 (+3, =2, -1) || Sarma SedlenieceMatch victory over Ilga Kļaviņa 3,5:1,5 (+3, =1, -1) |- | 1969 || Riga || Anatolijs ŠmitsMatch victory over Juzefs Petkēvičs 3,5:1,5 (+2, =3, -0) || Astra Klovāne |- | 1970 || Riga || Jānis Klovāns || Astra Klovāne |- | 1971 || Riga || Jānis Klovāns || Vija Rožlapa |- | 1972 || Riga || Lev Gutman || Vija Rožlapa |- | 1973 || Daugavpils(M) Riga(W) || Alvis Vītoliņš || Tamāra VilerteIngrīda Priedīte |- | 1974 || Riga || Juzefs PetkēvičsVladimir Kirpichnikov || Vija Rožlapa |- | 1975 || Riga || Jānis KlovānsAnatolijs Šmits || Astra Goldmane |- | 1976 || Riga || Alvis Vītoliņš || Ilze Rubene |- | 1977 || Riga || Alvis Vītoliņš || Astra Klovāne |- | 1978 || Riga || Alvis Vītoliņš || Astra Klovāne |- | 1979 || Riga || Jānis Klovāns || Ingrīda Priedīte |- | 1980 || Riga || Valerij Zhuravliov || Tatjana Voronova |- | 1981 || Riga || Aleksander Wojtkiewicz || Astra Goldmane |- | 1982 || Riga (M), Jūrmala (W) || Alvis Vītoliņš || Anda Šafranska |- | 1983 || Riga || Alvis Vītoliņš || Astra GoldmaneMatch victory over Anda Šafranska 3:1 (+3, =0, -1) |- | 1984 || Riga || Edvīns Ķeņģis || Anda Šafranska |- | 1985 || Riga || Alvis VītoliņšJuzefs Petkēvičs || Tatjana Voronova |- | 1986 || Riga || Jānis KlovānsMatch victory over Alvis Vītoliņš 2:0 || Tatjana Voronova |- | 1987 || Riga || Edvīns Ķeņģis || Tatjana Voronova |- | 1988 || Riga || Edvīns Ķeņģis || Natālija Jerjomina |- | 1989 || Riga || Edvīns ĶeņģisAdditional tournament results: 1. Edvīns Ķeņģis 2,5 (+1, =3, -0) 2. Jānis Klovāns 2 (+1, =2, -1) 3. Alvis Vītoliņš 1,5 (+1, =1, -2) || Ingūna Erneste |- | 1990 || Riga || Edvīns Ķeņģis || Anda Šafranska |- | 1991 || Riga || Normunds MiezisEvgeny Sveshnikov won the open tournament (but not the title)Match victory over Alvis Vītoliņš 2,5:1,5 (+2, =1, -1) || Anda Šafranska |- | 1992 || Riga || Valerij ZhuravliovSergey Okrugin won the open tournament (but not the title)Match victory over Jānis Daudzvārdis 2:0 || Anna HahnTuulikki Laesson won the open tournament (but not the title) |- | 1993 || Riga || Zigurds Lanka || Anda Šafranska |- | 1994 || Riga || Valerij Zhuravliov || Anda ŠafranskaMatch victory over Olita Rause 2,5:1,5 (+2, =1, -1) |- | 1995 || Riga || Igors Rausis || Ilze RubeneAdditional match with Anda Šafranska was drawn 2:2 (+1, =2, -1) but Ilze Rubene had the better Berger coefficient in the main tournament |- | 1996 || Riga || Daniel Fridman || Anda Šafranska |- | 1997 || Riga || Edvīns Ķeņģis || Anda Šafranska |- | 1998 || Riga || Māris KrakopsMatch victory over Juzefs Petkēvičs 2,5:1,5 (+1, =3, -0) || Dana ReiznieceMatch victory over Tatjana Voronova 2,5:1,5 (+1, =3, -0) (Ventspils) |- | 1999 || Riga || Arturs Neikšāns || Dana Reizniece |- | 2000 || Riga || Viesturs Meijers || Dana Reizniece |- | 2001 || Riga || Guntars Antoms || Dana Reizniece |- | 2002 || Riga || Ilmārs StarostītsAdditional tournament results: 1. Ilmārs Starostīts 1,5 (+1, =1, -0) 2. Viesturs Meijers 1 (+1, =0, -1) 3. Rolands Bērziņš 0,5 (+0, =1, -1) || Ingūna Erneste |- | 2003 || Riga || Evgeny Sveshnikov || Laura Rogule |- | 2004 || Riga || Edvīns ĶeņģisBest of Latvian participants in "Riga Open - 2004" || Ilze Bērziņa |- | 2005 || Riga || Edvīns Ķeņģis || Laura Rogule |- | 2006 || Riga || Normunds Miezis || Laura Rogule |- | 2008 || Mežezers (Pļaviņas Municipality) || Evgeny Sveshnikov || Ilze Bērziņa |- | 2009 || Mežezers (Pļaviņas Municipality) || Vitālijs SamoļinsDaniil Lintchevski won the open tournament (but not the title) || Laura Rogule |- | 2010 || Mežezers (Pļaviņas Municipality) || Evgeny Sveshnikov || Laura Rogule |- | 2011 || Mežezers (Pļaviņas Municipality) || Arturs Neikšāns || Laura Rogule |- | 2012 || Riga || Vitālijs Samoļins || Ilze Bērziņa |- | 2013 || Riga || Igor Kovalenko || Laura Rogule |- | 2014 || Riga || Igor Kovalenko || Katrīna Šķiņķe |- | 2015 || Riga || Arturs Neikšāns || Laura Rogule |- | 2016 || Riga || Vladimirs Svešņikovs || Laura Rogule |- | 2017 || Riga || Arturs Bernotas || Linda Krūmiņa |- | 2018 || Riga || Ņikita Meškovs || Elizabete Limanovska |- | 2019 || Riga || Arturs Neikšāns || Ilze Bērziņa |- | 2020 || Riga || Zigurds Lanka || Laura Rogule |- | 2021 || Riga || Rolands Bērziņš || Laura Rogule |- | 2022 || Riga || Ilmārs Starostīts || Laura Rogule |- | 2023 || Riga || Toms Kantāns || Laura Rogule |- | 2024 || Riga || Guntis Jankovskis || Ilze Bērziņa |- | 2025 || Riga || Arturs Neikšāns || Marija Kuznecova |- | 2026 || Riga || Toms Kantāns || Marija Kuznecova

Multiple champions {| class="sortable wikitable" ! # !! Men's Winner !! Titles !! Years

| 1 ||Jānis Klovāns ||9 ||1954, 1962, 1967–68, 1970–71, 1975, 1979, 1986

| 2 ||Aivars Gipslis ||8 ||1955-57, 1960–61, 1963–64, 1966

| 3 ||Edvīns Ķeņģis ||8 ||1984, 1987–90, 1997, 2004–05

| 4 ||Alvis Vītoliņš ||7 ||1973, 1976–78, 1982–83, 1985

| 5 ||Arturs Neikšāns ||5 ||1999, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2025

| 6 ||Vladimirs Petrovs ||4 ||1930, 1935, 1937, 1938

| 7 ||Aleksandrs Koblencs ||4 ||1941, 1945–46, 1949 |- | 8 ||Valerij Zhuravliov ||3 ||1980, 1992, 1994

| 9 ||Evgeny Sveshnikov ||3 ||2003, 2008, 2010

| 10 ||Fricis Apšenieks ||2 ||1927, 1934

| 11 ||Voldemārs Mežgailis ||2 ||1944, 1950

| 12 ||Mikhail Tal||2 ||1953, 1965

| 13 ||Anatolijs Šmits||2 ||1969, 1975

| 14 ||Juzefs Petkēvičs ||2 ||1974, 1985

| 15 ||Normunds Miezis ||2 ||1991, 2006

| 16 ||Vitālijs Samoļins ||2 ||2009, 2012

| 17 ||Igor Kovalenko ||2 ||2013-14

| 18 ||Zigurds Lanka ||2 ||1993, 2020 |- | 19 ||Ilmārs Starostīts ||2 || 2002, 2022 |- | 20 ||Toms Kantāns ||2 || 2023, 2026

{| class="sortable wikitable" ! # !! Women's Winner !! Titles !! Years

| 1 ||Milda Lauberte ||13 ||1937, 1943, 1948–57, 1960

| 2 ||Laura Rogule ||13 ||2003, 2005–06, 2009–11, 2013, 2015–16, 2020–23

| 3 ||Anda Šafranska ||8 ||1982, 1984, 1990–91, 1993–94, 1996–97

| 4 ||Astra Klovāne ||7 ||1963-65, 1969–70, 1977–78

| 5 ||Ilze Bērziņa ||5 ||2004, 2008, 2012, 2019, 2024

| 6 ||Zara Nakhimovskaya ||4 ||1958-59, 1961–62

| 7 ||Vija Rožlapa ||4 ||1967, 1971–72, 1974

| 8 ||Tatjana Voronova ||4 ||1980, 1985–87

| 9 ||Dana Reizniece||4 ||1998-2001

| 10 ||Astra Goldmane ||3 ||1975, 1981, 1983

| 11 ||Ingrīda Priedīte ||2 ||1973, 1979

| 12 ||Ilze Rubene ||2 ||1976, 1995

| 13 ||Ingūna Erneste ||2 ||1989, 2002

| 14 ||Marija Kuznecova ||2 ||2025–26

Notes

External links Latvian Chess Federation website (tournament) (results through 1985) chapter "Championships of Republics" (Latvian Championships results: 1941–1990) chapter "Turnīri - Latvijas čempionātu rezultāti" (Latvian Championships results: 1924–1993)

(results through 1979)