37th Open Pula: A Legendary Chess Battle by the Adriatic Sea

From June 15th to 23rd, 2025, the beautiful city of Pula, Croatia, on the Istrian peninsula, hosted the 37th Pula Open, one of the most cherished international chess tournaments in Europe. Outpost Chess was proud to be a partner in the promotion of this iconic event, helping to bring the magic of chess to players and fans around the world.

A Truly International Gathering

This year’s edition gathered almost 300 players representing around 30 federations, making it a melting pot of talent, passion, and strategy. The tournament, **organized by **Chess Club Pula, once again proved why it is a must-play event on the chess calendar.
9 rounds of fierce competition concluded with a sole winner:

GM Daniel Alsina Leal (ESP) with 7.5 points
In the women’s section, the top trophy went to WGM Narmin Mammadova (AZE) with 6.5 points

The generous €10,000 prize fund was distributed among the top 10 players, alongside around 35 special prizes that recognized exceptional performances.
David Stevanic (SLO) was the sole leader with great performance and tournament favorite until Round 8, when he lost his game against the eventual winner, Daniel Leal. He finished the tournament with 7 points, the same as Milan Popović (SRB), Raem Sherman (ISR), Daniel Sanz Wawer (ESP), Jayden Lee (USA), and Zaur Mammadov (AZE). However, after applying additional criteria, David was awarded 2nd place.
We highlight that the top 6 female chess players, with Mammadova on top, received prizes: Dana Kochavi (ISR), Andrea Bochníčková (SVK), Mirjana Medić (CRO), Petra Kejžar (CRO), and Ekaterina Pîrvulescu (ROU).

The award for the best IM performance went to Sim Maerevoet (BEL), while the best FM performance was awarded to Dejan Omorjan (SRB).
For full results and standings, contact the organizer or check out the official page on Chess Results: 37th Open Pula – Full Results

Meet the Organizers & Team

This tournament wouldn’t be possible without the hard work of the dedicated team:

• Organizer: Chess Club Pula
• Tournament Director: Valter Valković
• Chief Arbiter: IA Kristian Valković
• Deputy Chief Arbiters: IA Lena Govedarica, IA Sulejman Islamović
• Arbiters: NA Valter Valković, NA Magdalena Muha, NA Mile Ostojić

Outpost Chess was especially honored that our CEO, WIM, IA Lena Miladinović, served as Deputy Chief Arbiter, and led both the opening and closing ceremonies in the best possible manner.

Technology & Fair Play

This year, technical support was provided by ID Chess, platform for recognizing and streaming chess games, ensuring live transmission of the first 20 boards — a fantastic feature for fans following the games remotely.

Relive the Moments

We’ve captured many memorable scenes from the event! Check out photos on our Instagram or Facebook. Want more? Feel free to contact us at info@outpostchess.com for additional media inquiries.

Don’t Miss the Next One!

The Open Pula is more than a tournament — it’s a tradition. A chess festival by the sea, with history, culture, and world-class competition. Mark your calendars for next year!

Sign up at OutpostChess.com to explore our Tournament Calendar and to stay informed about upcoming events that you won’t want to miss.

See you next time!

Yours,
Outpost team