A brief history of the French Championship

The first French championship, described as "unofficial" because it took place before the creation of the French Chess Federation (FFE) in 1921, was played in Lyon from July 26 to 31, 1914. Due to the call for general mobilisation of the 1st World War, on August 1, 1914, the meeting during which the French Chess Federation was to be created was cancelled. The winner, Alphonse Goetz, received a “vase of Sèvres”, offered by the President of the Republic, which eventually became the traditional trophy of the French Champion.

Two years after the creation of the FFE (1921), the official French championship was born (1923). From then on, it was organised every year to date (except in 1939, 1944 and 1960).

Today, the French championship includes 9 tournaments: the National and the Women's National which award the title of French Champion of France and women's French Champion; Accession, the Veteran tournament which awards the title of French Veteran Champion, and 5 opens - A, B, C, D, E- which group players of equivalent levels together.

Records:

• 8 times French champion: Etienne Bacrot (1999, 2000, 01, 02, 03, 08, 12, 17)
• 6 times French Champion:
  • Maurice Raizman (1932, 36, 46, 47, 51, 52),
  • Cesar Boutteville (1945, 50, 54, 55, 59, 67)
• Four times French champion: Jean-Luc Seret (1980, 81, 84, 85)

French women's Championship

A Women's French championship were organised regularly until the Second World War. Foreign players were admitted, and the title was awarded to the highest ranked French player. After the war, there is only trace of 3 championships (from 1955 to 1957). It is not until 1975, under the impetus of Melinka Merlini, for a women's French championship to be organised each year. Until 1997, the French women's Championship was sometimes organised at the same time as the French championship, most often separately. Since 1998, like its mixed counterpart (the National), it has become an integral part of the French championship and has become the Women's National.

Records

• 6 times Women’s French Champion:
  • Almira Skripchenko (2004, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2015),
  • Sophie Milliet (2003, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2016, 2017)
• 5 times Women’s French Champion
  • Melinka Merlini (1975, 75, 77, 78, 80)
  • Christine Flear (1985, 91, 94, 98, 99).
• 4 times Women’s French Champion : Marie-Jeanne Frigard (1924, 1925, 1926, 1927)

History