Stefan Melnik wins bronze at national championship for blind and visually impaired players

Seventeen‑year‑old Stefan Melnik returned from Ohrid with a bronze medal after finishing third at the national championship for blind and visually impaired players, held from July 22 to 27.

From world stage to national podium

Melnik, a member of the Alkaloid Chess Club youth programme, came to the final after a strong qualifying event. Between July 20 and 22 he played nine games in the qualifier and scored seven points — six wins, two draws and one loss — which left him tied for first with Trajche Dimov and secured his place in the main event alongside Blazhe Atanasovski and Zoran Velkovski.

At the final championship Melnik again played nine rounds and collected 6.5 points with only one defeat. He finished level on points for second place with Zoran Kostadinovski but lost out on tie‑breaks; Daniel Dimov took first place with half a point more.

Earlier this year, in May, Melnik was part of his national team at the World Team Championship organised by the International Braille Chess Association (IBCA), where he made headlines by winning a silver medal on the fifth board.

Reflecting on the Ohrid result, Melnik said: "I am not completely satisfied with what I achieved, but continuity of good performances certainly matters to me. Previously I was distracted by other events that took my attention, and at these tournaments I could concentrate and deliver the result I secretly wished for. I sincerely hope to have more appearances in the competition for blind and visually impaired players, where I feel equal, as opposed to other tournaments where I feel greater pressure. Knowing that this result gives me direct entry to next year's final, I will try to improve my placing at the end, because this year I felt fatigue after playing 18 games."

Melnik was the youngest participant in the final and besides the bronze medal he gained 59 rating points from the event.

Photo: press material from the event