GM Bogdan-Daniel Deac and IM Corina-Isabela Peptan triumphed at the 2026 edition of the Romanian Championship. Deac won his second national title (his first came back in 2021), while Peptan claimed her 13th (!) women’s crown. The event took place in Timișoara from February 14–22 across three sections – Open, Women, and Amateurs – all 9-round Swiss tournaments with classical time control.
Top seed Deac lived up to expectations and emerged as champion, but it was no walk in the park for him. Deac got off to an excellent start, winning four straight games and taking the lead, but GM David Gavrilescu caught up with him in the very next round. Deac surged ahead again, only to share the top spot after Round 7 – this time with another strong competitor IM Filip Magold.