It seems that to be a sole leader in this tournament brings bad luck. After Inarkiev (RUS) in round seven, today the victim was Volokitin (UKR). Playing white against Jobava (GEO) he was spending his time in a quite unpractical way and in the critical moment when he was probably winning, he overlooked a really diabolic tactic which changed dramatically the course of the game in favor of the Georgian. Since in the group behind only Inarkiev (RUS) managed to score the whole point, we have now two leaders with 6,5 points. Behind  them there are 12 players with 6,0 points: Volokitin (UKR), Tomashevsky (RUS), Sokolov (NED), Navara (CZE),  Guseinov and Mamedov,  both from Azerbaijan, Meier (GER), Sjugirov (RUS), Bocharov (RUS), Grachev (RUS) and Malakhov (RUS), followed by another group of 30 players with plus three (5,5 points) who can still hope to qualify for the World Cup. Russian players still dominate the leading group, there are six of them in that company.
There is an interesting tradition concerning European championships. There were nine held until now with nine different winners. It seems that this tradition will be maintained this time as well, since all four former champions who are present here Macieja (POL), Nisipeanu (ROU), Kožul (CRO) and Tiviakov (NED) are practically out of the race for the title. The same goes for a former world champion Khalifman (RUS).

M.Cebalo