Christian Gabriel has participated in chess tournaments from the age of seven. In 1987, he won the Romanian Youth Chess Championship in U14 age group. In the same year his family moved to Germany. Christian Gabriel was soon promoted to the group of the best German juniors and seven times (in 1989-1995) representing his country at the
World Youth Chess Championship in various age categories. In 1989, in
Aguadilla Christian Gabriel won bronze medal in World Youth Chess Championship in U14 age group, behind only to the later World Chess Champions
Veselin Topalov and
Vladimir Kramnik. He was also a two-time medalist in
European Youth Chess Championship: silver in 1988 (in
Saltsjöbaden) and bronze in 1991 (in
Mamaia). At the end of the 1990s Christian Gabriel was one of leading German chess players. In 1998, in
Bremen he won bronze medal in
German Chess Championship. Christian Gabriel successes in international chess tournaments include: • 1st place in
Budapest (1996, tournament
Elekes), • shared 1st place in
Bad Homburg (1996, together with
Boris Alterman), • shared 1st place in
Makarska (1996). Christian Gabriel played for Germany in the
Chess Olympiad: • In 1998, at first reserve board in the
33rd Chess Olympiad in
Elista (+1, =5, -0). Christian Gabriel played for Germany in the
European Team Chess Championships: • In 1997, at fourth board in the 11th European Team Chess Championship in
Pula (+3, =5, -0) and won individual bronze medal, • In 1999, at first reserve board in the 12th European Team Chess Championship in
Batumi (+2, =5, -0) and won team bronze medal. In 1992, Christian Gabriel was awarded the FIDE International Master (IM) title and received the FIDE Grandmaster (GM) title four years later. In 2000, he appeared in the World Chess Championship qualifying Zonal tournament, and then ended his professional career, in the following years only appearing in team competitions in Germany and
Switzerland. == Other achievements ==