High drama ahead of the final round at the European Chess Club Cup 2026! ♟️ #chess #ECCC2026 Only one round left to be played and the competition at the top is exceptionally tight across both sections: 🏆 Open event: A three-way tie for 1st place with 11 match points each between SuperChess 🇷🇴, Bayegan Pendik Chess Sports Club 🇹🇷, and Novy Bor Chess Club 🇨🇿. Four teams closely follow, scoring 10 match points each. 🏆 Women's event: Equal tension at the top with CE Gambit Bonnevoie 🇱🇺, Odlar Yurdu 🇦🇿, and Cercle d'Échecs de Monte-Carlo 🇲🇨 all tied with the score of 10 match points each. ⌛️ Having podium medals and European Super League qualification spots on the line, every game counts tomorrow and the games start at 14:00 CET! 🔗 Round 6 recap: europechess.org/high-stakes-… 📸 Photos by ECU/ Mark Livshitz

Three rounds were played at the European Chess Club Cup 2026 in Budva, Montenegro, and only 11 teams remained perfect in the Open section, while only two teams score maximum in the Women’s event. 🏆 #chess #ECCC2026 Yesterday’s third round saw all the top players joining their teams, and the teams scoring 6 match points (each) in the Open competition are: Vugar Gashimov 🇦🇿, Bayegan Pendik Chess Sports Club 🇹🇷, Alkaloid 🇲🇰, Tuxera Aquaprofit Nagykanizsai 🇭🇺, SuperChess 🇷🇴, Aix-en-Provence 🇫🇷, Rishon LeZion A 🇮🇱, Ashdod chess club 🇮🇱, Novy Bor Chess Club 🇨🇿, SK K CERO Invest Nitra 🇸🇰, and Elektropriveda 🇲🇪. CE Gambit Bonnevoie 🇱🇺 and Cercle d’Echecs de Monte-Carlo 🇲🇨 are the two perfect teams in the Women’s section scoring 6 match points (each). Eight teams score 4 match points (each) and follow: Sirmium Sremska Mitrovica 🇷🇸, Crvena Zvezda 🇷🇸, Odlar Yurdu 🇦🇿, Club Ajedrez Linares 🇪🇸, Velikova Chess Club 🇧🇬, GASCO Pardubice 🇨🇿, Davit Jojua’s chess club 🇬🇪, and Klub Kolner Schachfreunde 🇩🇪. ⏳ The fourth round starts at 14:00 CET! 📸 Photos by ECU & Mark Livshitz: flickr.com/photos/203686267@… ♟️ Results, pairings and rankings: s1.chess-results.com/tnr1475… 🔗 Round 3 recap: europechess.org/european-che…

The third round of the European Chess Club Cup 2026 is underway with interesting matches and games in both sections! 🏆 ♟️ #chess #ECCC2026 👉 Tune in to the ECU YouTube channel and follow us live with commentaries by GM Simon Williams and WIM Lena Govedarica: youtube.com/watch?v=ZPwfwQ3W…

European Chess Club Cup 2026 - Round 2 video recap ♟️ 🏆 #chess #eccc2026

𝐆𝐌 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐳 𝐆𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐥: 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐈'𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧! #chess #ECCC2026 17-year-old prodigy GM Ediz Gurel (Bayegan Pendik Chess Sports Club 🇹🇷) yesterday joined us for an interview after the first round of the European Chess Club Cup 2026! He shared his impressions from the game, explained how he prepared for the match, and revealed that Slovenska Plaza complex in Budva is perhaps one of the best places he's ever been to! 🤩 👉 More interviews from the event can be found on the ECU YouTube channel: youtube.com/@EuropeanChessUn…

The European Chess Club Cup has started in Budva, Montenegro! 🏆 #chess #escc2026 The first round of the event was inaugurated after the ECU President Mr. Zurab Azmaiparashvili and Founder and CEO of Superbet Mr. Sacha Dragic played the first ceremonial move in the Open setion match between the teams SuperChess Romania 🇷🇴 and Akureyri Chess Club 🇮🇸 . The Mayor of the Municipality of of Linares, Spain, Mrs. Maria Auxiliadora del Olmo Ruiz opened the round in the Women's section and played the first ceremonial move in the match Oslo Schakselskap 🇳🇴 and Club Ajedrez Linares 🇪🇸 in the presence of the President of the Spanish Chess Federation Mr. Javier Ochoa De Echaguen. 🖥️ Follow the live video broadcast through the ECU YouTube channel: youtube.com/watch?v=Pvjp-91R…

The 41st European Chess Club Cup and the 30th European Chess Club Cup for Women were officially declared opened yesterday! ♟️ #chess #ECCC2026 🎊 The Opening Ceremony of the event took place at the Hotel Complex Slovenska Plaza, starting with musical performances, speeches by officials, and finishing with a spectacular firework show. ➡️ The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Sports and Youth of Montenegro Mr. Zoran Jojic, Mayor of the Municipality of Budva Mr. Nikola Jovanovic, the ECU President Mr. Zurab Azmaiparashvili, President of Montenegro Chess Federation Mr. Jovan Milovic, ECU Honorary Vice President Mr. Veselin Draskovic, ECU Tournament Director Mr. Peter Pisk, ECU Honorary Vice President Mr. Moshe Slav, and other distinguished guests. ♟️ The evening concluded with the Technical Meeting, attended by team captains, Chief Arbiter Mr. Igor Vujacic, President of the Montenegro Chess Federation and Tournament Director Mr. Jovan Milovic, ECU Tournament Director Mr. Petr Pisk, and other officials. During the meeting, team captains were briefed on the official regulations and key organisational details of the championship. ⏳ The event will officially commence today with the first round scheduled to start at 14:00 CEST. 🖥️ Live video broadcast: youtube.com/live/Pvjp-91RNUA 🔗 Round 1 pairings: s2.chess-results.com/tnr1475… 🌐 Official website of the event: eccc26.me/ 📸 Photos by ECU/ Mark Livshitz: flickr.com/photos/203686267@…

The 41st European Chess Club Cup and the 30th European Chess Club Cup for Women is set to kick off in Budva, Montenegro! 🏆 #chess #ECCC2026 ⏳ The Opening ceremony of the event is scheduled for this evening with the start at 18:00 CEST, while the games start tomorrow at 14:00 CEST! 📣 With 130 registered teams – 108 teams in the Open section and 22 in the Women’s section, the event broke the participation record previously set in Rhodes in 2025 where 122 teams participated. ✨ The European Club Cup gathers strongest Chess Clubs and Teams of Europe, and the Open section line-up is this year headlined by teams: Bayegan Pendik Chess Sports Club 🇹🇷, defending champions SuperChess Romania 🇷🇴, Alkaloid 🇲🇰, Novy Bor Chess Club 🇨🇿, and Tuxera Aquaprofit Nagykanizsai 🇭🇺. 💫The top seeds in the Women’s section are: defending champions Cercle d’Echecs de Monte-Carlo 🇲🇨, Sirmium Sremska Mitrovica 🇷🇸, SuperChess Romania 🇷🇴, CE Gambit Bonnevoie 🇱🇺, and Odlar Yurdu 🇦🇿. ➡️The teams are represented by Europe’s and World’s best Grandmasters, including the following players in the Open section: GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov, GM Wei Yi, GM Anish Giri, GM Arjun Erigaisi, GM Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, GM Amin Tabatabaei, GM Jorden Van Foreest, GM Nodirbek Yakubboev, GM Richard Rapport, and GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov. ➡️ While the field of the 2026 European Women’s Chess Club Cup includes: GM Aleksandra Goryachkina, GM Humpy Koneru, IM Polina Shuvalova, GM Nino Batsiashvili, IM Stavroula Tsolakidou, IM Nurgyul Salimova, IM Leya Garifullina, IM Olga Badelka, IM Injac Teodora, and GM Elisabeth Paehtz. 🔗 Detailed preview of the event: europechess.org/european-che…

A CALL FROM THE CHESS COMMUNITY ALEXANDROS NEEDS US Alexander Blem - FIDE ID 34674926 is 11 years old student, and strong chess player, and right now, he is fighting for his life. To survive, he urgently needs a matching stem cell donor. His life depends on someone stepping forward and that someone could be you. We ask every member of our chess community players, coaches, arbiters, federation members, and friends across Europe and beyond to share this post as widely as possible. The right donor may be just one share away. Please share this. It takes seconds and could save a life. #Alexandros #StemCellDonor #ChessCommunity #SaveAlexandros

With the recent sponsorship agreements signed, ECU is almost doubling its budget for 2027 and launching an elite event, the European Chess Super League, with the participation of traditional clubs in Europe and beyond. The European Chess Super League is based on competitive criteria, as at least five clubs will qualify from the European Club Cup 2026 in Budva, Montenegro. #EliteChess #clubs #sports #bucharestt #superfoundation

Invited by the Armenian Chess Federation, ECU President Zurab Azmaiprashvili paid a two-days visit to Tsaghkadzor. ECU President participated in the International Scientific Conference “Theory and Practice of Chess Education” and attended the last round and awarding ceremony of FIDE ISCF World Schools Team Championship 2026 - European Continental Stage. The event attended also by the ECU Youth Director Mr. Ion Dobronauteanu. ECU Congratulates all the winners and participants as well Armenian Chess Federation and International School Chess Federation for the high level organisation.

🇵🇹 Portuguese Chess Federation (FPX) Every Friday, we spotlight one of ECU's 54 member federations. This week, we turn to Portugal, where chess is growing with extraordinary momentum. A RECORD TO CELEBRATE The 2025/26 season has ended with a remarkable milestone: the Portuguese Chess Federation (FPX) now counts 6,870 registered players, an all-time record. This surpasses the previous high of 6,657 members reached at the end of the 2023/24 season. After a dip to 6,478 during 2024/25, FPX did not simply recover. it bounced back stronger than ever, setting a new historical benchmark. With 6,870 members, FPX is now within reach of the symbolic milestone of 7,000 registered players. The momentum is clear, and the direction unmistakable. HOSTING EUROPEAN CHESS IN 2027 Portugal's growing chess community will take center stage on the European calendar: FPX will host the European Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship 2026 from 4 to 9 of December. A prestigious event, and a fitting recognition for a federation that continues to raise its game. On behalf of all 54 member federations and the entire ECU family congratulations, FPX! Your resilience, dedication, and growth are an inspiration to chess across Europe. 👏 @fpxadrez

The Organising Committee of the European Youth Chess Championship 2026 has announced the list of registered players for the Championship. eycc2026.com/ A total of 1,241 players from 48 federations have been registered. Registration is now closed. For any corrections or omissions, please contact the Organising Committee. List of registered players: s3.chess-results.com/tnr1508…