European Chess Club Cup

History

The European Chess Club Cup grew out of the club competitions of the former Yugoslavia. A first edition was played in Belgrade in 1956, won by Partizan Belgrade, and it has been a regular event since 1976 and an annual one since 1992. A women’s competition was added in 1996.

What makes it unusual is the mix. The strongest professional clubs, built around world-class grandmasters, play in the same Swiss as ordinary club teams of amateurs, so a club player can meet an elite grandmaster across the board. The 2026 edition in Budva has 108 teams in the open section and 22 in the women’s.

The women’s event is dominated by Cercle d’Echecs de Monte-Carlo, record winners with nine titles. In the open section, 1. Nový Bor of the Czech Republic has won three times (2013, 2022 and 2024).

How it works

Who plays. Club teams, not national teams. Each European federation may enter up to five clubs, or four if it holds no national club championship, and more can be admitted on application. A player can play for only one team at the event.

The format. A 7-round Swiss between teams. In the open section six boards play at once, with two reserves; in the women’s section four boards, with one reserve. Each game counts for the team score, and the team scoring more game points wins the match.

What is at stake. Teams are ranked on match points. With so many teams and only seven rounds, the top seeds are paired against much lower-rated clubs early on, so the decisive meetings between favourites usually come in the second half. From 2026 the top open teams also qualify for the new European Chess Super League.

Last checked 19 October 2026 against the 41st edition in Budva.