European Club Cup 2026: Nihal and Navara ensure Novy Bor stay in the fray, Pranesh crushes Giri

Nihal Sarin and David Navara’s wins ensured Novy Bor Chess Club draws the match against SuperChess Romania in the penultimate round of 41st European Club Cup 2026.

Women: Cercle d’Echecs de Monte-Carlo and Odlar Yurdu make it a three-way with CE Gambit Bonnevoie

The coleaders, SuperChess Romania and Novy Bor Chess Club drew their match 3-3 against each other. Tuxera Aquaprofit Nagykanizsai lost to Bayegan Pendik Chess Sports Club by 2.5-3.5. Thus, Bayegan Pendik joined SuperChess and Novy Bor in the lead 11/12. In the final round, Bayegan will face SuperChess and Novy Bor will be up against Elektroprivreda.

GM Karthikeyan Murali’s winning streak was halted by the FIDE World Cup 2026 Runner-up, GM Wei Yi.

The sole leader of the Women’s event, CE Gambit Bonnevoie suffered their first loss against Odlar Yurdu by 1.5-2.5. Thus, allowing both Odlar and Cercle d’Echecs de Monte-Carlo to catch cup. Cercle defeated SuperChess Romania by 2.5-1.5. Just like the Open event, the Women’s event also has three leaders – CE Gambit, Cercle and Odlar at 10/12 each.

Open: SuperChess Romania – Novy Bor Chess Club: 3-3

GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov (2780) and GM Bogdan-Daniel Deac (2654) scored the wins for SuperChess Romania against GM Nodirbek Yakubboev (2712) and GM Nils Grandelius (2603) respectively. GM Nihal Sarin (2709) and GM David Navara (2607) evened out those losses by winning against GM Jorden van Foreest (2716) and GM Daniel Dardha (2612) respectively. Previous round’s heroes, GM Pentala Harikrishna (2648) and GM David Anton Guijarro (2650) drew against GM Haik M Martirosyan (2661) and GM Alexey Sarana (2671) respectively.

Nihal Sarin thwarts Jorden van Foreest’s ambitious play | Photo: ECU / Mark Livshitz

Haik Martirosyan – Pentala Harikrishna (pictured): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: ECU / Mark Livshitz

David Navara scored a crucial victory over Daniel Dardha | Photo: ECU / Mark Livshitz

SuperChess Romania – Novy Bor Chess Club: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: ECU / Mark Livshitz

Tuxera Aquaprofit Nagykanizsai – Bayegan Pendik Chess Sports Club: 2.5-3.5

Tuxera Aquaprofit Nagykanizsai lost to Bayegan Pendik Chess Sports Club by a minimum margin 2.5-3.5. However, GM Pranesh M (2674) scored a huge win over the World no.11, GM Anish Giri (2752) who suffered his second loss of the event.

Pranesh – Giri

Position after 21…e5

Pranesh seized his opportunity 22.Bxe5! Black should have castled 22…0-0-0. Instead, Giri opted for 22…fxe5?? 23.Qxe5+ Kd8 24.Rd1 g5 25.Rxd5 Kc8 26.Rxd7 Qxd7 27.Qxh8 and White went on to win the game in another 20 moves.

GM Pranesh M scored an emphatic victory over GM Anish Giri | Photo: Patricia Claros Aguilar

Tuxera Aquaprofit Nagykanizsai – Bayegan Pendik Chess Sports Club: 2.5-3.5 | Photo: ECU / Mark Livshitz

Elektroprivreda – Alkaloid: 3-3

The reigning World Junior champion, GM Pranav Venkatesh (Elektroprivreda, 2677) drew against the World no.12, GM Arjun Erigaisi (Alkaloid, 2746). GM Karthikeyan Murali (Elektroprivreda, 2647) shared the point with GM Wei Yi (Alkaloid, 2758). GM Yangyi Yu (2704) scored the sole win for Alkaloid. GM Denis Kadric (2528) scored the equalizer for Elektroprivreda against GM Aleksandar Indjic (2606).

GM Pranav Venkatesh – GM Arjun Erigaisi: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Patricia Claros Aguilar

Elektroprivreda – Alkaloid: 3-3 | Photo: ECU / Mark Livshitz

Women: Cercle d’Echecs de Monte-Carlo – SuperChess Romania: 2.5-1.5

GM Humpy Koneru (2518) was held to a draw by IM Dinara Wagner (2392). IM Stavroula Tsolakidou (2451) scored the sole win of the round against IM Deimante Daulyte-Cornette (2385) to ensure Cercle d’Echecs de Monte-Carlo win the match by 2.5-1.5 against SuperChess Romania.

IM Dinara Wagner – GM Humpy Koneru (pictured): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: ECU / Mark Livshitz

Replay live stream

Replay Round 6 live commentary by GM Simon Williams, WIM Lena Govedarica, WIM Sandra Djukic and WCM Lula Roberts | Video: European Chess Union

Prizes

The total prize fund is €40000, €26000 in Open and €14000 in Women. The top three prizes in Open are – €8000, €6000 and €4000. For Women, they are – €5500, €3500 and €2000. Individual board prizes on each board €500.

Schedule

Every day round starts at 2 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST from 17th to 23rd October 2026. The seven-round Swiss system tournament has a time control of 90 minutes for 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game with an increment of 30 seconds per move, starting from move one. The tournament is taking place in Budva, Montenegro.

Replay Round 6 Open games

Replay Round 6 Women games

Round 6 Open results

Standings after Round 6

Round 7 pairings

Round 6 Women results

Standings after Round 6

Round 7 pairings

Links

European Chess Union: Official site, facebook, twitter, youtube and instagram

Tournament Regulations