European Club CupĀ 2026: Arjun, Aravindh, Abhimanyu, Pranav, Pranesh and Harikrishna make a winning start
Arjun Erigaisi, Aravindh Chithambaram, Abhimanyu Puranik are representing the second seed Alkaloid at 41st European Club Cup 2026.
Pranav returns after three years, Pranesh debuts
GM Pranav Venkatesh and GM Karthikeyan Murali are playing for Elektroprivreda, a Montenegro team. Pranav won the Montenegro Premier League a little over five months ago. GM Pranesh M is the top board of Tuxera Aquaprofit Nagykanizsai. The ultimate team player, GM Pentala Harikrishna is representing his usual team – Novy Bor Chess Club.
Among the top Indians, GM Nihal Sarin (Novy Bor Chess Club), GM Karthikeyan Murali (Elektroprivreda) and GM Humpy Koneru (Cercle d’Echecs de Monte-Carlo) were rested for Round 1.
Both defending champions won their first round matches but they were not a whitewash. Superchess Romania defeated Akureyri Chess Club 5.5-0.5. In the Women, Cercle d’Echecs de Monte-Carlo won by 3.5-0.5 against She Plays to Win Lionesses A.
Sharks 4NCL – Alkaloid: 0-6
GM Arjun Erigaisi (2746), GM Aravindh Chithambaram (2677) and GM Abhimanyu Puranik (2622) are playing for the same team Alkaloid as last year.
Sharks 4NCL – Alkaloid: 0-1 | Photo: ECU / Mark Livshitz
Arjun Erigaisi, Aravindh Chithambaram and Abhimanyu Puranik scored smooth wins for their team Alkaloid | Photo: ECU / Mark Livshitz
SK Rockaden team 2 – Elektroprivreda: 0-6
The reigning World Junior champion, GM Pranav Venkatesh made his return to this event after three years. Last time he played for Offerspill Sjakklubb back in 2023 and he won it with the World no.1, GM Magnus Carlsen and GM Raunak Sadhwani.
GM Pranav Venkatesh (Elektroprivreda) won a nice game against FM Leo Crevatin (SK Rockaden team 2) | Photo: ECU / Mark Livshitz
Gambit Bonnevoie – Novy Bor Chess Club: 1-5
GM Pentala Harikrishna (Novy Bor Chess Club, 2648) scored a clinical victory over FM Jan Bednarich (Gambit Bonnevoie, 2162). GM Nils Grandelius suffered the sole loss for Novy Bor against CM Slobodan J Filipovic (2157).
Tuxera Aquaprofit Nagykanizsai – Niksic: 6-0
GM Pranesh M (2677) is making his debut at this event on the top board of Tuxera Aquaprofit Nagykanizsai, a Hungarian team. He made a great start by scoring an emphatic victory over FM William Claridge-Hansen (Niksic, 2389).
GM Pranesh M won his debut game at this event | Photo: ECU / Mark Livshitz
Replay live stream
Replay Round 1 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 ā¬40000, ā¬26000 in Open and ā¬14000 in Women. The top three prizes in Open are – ā¬8000, ā¬6000 and ā¬4000. For Women, they are – ā¬5500, ā¬3500 and ā¬2000. Individual board prizes on each board ā¬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 1 Open games
Replay Round 1 Women games
Links
European Chess Union: Official site, facebook, twitter, youtube and instagram
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