41st European Club Cup 2026: Bayegan Pendik and Monte-Carlo Triumph in Budva

Tournament Summary

The 41st European Club Cup was held in Budva, Montenegro from October 17 to 23, 2026. In the Open section, Bayegan Pendik Chess Sports Club won the championship, with Novy Bor Chess Club finishing as runners-up and Rishon LeZion A taking third place. The Women’s event saw Cercle d’Echecs de Monte-Carlo claim victory, ahead of Gambit Bonnevoie and Sirmium Sremska Mitrovica.

Bayegan Pendik’s winning team featured grandmasters Anish Giri, Rauf Mamedyarov, and Richard Rapport. Cercle d’Echecs de Monte-Carlo’s title squad included Alexandra Goryachkina, Harika Dronavalli Koneru, and Pia Cramling.

Record-Breaking Achievement

• Eleven-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan scored 5.5 out of 7 points at the tournament.
• Her performance made her the youngest female International Master, breaking a long-standing record.
• She is now the seventh youngest IM in chess history.

Source

This report is based on information published by The Week in Chess (TWIC).

Official source: https://theweekinchess.com/chessnews/events/41st-european-club-cup-2026