European Chess Club Cup 2026: Alkaloid and Pendik Start Perfectly

After three rounds of the European Chess Club Cup 2026 in Budva, Alkaloid, Bayegan Pendik and SuperChess Romania are among the teams with three wins.

The 41st European Chess Club Cup is under way in Budva, Montenegro, and after three rounds several of the favourites have a perfect score.

The Club Cup is a team event. Clubs from across Europe play a 7-round Swiss, with six players per team. A team wins a match by scoring more points on the boards than its opponent.

After three rounds, Alkaloid, Bayegan Pendik and SuperChess Romania are among the teams that have won all three of their matches. In round 3, Bayegan Pendik beat Sigil Fund Pardubice 5.5-0.5, Alkaloid beat Schachfreunde Berlin 4.5-1.5 and SuperChess Romania beat Cheddleton 5-1.

Some of the world's best players are taking part. Alkaloid's GM Wei Yi and GM Arjun Erigaisi have both won all three of their games. So have Bayegan Pendik's GM Richard Rapport and GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, and SuperChess Romania's GM Alexey Sarana and GM Bogdan-Daniel Deac.

On the top board in round 3, GM Anish Giri won a 79-move game against GM Sergei Movsesian.

Team chess is a little different from individual events. A player who is not having their best day can still help the team by holding a solid draw, while a teammate on another board goes for the win. Good teams trust each other and play for the team result.

Four rounds remain, so there is plenty of time for the standings to change. ChessDaily will report the final result when the Club Cup finishes.