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On Saturday, October 26, Indian GM Arjun Erigaisi, who recently went past 2800 rating points in classical chess, won the individual gold medal in the 39th European Chess Club Cup, but his Team Alkaloid had to settle for silver. The gold medal winners of the coveted tournament were the Team Novy Bor Chess Club, and Vidit Gujrathi, who was one of the members of the team, earned himself an individual silver behind his Indian teammate.
Held as the seven-round Swiss tournament in Vrnjacka Banja in Serbia from October 20 to 26, Team Novy Bor Chess Club of Vidit Gujrathi entered the seventh round of the European Chess Club Cup with a one-point lead ahead of six teams. In the clash against the top-seed Team SuperChess, the Czech team got the better of their opponents 3.5-2.5 with David Anton Guijarro’s superlative performance, defeating Jorden Van Foreest, while the other games ended in a draw.
Team Novy Bor Chess Club finished ahead of Team Alkaloid in European Chess Club Cup final standings
The victory in the seventh and final round secured the title for Team Novy Bor Chess Club, who finished the tournament with six wins and one draw, earning 13 points. In the second place came Team Alkaloid, who registered five wins and two draws, to earn 12 points, but their player Arjun Erigaisi was exceptional right throughout the tournament, to earn himself the individual gold ahead of Vidit Gujrathi.
Meanwhile, the 28th European Women’s Chess Club Cup gold medal was won by Team TAJFUN SK Ljubljana of Slovenia with 13 points after they got the better of top-seed Team Cercle d’Echecs de Monte Carlo by 2.5-1.5 with Olga Badelka's win over Sarasadat Khademalsharieh, while the other games were drawn. GM Nana Dzagnidze of Georgia won the individual women’s gold with Team TAJFUN SK Ljubljana.
