♟️ Checkmate & Celebration in Rhodes: The 2025 European Chess Club Cup Comes to an End

The island of Rhodes, Greece, once again became the chess capital of Europe this October, hosting the European Chess Club Cup 2025 from October 18 to 28. Seven rounds of world-class games, dramatic finishes, and heartwarming stories. This year’s event truly had it all.

🏆 Champions of Europe

In the Open section, the Romanian powerhouse SuperChess clinched the title with a perfect 14/14 score! Their incredible consistency throughout the tournament earned them gold ahead of Alkaloid (North Macedonia), who took silver, and Novy Bor (Czech Republic), who claimed bronze.

In the Women’s section, Cercle d’Échecs de Monte-Carlo (Monaco) once again proved unstoppable, taking home gold, while Sirmium (Serbia) grabbed silver and Tajfun SK Ljubljana earned bronze.

The final rounds were full of tension but also respect, fair play, reminding everyone why the Club Cup remains one of the most loved team events in the chess world.

🎥 Under the Spotlight

While the boards were burning with tactics and strategy, hosts brought the action closer to the fans than ever before. The live-stream trio: WIM Lena Govedarica (founder of Outpost Chess), GM Alojzije Jankovic, and WIM Sandra Djukic, worked tirelessly every day, creating dynamic shows that connected players, teams, and viewers worldwide.

From the studio and the playing hall, they delivered insightful analyses, light-hearted interviews, and many unforgettable moments that showcased the human side of chess: passion, humor, friendship, and the love of the game.

🌟 Guests, Laughs & Legendary Moments

The Outpost studio became a hotspot for chess stars. Big names such as Vidit Gujrathi, Pentala Harikrishna, Jorden Van Foreest, David Navara, Aleksandar Indjic, Yu Yangyi, Teodora Injac, Beloslava Krasteva, Irina Bulmaga, Arjun Erigaisi, Vladimir Fedoseev and many others, joined for live analysis and conversation.

The cherry on top came in Round 7, when Reigning World Champion Gukesh D joined Alojzije right after his intense draw in a battle for SuperChess's gold medal! Sadly, Guki couldn’t stay to lift the trophy with his teammates because he was already off to the USA to face Magnus, Hikaru, and Fabiano in Clutch Chess 2025.

💬 Studio Stories That Made Us Smile

After her brilliant 22-move win, Divya Deshmukh joined Lena in the studio, finally revealing the truth behind her “apology to a chess clock”. Spoiler: she was actually alone in the room and apologized to the imaginary players around her! 😄

Laura Unuk shared a valuable reminder:

“Bad games have to happen from time to time.”

And Alina Kashlinskaya, one of the proud Outposters, offered a message that resonated deeply:

“Even if you lose, don’t give up. Take a lesson from that game.”

Meanwhile, GM Anish Giri brought his style and analysis to the live streams, showing off two of his new lucky jackets despite the warm 20°C weather in Rhodes. 😎

🕊️ A Moment of Silence

The event also paused to honor the memory of GM Daniel “Danya” Naroditsky, who sadly passed away at just 29. A passionate educator, streamer, and friend to so many in the chess community, Danya was remembered with a moment of silence before Round 3, uniting players and fans in grief and gratitude.

📺 Watch again?

All the live streams, interviews, and behind-the-scenes moments are available on the European Chess Union YouTube channel 🎥 youtube.com/@EuropeanChessUnion

And for full standings and individual results: 📊 Chess-Results Tournament Page

♟️ Until Next Time

As the sun set over Rhodes, one thing was clear: the European Chess Club Cup 2025 was more than just a tournament. It was a celebration of chess, teamwork, and stories that make this game timeless.

From SuperChess’s perfect run to Monte-Carlo’s dominance, from studio laughs to heartfelt tributes, this year’s edition reminded us why chess is not only a sport of minds, but a community of hearts. ❤️

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