Bayegan Pendik Sports Chess Club from Turkey won the Open section at the 41st European Chess Club Cup in Budva, while Monte-Carlo's Cercle d'Échecs successfully defended their Women's title. The event ran October 17-23 at Hotel Slovenska Plaza as a 7-round Swiss with 130 teams total. 108 teams competed in the Open and 22 in Women's play, breaking the previous participation record from Rhodes last year.
The format used 90 minutes for 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the remainder, with a 30-second increment from move one. The Swiss system meant no team faced elimination despite losses, allowing deeper runs from underdogs and mid-tier clubs.
Monte-Carlo's repeat victory demonstrates consistent squad strength across multiple seasons. The women's competition has grown noticeably, with nearly a quarter of all entries fielding female teams. That growth matters for the health of organized chess beyond the elite level.
The Turkish win marks a shift in the Open section's balance. Pendik's triumph suggests the traditional European powerhouses faced real competition this year. With participation at record highs, the European Club Cup remains one of the calendar's most robust team events, pulling quality squads across the continent rather than concentrating talent in a handful of mega-tournaments.