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13 teams and 77 individuals (3 unofficial without rating calculations) from 17 countries participated in the 18^th European Chess Solving Championship in Athens, that was also the 1^st leg of the new competition, the WFCC Fujairah Grand Prix 2025-26.

18. ECSC Final Results

• The three top teams: Poland, Greece 1, Lithuania
• The three top individuals: Eddy Van Beers, Piotr Murdzia, Martynas Limontas

• TEAM | INDIVIDUAL | Norms & Titles
• Senior | Junior | Women
• Problems | Solutions

Athens was the ECSC venue for the third time in the last ten years. Such an experience has contributed to the exceptionally high level of the organization, lead by Nikos and George Mendrinos. The gorgeous palace of the University of Athens offered memorable conditions for the weekend full of solving events.

My work on selecting the ECSC problems started on 9^th October 2024, in a perfect coordination with Axel Steinbrink. In January the complete selection was agreed, but on 19^th January one of the selected problems appeared in ISC, and had to be replaced. The final standings prove the optimal balance of difficulty: no problem went unsolved, and nobody reached the maximal 90 points. The average number of points (from zero to 81) was 44.3, and the solver in the middle of the standings (38. Audrey Kueh) gained 42.5 points. These numbers are optimal and I’m very pleased about them.

The ECSC results were counted for the 1^st leg of the WFCC Fujairah Grand Prix 2025-26. It asked for a more strict anti-cheating measures than before, including the use of metal-detector in two longest rounds, when going to the toilet was allowed. This was achieved with the help of the WFCC Secretary Mohammad Alhallak. Solvers reacted appropriately and no incidents or series remarks were registered.

I would like to stress cooperation with the “best assistant in the world” Axel Steinbrink, the expert No.1 in all solving matters. Without him I wouldn’t fulfill my role on the desired level. I was assisting him on the Open, when Nikos Mendrinos made an excellent selection, and the WFCC Honorary President Harry Fougiaxis was the best helper we could have, during the both competitions. We all enjoyed the perfect technical help from George Mendrinos.

Borislav Gadjanski, 18^th ECSC Director

• Preliminary results after 1^st Round TEAM | INDIVIDUAL
• Preliminary results after 2^nd Round TEAM | INDIVIDUAL
• Preliminary results after 3^rd Round TEAM | INDIVIDUAL
• Preliminary results after 4^th Round TEAM | INDIVIDUAL
• Preliminary results after 5^th Round TEAM | INDIVIDUAL
• Preliminary results (after 6^th Round) TEAM | INDIVIDUAL | Norms & Titles

The first competition of the 18th ECSC was the traditional Open solving tournament, one of the most important legs of the WFCC World Solving Cup 2024-25, with 75 participants. The selection of the problems was made by Nikos Mendrinos.

FINAL Results: Results | Norms and Titles | WSC points | Standings | Problems | Solutions

• Preliminary results of the 1^st round
• Preliminary results after 2 rounds
• Problems | Solutions

In the impressive main hall of the old building of the Athens University, the 18th European Chess Solving Championship began with a press conference. Covered by Greek media, the conference announced the most important events of the week, including the 1st leg of the new competition, WFCC Fujairah Grand Prix cycle 2025-26. The first one to address the audience was Abdulla Ali Aal Barket, the Grand Prix Director, and the WFCC 1st Vice-President. He was joined by the highest representatives of the hosts, the WFCC Honorary President Harry Fougiaxis and the Greek Chess Federation President Stathis Efstathopoulos, who was also a Vice-Rector of the Athens University.

The conference, run by one of the 18th ECSC organizers George Mendrinos, ended with media questions replied by WFCC President Marjan Kovačević and the WFCC Secretary Mohammad Alhallak.

-> The full video of the press conference

Make sure to book your Athens tours in advance by following the instructions in the ‘Accommodation – Athens‘ section on the official event website!