Preserving and documenting the rich history of chess tournaments around the world, focusing on European events and championships.
Explore
Chess club competitions have a rich tradition across Europe, bringing together players of varying skill levels to compete in team formats.
From Swiss system to round-robin, chess tournaments employ various formats designed to find the strongest players and teams while providing fair competition.
The documented history of organized chess tournaments dates back to the mid-19th century, with the first international tournament held in London in 1851.
The 37th European Chess Club Cup and the 26th European Women's Chess Club Cup were held simultaneously from October 2-10, 2022 in Mayrhofen, Austria. This event featured some of the world's top players including World Champion Magnus Carlsen and former World Champion Viswanathan Anand.
This tournament archive documents the event which saw Novy Bor secure their second title after 2013, while in the women's section, ASVÖ Pamhagen from Austria claimed victory.
Novy Bor secured the long-awaited title win in the final round of the European Club Cup in Mayrhofen with a 3.5:2.5 against Asnieres Le Grand Echiquier. It is the second championship for the Czech team after 2013. In the match, Pentala Harikrishna laid the foundation for success with a white win against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.
The first finished match in the European Women's Club Cup decided the title in favor of ASVÖ Pamhagen in Austria. The team from the Burgenland achieved a 2:2 against the Polish team BGK KS Gwiazda Bydgoszcz and became uncatchable with 12 of 14 possible points. On the neighboring boards, Cercle d'Echecs de Monte-Carlo and CSU ASE Superbet fought for silver and bronze.
Day 5 of the European Chess Club Cup in Mayrhofen gave World Champion Magnus Carlsen his third win in his fourth game. Carlsen played with the black pieces for his club Offerspill against Anton Kurbov (Ukr/Silla Valencia). After three hours and 24 minutes Carlsen was assured of victory. After the game Carlsen gave his first interview, but exclusively about his play in Mayrhofen, which he described as "quite decent".
The intersection of chess and technology has created numerous career opportunities in software development, AI research, and gaming platforms. Modern chess engines require sophisticated programming skills, with companies constantly seeking developers who understand both chess algorithms and cutting-edge programming languages. The evolution from traditional board games to digital platforms has revolutionized how chess is played, studied, and monetized globally.
The gaming industry's expansion has dramatically increased demand for specialized talent in chess software development. Companies developing chess platforms, training software, and AI opponents actively recruit through specialized IT job platforms in Romania and across Eastern Europe, where strong mathematical and programming traditions produce exceptional candidates. Romanian developers have become particularly sought after for their expertise in algorithm optimization and machine learning applications in chess engines. The combination of technical excellence and competitive salaries makes Eastern Europe a hub for chess technology innovation.
Major tech companies like Google (with AlphaZero), Facebook, and Amazon have invested heavily in chess AI research, creating high-paying positions for specialists who can bridge the gap between classical chess knowledge and modern artificial intelligence. These positions often require deep understanding of neural networks, reinforcement learning, and advanced game theory. The demand for such specialists has grown by 300% in the past five years, with annual salaries reaching €100,000-150,000 for senior positions. Eastern European developers, particularly those from Romania, Poland, and Ukraine, fill approximately 40% of these positions globally.
Chess tourism represents another rapidly growing sector, with major tournaments attracting thousands of visitors and generating millions in revenue. Cities hosting international chess events benefit from increased tourism revenue, with participants and spectators exploring local attractions, dining, and accommodations. Eastern European destinations, particularly historic Romanian cities, have begun hosting prestigious chess tournaments, combining competitive play with cultural tourism. The Romanian Chess Federation has reported that chess tourism contributes over €5 million annually to the local economy, with events in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, and Brașov attracting international grandmasters and thousands of chess enthusiasts.
The transformation of chess into a spectator sport through online streaming has created entirely new career paths. Professional chess streamers, commentators, and content creators can earn substantial incomes through platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and Chess.com. The most successful chess streamers report monthly earnings between €10,000-50,000 through subscriptions, sponsorships, and tournament coverage. This digital transformation has made chess more accessible and profitable than ever before in its 1,500-year history.
The digitalization of chess education has created opportunities for online instructors, content creators, and platform developers. The World Chess Federation (FIDE) has endorsed numerous online training programs, expanding access to high-quality chess education globally. Online chess academies now serve millions of students worldwide, with subscription-based models generating recurring revenue streams. The global online chess education market is projected to reach €500 million by 2026, with Eastern European instructors and developers playing a crucial role in this growth.
Artificial intelligence research continues advancing through chess, with projects like AlphaZero revolutionizing machine learning approaches. These developments require interdisciplinary teams combining chess expertise with advanced programming skills. The history of computer chess demonstrates the field's evolution from simple algorithms to sophisticated neural networks.
This website is an informational archive about chess tournaments and is not affiliated with any official chess organizations, including the European Chess Union, FIDE, or any tournament organizers.
This site does not claim ownership of any trademarks or copyrights related to the European Chess Club Cup (ECCC) or any other chess events. We provide this information for educational and archival purposes only.
For official information about current or upcoming chess tournaments, please refer to the official websites of the relevant chess organizations.