Nihal Sarin, Koneru Humpy Win Gold at European Chess Club Cup 2026 in Montenegro

New Delhi, Oct 24: Indian Grandmasters Nihal Sarin and Koneru Humpy emerged among the standout performers at the European Chess Club Cup 2026 in Montenegro, clinching individual gold medals in the open and women's competitions, respectively.
Nihal, representing Novy Bor Chess Club on Board 2, accumulated five points from six games, finishing the tournament unbeaten with four victories and two draws. His impressive run included wins against Jorden van Foreest, Karthikeyan Murali and Maxim Rodshtein, earning him the top individual honour on his board.

Despite Nihal's contribution, Novy Bor narrowly missed the overall team championship, settling for second place behind Bayegan Pendik Sports Club. Fellow Indian Grandmaster Pentala Harikrishna also enjoyed a successful campaign, securing the individual silver medal on Board 3 after scoring five points from six games.

Karthikeyan Murali completed the Indian medal sweep in the open section by winning bronze on Board 2 for Montenegro's Team Electroprivreda. He collected 4.5 points from six games, including a notable victory over Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus. Arjun Erigaisi finished fourth on Board 1, further highlighting India's strong presence in the competition.

Humpy Leads Monte-Carlo to Women's Team Title

In the women's competition, Koneru Humpy played an important role in Cercle d'Echecs de Monte-Carlo's title-winning campaign. Competing on Board 2, she scored 4.5 points from six games in the seven-round event to claim individual gold. Her victory over WFM Nia Donghvani proved particularly valuable in her team's successful run.

Expressing her delight after the triumph, Humpy wrote on X, "Delighted to win the European Chess Club Cup Women 2026 with Cercle d'Echecs de Monte-Carlo!"My association with this wonderful club started in 2007 and has always been special, and I'm proud to be part of its journey. A fantastic team effort and a memorable victory alongside such wonderful teammates."

Meanwhile, Nihal is scheduled to return to action at the London Chess Classic, which will take place from November 24 to December 7.