The European Senior Team Chess Championship 2026 concluded yesterday in Hersonissos, Crete, Greece.
The event took place from August 26 to September 5 at the Hotel Royal Belvedere in Hersonissos and brought together 32 teams and 150 players competing in two age categories: 50+ and 65+. Each tournament was played over 9 rounds using the Swiss system, with classical time control.
England 1 dominated the Open 50+ section, scoring a convincing 17 match points (8 match wins and 1 drawn match).
Italy followed with 16 match points and took silver, while the Netherlands and Slovakia tied for third place with 13 match points each. The Netherlands claimed the bronze medal on tiebreak, while Slovakia finished in fourth place.
After nine rounds in the Open 65+ section, Slovenia and England 1 tied for first place with 16 match points each. The tiebreak criteria favoured Slovenia, who clinched the gold medal, while England 1 claimed silver. Italy followed with 15 match points to complete the podium.
Competing in the Open 50+ category, England’s women’s team was crowned European Women’s Senior Team Champions 2026.
The final rankings of both sections can be found here.
The closing ceremony was attended by ECU Director of Strategic Projects Ms. Nina Rob, ECU Honorary Vice President Mr. Malcolm Pein, and representatives of the Municipality of Hersonissos, who awarded the winners and top finishers.
The best players on each board in each section were awarded medals.
Open 50+ section:
Board 1: 1. GM Michele Godena (ITA); 2. GM Lubomir Ftacnik (SVK); 3. GM Stuart Conquest (ENG)
Board 2: 1. GM Daniel Gormally (ENG); 2. GM Alberto David (ITA); 3. IM Mark Van Der Werf (NED)
Board 3: 1. IM Fabrizio Bellia (ITA); 2. GM Mark Hebden (ENG); 3. IM Martin Martens (NED)
Board 4: 1. GM John Emms (ENG); 2. IM Carlo D’Amore (ITA); 3. FM Claudiu Andrei Zetocha (SVK)
Board 5: 1. IM Graeme Buckley (ENG); 2. Clive Frostick (ENG); 3. IM Giulio Borgo (ITA)
Open 65+ section:
Board 1: 1. GM Carlos Horacio Garcia Palermo (ITA); 2. GM John Nunn (ENG); 3. GM Alexander Beliavsky (SLO)
Board 2: 1. GM Lexy Ortega (ITA); 2. GM Anthony Kosten (ENG); 3. Paul Townsend (ENG)
Board 3: 1. IM Leon Mazi (SLO); 2. FM Markky Henttinen (FIN); 3. FM Mario Sibilio (ITA)
Board 4: 1. IM Vojko Mencinger (SLO); 2. FM Ivano Ceschia (ITA); 3. Edgar Wilson (ENG)
Board 5: 1. IM Peter Large (ENG); 2. FM Olivier Tassi (ITA); 3. Mats Lindgren (SWE)
Text: European Chess Union
Photos: Zetta Gransa