Italy and Ukraine win the Mitropa Cup
Here are the final highlights from the Mitropa Cup 2026, analyzed by GM Felix Blohberger.
With convincing 3–1 victories in the final round, Italy and Ukraine secured the titles at the 2026 Mitropa Cup, which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year.
In the Open section, Italy crowned itself champion with a clear 3–1 win over the Czech Republic. France secured second place thanks to a 2.5–1.5 victory against Switzerland, while Switzerland still finished third despite the defeat. One point behind followed Slovenia and Hungary with 10 points each. Austria concluded the tournament in eighth place with seven points, tied with the Czech Republic and Germany. Slovakia finished ninth with six points, while Croatia remained at the bottom of the standings with two points.
In the Women’s section, Ukraine celebrated a historic triumph in its debut appearance: with a 3–1 victory over Croatia, the Ukrainian team claimed the title at the first attempt. Over the course of the tournament, they conceded only two drawn matches against Austria and Slovakia. Switzerland defended second place with a 2.5–1.5 win over France, while Italy completed the podium with 12 points. Slovenia, Slovakia, and Germany followed with nine points each, ahead of the Czech Republic (7) and France (6). Austria, with four points, managed to pass the red lantern on to Croatia.
The Carinthian Chess Federation, led by President Friedrich Knapp, delivered an excellent event in the world-famous Fuchspalast venue. Karl Theny once again ensured smooth live broadcasting, while Felix Blohberger significantly enhanced the tournament coverage with his GM commentary on his YouTube channel. The closing ceremony was personally conducted by Michael Stöttinger, President of the Austrian Chess Federation, and Marco Biagioli, President of the Mitropa Chess Association.
Results: https://chess-results.com/tnr1394907.aspx
Live-Games: http://live.chess.at/info.htm
Youtube Channel GM Blohberger: https://www.youtube.com/@febloh
Photos: https://cloud.chess.at/index.php/s/gZxZw6jNA56TayE
