The European Chess Union (ECU) announced the creation of the European Chess Superleague. The inaugural edition will be held in Bucharest, Romania, from February 2 to 10, 2027.

The event will feature a single Round-Robin between 8 teams. Each team will have six main players and two reserves. Teams will be selected through four main pathways:

  • Top 4 ECU Cup teams
  • Highest-rated eligible club
  • Host organizer team
  • 2 ECU wild cards (2600+ average FIDE rating)

The minimum guaranteed prize fund for the event is €300,000. The winning team will receive €110,000. European Chess Superleague will feature the largest prize fund in the history of European club chess.

The European Chess Union is an independent official governing body founded in 1985. ECU represents and manages chess interests across Europe. ECU organizes several prestigious annual tournaments, including European Individual Chess Championship, European Youth Chess Championship, ECU Cup, and others.

Credit: European Chess Union