Fourth-seeded Novy Bor pulled off a significant upset in round five of the 2026 European Chess Club Cup, defeating second-seed Alkaloid by a 4-2 scoreline. The victory was built on strong performances from multiple boards, including a decisive win from Harikrishna that lasted 103 moves. The match proved to be the most intense encounter of the round, highlighting why Novy Bor has established itself as a major force in European club chess.

The standout moment came when Nihal Sarin chose to accept a draw against Wei Yi, even though the position was winning for Black. Sarin's decision proved tactically sound as his teammates delivered results on the other boards. The flexibility to take draws when the team situation permits demonstrates the strategic depth required in team competitions, where individual games must be weighed against collective goals.

Novy Bor will now meet SuperChess Romania in the penultimate round, the only other team maintaining a perfect score. SuperChess dominated their round five opponent, crushing SK K CERO INVEST Nitra with a 5.5-0.5 victory. The race remains competitive, with three teams within a single point of the leaders as the tournament enters its final stages.

In the Women's Cup, CE Gambit Bonnevoie continued its unbeaten run with a 2.5-1.5 victory over second-seed Sirmium Sremska Mitrovica, maintaining a perfect 10 out of 10 score. Maltsevskaya's convincing win on the bottom board provided the decisive margin in what proved to be a chaotic match featuring multiple swings in position across the remaining boards. Bonnevoie will face fifth-seed Odlar Yurdu in round six.

Cercle d'Echecs de Monte-Carlo bounced back from their round four setback with a 4-0 sweep against Velikova Chess Club, keeping their medal hopes alive. Two teams remain within two points of Bonnevoie's lead, ensuring the competition stays wide open heading into the penultimate round on Thursday.