This past weekend marked the conclusion of the final EUQ qualifier, which determined three additional slots for western European chess players to compete in Riyadh this November. The UK secured the last spot in the Lower Bracket qualifier, sending Alex Golding to the ENC.
The tournament featured players who had missed out on the first EUQ qualifier battling it out for the remaining spots. Despite losing his opening-round match against Swiss player Noah Fecker, Alex Golding managed to turn things around and secure a 3-2 victory. He then went on to face Jonas Prado Lobo from Spain, winning the series 3-1. With two wins and two ties, Alex accumulated three points in the fourth game, earning him a spot in the event.
Joining him from the UK is Frederick Walhausen Gordon, ranked 42nd on the ENC ladder with a 0.994 points rating under the project ranking scoring system via the Champions Chess Tour Circuit Points. This system invites the top player from 64 nations directly through the event.
Looking ahead, the ENC 2026 competition will kick off from November 2nd to 8th, with players divided into groups. The top four from each group will advance to a 64-player second stage featuring a single elimination bracket.
Aside from chess, Team GB has also qualified for various other titles such as Rainbow Six, Dota 2, Rocket League, and Valorant. Chess enthusiasts can also look forward to the upcoming ChessFest event at Trafalgar Square later this month. Additionally, the Esports World Cup will showcase top players like Magnus Carlsen, bringing together the finest minds in chess for seven weeks of intense competition in Paris.