Vilnius EC 2026 - Feedback

Hello, everyone,

I’ve just gotten off the plane from Vilnius, but I feel it’s important to reflect on what was probably one of the best —if not the best— EC I’ve ever attended (the last one being Mannheim).

I’d like to extend my warmest congratulations to Nerijus and the entire organizing and judging team for this incredible event.

The tournament venue was incredible, and the on-site management by the team was really well organized. The included meals were good, and we were always served with a smile.

I was able to take a city tour as a side activity. And once again, it was an excellent idea —the guide was passionate and engaging, and we spent two hours discovering the beauty of Vilnius.

The auction was also an incredible idea; everyone participated in good spirits, with smiles on their faces. It was a very refreshing break in the middle of three days of intense gaming.

I really appreciate the initiative to have artists on site, and I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Anastasiia, Noora, and Lawrence for signing my cards. It will be a wonderful memento of this EC.

It was also a truly wonderful gesture to celebrate a young girl’s first game win. As the statistics presented by Hugh showed, more than half of the players have been playing for 16 years or more, which makes us an aging playgroup (even if we’re aging well), and it’s essential that we have new players—both male and female—ready to take over.

I’d also like to congratulate Hector on his victory. Maybe if Nina had bought Martin’s lucky cap, she would have been the first woman to become European champion...

And since there has to be a slight downside, I’d say that some of the referees’ decisions were probably debatable. But we all know that refereeing in VTES is a sensitive subject and that it’s not an easy task, especially during a major event.

In closing, Nerijus, first of all, I really enjoyed playing with you (GP—Round 3 and Day 1—Round 1), and second, congratulations again and thank you for making this EC an unforgettable experience.

And of course, a huge thank you to all the players who made the trip.
The vast majority of the games I played were played in a friendly spirit and with a great atmosphere.

I hope to see you all next year in Germany.