19/5 2026 | USA du

Like Genghis Khan!

Glide and Schrott burned out. A first podium for Majestic Crown. African misery.

The first classic was hosted, in lovely if slightly cramped premises and at the last minute, by the Žižkov pub U sadu. The drowned kitten traditionally draws the strongest line-up of players. It’s hard to say why that is, since the material prizes here usually don’t stand out from the average and a classic played in May then means a long card-playing fast, but this year too many seasoned campaigners and players in superb current form gathered here.

The season’s leader so far, Schrott, the Team Championship’s best player Glide, the Midgard stars Niti and Augustyn; Lucka came too, as did Ruprecht, the strong Animais pair Siisa and Terra, and the full touring party of Black Dogs Ghana, who treated the trip like Canadian hockey players—enjoying quality Prague food and drink, underestimating tactics, and after the Albertsthal fashion left the tournament, and the capital, en masse after the second round.

The theme of the tournament was Žižkov characters—as far as I’m concerned, it was traditionally far too sweet; a badge is supposed to hurt. But let’s get to the first round.

KAREL

Karel, who wasn’t Karel, brought the first sensation of the day. The first to bow out was Mokele Mbembe with a tragic score of 44.44%, but right after him Glide, currently the holder of the season’s second-best performance, was knocked out of the table in the 13th game. A first round of 50% and a Karel. One by one the other Ghanaians fell except for Badu, and the last Karel was left for Ruprecht. The best rounds were played by Terra at 93.33% and Siisa at 92.31%.

PEPÍK

Pepík, the one from the songs, again adorned plenty of Africans. One by one Gindraa, Zamunda and Kaadya. Badu remained the only one without a badge and in the points; otherwise a black Sunday for Ghana. Siisa also picked up a Pepík, but his first-round performance was comfortably enough for the final. Schrott and Lucka, by contrast, had to say goodbye to the tournament after the second round. A 100% round was played by Augustyn, who went into the final from the best position, while the leader after the first round, Terra, found herself all the way on match point in the second round.

PÉRÁK

The Czech (Žižkov) Chuck was, as ever, waiting in the final for three less fortunate souls. And that is almost traditionally the role of Animais de Sintra, who have already collected plenty of fourth-to-sixth places over their careers. At River Cat 2026 Siisa was sixth after the 17th game, Terra fifth after the 19th. At that moment Ruprecht was leading the final, only to promptly lose three in a row and find himself, on the contrary, first on match point. Sensationally taking the lead at that point with two letters was Sir Ludwig, but he took over Ruprecht’s baton, lost two games in a row, and Augustyn went into the lead. Yet he too, after seven clean games, dropped to match point, and Batbold went into the lead.

Game number 26, the second-to-last possible one, decided it in the end. Ruprecht lost it, and the fourth-place finish ultimately catapulted him to the top of the standings after River Cat.

The trophy for 3rd place was carried off by Sir Ludwig, and for the modest British club it’s the first trophy of any kind in their history. This guy has a future! What’s more, the uncompromising fans of the crown piled pressure on the referee and stirred up the atmosphere around the final. Those are the proverbial British emotions and that different temperament, and they’ve been associated with this club from the very start of their time on the scene. And fans are, in the end, the spice of every sport. And emotions too. As far as we journalists are concerned, all good.

Silver, dropping just a single letter, was taken by the phenomenal Augustyn, who once again confirmed his value to Midgard. The World Series will be dramatic this year.

The winner of River Cat 2026 was the Mongolian dragon Batbold. After a tragic start to the season (Mongolian Open 2026 – 11th place and the subsequent non-nomination to the Team Championship), this likeable lanky fellow lifted his mood and climbed by almost 40 places in the standings. The team standings are for now led by Midgard ahead of Animais de Sintra.

for SCWU media
Leon Berger

River Cat 2026 results

Placement		points	rounds	letters	games	success rate
1	BATBOLD Smoking Chingiss Dashinchilen	30	3	8	53	84.91%
2	AUGUSTYN Midgard	25	3	8	49	83.67%
3	SIR LUDWIG Majestic Crown	20	3	10	48	79.17%
4	RUPRECHT San Diego Padres	18	3	11	51	78.43%
5	TERRA Animais de Sintra	15	3	10	42	76.19%
6	SIISA Animais de Sintra	12	3	11	42	73.81%
7	BADU Black Dogs Ghana	10	2	7	32	78.13%
8	NITI Midgard	8	2	7	31	77.42%
9	LUCKA Hardangervidda Smoking Elks	6	2	7	27	74.07%
10	SCHROTT Royal SCC Vinohrady	4	2	8	29	72.41%
11	GINDRAA Black Dogs Ghana	0	2	10	32	68.75%
12	MOKELE MBEMBE Black Dogs Ghana	0	2	8	24	66.67%
13	GLIDE KK Bílá Hora	0	2	9	26	65.38%
14	KAADYA Black Dogs Ghana	0	2	10	27	62.96%
15	ZAMUNDA Black Dogs Ghana	0	2	10	23	56.52%