11th Czech Lockpicking Championship 2022 – Eugene Ivanov Memorial

The 11th Czech Lockpicking Championship – A Gathering of Enthusiasts and Professionals

After several years of pause, the Czech Lockpicking Championship was held again in October 2022. This 11th edition was a highly anticipated event, not only for Czech competitors but also for international participants. Around 40 competitors from across Europe—representing the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands—gathered at Orlík to test their skills in traditional lockpicking disciplines.

The first participants arrived on Friday evening, and the event quickly took on a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. After a long break, everyone was excited to reconnect, discuss not only lockpicking and locksmithing but also personal lives, exchange experiences, and share the latest trends in security. Saturday was entirely dedicated to competitions. The first challenge was the padlock competition, which tested the participants’ skills in bypassing these classic mechanical locks. Both the A and B finals saw fierce competition between Czech and German contestants, with representatives from these two countries occupying the top three spots. The B final had a more diverse lineup, with podium finishes for competitors from the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and Austria.

Next up was the speed challenge, where precision and efficiency were key to success. Even the slightest hesitation could mean dropping in the rankings. The top three finishers in this intense challenge came from Hungary, Germany, and the Czech Republic. The cylinder lock competition was a true test of expertise, pitting the most skilled lockpickers against each other. The B final was won by two Czech participants and one Austrian competitor. In the A final, Czech contestants once again dominated—first place went to Jaroslav Coufal, a long-standing champion in this discipline, followed by another Czech competitor. A German participant claimed third place. The last event of the championship was freestyle, where competitors could use not only standard lockpicking tools but also their own custom tools and techniques. The B final saw an exciting battle between a German, an Austrian, and a Czech competitor. In the A final, a Czech participant secured first place, followed by a Hungarian in second and an Austrian in third.

The 11th Czech Lockpicking Championship was an unforgettable event. Competitors demonstrated not only their skills but also sportsmanship and a strong sense of fair play. The atmosphere was fantastic, full of friendly conversations, knowledge-sharing, and technique demonstrations.

The evening concluded with an informal gathering where discussions ranged from locksmithing and the latest trends in security systems to the future of lockpicking as a sport. A huge thank you to everyone who participated in the event—both competitors and spectators—and we are already looking forward to the next edition!

📸 Find the full photo gallery from the event on our Facebook page!

🔑 Detailed results of each discipline can be found in the tables below.