5th Annual Czech Republic Lockpicking Championship: A New Era at the LockFest Trade Fair
The year 2014 marked a significant milestone for the Czech lockpicking community as the 5th Annual Czech Republic Lockpicking Championship was held in conjunction with the inaugural LockFest trade fair. This specialized locksmith and security exhibition, held at the Thermal Hotel in Karlovy Vary, quickly established itself as one of the most important events in the Czech security and locksmithing industry.
LockFest proved to be a huge success, attracting a wide range of exhibitors, industry experts, and the general public. Thanks to its rich program of trainings, seminars, and presentations, it became a hub of innovation and knowledge exchange. Interest came not only from security professionals, but also from state security agencies, certified companies, and specialists in destructive and non-destructive entry methods.
The fair offered public training sessions focused on property security, as well as closed expert seminars designed for representatives of certified firms and state security forces. These trainings covered topics such as integrated fire suppression systems, emergency safe-cracking techniques, and other advanced security technologies.
Czech Republic Lockpicking Championship 2014
Held within the Thermal Hotel venue, the championship featured the four traditional competition disciplines, testing the speed, technique, and creativity of competitors.
The first discipline was the speed-picking challenge, where contestants had just one minute to open a lock provided by their opponent. Participants were allowed to use picks or other non-destructive tools, requiring both technical skill and quick decision-making.
Next was cylinder lockpicking, in which participants had 15 minutes to pick a cylinder lock, provided by their fellow competitors. This event was widely considered the most challenging, as competitors often brought highly secure locks with complex security features, making the task extremely difficult.
The third event focused on picking padlocks, where competitors were given five minutes to open padlocks supplied by the organizers. Unlike cylinder lockpicking, this event emphasized speed and efficiency, as all competitors faced identical locks under the same conditions.
The final discipline was freestyle, allowing competitors to use any non-destructive technique to open a cylinder lock. With a five-minute time limit, participants could employ a variety of methods, including raking, single-pin picking, or even a combination of multiple techniques.
The Czech Lockpickers Association and Its LockFest Presence
For the first time, the Czech Lockpickers Association (ACL) not only organized the championship but also showcased its activities to a wider audience. ACL hosted its own booth at LockFest, where it provided live demonstrations of non-destructive lockpicking techniques.
This initiative played a crucial role in popularizing lockpicking as a sport and raising awareness about its ethical and security implications. ACL also introduced mini lockpicking competitions, allowing visitors to test their skills on various types of locks under the guidance of experienced lockpickers.
Conclusion and Gala Dinner
After the competition concluded, a traditional Saturday night Gala Dinner was held, bringing together competitors, exhibitors, sponsors, and event organizers. The informal setting fostered discussions, networking, and strengthened relationships between different security communities and professionals.
The year 2014 became a landmark in Czech lockpicking history, marking the first integration of the National Lockpicking Championship with LockFest. This event successfully bridged the gap between lockpicking as a competitive skill and the professional security industry. Due to the overwhelming success of this event, it was decided that LockFest would be held every two years, with lockpickers and the Czech Lockpickers Association continuing to be a key part of the event.