Twelve teams were split into two groups of six teams, with top three teams of each group qualifying for the championship final and the rest relegated to the final B. There were three possible contenders: Russia, Ukraine and Poland. Also Germany, the home side, were expected to do well. There was a surprise in the qualifying group 1 as Germany were eliminated after losing three matches out of five played. In group 2 Poland and Ukraine almost doubled the rest of the teams as far as number of game points scored is concerned. Third team to qualify from this group was Yugoslavia, led by legendary Milenko Čabarkapa, participant of eleven consecutive Blind Olympiads 1961-2000.

The results achieved in the preliminaries were carried over to the finals, thus leaving space for just three rounds in the second stage. As the final day arrived, Poland had a two point advantage over Russia, whom they were to face in the last round. The Russians needed to win 3-1 if they wanted to overcome the Poles. Surefire Krylov won his seventh consecutive game but this wasn't enough as Poland held Russia to a 2-2 draw to take the gold. Bronze went to the Ukraine. Germany easily won section B to take seventh place.