Lviv applied for 2003 Ukrainian Team Championship and were accepted, but the offer was later revoked and the championship was awarded to Kyiv. Lviv were only allowed to host the "team championship of the Ukrainian Chess Federation" (Командное первенство ФШУ). As it happened, the Kyiv tournament was not finally held. Yet, as both tournaments were to be played within a month, many top teams and top players did not arrive. 8 of 14 teams originated from Lviv region. Carpathia Lviv fielded two Slovenian internationals GM Beliavsky and GM Mikhalchishin (who both hail from Ukraine), but it did not help much, as the home team came in third, just behind the closest rivals, as the remaining teams were by far weaker. Momot Chess Club took gold, edging Law Academy Kharkiv on tie-break.