July 2, 2026
During ET 2026, an exciting new competition took place: the ET Embolization Cup. Combining strategy, skill, and teamwork, IR teams went head-to-head to showcase their embolization expertise.
Are you embo ready?: ET Embolization Cup debuts at ET 2026
A competitive spirit was alive and well during ET 2026 as eight teams of young interventional radiologists went head-to-head in the ET Embolization Cup, a new addition to the European Conference on Embolotherapy that proved to be one of the meeting’s most memorable moments.
The atmosphere was set from the very start. Moderators Prof. Tiago Bilhim and Prof. Peter Minko curated an upbeat music playlist, and CIRSE President Philippe Pereira opened proceedings with a FIFA World Cup-inspired joke, calling the World Cup and the Embolization Cup two of the most important competitions of the moment. Prof. Minko then got competitors and spectators involved in a lively call-and-response, asking “Are you embo ready?” with the room answering, “I am embo ready!” The exchange brought plenty of positive energy to the room.
How it worked
To allow as many teams as possible to take part, the competition took place in two sessions and, therefore, resulted in two sets of winners. Designed to test both theoretical and practical knowledge, the Cup began with a quiz-style round before moving into case-based practical rounds on simulators kindly provided by Mentice.
In addition to receiving Embolization Cup trophies, first-place winners received a 2027 All-Access Pass, CIRSE 2026 registration, and an exclusive invitation to the CIRSE 2026 President Dinner.
Each team competed under their own team name
Dr. Benedetta La Delfa and Dr. Vittorio Pettirossi (Team Coil Me Maybe?)
Taking on the challenge
For the competitors, joining the Embolization Cup was an opportunity to showcase their skills while building camaraderie. Game one winners Dr. Erbil Arık and Dr. Muhammed Said Beşler (Team IRresponsible) explained their motivations: “The ET Cup is much more than a competition,” said Dr. Beşler. “It combines education, practical skills, teamwork, and a bit of adrenaline. It also brings together colleagues from different countries, making it a fantastic opportunity to meet people, exchange experiences, and enjoy being part of the interventional radiology community.” For Dr. Arık, the draw was equally immediate: “We work in centres with a very wide spectrum and a high volume of embolization cases. The very idea of an Embolization Cup was incredibly exciting to us, and we knew right away that we wanted to be a part of it.”
Game two winners Dr. Benedetta La Delfa and Dr. Vittorio Pettirossi (Team Coil Me Maybe?) echoed that spirit: “We saw the Cup as a great opportunity to challenge ourselves in a stimulating and competitive environment,” said Dr. La Delfa. “As residents, we thought it would be a unique way to test our skills and share an exciting experience together as a team.”
Prof. Tiago Bilhim stands with Dr. Piergiorgio Laudicina and Dr. Gioele Vitaliti (Team Potarays)
Dr. Pannag Desai Kaginele Nagendra and Dr. Peng Kwan Ng (Team You’ll never bleed alone)
Precision under pressure
The practical component proved to be where the competition was truly decided. Dr. Arık described it as a defining moment for his team: “Up until that round, everything had been going exactly as planned. However, we hadn’t quite brought our case to the desired point until the very last few minutes. Realizing how little time we had left, we had to put our nerves aside and dedicate all our focus and strength to successfully completing the case just in time.”
Dr. Pettirossi felt similarly: “It required technical precision, speed, and the ability to stay calm while making decisions under pressure. Every step had to be quick, accurate, and well-coordinated.”
When asked what skill proved most decisive, all four champions gave the same answer: teamwork. “Good communication helped us stay organized and make decisions efficiently,” said Dr. Beşler. “Technical precision and speed were important too, but they worked best because we trusted each other and enjoyed working together.” Dr. Pettirossi agreed, saying, “The Cup was a great reminder that interventional radiology is not only about manual skills, but also about strategy, adaptability, and teamwork.”
From the audience perspective
Throughout the Cup, spectators enthusiastically cheered on competitors, contributing to the excitement of live competition. Prof. Patrick Haage, who co-founded ET, was among those who made a point of coming to watch. “It was a new feature, so I wanted to see it and check it out,” he said. “To see younger generations of IRs so focused and concentrated on winning was fantastic. Watching both the practical and theoretical elements was a good mix, and it was a good length. The great thing is too that the winners can come back to ET 2027 next year.”
From left to right: Profs. Mark Little, Otto van Delden, and Patrick Haage
Dr. Sorina Simon and Dr. Alain Vogels (Team Coil me Daddy)
A win to remember
For Dr. Arık and Dr. Beşler, claiming victory in the inaugural edition of the Cup carried a special weight. “Seeing our team in first place on the screen felt wonderful,” said Dr. Arık. “Winning such a brilliantly designed competition at such an important meeting and holding the trophies made us feel validated that we are in a very good place, both theoretically and practically. Most importantly, it has become a source of motivation for us to successfully continue our embolization procedures upon returning to our respective hospitals.”
For Game two winners Dr. La Delfa and Dr. Pettirossi, the moment was equally joyous. “We felt incredibly happy, proud, and honestly a little surprised to finish in first place,” said Dr. La Delfa. “Especially being at this stage of our training, winning the Cup was a very special and rewarding moment for us,” said Dr. La Delfa.
The ET Embolization Cup was an event that captured everything ET stands for: hands-on learning, real-world cases, and a community that brings genuine passion to advancing embolotherapy. We look forward to seeing who steps up at ET 2027!
