For 48 hours this past May weekend, hundreds of amateur radio operators entered the Multi-Two High Power category in the CQ WPX CW contest. From Finland to Georgia, Bulgaria to India, teams managed two simultaneously operating radios — pushing limits on run rates, multipliers, band strategy, and endurance. What follows is a selective glimpse into their experiences — not a complete roster, but a vivid cross-section of those who shared stories or posted their progress live on the Contest Online Scoreboard, a tool increasingly viewed as essential. Beyond its value to competitors — and yes, opinions vary — the Scoreboard has also become a way for a growing audience to follow the action in real time, bringing a new level of visibility to radiosport and, perhaps, inspiring more operators to get involved.

Back to Battle Strength: LZ5R, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
LZ5R · Plovdiv, Bulgaria · 29,904,563 points · 8,124 QSOs · 1,651 prefixes

You could call it a return. You could also call it controlled chaos.

After nearly a year of silence, the legendary LZ5R station — operating from LZ1KFM near Plovdiv — came back online in dramatic fashion. Ten months of maintenance had left the antennas on the ground and the shack torn apart. With just two weeks to go before the contest, Manu LU9ESD and Roman RN5M flew in to help lead the final push. What followed was a logistical sprint few would attempt and even fewer could pull off: six 42-meter towers raised with a crane, 28 Yagis deployed, and a newly configured switching room brought online, all in under ten days.

And still, not everything made it to air. The 48-meter towers — built to carry full-sized 80-meter Yagis and the critical top element of each 15-meter stack — never reached full height. The local crane operator couldn’t locate equipment tall enough. So they adapted.

“We decided to be on the air,” wrote Krassy K1LZ, who orchestrated the rebuild and led the multinational team. “Especially since we had committed to welcoming our friends from Romania.” And arrive they did — by car, just hours before the contest began. The result was an impromptu alliance of operators from Bulgaria, Romania, Germany, Spain, and Argentina including K1LZ, LU9ESD, RN5M, LZ1YQ, LZ3ND, UT5DX, W9GZU, YO3HEX, YO8TTT, YO8XBA and YO9WF. Some had never worked together before Friday.

Operating at what Krassy estimated was only 80% of the station’s intended capability, LZ5R still delivered one of the best scores ever recorded from Europe in this category. Their claimed total of 29.9 million points, built on 8,124 QSOs and 1,651 prefixes, bested the longstanding EU record held by OM7M. But it wasn’t enough to hold off the high-octane push from Estonia’s ES9C, who seemingly outpaced them by just over a million points.

Propagation didn’t do them any favors. Only 22.8% of their contacts came from North America — and just 2.4% of those on 10 meters, a band that simply didn’t deliver. “We threw up a single dipole for 80M,” Krassy noted, “and out of 427 QSOs, 5.1% were NA… that’s more than on 10M!”

Their most productive band, as it was for many, was 20 meters — “open practically 24 hours,” they reported. But 15 meters was moody and unpredictable, with deep fading that never quite lifted. Still, they maintained a disciplined rhythm, held their frequency against growing global pressure, and never let the compromised setup break their flow.

What elevated LZ5R’s entry wasn’t just the score or the scale — it was the attitude. In Krassy’s closing remarks, he didn’t dwell on missed tower sections or low-band limitations. Instead, he turned his attention to transparency — and to his competitors. “Huge congrats to ES9C,” he wrote, “they were always visible on the scoreboard.” He also tipped his cap to A62A, the Emirates Amateur Radio Society team, for what he called a “flawless performance and a historic showing for the country.” Their claimed score of over 31.9 million points not only topped the scoreboard — it set a new benchmark for what’s possible in this category from the Middle East.

Krassy wasn’t done. “Sadly, there are still too many who hide — even top stations — using the Scoreboard purely for their own benefit, disappearing or implementing weird 'strategies' that only raise doubts.” For LZ5R, showing up meant more than just being on the air — it meant being visible.

It wasn’t just a station rebuild. It was a statement. And with this kind of performance at 80%, you get the feeling LZ5R is just getting started.

The Estonian Surge
ES9C · Estonia · 31,008,298 points · 8,226 QSOs · 1,663 prefixes

What began as a modest plan for a Multi-Single entry quickly grew into something more ambitious. When it became clear that a deep bench of skilled operators was ready to join, the ES9C team shifted gears — stepping up to Multi-Two with little time to spare.

The late-stage switch brought its share of technical issues, but Oleg YL3DW stepped in and resolved them fast. “This is the moment to send kudos to Oleg,” the team wrote, grateful for his quiet heroics.

The contest itself was dynamic and fun. Conditions were solid across most bands — with 10 meters being the only real letdown. That gap, they speculated, gave A62A an edge. With every QSO worth three points, the Emirates team could extract more score-per-contact than EU-based operations, even with lower QSO totals.

Still, ES9C had firepower of their own. Their QSO and prefix numbers closely matched LZ5R’s, but they edged them out for what they believe is a new European record — and one that should hold up after log checking.

The team itself was “a fantastic mix of skilled and enthusiastic operators,” and special praise was given to the in-band operators whose timing and execution helped elevate the score. “It was an honor to be part of this multinational team,” they wrote.

Operators: ES2MC, ES5NR, ES5NY, ES5TV, HA8RT, KX7M, LU1FAM, RC5A, UR5ECW, UR8UQ, UT5UY, YL1ZW, YL3DW, YL3JA

Wine, Wisdom, and a Different Kind of Win: LZ9W, Breznik, Bulgaria
24,205,532 points · 6,615 QSOs · 1,586 prefixes

With a wave of cancellations thinning the crew, LZ9W made the call: no Multi-Multi this year. Instead, they switched to M/2 — their first such entry in WPX CW. What followed wasn’t an all-out push, but a focused and easygoing rhythm. “Five grandfathers and four uncles,” wrote Wally LZ2CJ. “Good wine, good food, and enough time to sleep.”

Yet this wasn’t just a social weekend. With over 6,600 QSOs, they turned in a probable Top Ten finish. “M/2 is a different game,” Wally added. “But we learned a lot — and had fun doing it.”

Lean Crew, Loud Result: SZ1A, Greece
13,217,400 points · 4,385 QSOs · 1,400 prefixes

With just six operators on shift, Team SZ1A made every moment count in their full Multi-Two entry. SV1DPJ, SV1BJW, G0PZA, SV1CDN, SV1DKD, and SV1CIB covered all the operating slots, demonstrating that success isn’t always about numbers — it’s about precision and teamwork.

Supporting them behind the scenes was a dedicated crew — SV1CQK, SV1CQG, SV1BDO, SV1HKH, SV1TBW, SV1TIQ, SV1RRX, and SV1RLC — whose logistical help and on-site support kept the station running smoothly all weekend long.

This contest was more than just pileups. It was also a stress test for SZ1A’s newly upgraded infrastructure. After months of preparation, including a full rebuild and height extension of their 20-meter monobander tower, the team reported strong performance on their signature band — now perched at 21 meters and shining when it mattered most.

“Everything was pushed to the limit and held up,” the team reported, “while some new issues and further areas of optimization were identified.”

In short, it was a successful outing on both fronts: a solid competitive result and valuable field data on station improvements. SZ1A was back on the air — and making serious noise.

Legacy and Loss: WG4R, Cloudland, Georgia
11,600,300 points · 3,528 QSOs · 1,244 prefixes

This year’s effort at K4EA’s station came with a heavy heart. WG4R — Bill Mauldin — had been planning to watch the event unfold. He passed away unexpectedly on May 8. In tribute, K0RF and K4EA operated under his call.

Saturday was strong. Sunday, less so. At times, five minutes would pass without a single contact. Yet both operators logged over 45 hours, battling not just conditions but the ache of absence. “We really needed in-band capability,” they wrote, “but with two ops, it wasn’t possible.” Still, the effort stood as a memorial in motion.

Storms and Static: AT3K, Surathkal, India
5,137,002 points · 2,200 QSOs · 754 prefixes

When Kiran VU2XE and Deepak VU2CDP arrived at the NIT Karnataka club station (VU2REC), they found tri-banders stuck on Europe, weather worsening, and SWR issues unresolved. Then the town lost power.

The shack — a container on the edge of campus, near the Arabian Sea — rattled in gale-force winds. Their backup power held until Sunday morning, then failed. Eventually, they sourced generator fuel and clawed back onto the air.

Despite the obstacles, they matched their QSO total from the prior year. “Log checking will be brutal,” they wrote. “But it was worth every minute.”

Three Men, Two Radios, One Record: OG1F, Pori, Finland
18,488,118 points · 5,502 QSOs · 1,502 prefixes

From OH1AF, a three-man team — OH1NOA, OH1TM, OH3RM — shattered the Finnish M/2 record by 38%. Saturday brought strong conditions, but Sunday’s 10M opening never came. “20 never closed,” they noted. “But 10 was nearly dead.”

Running M/2 with three people isn’t easy, but it means everyone gets time at the radio— and nap time. Their focus and pacing were as Finnish as the station’s crisp precision.

Young Operator, Veteran Station: NU2F, Western New York, USA
11,305,818 points · 3,316 QSOs · 1,161 prefixes

At W2FU’s station, a young voice joined the contest. Nine-year-old KE2AIZ took the chair for a solid run — alongside K0SM, K2AXX, and W2FU. “Maggie had a lot of time in the chair,” they wrote. “And got great experience.”

They ran M/2 but spent much of the weekend with only one station active. Life and other commitments took priority. Still, it was a meaningful weekend — and likely the start of a much longer radio journey for one new op.

The Multi-Two Mindset

Whether run by three operators or ten, whether in memory of a friend or in the shadow of a storm, the Multi-Two category in CQ WPX CW 2025 revealed the creativity, resilience, and camaraderie that define radiosport at its best. These weren't just call signs on a scoreboard — they were commitments to showing up, working hard, and sharing the experience with others.

And that scoreboard? It's more than a tool for operators. It's a window into the contest for anyone curious enough to watch. If we keep opening that window wider — with more teams posting in real time — we just might find a larger audience ready to follow along, cheer us on, and maybe even pick up a key themselves. That’s good for the competition, and even better for the hobby.

Multi-Two High Power — 2025 CQ WPX CW Contest Online Scoreboard Summary

*Only stations posting to the Contest Online Scoreboard are included above.

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