Tournaments

As well as league chess, we run a number of tournaments each year at standardplay, rapidplay and blitz time controls. All except one of these (the FIDE Congress) offer free entry to members of the club. So here they are, in order of appearance…

Internal rated rapidplay tournament

This is a regular tournament running throughout the season on Monday nights. It happens every week as long as there are players available to take part. Unlike our other tournaments, it runs alongside other club activities (league matches and coaching).

The time control is usually 15 minutes for the game + 10 seconds a move from the start. We normally manage to play three rounds in one evening. Entrants are paired on Swiss principles. The results are submitted for ECF over the board Rapid rating.

In 2023/24, the event ran for 30 evenings over 93 rounds. A total of 62 players took part.

Internal rated standardplay tournament

New for 2024/25! Also running throughout the season on Monday nights. Individual standardplay games at the time control of 75 minutes for the game plus 15 seconds a move (or 45 minutes for the game plus 15 seconds a move, if both players agree). All games will be ECF standardplay rated. Ideal for anyone who wants a longer rated game and is not otherwise involved in a match or other club activity.

There are various ways of taking part:

Let the organiser know in advance (by the Saturday evening, before each Monday club night) that you would like to play. You will enter a pool of players. The organiser will arrange pairings and circulate them in advance.

Arrange to play one game (or more in a series) with a particular opponent direct.

Turn up on the night and play against anyone who is available.

In all cases, both players must email the organiser within 24 hours of the game saying who was White, who was Black, and what the result was, so that the organiser can submit the games for rating.

Guildford FIDE Congress

The 3rd Guildford FIDE Congress will take place from Friday 11 April to Sunday 13 April 2025 at the University of Surrey. Entries will open in January 2025. Details will be published on the FIDE Congress page nearer the time.

Internal rated blitz tournament

This 9-round event was previously held on 12 September 2022 and on 29 July 2024. The results were submitted for ECF over the board Blitz rating.

There may be a further blitz tournament at the end of the 2024/25 season.

Guildford Summer Tournament

This long-running annual event takes place on Monday evenings in June and July. It is an 8-round Swiss tournament normally run in two sections, Open and Minor. The time control is 75 minutes for the game + 15 seconds a move, with the option of a shorter time control in the Minor (45 minutes for the game + 15 seconds a move) if both players agree.

59 players took part in the 2024 event – a club record.