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Last day to enter online2025-11-06
Entries after 2025-11-03£5 late fee
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Hampshire Chess Congress & Hampshire Individual Championship

November 7th to November 9th 2025 Lysses House Hotel, 51 High Street, Fareham, Hampshire, PO16 7BQ

5-Round rated swiss tournament and FIDE & ECF rated Open and Major. ECF rated Minor

Sections

SectionFIDE OpenMajor U1800Minor U1550
Entry Fee£40£37£37
Individual Affiliation Fee£4.80£4.80£4.80
First Prize£200£150£150
Second Prize£100£90£90
Third Prize£60£50£50
Rating Prize£50£50£50

SECTIONS AND PRIZES ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The venue has a capacity of just over 90 and the congress has sold out the last three years. Early entry is recommended!

OPEN (FIDE & ECF Rated):£200, £100, £60

  • Under 1950 rating prize: £50
    • ECF ratings will be used for rating prizes unless the player does not have one, in which case FIDE rating will be used. Unrated players are not eligible for rating prizes. FIDE require date of birth, if no FIDE record please supply DoB.

    MAJOR Under 1800 (FIDE & ECF Rated): £150, £90, £50

  • Under 1650 rating prize: £50
    • ECF ratings will be used for entry requirements and rating prizes, unless the player does not have one, in which case FIDE rating will be used. Unrated players are not eligible for rating prizes. FIDE require DoB, if no FIDE record please supply DoB.

    MINOR Under 1550 (ECF Rated): £150, £90, £50

  • Under 1400 rating prize: £50

    • John Dunleavy Memorial Best Game Prize: £100

    All players are eligible to win money prizes (with the exception of the Gillian Moore Cup Prize). All ratings are taken from the 1st Oct 2025 list. Unrated players are not eligible for rating prizes.

    HAMPSHIRE CHESS ASSOCIATION TROPHIES

    • The highest placed Hampshire player in the OPEN receives the Silver Rook Trophy
    • The highest placed Under 1950 Hampshire player in the OPEN receives the Len Walters Trophy
    • The highest placed Hampshire player in the MAJOR receives the Peter Marshall Cup
    • The highest placed Hampshire player in the MINOR receives the Parsons Cup
    • The highest scoring Hampshire lady in the Congress receives the Gillian Moore Cup and a prize of £50.
    Trophy Eligibility

    The eligibility for players to win Individual Championship Trophies requires entrants to be affiliated to the Hampshire Chess Association.

    Trophies need to remain in Hampshire for the next 12 months.

    HCA affiliation is obtained by one of the following:

    1. Hampshire players must be affiliated to the Hampshire Chess Association either through their club or as an individual member.
    2. Individual affiliation taken out by the player paid before the tournament commences. This is granted if the player meets one of the following criteria:
      1. Birth in that county
      2. Three years’ domicile in that county at any time
    3. Hampshire Juniors may affiliate free of charge if it is determined before the tournament commences that the player is eligible.
      1. To be eligible as a junior the player must reside in Hampshire, or play for a club as defined in rule 1.

    Please add £4.80 to entry fee for individual affiliation if relevant. Hampshire Trophies are retained for one year and then returned before the next congress.

    TIMETABLE:

    • Rd 1: Friday 19:00
    • Rd 2: Saturday 09:30
    • Rd 3: Saturday 14:30
    • Rd 4: Sunday 09:30
    • Rd 5: Sunday 14:30

    The draw for each round will be available on Chess Results.

    The presentation of trophies will take place 10 minutes after the last round (19:30). All cash prizes will be sent to the winners by bank transfer.

    RATE OF PLAY: 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move from the start of the game. A player who has not arrived 30 minutes after the start of a round will be defaulted, and their opponent will be re-paired, if possible.

    BYES: When you complete your entry form you can take a ½-point bye in any of the first 4 rounds. Byes are not permitted in the final round.

    TIES: In the event of ties, prize money will be divided equally. Hampshire titles and trophies will be decided by the following tie-break system, in order of priority:

    1. The result(s) between the players involved in the tie, provided they have all met.
    2. Sum of progressive scores
    3. Sum of opponents scores
    4. Sonneborn-Berger scores

    ECF PAY TO PLAY FEE

    English players in the Congress who are not Gold or Platinum members are required to pay the Pay to Play fee of £15.00 if adult.

    Before entering the tournament, please check your ECF membership status If required, obtain your ECF membership at the ECF website OR obtain your FIDE ID at the ECF website OR pay the Pay-to-Play & Game fees

    CONDITIONS OF ENTRY:

    • Entries received after Monday 3rd November 2025, if accepted, will require £5 late entry fee.
    • In all disputes the decision of the Congress Controllers is final.
    • No player may win more than one prize, with the exception of the Gillian Moore Trophy prize.
    • Addresses will be stored on a computer for sending out future congress entry forms and players grades will appear on the ECF website.
    • Players without a current grading must indicate on the entry form their best previous results or any grading ever held.
    • All electronic devices, including mobile devices and smart watches must be switched off.
    • Ungraded players are not eligible for grading prizes.

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

    1. Juniors (under 18) paying reduced fees must give their age on the 31st October 2025.
    2. Unrated players should give details of their recent results.
    3. Entrants who are not members of the ECF, or who are Bronze members must pay the ‘Pay to Play’ fee. This includes any entrant who is a member of a non-ENG federation. If any non-ENG players choose to join the ECF they are not required to pay the “Pay to Play” fee, but this does not mean they have to change federations.
    4. Hampshire players must be affiliated to the Hampshire Chess Association, either through their club or as an individual member. Hampshire Juniors may affiliate free of charge.
    5. If paying by Bank Transfer directly into the HCA bank account, a bank payment reference is required and must be on the entry form. This is “25HIC-” followed by up to 10 letters from the entrant’s name, family name then given name.
    6. The above prizes are guaranteed and are based on an entry of 25 players per section. If a larger entry is received, prizes may be increased or extra prizes may be awarded, including rating prizes. Any changes will be announced before the start of the third round.
    7. The HCA Committee reserve the right to transfer a player to a different tournament or to refuse an entry without giving a reason.
    8. A player who has not arrived 30 minutes after the start of a round will be defaulted, and their opponent will be re-paired, if possible.
    9. It is a condition of entry that players agree to their names, games and rating information being published on the ECF and HCA websites.
    10. Please respect the wishes of the Hotel that only food and drink purchased from the Hotel is consumed on the Hotel premises.
    11. Free tea, coffee and water will be provided by the hotel all weekend in the Congress Organiser room. Please bring cups back to the room and be aware this can be busy at times.
    12. Prize money will be forwarded within 14 days of the congress.

    VENUE

    Lysses House Hotel, 51 High Street, Fareham, Hampshire, PO16 7BQ

    The Lysses House Hotel is a small independent hotel in the centre of Fareham. It offers high standards, friendly personal service, fine food, and excellent facilities. This Hotel has experience hosting chess congresses and we expect the players to be very comfortable in this well-run venue. The hotel has free parking for 35 cars and offers discounts on rooms and meals to chess-playing guests.Free tea, coffee and water will be provided by the hotel all weekend.

    ACCOMODATION IN FAREHAM:

    There are a number of hotels and guest houses within easy reach of the Lysses House Hotel where the HCA Congress is held.

    The Congress Venue. Highly recommended. Lysses House Hotel, 51 High Street, Fareham, Hampshire, PO16 7BQ. Phone: 01329 822622.

    Website: https://lysses.co.uk/the-hotel/

    The hotel is offering a limited number of rooms at discounted prices. Please contact the hotel directly on 01329 822622 to take up this offer.

    • Single Room £79.50 per night
    • Double room for 1 person £95.00 per night
    • Double room for 2 people £107.50 per night

    The room rates include a full English breakfast, service and VAT.

    There will be a special offer available for an evening dinner of 2 or 3 courses including tea and coffee. Also there are bar snacks and a Sunday lunch menu on the Sunday. The restaurant is open to residents and non-residents for breakfast, lunch and dinner but please book meals in advance if possible. Pre-order menu sheets will be available.

    Red Lion Hotel, East St, Fareham PO16 0BP. Phone: 01329 822640.

    Website: https://greenekinginns.co.uk/hotels/hampshire/red-lion-hotel/

    The Roundabout Hotel, 46 Wallington Shore Rd, Fareham PO16 8SB. Phone: 01329 822542.

    Website: https://theroundabouthotel.co.uk/

    TravelRest Solent Gateway, 22 The Avenue, Fareham PO14 1NS. Phone: 01329 232175.

    Website: http://www.travelrest.co.uk/our-locations-from-travelrest/fareham-travelrest/

    There are a number of consolidation websites which list these and other hotels. Use your favourite search engine to look for “Fareham accommodation”.

    ENQUIRIES

    Miss G.A. Moore

    Phone: 02380 466118.

    Email: Congress Entry

    Details will also be on Hampshire Chess Association website.

    Website: https://www.hampshirechess.co.uk/