Regulations
The FIDE Laws of Chess apply except where amended on this page.
Congress rules
| Rate of play | All moves in 90 minutes, with a 30 second cumulative increment for each move, starting from the first move. |
| Byes | Competitors may claim up to 2 half point byes in any of the first four rounds. All first round byes must be claimed at the times of entry. |
| Withdrawals | Refunds will regrettably not be considered until the cost of overheads has been met. |
| Exclusions/Transfers | The organisers reserve the right to refuse or transfer entries, particularly if a player's January rating excludes them from a lower section. |
| Prizes | Only the highest prize will be awarded to a player eligible for more than one. The organisers reserve the right to adjust prize levels depending on the level of entry. |
| Late arrivals | Players will be allowed 30 minutes in all rounds, and are then defaulted. |
| Appeals | Any appeal against an arbiter's decision is subject to a formal appeals procedure, which will be detailed at the event. |
| Ratings | The January 2027 FIDE Rating List will be used. Where an entrant has not played enough FIDE rated games to hold a FIDE rating, their WCU, ECF or other national rating as at 1st January 2027 will be used instead. |
Ungraded players must consult the organiser before entering the
Major (Under 1850 FIDE) section.
Sections and entry fees
| Section | Entry fee |
|---|---|
| Open | £32.00 |
| Major (Under 1850 FIDE) | £32.00 |
Prizes
Prizes in both sections: First £200, Second £125, Third £75
FIDE ID
Every section is FIDE rated, so every player needs a FIDE ID. If you wish to play and do not have one, contact your national federation before the event to get one. It is a simple process, and the organiser will help anyone who needs it.
Players who need a Welsh FIDE ID should email their name and date of birth to
internationalratingofficer@welshchessunion.uk.
If you don't have a FIDE ID when you enter, leave that box on the entry form blank — it will be completed before the congress.
Data protection and inclusion
This event is held under the auspices of the Welsh Chess Union. The WCU Privacy Statement is at welshchessunion.uk/gdpr-wcu-privacy-document, and the WCU Disability Inclusion Policy is available from the Welsh Chess Union website.