British Chess Championships 2008

The 95th Championships of The British Isles Organised by the English Chess Federation

Sunday 27th July - Saturday 9th August - St. George's Hall, Liverpool

Congress Manager: Stewart Reuben

• Tournament queries to the English Chess Federation, The Watch Oak, Chain Lane, Battle, East Sussex TN33 0YD (Tel 01424 775222; Fax 01424 775904; email ). The ECF Office is unable to book accommodation or respond to any matters relating to the venue.
  
  
• If an acknowledgement is required, please request it by sending an e-mail to the Congress Secretary or if this is not possible enclose a stamped addressed envelope with the entry form.
  All e-mailed entries will be acknowledged.
  
  
• Please return your entry form to the Congress Secretary:
  Neville Belinfante, 10 Ostlers Court, Old Coach Drive, High Wycombe, Bucks HP11 1AR. Email:
  
  
• Entries posted after 24th July should be addressed to The British Chess Championships, c/o David Welch, 63 Croxteth Road, Liverpool L8 3SF.
  
  
• It is ECF policy that to enter any part of the British Championships (except the Adult Rapidplays, Adult Weekenders and Junior non-championship events) you must be a member of your National Federation.

  To join ECF you must have paid a membership fee, completed a Subscription Form and completed and signed the white ECF Application Form and then posted them to the ECF Office.

  The white form need only be completed, signed and returned to the ECF Office once not annually. There is nothing further to pay.

  Please note that we cannot renew any membership or allow entry into the British Championship until the signed ECF Application Form has been registered at the ECF Office.

  ECF Membership Checklist:

• Payment enclosed
• Membership Subscription Form completed & ECF Application Form completed (if not already done so)

Entry Form

Championship events – open only to British Isles subjects or players resident therein for the past year. or those with British Overseas Dependent Territories Citizenship. In Junior Championships, ages relate to 1st September, 2007. All Junior Championships will include titles for at least one Boy and at least one Girl.

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CONDITIONS OF ENTRY

1) No entries can be accepted except on an official entry form. Additional forms can be obtained from the ECF Website or by contacting the ECF Office with a stamped addressed envelope.

2) Competitors are expected to maintain acceptable standards of dress & behaviour.

3) Prize Winners must attend the appropriate prizegiving for their event as announced in the programme. The main prizegiving will be held on Saturday 9th August at 9.30 am. Failure to attend without the prior permission of the Congress Director or a Principal Arbiter may result in the forfeiting of the prize concerned.

4) Every effort is made to place entrants in the tournament of their choice but the right is reserved to transfer an entry to another appropriate section. The right is reserved to refuse any entry. The Federation may deduct an administration fee from any refund to players who withdraw.

5) A player withdrawing during any event without good cause will be liable to pay a full entry fee at any future event organised by the Federation and/or a bond returnable on satisfactory conduct during such events.

6) Only food/drink bought at St. George’s Hall can be consumed within the venue.

7) In all events other than Adult Rapidplays, Adult Weekenders and Junior non-championship events, English players MUST be members of the English Chess Federation. Either quote your membership number on the Entry Form or complete the Membership Form and pay a Membership Fee.

Photographs of competitors and prize winners will be taken during the event. No photograph of a junior will be used for publicity purposes without consent.

Entry to the Championships is deemed to be acceptance of these conditions.

INFORMATION FOR COMPETITORS

Grades/Ratings: - For the British, Major Open and Seniors, FIDE ratings take precedence, then British national grades. These 3 events will be FIDE rated. For Adult Rapidplay Events, the current ECF Rapidplay grade of category A, B, C or D will take precedence over normal grades. Entry to the Graded Championships will be determined by the 2007 ECF list or appropriate list for non English players. Ungraded players must give details of any previous grades/ratings held.

Programme: - this will be sent free to competitors in all events of 5 days duration or more about one week before the start of the Championships. Players in all weekend and rapidplay events will receive a programme at the event.

Bulletins and Charts: - All players in the British Championship will receive daily bulletins as part of their entry fee. A web bulletin will include games and information about most events at the Championships, including all final charts. A daily bulletin will be on sale and will contain a wide range of games from many sections. Competitors may also purchase a Commemorative Bulletin.

Discounts: -
a) ECF Members (all categories), and members of any of the National Chess Bodies within the British Isles can claim a discount of £2 per event entered, providing the entry is made before the closing date.

b) Multiple entry discounts: If one person enters 2 or more sections at the same time, or if a family makes a multiple entry at the same time, the entry fee for each section entered will be reduced by £2, providing the entry is made by the closing date.

Surcharges: - To organise these Championships to the high standards expected it is important that entries are received early. Therefore the following surcharges apply: -
Entries received postmarked after 7th July - £25 (2 week events); £10 (1 week events).
Entries received postmarked after 21st July or received at the event; a further £10.
The Federation reserves the right to refuse any entry made at the event.

Weekender events (including the Under 8 & Under 9 Championships) will incur no penalty until postmarked after 21st July when following will apply: - £5 Swiss events; £2 Rapidplays. Entries on the day: £10 Swiss events; £5 Rapidplays.

Mobile phones: - Mobile phones must be switched off in the playing hall. Competitors should avoid bringing phones to the venue. They will be immediately defaulted if their mobile phone is found to be switched on, and they may be considered to have withdrawn from the event.

Multiple Entries: - Players may not take part in two tournaments on the same day if the sessions potentially overlap. The following exceptions apply:-

Players may take a ½ pt bye in a Weekender if they are playing in an am event.
Players may take a ½ pt bye in the Major Open if they have a junior pm round. They should inform the Major Open Controller at least 24 hours in advance.
Players may take a ½ pt bye in round 7 of the Under 11 (if not in contention for a prize) in order to play in the Under 8 Championship.

Byes: - In non-championship events other than the Major Open, a round one bye may be claimed on the entry form. For other rounds, the section controller should be consulted at the event.

Commentary: - Daily commentary will take place on British Championship games.

Coaching for Juniors: - Coaching will be available free to Juniors. We are grateful to the John Robinson Trust for allowing us to provide this service. Further details will be given in the programme.

Bursaries: - Reductions in entry fees may be available for junior entrants. Any entrant receiving a bursary cannot qualify for an event discount. Please contact in confidence:
David Welch, 63 Croxteth Road, Liverpool L8 3SF. Tel/Fax: 0151 733 1866, Email:

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ABOUT THE VENUE

St. George’s Hall is directly opposite the front entrance to Lime Street Station. The entrance for chess players is located at the Northern end of the building, not up the main steps. There is parking in the local car parks, but public transport is advisable.

ACCOMMODATION

For details of accommodation please contact:

Mersey Partnership Accommodation Call Centre - Tel: 0844 870 0123

Liverpool Tourist Information - Tel: 0151 233 2008, Email: , website: www.visitliverpool.com

Merseyside has an excellent transport system and competitors should consider Southport and the Wirral as well as central Liverpool and the suburbs.