ECF Grand Prix – archive

The Grand Prix is currently suspended due to the Covid-19 outbreak. It will not start up again until such time as normal OTB chess resumes. The precise date that OTB chess starts up again will determine how the existing results will be handled.

The Grand Prix runs each year from 1st July to 30th June. Updates will appear approximately once a month. Remember there will always be unreported events in the pipeline, even when an update is new. You can find out if your events have been reported and accepted for the Grand Prix by clicking here.  This is actually a list of events received for grading, but Grand Prix scores are calculated via the grading system and congresses accepted for the Grand Prix are marked (a congress, to qualify, must be reported within one month)

While scoring is via the grading system, organisers are also asked to send their congress reports/results to the ECF – webmaster@englishchess.org.uk – for publication on the website.

The final 2018/19 Grand Prix Leader Boards as at 11/09/2019 – here [updated]

Grand Prix Rules

1. Nature of the Event
The Grand Prix is a year-long individual competition based on graded congresses and restricted to Direct Members of the Federation at Silver, Gold & Platinum levels (Junior included). All open congresses graded by the ECF are included, provided their grading results reach the ECF within one month of the last day of the congress (and in any case no later than 20th July). Leagues, knockouts, invitational events, team competitions, internal club competitions and matches are not included. The Grand Prix begins on 1st July and ends on the following 30th June. A congress which begins in June and finishes in July will be deemed, for this purpose, to have taken place entirely in July.

2. Grand Prix Sections
The Grand Prix is divided into seven sections —

(1) Open Prix: open to all Members (Silver & above) graded 180 or over
(2) Women’s Prix: open to all female Members (Silver & above)
(3) Junior Prix: open to all Members (Silver & above) aged under 18 on 31st August of the year in which the Grand Prix begins
Graded Prix – open to all Members (Silver & above) other than Juniors in the following grade ranges:
(4) Graded Prix 160 – 179
(5) Graded Prix 140 – 159
(6) Graded Prix 120 – 139
(7) Graded Prix U120

Current published grades will be used – Standard Play where available, otherwise Rapid Play. Ungraded players may compete only in the Women’s Prix and Junior Prix. A member whose grade changes in the course of the season will be transferred, if necessary, to the appropriate new section. The member will retain all points scored so far (see Grand Prix Scoring below)

3. Grand Prix Scoring
Grand Prix points may be scored in any number of events. To score, the player must be an ECF member (Silver or above) at the time of the event.

(a) Scoring Grand Prix points in an event
(i) The member must play at least four games in the event. Byes and wins by default will not be counted.
(ii) In a Standard Play event the member’s Grand Prix points are calculated as – percentage score in the event, with any fraction of a percent ignored; plus the number of games played in that event (up to a maximum of 11).
(iii) In a Rapid Play event the points are calculated as above, then halved, and truncated, if necessary, to produce a whole number.

(b) Calculating overall Grand Prix scores
Grand Prix scores will be calculated on the member’s best performances in —
• up to 7 Standard Play events, or
• up to 6 Standard Play events + 2 Rapid Play events, or
• up to 5 Standard Play events + 4 Rapid Play events;
whichever gives the highest score.
In the case of a tie, the next highest Standard Play result or two next highest Rapid Play results (whichever gives the higher score) will act as a tiebreak. This process will be continued, if necessary, until the tie is resolved.

The leading scores will be published from time to time, and the final scores will be published in early August.

4. Prizes
There will be trophies for the following categories — Category 180+ | Category 160 – 179 | Category 140 – 159 | Category 120 – 139 | Category U120

5. Application of Rules
The application of these rules, and any decisions relating to them, rests solely with the English Chess Federation. An appeal against a decision may be made within seven days. An appeal against the calculation of a Grand Prix score may be made within seven days of its publication. Any appeal must be sent to the ECF Office accompanied by a fee of £25, which will be returned if the appeal is upheld. Appeals will be referred to the ECF Home Director (or a person or persons appointed by him), whose decision will be final.