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The English Seniors Championships took place between Thursday 24th April and Monday 28th April 2025 at the Holiday Inn Kenilworth. Congratulations go to the new 2025 English Senior Champions who won through after two close fought tournaments which went to the last round in each section.
Over 50s English Champion GM Peter Wells (picture one, second left) who finished on 5.5 out of 7 following a crucial last round win against GM Mark Hebden, with GM Nigel Davies (picture two, left) in 2nd on 5 out of 7 and a three way tie for third between Stephen Dishman, Russel James and Martin Burrows (all finishing on 4.5 out of 7).
Over 50s English Women’s Champion WIM Natasha Regan (picture one, left) who finished on 4 out of 7
Over 65s English Champion Paul Townsend (picture one, second right) who finished on 5.5 out of 7 (to take the championship on tie break from IM Chris Baker (picture three, right) and IM Paul Littlewood (picture three, left) also finishing on 5.5)
Over 65s English Women’s Champion Sheila Jackson (picture one, right) who finished on 4 out of 7
Congratulations to the new champions and all place prize winners, and well played to everyone who took part in the 2025 event!
Performance Prizes (Highest W-We)
50+ Rating 1900-2099 Natasha Regan
50+ Rating Under 1900 Simon Richards
65+ Rating 1900-2099 Stephen Dilleigh
65+ Rating Under 1900 Alan Hall
Photographs from the event
Please follow this link to see Brendan O’Gorman’s excellent series of pictures from this year’s Senior Championships:
brendanogorman.smugmug.com/Chess/2025/English-Seniors-Chess-Championship
Eligibility
Over 50 – players must be aged 50 or over on 31st December 2025; Over 65 – players must be aged 65 or over on 31st December 2025. Players must be born in England or have lived in England for at least the preceding 12 months. In addition, if they have a FIDE registration, it must be ENG. All players must be ECF Gold members or above.
Tournament rules – click here
Rating
Both sections will be FIDE-rated and ECF-rated
Format and playing schedule
There will be two competitions – 50+ and 65+. The congress will have a total of seven rounds over five days at 90 mins with 30 second increment time control, with playing schedule as follows for each of the championships –
| Thursday – Round 1 – 16.00 – 20.00 | Sunday – Round 5 – 10.00 – 14.00 |
| Friday – Round 2 – 10.00 – 14.00 | Sunday – Round 6 – 16.00 – 20.00 |
| Friday – Round 3 – 16.00 – 20.00 | Monday – Round 7 – 11.00 – 15.00 |
| Saturday – Round 4 – 14.00 – 18.00 | Prizegiving following Round 7 |
Time control
All moves in 90 minutes plus 30 second increment per move from move 1
Seniors entrants list – https://www.englishchess.org.uk/english-seniors-championships-2025-entrants/
Entries are now closed for this event.
Prizes – Over 50
1st – £500
2nd – £250
3rd – £100
Performance Prizes
Under 2100 Highest W-We – £100
Under 1900 Highest W-We – £100
50+ Senior Championship trophy for the winner
50+ Senior Women’s Championship trophy for the highest placed female player
Prizes – Over 65
1st – £500
2nd – £250
3rd – £100
Performance Prizes
Under 2100 Highest W-We – £100
Under 1900 Highest W-We – £100
65+ Senior Championship trophy for the winner
65+ Senior Women’s Championship trophy for the highest placed female player.
No player may win more than one prize. Unrated players cannot win a performance prize. In the event of a tie for first place in either section, the award of the championship trophy and the title of Over 50/Over 65 champion will be decided by a tie break as set out in the regulations.
Please note that place prize money will be divided equally amongst the players tied for that place. Prizes will be paid by BACS after the conclusion of the event.
Byes
Players may take half-point byes in any round apart from Round 7, and up to two half-point byes can be requested.
Refreshments
Only refreshments obtained at the hotel may be consumed on the premises.
GDPR
Personal data collected will be handled according to the GDPR details accessible here [PDF]
Enquiries
Please email director.homechess@englishchess.org.uk
Chief Organiser – Nigel Towers
Chief Arbiter – Adrian Elwin
Accommodation
Players wishing to book accommodation for the tournament at the Holiday Inn, Kenilworth should contact the Events Team via email at sales@hi-kenilworth.com with their booking requirement. Alternatively, if you wish to contact by phone the number is 01926 855957 – Conference and Events Team.
Please explain that you will be taking part in the ECF Chess Tournament so that you can take advantage of the preferential rate which is being offered by the hotel to players at the event.
Details
The organiser reserves the right to refuse an entry for any reason. Players failing to arrive in the playing area within 30 minutes of the start for each round will be defaulted. Players whose opponents default will be offered a re-pairing if possible. Pairings will be made using the Swiss Manager program.
FIDE ratings used will be from the 1st April 2025 FIDE rating list. ECF ratings used will be from the April 2025 list. Players who are unrated must provide the organiser with details of their strength. For pairing purposes, the player’s ECF rating will be used.