The Dundee Chess Congress 2026 will take place from October 9 to 11, 2026, at the University of Dundee Chaplaincy Centre. The weekend congress offers five rounds of standard chess across three sections: Premier, Major and Minor.

The tournament begins with an evening round on Friday. In addition, two rounds will be played on Saturday and two on Sunday. All sections use a time control of 90 minutes plus a 15-second increment from move one.

The complete published prize schedule is worth up to £2,340 / approximately $3,120. However, the organizers may adjust the prizes or section structure according to the final number of entries. The Premier is limited to 36 players and will be filled in entry order.

📌 Event Details

The tournament dates, format, venue, section structure and entry deadline are confirmed by the official congress website and Chess Scotland.

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

All three sections will be played over five Swiss-system rounds. Round 1 takes place on Friday evening. Two rounds follow on Saturday and two on Sunday.

Each player receives 90 minutes for the entire game, with an increment of 15 seconds per move from move one.

A player who arrives more than 30 minutes after the scheduled start may lose the game under the published default-time rule.

When an opponent fails to appear, the control team may re-pair the waiting player. Alternatively, the organizer may offer a gradeable friendly where possible.

Players should check their section, board number and opponent before each round. Any incorrect name, club, grading code or published grade should be reported immediately.

🏆 Prize Fund

The full published prize schedule totals up to £2,340 / approximately $3,120.

The Premier offers £740 in published prizes. Meanwhile, the Major offers £790 and the Minor offers £810. The organizers reserve the right to increase or decrease the prize money.

Premier Prizes

Major Prizes

Minor Prizes

Prize Conditions

The organizers reserve the right to:

• Increase or decrease the prize money
• Transfer players between sections
• Split or merge sections according to entry numbers
• Refuse an entry without assigning a reason
• Take other measures required for the smooth running of the congress

Therefore, the amounts above represent the published maximum prize schedule, rather than an unconditional guarantee.

♟️ Sections / Groups

The congress includes Premier, Major and Minor sections. Chess Scotland’s published 2026–27 Standard gradings will determine initial eligibility.

Premier

The Premier is intended for players with a published Chess Scotland Standard grade of 1700 or higher.

Entry is limited to 36 players. Places will be allocated in entry order, so players should register before the section reaches capacity.

The Premier offers three main prizes and one grading prize.

Major

The Major has a published upper grading limit of 1800.

The published Premier and Major ranges overlap between 1700 and 1800. Therefore, players in that range may select an appropriate section, subject to organizer approval.

The Major offers three main prizes, two grading prizes and one junior prize.

Minor

The Minor has an upper grading limit of 1400.

The section offers three main prizes, two grading prizes, a junior prize and a primary-school prize.

Section Allocation

The organizers use published Chess Scotland Standard grades rather than live grades.

They may transfer a player when:

• The submitted grade is incorrect
• The selected section is unsuitable
• New grading information affects eligibility
• Entry numbers require an adjustment
• A section must be split or merged

Players without an appropriate Chess Scotland grade should contact the organizer before entering.

📅 Schedule

All three sections follow the same five-round schedule.

Players must register before entering the tournament hall. Moreover, unpaid entry fees must be settled before play begins.

The final finishing time may vary according to the duration of the last-round games and the prize calculations.

📝 Registration

Registration is available through the official Dundee Chess Congress online form.

Discounts

A £2 discount is available to current Chess Scotland members.

In addition, players aged 16 or younger on October 9 may claim a £2 junior discount. Primary-school pupils may instead claim a £6 discount.

Only one discount may be used. Discounts cannot be combined.

Entry Confirmation

Players must press the Submit button at the end of the online form. Otherwise, the organizer will not receive the application.

After entering, players should check the official entrant list and confirm:

• Their name appears correctly
• The correct section is shown
• Any bye request is recorded correctly
• The organizer has processed the entry

Errors on the entrant list should be reported to Keith Rose immediately.

👤 Organizer

The Dundee Chess Congress was revived in 2004 after a ten-year break. The congress moved to its current University of Dundee venue in 2018.

The organizing team aims to provide an inclusive weekend tournament for players of different strengths. Ray Noble serves as Congress Director, while Keith Rose manages entrant-list corrections and related entry matters.

Questions about grading eligibility, section placement, entry processing or the Premier capacity should be sent before the congress.

📍 Venue

University of Dundee Chaplaincy Centre – Cross Row, Dundee DD1 4HN, United Kingdom.

The Chaplaincy Centre stands in the heart of the University of Dundee City Campus. The Major and Minor use the principal playing area, while the Premier plays on the upper floor.

The organizer uses postcode DD1 4HN, while the University’s building page lists DD1 5HG. Therefore, players should search for University of Dundee Chaplaincy Centre, Cross Row rather than relying only on the postcode.

Accommodation Near the Venue

The organizer lists several hotels approximately 0.3 miles or seven minutes on foot from the venue.

The organizer also suggests B&Bs along Perth Road and accommodation in Broughty Ferry.

Players should compare live prices for October 8–12, 2026. They should also confirm breakfast times, parking costs, cancellation conditions and walking distance before booking.

🚆 How to Get There

The University of Dundee City Campus is within walking distance of the railway station, bus station and central Dundee.

Parking

No on-campus parking is permitted before 17:30 on Friday.

Campus parking charges apply:

• Friday from 17:30 to midnight
• Saturday from 08:00 to midnight
• Sunday from 08:00 to midnight

Payment is available through RingGo. Blue Badge holders may park free of charge in the designated accessible bays.

Public car parks and on-street parking are also available around the campus. However, drivers must check the current signs and restrictions before leaving their vehicles.

Official parking information:

https://www.dundeecongress.co.uk/venue/parking

ℹ️ Other Information

Chess Scotland Grading

The tournament will use published 2026–27 Chess Scotland Standard grades.

Live grades will not determine initial section eligibility. Therefore, players should check their official published grade before entering.

Friday Arrival

Round 1 begins at 19:00 on Friday. Registration opens at 17:30, followed by the opening announcements at 18:50.

Players travelling from outside Dundee should allow enough time for Friday traffic, parking and registration.

Sunday Departure

The prizegiving is expected at approximately 18:15–18:30 on Sunday.

Players using public transport should check their evening connection. They should also avoid booking an inflexible departure immediately after Round 5.

Tournament Updates

The organizers may update:

• Section placement
• Entry numbers
• Prize amounts
• Parking arrangements
• Entrant-list information
• Other operational details

Players should recheck the official website shortly before travelling:

https://www.dundeecongress.co.uk/