The 2026 Amateur Chess Championship is an inaugural FIDE-rated classical chess event organized by JamCan Chess in New Kingston, Jamaica. The championship takes place across three Sundays: September 27, October 4 and October 11, 2026.
Players compete in three rating categories: U2000, U1700 and U1500. Each section features six classical games with a time control of 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment from move one.
The event offers trophies, diplomas, certificates, medals and school awards. In addition, the top three finishers in each championship earn entry into the 2027 Amateur Chess Championship, subject to the applicable eligibility and entry conditions.
♟️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | September 27, October 4 and October 11, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | New Kingston, Jamaica |
| 🏛️ Venue | The Liguanea Club: Sports and Recreational Centre, Bougainvillea Room – 80 Knutsford Boulevard, New Kingston, Jamaica |
| ♟️ Format | Classical |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE Standard |
| 🏁 Sections | U2000 Open, U1700 Open and U1500 Open |
| ⏱️ Time Control | 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move |
| 🔢 Rounds | 6 |
| 🧩 System | Swiss System; Round Robin if a section has 7 players or fewer |
| 🆔 FIDE ID | Required |
| 👤 Tournament Director | Destynie Morrison |
| ⚖️ Chief Arbiter | FA Natoya Anderson |
| 🏢 Organizer | JamCan Chess |
| 🔗 Chess-Results | https://s1.chess-results.com/tnr1490161.aspx?lan=1&SNode=S0 |
⏰ Time Control & Pairings
The championship consists of six FIDE Standard-rated rounds. Each player receives 90 minutes for the game plus a 30-second increment from move one.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| ⏱️ Time Control | 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move |
| 🔢 Rounds | 6 |
| 🧩 Normal Format | Swiss System |
| 🔄 Small Sections | Round Robin if a section has 7 players or fewer |
| 💻 Pairing Software | Swiss-Manager |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE Standard |
| ⌛ Default Time | 30 minutes |
| 🤝 Draw Rule | No draw may be offered or agreed before completion of move 30 |
The organizers may merge categories if necessary.
🔢 Tie-Breaks
The following tie-break criteria apply:
- Direct Encounter
- Buchholz Cut 1
- Buchholz Total
- Number of Wins
- Sonneborn-Berger
⏸️ Byes & Absences
If an odd number of players must be paired, one player may receive a pairing-allocated bye. The value of that bye is equivalent to a win.
A player who has already received a pairing-allocated bye will not receive another one. The same restriction applies to a player who has already received a forfeit win because an opponent failed to appear in time.
Players may request a zero-point bye for Rounds 1–5. Each player may request a maximum of two byes.
All requested byes must be submitted before the end of Round 2.
A player who misses a round without approval from the Chief Arbiter will be automatically removed from the competition.
🏆 Prize Fund
The official regulations do not specify a cash prize fund. Instead, the 2026 Amateur Chess Championship offers trophies, diplomas, CFC Certificates, medals, plaques and qualification benefits.
🥇 Championship Awards
The following awards apply separately to the U2000, U1700 and U1500 championships.
| Place | Award |
|---|---|
| 🥇 1st Place | Trophy + Diploma + CFC Certificate + entry into the 2027 Amateur Chess Championship |
| 🥈 2nd Place | Trophy + Diploma + CFC Certificate + entry into the 2027 Amateur Chess Championship |
| 🥉 3rd Place | Trophy + Diploma + CFC Certificate + entry into the 2027 Amateur Chess Championship |
Entry into the 2027 Amateur Chess Championship remains subject to the applicable eligibility and entry conditions.
The player who finishes 1st in the U2000 Section will be declared the overall winner of the 2026 Amateur Chess Championship.
🎯 Sectional & Special Awards
| Category | Award |
|---|---|
| 📈 The Ascent Award | Trophy |
| 🎯 Top U1850 – U2000 Section | Trophy + Diploma |
| ⭐ Top U1600 – U1700 Section | Trophy + Diploma |
| 🆕 Top Unrated Player – U1500 Section | Trophy + Diploma |
| 👧 Top U7 | Medal + CFC Certificate |
| 👦 Top U9 | Medal + CFC Certificate |
| 👧 Top U11 | Medal + CFC Certificate |
| 👦 Top U13 | Medal + CFC Certificate |
| 👧 Top U15 | Medal + CFC Certificate |
| 👦 Top U17 | Medal + CFC Certificate |
| ♀️ Top Female | Medal |
| 🏫 Best Primary / Prep School | Plaque |
| 🎓 Best High School | Plaque |
| 🏛️ Best College / University | Plaque |
Unrated players are not eligible for The Ascent Award.
The Ascent Award recognizes the player who demonstrates the greatest competitive rise during the championship. The organizer will consider the highest rating gain or another significant performance milestone achieved during the competition.
For the Best School Award, the organizer calculates the average score of the school’s top three performing players. Therefore, a school must have at least three participating players to qualify.
Additional prizes, special awards and surprises may also be presented throughout the championship.
📂 Sections / Groups
Eligibility is based on a player’s highest published FIDE rating from August 2025 through September 2026, together with the relevant title restriction.
| Section | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| 🟠 U2000 Open | No published FIDE rating of 2000 or higher during the eligibility period; no title above FM |
| 🔵 U1700 Open | No published FIDE rating of 1700 or higher during the eligibility period; no title above CM |
| 🟢 U1500 Open | No published FIDE rating of 1500 or higher during the eligibility period; no over-the-board title |
All participants must have an existing FIDE ID.
🟠 U2000 Open
Chess-Results:
https://s3.chess-results.com/tnr1490167.aspx?lan=1&art=0&turdet=YES&flag=30&SNode=S0
🔵 U1700 Open
Chess-Results:
https://s3.chess-results.com/tnr1490165.aspx?lan=1&art=0&turdet=YES&flag=30&SNode=S0
🟢 U1500 Open
Chess-Results:
https://s2.chess-results.com/tnr1490164.aspx?lan=1&SNode=S0
🗓️ Schedule
The six rounds are played across three Sundays, with two rounds scheduled on each playing day.
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday, September 27, 2026 | 08:30 | Opening Ceremony |
| Sunday, September 27, 2026 | 09:00 | Round 1 |
| Sunday, September 27, 2026 | 14:00 | Round 2 |
| Sunday, October 4, 2026 | 09:00 | Round 3 |
| Sunday, October 4, 2026 | 14:00 | Round 4 |
| Sunday, October 11, 2026 | 09:00 | Round 5 |
| Sunday, October 11, 2026 | 14:00 | Round 6 |
| Sunday, October 11, 2026 | 18:30 | Closing Ceremony & Awards |
Participants are expected to attend the official opening and closing activities.
📝 Registration
The registration fee is JMD $5,000 per player, approximately $40.
Registrations are non-refundable.
Players must have an existing FIDE ID. They must provide their full name and FIDE ID when registering.
Players are responsible for checking that their FIDE information is accurate before submitting their entry.
🔗 Official Registration
The official organizer registration page opens in a new tab when players select REGISTER FOR THE TOURNAMENT on MyChess.Events.
👤 Organizer
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏢 Organizer | JamCan Chess |
| 👤 Contact Person | Destynie Morrison |
| ✉️ Email | jamcanchess@gmail.com |
| +1 876 798 9141 |
📍 Venue
The Liguanea Club: Sports and Recreational Centre, Bougainvillea Room – 80 Knutsford Boulevard, New Kingston, Jamaica.
All championship games will be played in the Bougainvillea Room.
The Liguanea Club is a sports and recreational venue in New Kingston and hosts all six rounds, as well as the opening and closing activities.
🚗 How to Get There
The venue is located at 80 Knutsford Boulevard in New Kingston.
Players travelling by taxi, rideshare or private vehicle should use The Liguanea Club, 80 Knutsford Boulevard as their destination.
Participants should allow enough travel time to arrive before the scheduled round. Players who arrive more than 30 minutes after the scheduled start will lose the game by default.
ℹ️ Other Information
♟️ Playing Equipment
The organizer will provide all required chess pieces, boards and digital clocks.
Players therefore do not need to bring their own playing equipment.
📵 Electronic Devices
Players may not bring mobile phones, smartwatches, tablets or other communication devices into the playing area.
A violation results in the loss of the game.
🛡️ Fair Play
FIDE Fair Play and anti-cheating regulations apply throughout the championship.
🛡️ Fair Play Team
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Richard Newman (USA) | FIDE Fair Play Commission Member – Officer |
| Stephen Howell (JAM) | Team Member |
⚖️ Appeals
An appeal must be submitted in writing no later than one hour after the relevant game.
The appeal fee is USD $100.
The fee is refunded if the appeal is successful. The Appeals Committee may also return all or part of the fee after an unsuccessful appeal if it considers the appeal reasonable.
The decision of the Appeals Committee is final.
👨⚖️ Appeals Committee
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| CM Mark Holness (JAM) | Chairperson; Vice President, Jamaica Chess Federation |
| IA / WFM Rinelly M. Comas Colon (PUR) | International Arbiter |
| CM Equitable Brown (JAM) | Committee Member |
📷 Photography & Media
Only authorized photographers may take photographs inside the playing venue unless the Chief Arbiter decides otherwise.
By participating in the championship, players authorize the organizers to use tournament photographs and video recordings for event communication.
🔗 Official Links
JamCan Chess:
https://jamcanchess.com/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/jamcanchess/
Official Registration:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScOWUo58lB-NAuCN5bZc8LXzJJHnT2oJo7t3Lh7AKV4amb9Zw/viewform?pli=1
Main Chess-Results:
https://s1.chess-results.com/tnr1490161.aspx?lan=1&SNode=S0
U2000 Chess-Results:
https://s3.chess-results.com/tnr1490167.aspx?lan=1&art=0&turdet=YES&flag=30&SNode=S0
U1700 Chess-Results:
https://s3.chess-results.com/tnr1490165.aspx?lan=1&art=0&turdet=YES&flag=30&SNode=S0
U1500 Chess-Results:
https://s2.chess-results.com/tnr1490164.aspx?lan=1&SNode=S0
Additional Details
Organizer Name - JamCan Chess
Organizer Phone - +1 876 798 9141
Organizer Email - jamcanchess@gmail.com
Regulations -
Organizer
♟️ About JAMCAN Chess
JAMCAN Chess is a chess organization focused on tournament organization, community chess, and player development. Its activities connect competitive chess with programs designed to make the game more accessible to players of different ages and backgrounds.
The organization promotes the idea of “Play Chess, Connect, Enjoy!” and operates several chess-related initiatives. These include tournament directing and officiating, community-based chess activities, and chess tours. JAMCAN Chess also works to create competitive opportunities for amateur and developing players.
In Jamaica, the organization is involved in organizing structured over-the-board events with established tournament regulations, FIDE-rated competition, qualified arbiters, and different rating categories. Destynie Morrison serves as a principal contact and has also been listed as Tournament Director for JAMCAN Chess events.
🏆 Tournaments & Activities
JAMCAN Chess organizes and supports chess competitions aimed at giving players opportunities to compete in professionally structured tournaments.
One of its major 2026 events is the 2026 Amateur Chess Championship, held at The Liguanea Club in New Kingston, Jamaica. The championship features U2000, U1700, and U1500 sections and six rounds of classical chess. All sections are FIDE Standard rated.
The organization’s activities extend beyond tournament management. Its main areas include:
- Chess Tournament Directing – tournament organization, officiating, and arbiting.
- Chess in Communities – using chess as an educational and social-development activity.
- Chess Tours – organization of chess-related tours and events, including initiatives connected with North America.
- Amateur and Development Tournaments – competitive opportunities designed for players across different rating and age groups.
🌱 Chess in Communities
An important part of JAMCAN Chess’s work is its Chess in Communities initiative. The program uses chess as a tool to engage young people, including children from inner-city communities in Jamaica.
The initiative has highlighted the story of ACM Jayden Hylton, Jamaica’s National U8 Chess Champion, who has helped introduce chess to young players in local communities. Activities have included community chess sessions in Rollington Town, Kingston.
Through these programs, JAMCAN Chess combines competitive chess with education, concentration, strategic thinking, and community engagement. Therefore, its work extends beyond running tournaments and includes efforts to introduce chess to new audiences.
🌍 Tournament Organization
JAMCAN Chess provides tournament management and directing services for organized chess competitions. Its events can include classical chess, rating-based sections, Swiss-system pairings, tournament regulations, professional arbiters, awards, and FIDE-rated play.
The organization also works with players, arbiters, schools, chess communities, and other chess stakeholders. Its tournament activities are supported by direct communication channels for registration and event-related enquiries.
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