The Golders Green FIDE Rapid – November 2026 will take place on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at St Luke’s Church in Hampstead, North West London. Chess England and International Arbiter Adam Raoof organize this established one-day rapid tournament, which continues a series that traces its origins to the Golders Green Quickplay founded in 1992.
Players compete over six Swiss-system rounds at 20 minutes plus a 5-second increment from move one. The event offers four playing sections: Open, Under 1900, Under 1600, and ECF Under 1100. Moreover, the Open, U1900, and U1600 sections count for both FIDE Rapid and ECF Rapid rating, while the U1100 section counts for ECF Rapid only.
The tournament runs from 11:00 to approximately 17:00, with one round scheduled every hour. Therefore, players can complete a full six-game rated rapid tournament within a single Saturday.
♟️ Event Details
The November tournament follows the regular Golders Green format at St Luke’s Church. In addition, the English Chess Federation lists the event as FIDE rated, ECF rated, and disability friendly.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏷️ Title | Golders Green FIDE Rapid – November 2026 |
| 📅 Date | November 14, 2026 |
| 🌎 Country | England, United Kingdom |
| 📍 City | London |
| 🏛️ Venue | St Luke’s Church – Kidderpore Avenue, London NW3 7SU, United Kingdom |
| 👥 Organizer | Chess England / Adam Raoof |
| ♟️ Format | Rapid, Swiss System |
| 🔢 Rounds | 6 |
| 🧩 Sections | Open, U1900, U1600, ECF U1100 |
| ⏱️ Time Control | 20 minutes + 5 seconds per move |
| ⭐ Rating | Open/U1900/U1600: FIDE Rapid + ECF Rapid; U1100: ECF Rapid only |
| ♿ Accessibility | Listed by the ECF as disability friendly |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
All four sections play six Swiss-system rounds. Each player starts with 20 minutes and receives a 5-second increment after every move from move one.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| System | Swiss System |
| Rounds | 6 |
| Time Control | 20 minutes + 5 seconds per move |
| Open Rating | FIDE Rapid + ECF Rapid |
| U1900 Rating | FIDE Rapid + ECF Rapid |
| U1600 Rating | FIDE Rapid + ECF Rapid |
| U1100 Rating | ECF Rapid only |
The current registration form asks entrants for both FIDE Rapid and ECF Rapid ratings where applicable. Therefore, players should provide their current identifiers and ratings when completing the form.
Round 1 Bye
The registration form includes an option to request a Round 1 bye.
Players who choose that option indicate that they will arrive by 12:00, in time for Round 2. However, the organizer does not state a published point value for that bye on the current registration page.
🧩 Sections / Groups
The tournament offers four separate Swiss sections. Consequently, players can compete in a group that reflects their current playing strength.
| Section | Rating Status |
|---|---|
| Open | FIDE Rapid + ECF Rapid |
| Under 1900 | FIDE Rapid + ECF Rapid |
| Under 1600 | FIDE Rapid + ECF Rapid |
| ECF Under 1100 | ECF Rapid only |
The Under 1100 competition is therefore different from the other three sections because it does not receive a FIDE Rapid rating.
The current entry form asks players to provide their FIDE Rapid rating and ECF Rapid rating. However, it does not publish a detailed dual-rating eligibility formula for players close to the U1900 or U1600 limits. Players near a section boundary should therefore enter using their current published ratings and follow any final section guidance from the organizer.
🗓️ Schedule
The Golders Green FIDE Rapid uses a simple hourly timetable. As a result, players can easily follow the six-round program throughout the day.
| Round | Start |
|---|---|
| Round 1 | 11:00 |
| Round 2 | 12:00 |
| Round 3 | 13:00 |
| Round 4 | 14:00 |
| Round 5 | 15:00 |
| Round 6 | 16:00 |
The organizer expects the event to finish at approximately 17:00.
No separate lunch break appears in the published schedule. Therefore, players should plan food and refreshments around the hourly rounds.
📝 Registration
The current advance entry fee is £33 (approximately $50).
Players who do not hold the required ECF membership level can still enter by paying the additional £17 Pay-to-Play fee (approximately $30). Consequently, the total for a player who needs the supplement is £50 (approximately $70).
| Registration Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard Entry | £33 (approx. $50) |
| ECF Pay-to-Play Supplement | £17 (approx. $30) |
| Entry + Supplement | £50 (approx. $70) |
ECF Membership
Chess England recommends ECF Gold or Platinum membership for participants.
Gold or Platinum members do not need to pay the additional Pay-to-Play charge. Meanwhile, Bronze members and non-members can use the £17 supplement shown on the official registration form.
Junior players and some other eligible players may qualify for ECF membership arrangements through the federation. Therefore, players should check their membership status before paying the supplement.
FIDE ID
The official entry form asks all players to quote a FIDE Identification Number (FIN).
English players who do not yet have a FIDE ID can request one through the English Chess Federation. Foreign federation players should obtain their FIDE ID through their national federation.
Although the registration form asks all entrants for a FIDE ID, the U1100 section itself remains ECF-rated only.
Payment
The official form supports payment arrangements including bank transfer and card payment. Moreover, players should complete payment in advance.
The organizer does not accept cheques.
An optional £5 donation also appears on the entry form, although this is separate from the mandatory tournament fee.
Official Registration
Register here:
https://form.jotform.com/211384934514961
Current entry list:
https://eu.jotform.com/grid/211384847458062
Official Chess England information:
👥 Organizer
International Arbiter and International Organizer Adam Raoof runs the Golders Green FIDE Rapid through Chess England.
| Contact | Details |
|---|---|
| 👥 Organizer Name | Chess England |
| 👤 Contact Person | Adam Raoof |
| ✉️ Email | adamraoof@gmail.com |
| ☎️ Phone | +44 7855 036537 |
FIDE’s registration for the November Open also lists Adam Raoof as both Chief Arbiter and Chief Organizer.
📍 Venue
The tournament takes place at St Luke’s Church – Kidderpore Avenue, London NW3 7SU, United Kingdom.
St Luke’s stands in the Hampstead / West Hampstead area of North West London, close to Finchley Road. The church complex includes event halls, and Camden’s community directory lists a main hall with capacity for approximately 200 people.
The ECF marks the November tournament as disability friendly.
Parking
Chess England’s standing Golders Green venue information describes free on-street parking in the area.
However, local parking restrictions can change by street and time. Therefore, drivers should check the signs where they park rather than relying solely on older venue guidance.
🏨 Accommodation
The organizer does not currently advertise an official tournament hotel, room block, or special accommodation rate.
Because this is a one-day event from 11:00 to approximately 17:00, many regional players can travel in and out on the same day. However, visitors who need an overnight stay can consider accommodation around Hampstead, West Hampstead, Finchley Road, or Swiss Cottage.
These areas provide convenient access to the venue through local rail, Underground, Overground, and bus services. In addition, they offer a much wider selection of hotels and guest accommodation than the immediate residential streets around Kidderpore Avenue.
Players should compare the exact November 13–15 rate and cancellation conditions before booking because London hotel prices vary substantially by date.
🚆 How to Get There
St Luke’s Church sits close to Finchley Road in North West London. Therefore, several public transport combinations work well for players arriving from central London or elsewhere in the capital.
From Finchley Road
Players can travel to Finchley Road Underground Station and then continue north by bus.
Current TfL services 13 and 113 both travel along Finchley Road and stop at Fortune Green Road.
From the Fortune Green Road area, walk toward Platts Lane, turn into Kidderpore Avenue, and continue to St Luke’s Church.
From Finchley Road & Frognal
Finchley Road & Frognal Overground Station also provides a useful arrival point.
Bus routes 13 and 113 stop nearby and continue north toward the Fortune Green Road area. Therefore, this route can work particularly well for players using the London Overground network.
From West Hampstead
Players arriving at West Hampstead can use bus 328 toward Golders Green.
The route serves the Finchley Road / Fortune Green area. From there, players can walk through Platts Lane to Kidderpore Avenue.
By Car
Use:
St Luke’s Church – Kidderpore Avenue, London NW3 7SU
The venue lies just off the A41 Finchley Road. However, players should allow additional time to find legal parking and walk to the church before Round 1 begins at 11:00.
ℹ️ Other Information
FIDE Registration
FIDE has already registered the November Open as:
Golders Green FIDE Rapidplay – November 2026 – Open
The Open carries FIDE Event Code 440588.
FIDE’s current tournament record lists a 20+5 rapid time control, November 14 as both the start and finish date, London as the host city, and Adam Raoof as Chief Arbiter and Chief Organizer.
The U1900 and U1600 competitions also appear in FIDE’s November tournament listings. However, a verified November Chess-Results page has not yet appeared publicly.
Recent Prize Pattern
The organizer has not yet published a specific prize table for the November 14 edition on the current ECF listing or entry form.
However, recent 2026 Golders Green tournaments provide useful historical context.
At the September 12, 2026 event, the published prizes were:
| Previous Section | September 2026 Prizes |
|---|---|
| Open | £100 first, £50 second, £50 rating prize |
| U1900 | £100 first, £50 second, £50 rating prize |
| U1600 | £60 first, £30 second, £30 rating prize |
| U1100 | £60 first, £30 second, £30 rating prize |
That structure represented £640 in published cash awards. Nevertheless, these were September 2026 prizes, so players should not treat them as a guaranteed November prize fund unless Chess England confirms the same structure for November 14.
Tournament History
The Golders Green series has a long history in London chess.
Chess England states that the competition began on February 8, 1992, under the name Golders Green Quickplay. It later developed into the present FIDE and ECF-rated rapid format.
Today, Golders Green runs as a recurring Saturday event rather than a once-a-year tournament. During 2026, Chess England scheduled editions in April, May, June, July, August, September, October, and November.
Consequently, the November tournament forms part of an established monthly rapid series rather than a standalone one-off competition.
Recent Competition
The September 12, 2026 edition used the same four-section structure and the same 20+5 format at St Luke’s Church.
Arjun Kolani won the Open with 5.5/6, while IM Peter Large finished second on 5/6. The U1900, U1600, and U1100 sections also ran as separate six-round Swiss tournaments.
Therefore, players entering the November edition return to a format that Chess England has used consistently throughout the 2026 Golders Green series.
Organizer
♟️ About Adam Raoof
Adam Nasim Raoof is an English chess organizer, International Arbiter, International Organizer, coach, and tournament director based in London. He is the driving force behind Chess England, through which he organizes a large calendar of FIDE-rated and English Chess Federation-rated tournaments in London and other parts of England. His events include classical congresses, rapid tournaments, blitz competitions, club championships, and accessible rating-limited sections for developing players.
Raoof has decades of experience in tournament organization and chess administration. FIDE awarded him the International Organizer title in 2001, the FIDE Arbiter title in 2005, and the International Arbiter title in 2013. His current arbiter license is International Arbiter Category C. In addition, he serves as the Manager of Arbiters for the English Chess Federation, giving him a current national role in the development and administration of English chess arbiting.
Alongside tournament organization, Raoof remains active as a chess player and coach. His work covers adult and junior instruction, tournament preparation, online coaching, and organized competitive chess. Through Chess England, he has built a particularly active tournament network that gives players frequent opportunities to compete for FIDE and ECF ratings without having to wait for a small number of major annual congresses.
🧑⚖️ International Arbiter and Organizer
Adam Raoof has held official FIDE organizing and arbiting credentials for many years.
He became a FIDE International Organizer in 2001, followed by the FIDE Arbiter title in 2005. At the 84th FIDE Congress in Tallinn in 2013, his International Arbiter title was formally approved.
FIDE currently lists him as a licensed Category C International Arbiter.
Raoof regularly serves both as Tournament Director and Chief Arbiter. This combination allows him to manage events from initial planning and registration through pairings, tournament regulations, player communication, arbiting, results publication, and final rating submission.
In 2026, he also serves as Manager of Arbiters for the English Chess Federation. In this role, he handles matters relating to ECF arbiters and enquiries concerning the FIDE Arbiter Licence Scheme.
🏆 Chess England
Chess England is the principal platform through which Adam Raoof organizes tournaments.
The current operation is supported by Chess England Limited, which was incorporated in England in 2019. Raoof serves as a Director of the company.
Chess England’s tournament model emphasizes frequent rated competition. Instead of focusing on a single annual festival, the program includes events throughout the year at several venues.
Many tournaments are divided by rating. Stronger players can enter Open or higher-rated sections, while improving competitors can select Major, Minor, Under-1600, Under-1400, or similar sections depending on the event.
Most of the leading sections are rated by both FIDE and the English Chess Federation.
⚡ Golders Green FIDE Rapid
The Golders Green FIDE Rapid is one of Adam Raoof’s longest-running tournament projects.
The series offers regular rapid chess in London and has become a recurring part of the Chess England calendar.
Typical editions use a six-round Swiss system with a rapid time control of 20 minutes plus a 5-second increment per move.
Events are divided into rating sections, which allows players ranging from experienced competitors to developing club players to participate in appropriately matched groups.
The tournaments are submitted for FIDE and ECF rapid rating.
♟️ Muswell Hill FIDE Chess
The Muswell Hill FIDE Chess series provides another regular tournament opportunity in North London.
Events are held at The Clissold Arms in East Finchley and include both rapid and standard-play formats.
The rapid competition normally consists of six rounds, while standard-play days provide longer FIDE-rated games.
Chess England also organizes multi-day Muswell Hill FIDE Congresses. The October 27–28, 2026 congress, for example, consists of four standard-rated games played over two days.
Raoof acts as organizer and principal tournament contact throughout the series.
🏆 Northampton FIDE Congress
Adam Raoof and Chess England also organize recurring FIDE congresses at the University of Northampton, Waterside Campus.
The July 2026 Northampton FIDE Congress featured four rating sections:
- Under 2400
- Under 1900
- Under 1600
- ECF Under 1400
The first three sections were designed for FIDE and ECF standard rating, while the Under-1400 competition provided an additional entry point for developing players.
The congress used five Swiss rounds over a weekend with a time control of 60 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move.
A further Northampton FIDE Congress is scheduled for November 2026.
🏙️ London FIDE Congresses
Raoof’s 2026 schedule includes tournaments at several distinctive London venues.
The Silvertown FIDE Congress took place at the Tate Institute in July 2026 and offered Under-2400, Under-1900, Under-1600, and ECF Under-1400 sections.
Chess England also organizes congresses at the Army & Navy Club on Pall Mall. These events bring FIDE-rated classical chess into a central London venue and include Open and rating-restricted competitions.
Hendon provides another regular base. Raoof organizes the Hendon FIDE Blitz as well as the Hendon FIDE Club Championship, with events played at Cumberland Lawn Tennis Club in West Hampstead.
Together, these projects create a dense London tournament schedule covering classical, rapid, and blitz chess.
🌍 International Tournament Activity
Chess England’s activity also extends outside the United Kingdom.
In 2026, Adam Raoof is Chief Arbiter of the Rotterdam FIDE Congress, organized jointly by Chess England and Chessmates International.
The October 9–11 event includes Open, Under-1900, and Under-1650 sections and is rated nationally and internationally.
The tournament demonstrates the wider reach of the Chess England model, combining Raoof’s tournament organization and arbiting experience with local European partners.
🎓 Coaching and Player Development
Coaching remains an important part of Adam Raoof’s chess work.
The English Chess Federation currently lists him among its Advanced registered coaches for the London region.
His coaching formats include work in schools, training groups for children, adult groups, and online instruction.
The ECF also identifies Raoof with the Steps Method, a structured chess-training system widely used for progressive chess instruction.
His tournament program complements this coaching work. Players can move from instruction and casual play into rapid tournaments, rating-limited congress sections, and eventually stronger FIDE-rated competition.
🤝 Accessible Competitive Chess
A notable feature of Raoof’s events is the effort to provide competition for a wide range of playing strengths.
Many Chess England congresses include lower-rated sections alongside their main tournaments. This reduces the rating gap for developing players and provides a more suitable environment for those beginning serious tournament chess.
Several events are also identified by the English Chess Federation as disability-friendly.
Clear tournament information, online entry forms, published schedules, rating requirements, and direct organizer contact are recurring features across the calendar.
As a result, Chess England provides both experienced tournament players and newcomers with frequent opportunities to play formally rated over-the-board chess.
