The 43rd Bolton Rapidplay 2026 will take place on Sunday, December 6, 2026, at Bolton Ukrainian Social Club in Bolton, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom. This long-running one-day chess congress features six rapid rounds across three playing sections: Open, Major U1930, and Knights U1650.

All three sections will be submitted for both FIDE Rapid and ECF Rapid rating. Players receive 25 minutes plus a 5-second increment from move one, while the six-round schedule runs from 10:10 in the morning through the early evening. Swiss-Manager will be used for pairings, with results and pairings published through Chess-Results.

The published cash prize fund totals £1,680 (approximately $2,250). Each section offers £560 in prizes, including first, second, third, and a section-specific rating prize. Standard entry begins at £24 for eligible ECF Gold or Platinum members, while different published fees apply to Bronze members and non-members.

♟️ Event Details

The 43rd edition continues Bolton’s established annual rapidplay series with three parallel rating sections, six rounds, and FIDE Rapid rating throughout the congress.

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

All three sections use the same six-round rapid format. Players receive 25 minutes for the game plus a five-second increment after every move.

November rapid ratings will be used for section eligibility. Where a player has both an ECF Rapid rating and a FIDE Rapid rating, the higher rating determines the appropriate section.

If a player does not have a rapid rating, the organizer may use a Standard rating or another reasonable estimate of playing strength.

Players without a FIDE identification number can be registered with FIDE under England where applicable.

🏆 Prize Fund

The published cash prize fund is £1,680 (approximately $2,250). Each playing section has £560 in listed prizes.

Open

Major U1930

Knights U1650

The U2000, U1800, and U1450 awards are prize categories within their respective playing sections. They are not separate tournament sections.

Approximate USD equivalents are rounded upward to the next $10.

🧩 Sections / Groups

Players compete in one of three playing sections. Section placement is based primarily on the current November rapid ratings.

Open

The Open has no published upper rating limit. Its additional rating prize is reserved for an eligible player rated under 2000.

Major U1930

Players must be rated below 1930 under the tournament’s rating-placement rules. A separate U1800 rating prize is available within this section.

Knights U1650

Players must be rated below 1650. A U1450 rating prize is also offered within the Knights section.

When a player has both FIDE Rapid and ECF Rapid ratings, the higher figure is used. Players without a rapid rating should provide their Standard rating or enough information for the organizer to estimate their playing strength.

🗓️ Schedule

All six rounds are played on Sunday, with a longer lunch interval between Rounds 2 and 3.

The ECF lists the overall event window as approximately 10:10–18:40.

Players should arrive sufficiently early to locate the playing area and be ready before the first-round pairing. The default time for each round is only 10 minutes.

📝 Registration

The published standard entry fee is £24 (approximately $40) for ECF Gold and Platinum members. Higher total fees apply to the other membership categories specifically listed by the organizer.

Entry fees must be paid before the event. Places are limited, so players are encouraged to register before the final entry period.

Late Entry

Entries on the day may also be accepted if space remains, with the published £10 late surcharge applying.

Players who withdraw before December 4, 2026 are eligible for a refund under the published congress rules.

Online registration:

https://www.congress.org.uk/congress/828/enter

Tournament information:

https://www.congress.org.uk/congress/828/home

Postal entries are also accepted by the organizer, with cheques payable to Bolton Chess Congress.

👥 Organizer

The Bolton Rapidplay forms part of the Manchester-area congress program, with Roderick Middleton listed by the English Chess Federation as the event organizer and principal contact.

📍 Venue

The tournament will be held at Bolton Ukrainian Social Club – 99 Castle Street, Bolton BL2 1JP, United Kingdom.

The venue is located east of Bolton town center and has hosted previous editions of the Bolton Rapidplay as well as other chess events. Its facilities include a function room, Wi-Fi, and parking.

The English Chess Federation lists the tournament as disability friendly. Current venue information also identifies level access to the side function room/hall, although the main entrance itself includes steps.

The club has a long-established community role in Bolton and hosts several local societies and activities, including chess.

🚆 How to Get There

Bolton is well connected to Manchester and the wider North West by rail and local public transport. Bolton railway station, on Trinity Street, is the main rail gateway for visitors arriving from outside the town.

The railway station connects directly with Bolton Interchange, which serves local and regional buses. The interchange has accessible facilities and a direct covered connection to the railway station.

Players traveling via Manchester can reach Bolton by rail from the Manchester area. Because the tournament takes place on a Sunday, players should check the final December 6 timetable and any planned engineering work before traveling.

ℹ️ Other Information

The 43rd Bolton Rapidplay continues a long-running North West chess tradition. Recent editions have used the same one-day rapid format and the Bolton Ukrainian Social Club as their base.

The 42nd Bolton Rapidplay in 2025 attracted 97 players across its Open, Major, and Knights sections. Gediminas Sarakauskas and Nigel R. Davies shared first place in the Open.

Sarakauskas had also won the 2024 Open, when the 41st edition used the same 25+5 rapid time control at the same venue. The top Open boards at that edition were broadcast live online.

All three 2026 sections are scheduled for FIDE Rapid rating, which is an important change to note for players choosing between the Open, Major, and Knights groups.

Because the default time is only 10 minutes, late arrival can quickly result in a forfeit. Players should therefore allow adequate time for travel, parking, and locating their board before each scheduled round.

The organizer will use Swiss-Manager for pairings, and tournament pairings and results are expected to appear on Chess-Results during the event.