50th Blackpool Chess Congress Celebration 2027
The 50th Blackpool Chess Congress Celebration 2027 will take place from February 12–14, 2027 at the historic Imperial Hotel on Blackpool’s North Promenade. The special anniversary edition marks the 50th Blackpool Congress and offers £10,000 / approx. $13,210 in prizes across five FIDE- and ECF-rated sections.
The congress features five rounds of classical chess, with sections ranging from the Lancashire Open to the Standard U1550. All sections use the same time control of 110 minutes plus a 10-second increment per move, while Swiss-Manager will be used for pairings.
The tournament is directed by Bill O’Rourke, with IA and ECF Senior Arbiter Alex McFarlane serving as Chief Arbiter.
♟️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | February 12–14, 2027 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| City | Blackpool, England |
| Venue | The Imperial Hotel Blackpool |
| Rounds | 5 |
| System | Swiss System |
| Time Control | 110 min + 10 sec/move |
| Sections | 5 |
| Rating | FIDE & ECF Standardplay rated |
| Prize Fund | £10,000 / approx. $13,210 |
| Congress Director | Bill O’Rourke |
| Chief Arbiter | IA Alex McFarlane |
| Organizer | Blackpool Chess Conference |
| Entry Deadline | February 10, 2027 |
| Official Website | https://www.blackpoolchess.org.uk/ |
| Online Entry | https://congress.org.uk/congress/849/enter |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
All five sections are played over five rounds.
The time control in every section is:
110 minutes for the game plus a 10-second increment per move from move one.
Swiss-Manager will be used to produce the pairings.
The February 2027 ECF rating list will be used for section eligibility and pairings. Where both an ECF and FIDE rating are available, the higher rating will be used.
Forfeit Time
Players who have not arrived within 30 minutes of the scheduled start of a round may be defaulted.
After 30 minutes, the organizers may also make a new pairing for a player whose opponent has not arrived or for a player who was originally awarded a bye.
🏆 Prize Fund
The official 2027 entry form advertises a total prize fund of £10,000 / approx. $13,210.
All prizes are paid by bank transfer after the tournament and must be claimed within six months of the end of the congress.
Lancashire Open
| Award | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | £1,200 (~$1,590) |
| 2nd | £600 (~$800) |
| 3rd | £300 (~$400) |
| 3 Rating Prizes | £100 each (~$140) |
| Best Veteran | £100 (~$140) |
Section prize total: £2,500
Imperial Major – U2050
| Award | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | £1,000 (~$1,330) |
| 2nd | £500 (~$670) |
| 3rd | £200 (~$270) |
| 3 Rating Prizes | £100 each (~$140) |
| Best Veteran | £100 (~$140) |
Section prize total: £2,100
Intermediate – U1850
| Award | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | £800 (~$1,060) |
| 2nd | £400 (~$530) |
| 3rd | £200 (~$270) |
| 3 Rating Prizes | £100 each (~$140) |
| Best Veteran | £100 (~$140) |
Section prize total: £1,800
Minor – U1700
| Award | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | £800 (~$1,060) |
| 2nd | £400 (~$530) |
| 3rd | £200 (~$270) |
| 3 Rating Prizes | £100 each (~$140) |
| Best Veteran | £100 (~$140) |
Section prize total: £1,800
Standard – U1550
| Award | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | £800 (~$1,060) |
| 2nd | £400 (~$530) |
| 3rd | £200 (~$270) |
| 3 Rating Prizes | £100 each (~$140) |
| Best Veteran | £100 (~$140) |
Section prize total: £1,800
Veteran Prizes
A £100 Best Veteran prize is offered in every section.
To qualify as a Veteran, a player must be 60 years of age or older at the start of the competition.
The organizers reserve the right to redistribute other prizes where a competitor has already won or shared a main prize. They may also reduce the prize fund if entries are significantly lower than expected.
🧩 Sections / Groups
Five sections are available.
| Section | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Lancashire Open | Open |
| Imperial Major | Below 2050 |
| Intermediate | Below 1850 |
| Minor | Below 1700 |
| Standard | Below 1550 |
The higher of a player’s current ECF or FIDE rating is used when determining section eligibility.
Rating history and other reliable information may also be considered. Therefore, the Congress Director reserves the right to move a player into a higher section where necessary.
Unrated Players
Adult players aged over 18 without a rating history may enter only the Lancashire Open.
Unrated junior players must provide sufficient information about their playing strength so the organizers can place them in an appropriate section.
Players who have previously held a published rating must disclose their last published rating and the year in which it appeared.
📅 Schedule
Friday – February 12
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 18:55 | Opening Ceremony |
| 19:00–23:00 | Round 1 |
Saturday – February 13
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 09:30–13:30 | Round 2 |
| 14:15–18:15 | Round 3 |
Sunday – February 14
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 09:30–13:30 | Round 4 |
| 14:15–18:15 | Round 5 |
Players may request a bye in advance for Rounds 1–4 through the entry form.
📝 Registration
Players can enter online through the official Blackpool Chess Congress website.
Online Entry:
https://congress.org.uk/congress/849/enter
The final entry deadline is Wednesday, February 10, 2027.
No entries will be accepted on the day.
A £5 late-entry fee applies to entries received after February 8, 2027.
Entry Fees
| Section | Standard Fee |
|---|---|
| Lancashire Open | £66 (~$90) |
| Imperial Major | £62 (~$90) |
| Intermediate | £58 (~$80) |
| Minor | £58 (~$80) |
| Standard | £58 (~$80) |
ECF Gold members receive a £16 discount from the applicable entry fee.
ECF Membership & FIDE ID
Because all five sections are FIDE rated, English players must hold ECF Gold membership.
Non-English players must already have a valid FIDE Identification Number (FIN).
Refunds
Players requesting a refund must withdraw in writing before February 6, 2027.
If the organizer approves the refund, a £5 administration fee may be deducted.
Withdrawals after February 6 are not eligible for a refund.
👤 Organizer
Organizer Name: Blackpool Chess Conference
Contact Person: Bill O’Rourke
Email: blackpoolchessconference@virginmedia.com
Website: https://www.blackpoolchess.org.uk/
Congress Director: Bill O’Rourke
Chief Arbiter: IA and ECF Senior Arbiter Alex McFarlane
The wider arbiter team includes Peter Purland, Fiona Green, Matt Carr, Ruairidh McKay, and Hambel Willow.
📍 Venue
The Imperial Hotel Blackpool – North Promenade, Blackpool FY1 2HB, United Kingdom
The Imperial Hotel is a historic seafront hotel on Blackpool’s North Promenade. It provides both the playing venue and official accommodation for the 50th anniversary congress.
Players staying at the hotel can also take advantage of the special tournament accommodation rates arranged directly between the congress and the Imperial.
🚆 How to Get There
The Imperial Hotel is located on Blackpool’s North Promenade, north of the main town centre.
Blackpool North railway station is approximately 0.6 miles from the hotel. Players can walk to the venue in around 10–15 minutes or use a short taxi, bus, or tram journey.
Blackpool’s tram line runs along the seafront close to the Imperial Hotel and provides convenient access to other parts of the town.
Players arriving by car can use the Imperial Hotel car park. Parking is complimentary for guests staying at the hotel, while non-residents pay £10 per day during the congress.
ℹ️ Other Information
🏨 Official Accommodation
Special accommodation rates have been arranged at The Imperial Hotel Blackpool.
Friday February 12 & Saturday February 13
| Room | B&B Rate |
|---|---|
| Single | £107 (~$150) per night |
| Double / Twin | £117 (~$160) per room per night |
Thursday February 11 & Sunday February 14
| Room | B&B Rate |
|---|---|
| Single | £79 (~$110) per night |
| Double / Twin | £89 (~$120) per room per night |
Dinner can be added for £25 per person per night.
A packed lunch can also be ordered at hotel reception for £12.50.
☎️ How to Book the Special Hotel Rate
To obtain the congress rate, players should book directly with The Imperial Hotel:
Phone: +44 1253 623971
Select Option 1 for the Reservations Team.
Players must state that they are attending the Blackpool Chess Conference in order to receive the agreed tournament rate.
The hotel will provide a booking reference that can be entered on the chess congress registration form.
Bookings made through other accommodation websites do not qualify for the special congress discount.
💷 Hotel Entry Discount
Players staying at the Imperial Hotel for two nights can claim a £10 discount on their chess congress entry.
The discount is limited to one discount per room, rather than one discount per player.
A valid Imperial Hotel booking reference is required.
🚗 Parking
Parking is complimentary for players staying at The Imperial Hotel.
Players who are not hotel residents can use the Imperial car park for £10 per day.
🍽️ Food & Drink
The Imperial Hotel will offer several lunch options during the congress, including packed lunches.
Players can order on Friday for Saturday and on Saturday for Sunday. The hotel accepts payment when the order is placed.
Outside food and drink may not be brought into the premises.
The Imperial will offer reduced food and drink prices for congress entrants.
📊 Ratings
The February 2027 rating lists will be used.
For players with both ECF and FIDE ratings, the higher published figure determines section eligibility, pairings, and rating-prize purposes.
Players must disclose previous ratings where applicable. Failure to disclose relevant rating history may result in disqualification.
♟️ Separate 50th Anniversary Norm Events
The anniversary programme continues at the Imperial Hotel immediately after the main congress.
Separate FIDE GM and IM norm events are scheduled for February 15–19, 2027, including round-robin events and an Open Swiss.
These norm tournaments are separate from the five-round Blackpool Chess Congress and have their own entry arrangements.
🌐 Official Links
Official Website:
https://www.blackpoolchess.org.uk/
2027 Tournament Information:
https://www.blackpoolchess.org.uk/index.php/2027-event
Online Entry:
https://congress.org.uk/congress/849/enter
ECF Event Listing:
https://www.englishchess.org.uk/event/50th-blackpool-chess-congress-celebration/
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $13,210
Organizer
♟️ About Blackpool Chess Conference
Blackpool Chess Conference is a long-running chess tournament organizer based in Lancashire, England. Its flagship annual congress in Blackpool has become an established fixture on the English chess calendar and one of the country’s best-known weekend chess events.
The conference welcomes players across a wide range of ratings and playing strengths. Its main congress traditionally features several sections, allowing club players, juniors, experienced competitors, and titled players to compete in appropriate rating groups. The tournaments are run with experienced arbiters and are generally submitted for ECF and FIDE rating.
Bill O’Rourke serves as the Congress Director and is one of the principal organizers and contacts for the Blackpool Chess Conference. The event also has strong links with the wider Lancashire chess community and has attracted several hundred participants in recent editions.
🏆 Tournaments & Activities
The organization’s principal event is the annual Blackpool Chess Conference, normally played as a five-round classical Swiss tournament over a weekend.
The congress usually includes several rating sections, making it accessible to players of different strengths. Recent editions have attracted well over 300 participants, placing Blackpool among the larger regular weekend chess congresses in England.
The organization is also involved in additional FIDE-rated events. Following the 50th anniversary congress in 2027, Blackpool FIDE Norm Events are scheduled at The Imperial Hotel from February 15–19, 2027. These include round-robin competitions and an Open Swiss, with opportunities for players pursuing international title norms.
📜 History & Achievements
The Blackpool Chess Congress has a history stretching back to 1977. The Open-section winner receives the Jack Wolstenholme Trophy, and the tournament’s historic winners list includes many notable British and international chess players.
Previous champions have included players such as Nigel Short, Michael Adams, Mark Hebden, Keith Arkell, John Hawkins, and Matthew Sadler. This long list of distinguished winners reflects the congress’s standing within British tournament chess.
Participation has remained strong in recent years. The 47th Blackpool Chess Conference in 2024 attracted 373 entrants, while the 2026 edition welcomed more than 375 players across its sections.
The 50th Blackpool Chess Congress Celebration will take place from February 12–14, 2027 at The Imperial Hotel, Blackpool. The anniversary event will feature five FIDE- and ECF-rated sections together with a £10,000 prize fund, marking an important milestone in the history of the congress.
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