The Muswell Hill FIDE Congress, April 7-8, 2026, in London, England, United Kingdom delivers a compact two-day classical event that suits competitive club players who want rated games in a friendly local setting. You play four Swiss rounds across morning and afternoon sessions, chase a straightforward prize list, and keep your schedule efficient with a clear lunch break built into each day.
This congress uses FIDE and ECF rating and pairs it with a practical 60+30 time control that rewards accurate play without turning each round into an all-day marathon. The venue hosts the event inside a well-known London pub environment, and the organizer adds player-friendly touches like 20% off food during the congress.
🗓️ Event Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | April 7-8, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | London, England, United Kingdom |
| ♟️ Format | 4-round Swiss System (2 rounds per day) |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE rated (standard) and ECF rated |
| 📂 Sections | Congress (Standard) |
| ⏱️ Time control | 60 minutes + 30-second increment per move from move 1 |
| 💳 Entry fee | £50 (2-day Congress) |
| 💰 Prize fund | £350 (cash prizes) |
| 👤 Eligibility | You should hold ECF Gold or Platinum membership and a FIDE ID; if you are not ENG, you need a FIDE ID code |
| 🧩 Organizer notes | Morning round at 10:30 and afternoon round at 14:00, with a lunch break after the morning game |
🏆 Prize Fund
| Prize | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1st | £200 |
| 2nd | £100 |
| Rating prize | £50 |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The congress runs a 4-round Swiss System across two days and rates games for FIDE (standard) and ECF. Each game uses 60 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move from move 1, with one morning round and one afternoon round on each day.
📂 Sections / Groups
The event runs a single Congress (Standard) section with four rounds over two days.
📅 Schedule
| Date | Weekday | Time | Round / Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Tuesday | 10:30 | Round 1 |
| April 7, 2026 | Tuesday | 14:00 | Round 2 |
| April 8, 2026 | Wednesday | 10:30 | Round 3 |
| April 8, 2026 | Wednesday | 14:00 | Round 4 |
📝 Registration
Register online:
https://form.jotform.com/62384663046964
By submitting the form, you commit to the £50 entry fee for the 2-day congress. You should provide your FIDE ID when entering, and non-ENG players need a FIDE ID code to play.
👥 Organizer
Chess England runs the Muswell Hill FIDE events under the direction of IO Adam N Raoof, delivering regular rated chess in North London with a consistent schedule, clear entry process, and practical playing conditions.
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Email: adamATchessengland.com
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Phone: 07855 036 537
🏨 Venue
The Clissold Arms, 105 Fortis Green, East Finchley, London N2 9HR, England, United Kingdom
The congress takes place inside a welcoming pub venue that serves food and drinks on-site and offers chess players 20% off food, which makes the built-in lunch break simple and convenient.
🚗 How to Get There
Travel to East Finchley in North London and continue to Fortis Green by local bus, taxi, or rideshare. If you drive, plan for limited local parking around the venue area.
Play four rated classical games in two focused days and push your performance in a friendly London congress setting.
🧾 Other
Do not bring or consume food or drink that you did not purchase on the premises.
Additional Details
Prize Fund - £350
Organizer
Chess England is a UK chess events organizer led by Adam Raoof (IA/IO). It is based in London, United Kingdom, and it focuses on accessible over-the-board competition. Today, it is best known for running regular FIDE- and ECF-rated tournaments with clear entry requirements.
Chess England organizes the Muswell Hill FIDE Congress, including the 7th/8th April 2026 congress at The Clissold Arms in North London. In addition, it runs frequent rapid and standard-rated events on set dates throughout the year. Moreover, its tournaments typically use Swiss pairings and published schedules designed for weekend and weekday play.
Furthermore, Chess England emphasizes punctual round starts and consistent playing conditions. As a result, players can plan confidently and focus on performance. At the same time, the events are structured to welcome a wide range of ratings and ambitions.
