The 13th Witney Weekend Congress 2026 will take place from October 31 to November 1, 2026, at Cokethorpe School near Witney, Oxfordshire. Organized by Witney Chess Club, the congress welcomes players across three rating sections: Open, U2000 and U1700.

All sections will be played over five Swiss-system rounds and submitted for both ECF and FIDE rating. The tournament uses a time control of 90 minutes plus a 15-second increment per move, with three rounds on Saturday and two rounds on Sunday.

The total prize fund is £1,800 / approximately $2,400. Each section offers prizes for the top three players and an additional rating-performance prize. The venue is wheelchair accessible, while food and drinks will be available for purchase throughout the congress.

📌 Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

All three sections will be played over five rounds using the Swiss system. Pairings will be produced with Swiss-Manager.

Each player receives 90 minutes for the entire game, with an increment of 15 seconds per move from move one.

A player arriving more than 30 minutes after the scheduled starting time will normally lose the game unless re-pairing is possible.

The opponent of an absent player must remain available because the arbiters may re-pair players who would otherwise be left without an opponent. The time allowance may be adjusted when re-pairing takes place.

Half-Point Byes

Players may request one half-point bye in any one of the first four rounds.

The bye should preferably be requested on the official entry form. Alternatively, the player must notify the tournament team before the relevant pairings are prepared.

No half-point bye is available for Round 5.

Rating Calculation

All sections will be submitted for ECF and FIDE rating.

However, games involving a player with a FIDE rating of 2400 or higher cannot be FIDE rated under the published tournament time control.

The October 2026 ECF rating list will be used for:

• Section allocation
• Tournament pairings
• Rating limits
• Rating-performance prizes

Players should report any incorrect name, ECF code, FIDE ID, federation or rating information before the first round.

🏆 Prize Fund

The total published prize fund is £1,800 / approximately $2,400.

Each of the three sections offers the same prize distribution.

Open Prizes

U2000 Prizes

U1700 Prizes

Prize Conditions

Prizes will be shared when players finish tied for an award.

A player may not receive more than one individual prize. Therefore, a player eligible for both a place prize and a rating prize will receive only one award.

Prize money will be paid by direct bank transfer within seven days after the congress. Prize winners should ensure that the organizer receives the required payment details.

USD equivalents are approximate and have been rounded upward to the next multiple of $10.

📂 Sections / Groups

The congress is divided into three sections based on the October 2026 ECF rating list.

Open

The Open has no published upper rating limit and is suitable for the strongest players entering the congress.

Players with a FIDE rating of 2400 or higher may enter. However, their games cannot be FIDE rated under the tournament’s published time control.

U2000

The U2000 section is for players whose applicable October 2026 ECF rating is below 2000.

Players close to the rating limit should check the October list before entering. The organizers reserve the right to transfer a player to another section when the published rating information requires it.

U1700

The U1700 section is for players whose applicable October 2026 ECF rating is below 1700.

Unrated players or players without sufficient recent rating information should provide details of their playing strength. The organizer may transfer an entrant when another section is considered more appropriate.

Section Allocation

The organizer reserves the right to:

• Refuse an entry
• Transfer a player between sections
• Correct an entry based on updated rating information
• Make decisions necessary for the fair running of the event

Players uncertain about their correct section should contact the organizer before completing payment.

🗓️ Schedule

Three rounds will be played on Saturday, followed by two rounds on Sunday.

Players should arrive early enough to find the playing hall, confirm their section and check the first-round pairings.

Saturday includes an evening round beginning at 18:30. Participants should plan meals, transport and accommodation accordingly.

The final finishing time depends on the duration of Round 5, result verification and the prizegiving ceremony.

📝 Registration

Entry must be completed through the official online registration form.

The official form requests:

• Full name
• Email address
• Telephone or mobile number
• Date of birth
• ECF membership number
• ECF rating reference
• FIDE ID
• Nationality or federation
• Selected tournament section
• Requested half-point bye
• Applicable ECF Pay-to-Play fee

ECF Membership and Pay-to-Play Fees

Players who are not ECF members at Gold level or above must pay an additional Pay-to-Play fee.

Junior ECF membership applies to players under 18 on the date their membership is taken out.

Juniors who have never previously been ECF members may be eligible for their first year of Junior Gold membership free of charge.

ECF membership information:

https://www.englishchess.org.uk/ecf-membership-rates-and-joining-details/

Payment

Online payments are processed securely through Stripe. Witney Chess Club does not receive or store the entrant’s full credit-card details.

Submitting the form and paying the fee confirms the player’s agreement to the tournament conditions and acceptance that the Chief Arbiter’s decision is final on matters concerning the event.

Withdrawals

A player withdrawing before Round 1 may receive a refund minus a £5 administration charge.

A player withdrawing after the congress has begun must:

• Inform an arbiter or controller
• Record the withdrawal on the result slip
• Avoid simply failing to attend the next round

👤 Organizer

The congress is organized by Witney Chess Club, an established Oxfordshire chess club that runs league chess, junior activities, weekend congresses and rapidplay tournaments.

Questions concerning entry, section eligibility, ratings, ECF membership, byes or accessibility should be sent to the organizer before the congress.

📍 Venue

Cokethorpe School – Cokethorpe Park, Witney, Oxfordshire OX29 7PU, United Kingdom.

Cokethorpe School is set within approximately 150 acres of West Oxfordshire parkland, about two miles south of Witney and ten miles from Oxford.

Players should follow the event signs after entering the school grounds. Parking, building access and tournament-room arrangements should be checked on arrival.

Accommodation Near the Venue

No official hotel package or reserved tournament room block has been published.

Official hotel websites:

https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/england/oxfordshire/witney/witney.html

https://www.oxfordwitneyhotel.co.uk/

https://www.acornpubs.co.uk/blueboar/

Room rates vary according to availability and booking conditions. Players should compare live prices for October 30–November 2, 2026.

When booking, confirm:

• Breakfast availability before the 09:30 rounds
• Parking
• Cancellation terms
• Driving time to Cokethorpe School
• Late return arrangements after Saturday’s 18:30 round

🚗 How to Get There

Cokethorpe School is located in a rural area south of Witney. Travelling by car is generally the most practical option.

Public Transport

Public transport directly to the school may be limited, particularly during the weekend.

Players should not assume that a frequent service will operate to the school entrance. They should verify the current timetable and arrange the final connection in advance.

Rail information:

https://www.gwr.com/

Bus information:

https://www.stagecoachbus.com/

Arrival Planning

Round 1 begins at 09:30 on Saturday. Players travelling a significant distance should consider staying in Witney on Friday night.

The third round begins at 18:30 on Saturday, so participants relying on buses or taxis should confirm their return transport before the tournament starts.

ℹ️ Other Information

Tournament Rules

Players agree to follow the FIDE Laws of Chess and the decisions of the tournament controllers.

The arbiters’ decisions are final in all matters relating to the conduct of the congress.

Mobile Phones and Electronic Devices

Mobile phones and other electronic devices are permitted in the playing area only when they are completely switched off.

A player must not use an electronic device during a game without explicit permission from an arbiter.

A mobile phone sounding during a game will result in the player forfeiting that game.

Oxfordshire Chess Championship

The Open section forms part of the Oxfordshire Individual Championship competition.

The title of Oxfordshire Chess Champion and the Championship Trophy will be awarded to the eligible player with the highest combined score from the relevant Open sections of the Witney Weekend Congress and the 2026 Kidlington Chess Tournament.

Refreshments and Analysis

Food and drinks will be available for purchase at the venue.

A separate area will be provided for players to analyze completed games and discuss positions without disturbing games still in progress.

Pairings and Results

The organizer plans to publish separate pairings and results for:

• Open
• U2000
• U1700
• Replayable games
• Prize winners

The 2026 Chess-Results tournament links have not yet been published. They should be added when the organizer activates the section pages.

Personal Property

Players should keep valuables and personal belongings with them. The organizer’s tournament rules and the venue’s access requirements apply throughout the weekend.

Tournament Updates

Participants should check the official congress page shortly before travelling for:

• Entry lists
• Chess-Results links
• Pairings
• Venue instructions
• Catering updates
• Rating or section changes

Official information:

https://www.witneychess.co.uk/13thwitney_information.htm