The 36th Nottingham Rapidplay 2027 will take place on Sunday, February 7, 2027 at Nottingham High School in Nottingham, England. The one-day tournament features six rapidplay rounds across five sections, providing competitive opportunities for players from Open level through to the U1300 Improvers section.
The Open, Major, Intermediate, and Minor sections are both FIDE and ECF Rapidplay rated. Meanwhile, the Improvers section is ECF rated only. All sections use the same time control of 20 minutes plus a 10-second increment per move from move one.
The published prize schedule offers up to £1,900 / approx. $2,520 across the five sections. Entry is free for GMs, WGMs, IMs, and WIMs, while juniors receive a reduced entry fee.
♟️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | February 7, 2027 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| City | Nottingham |
| Venue | Nottingham High School |
| Format | 6-round Rapidplay |
| Time Control | 20 min + 10 sec/move |
| Sections | Open, Major U1900, Intermediate U1700, Minor U1500, Improvers U1300 |
| Rating | FIDE & ECF Rapidplay rated* |
| Maximum Entry | 220 players |
| Prize Schedule | Up to £1,900 / approx. $2,520 |
| Organizer | Nottinghamshire Chess Association |
| Online Entry | https://congress.org.uk/congress/785/home |
| Official Website | https://www.nottinghamshirechess.org/ |
*The Improvers section is ECF rated only.
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
All sections are played over six rounds.
Each player receives:
20 minutes + 10 seconds increment per move from move one.
Pairings are produced using Swiss-Manager. Pairings and results are scheduled to be published on Chess-Results before the start of each round.
The Open, Major, Intermediate, and Minor sections are submitted for both FIDE and ECF Rapidplay rating. The Improvers section is ECF Rapidplay rated but is not FIDE rated.
Rating Lists
The original February 2027 ECF and FIDE over-the-board rating lists take precedence when assigning players to sections.
When a player has both rapid and standard ratings, the Rapidplay rating takes precedence.
Unrated players must provide information about their playing strength, including previous results or any rating previously held. The organizers may move an unrated player to a more appropriate section if necessary.
Default Time
The default time is 20 minutes after the scheduled start of each round.
🏆 Prize Fund
The published prizes across all five sections total up to £1,900 / approx. $2,520 if all sections operate with the advertised prize structure.
Each section offers the same main prizes:
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st Place | £200 (~$270) |
| 2nd Place | £100 (~$140) |
| 3rd Place | £50 (~$70) |
In addition, each section has a £30 / approx. $40 rating prize.
Rating Prizes
| Section | Rating Prize |
|---|---|
| Open | £30 (~$40) – U1950 |
| Major | £30 (~$40) – U1750 |
| Intermediate | £30 (~$40) – U1550 |
| Minor | £30 (~$40) – U1350 |
| Improvers | £30 (~$40) – U1000 |
Unrated players cannot win a rating prize.
Prize money is shared in the event of a tie. In addition, a player may receive only one prize and will receive the highest-value prize for which they are eligible.
If entries in a section are low, sections may be merged and prizes may be redistributed. Conversely, the organizers may add further prizes if entry numbers are sufficient.
There will be no formal prize-giving ceremony. Prize money will instead be paid by bank transfer after the tournament.
🧩 Sections / Groups
Five sections are available.
| Section | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Open | Open to all players |
| Major | Under 1900 |
| Intermediate | Under 1700 |
| Minor | Under 1500 |
| Improvers | Under 1300 |
The Open, Major, Intermediate, and Minor sections are both FIDE and ECF Rapidplay rated.
The Improvers section is ECF rated only, making it particularly suitable for developing players seeking rated over-the-board tournament experience.
The organizers reserve the right to transfer entries when necessary, including moving unrated players to a section more appropriate to their playing strength.
📅 Schedule
All six rounds are played on Sunday, February 7, 2027.
| Round | Time |
|---|---|
| Round 1 | 10:00 |
| Round 2 | 11:25 |
| Round 3 | 12:50 |
| Round 4 | 14:35 |
| Round 5 | 16:00 |
| Round 6 | 17:25 |
The overall event is scheduled to run from approximately 10:00 to 18:30.
Players should arrive in sufficient time to complete any necessary check-in and be ready for the first round at 10:00.
📝 Registration
The standard entry fee is £25 / approx. $40 for all five sections.
Juniors receive a £5 discount, reducing the entry fee to £20 / approx. $30.
For entry-fee purposes, a junior is a player who is under 18 on January 1, 2027.
Free Entry
Entry is free for:
- Grandmasters (GM)
- International Masters (IM)
- Woman Grandmasters (WGM)
- Woman International Masters (WIM)
Eligible titled players should complete the online entry form without making payment and then contact the organizers so that registration can be finalized.
ECF Membership
Players should have ECF Gold membership or above.
Players without the required membership must pay an additional ECF Pay-to-Play fee:
| Player | Additional Fee |
|---|---|
| Adult | £16 (~$30) |
| Junior | £7 (~$10) |
Registration Deadline
Online entries close on February 6, 2027.
A £5 / approx. $10 late fee applies after February 2, 2027.
The event has a maximum capacity of 220 players, so early registration is recommended.
Official online entry:
https://congress.org.uk/congress/785/home
Withdrawals & Refunds
Players withdrawing before February 2, 2027 are entitled to a full refund minus a £2 administrative fee.
Later withdrawals are subject to a £5 late withdrawal fee.
Refunds are processed after the event.
FIDE ID
Players without a FIDE ID will normally be registered with the federation code ENG.
Players who require registration under another federation should follow the organizer’s instructions before the event.
👤 Organizer
Organizer Name: Nottinghamshire Chess Association
Email: rapidplay@nottinghamshirechess.org
📍 Venue
Nottingham High School – Forest Road East, Nottingham NG1 4HH, United Kingdom
Nottingham High School is a long-established venue for major Nottinghamshire chess events. The Nottingham Rapidplay has also been held at the school in previous editions.
The 2027 tournament has a maximum capacity of 220 players.
Limited free parking is available on site. Vehicles are parked at the owner’s risk.
🚆 How to Get There
Nottingham High School is accessible by tram, train, car, and local public transport.
By Train & Tram
Players arriving at Nottingham Railway Station can follow the signs to the tram stop.
Trams towards Hucknall or Phoenix Park operate frequently. According to the organizer’s travel instructions, Nottingham High School is the fifth tram stop from the railway station, with a journey time of approximately nine minutes.
After leaving the tram, proceed uphill to the traffic lights, turn right onto Forest Road East, and continue approximately 100 metres to the school entrance.
By Car
Use postcode NG1 4HH for navigation.
From Nottingham city centre, follow the A60 north towards Mansfield, then turn left onto Forest Road East. The school entrance and car park are approximately 500 metres along the road.
Parking is limited and available free of charge.
ℹ️ Other Information
🍴 Refreshments
Players are encouraged to bring their own food.
Nearby options include Sainsbury’s Local at the corner of Forest Road West and Waverley Street, close to the High School tram stop, as well as the Homemade Cafe in the pavilion at Forest Recreation Ground.
The organizers also hope to offer hot drinks for sale at the venue.
Hot food may not be brought into the playing venue.
💷 Prize Payments
There will be no prize-giving ceremony after the final round.
Cash prizes will be paid by bank transfer. In case of a tie, prize money is shared.
Players may win only one prize and receive the highest-value prize for which they qualify.
♟️ Ratings & Section Allocation
The February 2027 ECF and FIDE over-the-board rating lists are used for section allocation.
Rapidplay ratings take precedence over standard ratings when both are available.
Unrated players should provide evidence of their playing strength. This may include previous tournament results or a previously held rating.
📱 Tournament Information
Pairings and results will be generated through Swiss-Manager and published on Chess-Results before each round.
Players should check their pairing before entering the playing area.
🚭 Venue Rules
Smoking and vaping are not permitted anywhere on site.
Players participate at their own risk, and the organizers are not responsible for loss or damage to vehicles using the car park.
👨👩👧 Junior Players
Parents and guardians remain responsible for their children throughout the tournament.
The organizers and tournament helpers are unable to act in loco parentis and cannot assume responsibility for children outside their individual games.
📸 Photography & Game Publication
The organizers may take photographs during the event for publicity purposes.
Anyone who does not wish to appear in photographs should notify the entries secretary in writing before the tournament.
Players should also be aware that games from the event may be published after the tournament.
🌐 Official Links
Registration & Tournament Information:
https://congress.org.uk/congress/785/home
Nottinghamshire Chess Association:
https://www.nottinghamshirechess.org/
English Chess Federation Listing:
https://www.englishchess.org.uk/event/36th-nottingham-rapidplay/
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $2,520
Organizer
♟️ About Nottinghamshire Chess Association
Nottinghamshire Chess Association (NCA) is the county chess organization for Nottinghamshire, England. Founded in 1922, the association coordinates league chess, county teams, individual championships, congresses, Rapid tournaments, correspondence chess, and wider chess activity throughout the county. It is affiliated with the English Chess Federation (ECF) and the Midland Counties Chess Union (MCCU).
The association was established by a group connected with Nottingham Mechanics’ Chess Club. J. W. Broadbent became its first Honorary Secretary and served from 1922 to 1929. From the beginning, the organization aimed to promote chess across the county while creating structured individual and county competition.
Today, NCA brings together affiliated clubs across Nottinghamshire and supports players from beginners through experienced tournament competitors. Nick London serves as General Secretary and is the principal contact for general association enquiries.
🏆 Tournaments & Chess Activities
The Nottinghamshire Chess Association organizes several major individual competitions during the year. Its principal events include the Nottingham Congress, the Nottingham RapidPlay, and the Nottinghamshire County Championship. These tournaments offer sections for different rating levels so that club players, juniors, experienced competitors, and titled players can participate within an appropriate competitive field.
The Nottingham Congress is the association’s established weekend standard-play tournament. The 49th edition in April 2026 reached its 200-player capacity at Nottingham High School. Its five-section structure ranged from an Open to an Improvers group, with most sections rated by both FIDE and the ECF.
The Nottingham RapidPlay is another long-running NCA event. The 35th edition in February 2026 attracted 169 players, while the previous edition had reached a record 180-player capacity. From 2025 onward, the principal sections also became FIDE Rapid rated in addition to their ECF rating.
The association also organizes county-level Blitz, team, and seasonal events while supporting tournaments run by affiliated clubs across Nottinghamshire.
⚡ Nottingham RapidPlay
The annual Nottingham RapidPlay has developed into one of the association’s most established one-day tournaments. It is normally held at Nottingham High School, a venue that also hosts the Nottingham Congress and other major local chess events.
The 36th Nottingham Rapidplay 2027 takes place on February 7, 2027. It consists of six rounds at 20 minutes plus 10 seconds increment per move and includes Open, Major U1900, Intermediate U1700, Minor U1500, and Improvers U1300 sections. The Open, Major, Intermediate, and Minor groups are FIDE and ECF Rapid rated, while the Improvers section is ECF rated.
The tournament is managed by the NCA Rapidplay Committee. Recent control teams have included experienced arbiters and organizers such as Hambel Willow, Phill Beckett, Simon Scott, and Stephen Humphreys, while NCA Treasurer Stuart Humphreys has handled administrative duties including prize payments.
The RapidPlay also benefits from support by the Nottinghamshire Chess Foundation, which has funded prize support for the Improvers section and helped make competitive chess more accessible to lower-rated and newer over-the-board players.
♟️ League & County Chess
NCA operates the Nottinghamshire League, which runs from September through May. Affiliated clubs compete in several divisions, with matches usually played on weekday evenings. The league provides regular team chess for players across a wide rating range.
The association also enters Nottinghamshire teams in Midland and national county championships. These competitions allow stronger and developing players to represent the county against teams from other parts of England.
NCA’s club directory includes organizations from Nottingham, West Bridgford, Beeston, Ashfield, Mansfield, Newark, Radcliffe & Bingham, and other areas of the county. Individual clubs provide regular club nights, coaching, internal competitions, and league teams.
The association also maintains a correspondence chess team and supports occasional special events across the county.
🌱 Junior Chess & Development
Junior chess in Nottinghamshire is supported through cooperation between NCA, local clubs, schools, the Nottinghamshire Primary Schools Chess Association, and the Nottinghamshire Chess Foundation.
Young players can progress from school and junior-club competition into county leagues, Rapid events, standard-play congresses, and county representative teams. Several Nottinghamshire clubs operate dedicated junior programs, while county events provide additional tournament experience.
NCA tournaments increasingly include dedicated opportunities for developing players. The Improvers sections at the Nottingham RapidPlay and Nottingham Congress provide lower-rated competitors with an accessible introduction to large rated tournaments while maintaining the same organized congress environment as the stronger sections.
The association also recognizes strong play through county championships, best-game awards, league competition, and representative opportunities.
📚 History & Development
The Nottinghamshire Chess Association has more than a century of organized chess history. Its formation in 1922 created a permanent county structure for championships, representative teams, and the promotion of chess. The County Championship was one of its earliest priorities and remained a central association activity even during periods when other competitions were disrupted.
Over time, the organization expanded into league chess, county teams, congresses, Rapid events, correspondence chess, and junior development. Its historical archive now preserves tournament records, association bulletins, notable games, competition results, and material documenting Nottinghamshire chess across multiple generations.
The modern association continues that tradition while adding FIDE-rated tournament opportunities and online entry systems to its established local program.
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