4th Derbyshire Chess Congress will take place from October 17–18, 2026, in Long Eaton, United Kingdom. This is a chess tournament in Long Eaton, United Kingdom, in 2026.
The event offers a 5-round Swiss congress with five rating-based sections. The Open and Major sections carry FIDE rating status, while all sections count for ECF rating.
The congress suits club players, improving players, juniors, coaches, families, and visitors. In addition, players can expect free on-site parking, refreshments, and wheelchair-friendly access at the venue.
♟️ Event Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 🏷️ Tournament | 4th Derbyshire Chess Congress |
| 📅 Dates | October 17–18, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Long Eaton, United Kingdom |
| 🏛️ Venue | Trent College, Derby Road, Long Eaton, Nottingham NG10 4AD, United Kingdom |
| ♟️ Format | 5-round Swiss chess congress |
| 🌍 Rating | Open and Major: FIDE-rated and ECF-rated; Intermediate, Minor, and Foundation: ECF-rated |
| 🔢 Rounds | 5 |
| 🧩 Pairing system | Swiss system with Swiss-Manager |
| ⏱️ Time control | 90 minutes + 10 seconds per move |
| 👥 Sections | Open U2400, Major U1950, Intermediate U1750, Minor U1600, Foundation U1375 |
| 👤 Capacity | Maximum 180 entries |
| ⏳ Default time | 30 minutes after the start of the round |
| 💶 Entry fee | £36 before membership supplements and discounts |
| 🏆 Prize fund | £2,325 in listed section prizes, approximately US$3,140 |
| 🅿️ Parking | Free on-site parking |
| ♿ Accessibility | Wheelchair-friendly access |
| 🏛️ Organizer | Derbyshire Chess Congress |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The congress uses a classical time control of 90 minutes per player, plus a 10-second increment from move 1. Therefore, players receive a practical long-game format across a compact weekend schedule.
All sections use 5-round Swiss pairings. Swiss-Manager supports the pairing process, and the October 2026 ECF over-the-board rating list determines section eligibility.
For the Open and Major sections, FIDE ratings take priority over ECF ratings for eligibility. Also, players who enter before October 1 may move to a higher section if their October 2026 rating exceeds the limit for their original section.
🏆 Prize Fund
The listed section prizes total £2,325, approximately US$3,140. However, the organizer may reduce the prize fund if entries do not reach the expected level.
| Prize Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Open – 1st place | £300 |
| Open – 2nd place | £200 |
| Open – 3rd place | £100 |
| Open – 4th place | £75 |
| Open – Rating prize | £50 |
| Major – 1st place | £160 |
| Major – 2nd place | £110 |
| Major – 3rd place | £60 |
| Major – 4th place | £40 |
| Major – Rating prize | £30 |
| Intermediate – 1st place | £160 |
| Intermediate – 2nd place | £110 |
| Intermediate – 3rd place | £60 |
| Intermediate – 4th place | £40 |
| Intermediate – Rating prize | £30 |
| Minor – 1st place | £160 |
| Minor – 2nd place | £110 |
| Minor – 3rd place | £60 |
| Minor – 4th place | £40 |
| Minor – Rating prize | £30 |
| Foundation – 1st place | £160 |
| Foundation – 2nd place | £110 |
| Foundation – 3rd place | £60 |
| Foundation – 4th place | £40 |
| Foundation – Rating prize | £30 |
No player can win more than one prize. In addition, players on the same score share prize money without tie-breaks.
👥 Sections / Groups
Open U2400
The Open section covers players rated below 2400. It carries both FIDE and ECF rating status.
Major U1950
The Major section covers players rated below 1950. It also carries both FIDE and ECF rating status.
Intermediate U1750
The Intermediate section covers players rated below 1750. It counts for ECF rating and gives club players a competitive middle rating group.
Minor U1600
The Minor section covers players rated below 1600. Meanwhile, it gives improving players a separate ECF-rated section.
Foundation U1375
The Foundation section covers players rated below 1375. As a result, developing players get a suitable weekend group within the same congress.
📅 Schedule
| Date | Time | Round / Activity |
|---|---|---|
| October 17, 2026 | 09:45 | Important announcements |
| October 17, 2026 | 10:00 | Round 1 |
| October 17, 2026 | 14:15 | Round 2 |
| October 17, 2026 | 18:30 | Round 3 |
| October 18, 2026 | 10:00 | Round 4 |
| October 18, 2026 | 14:15 | Round 5 |
📝 Registration
| Registration Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Registration method | Online entry through the congress website or postal entry |
| Online entry deadline | October 17, 2026 |
| Late online entry rule | Online entries after October 14, 2026, count as late |
| Postal late entry rule | Postal entries postmarked after October 12, 2026, count as late |
| Final entry cut-off | October 16, 2026, at 12:00 noon |
| On-the-day entries | The congress does not accept entries on the day |
| Entry fee | £36 |
| Late entry surcharge | £5 |
| Junior discount | £5 discount for players under 18 on October 1, 2026 |
| ECF Bronze adult supplement | £17 |
| ECF Bronze junior supplement | £7 |
| Refund rule | £3 administration charge before 12:00 noon on October 16, 2026; no refunds after that time |
| Byes | One half-point bye may be requested in rounds 1–4 at the time of entry |
🏛️ Organizer
Organizer: Derbyshire Chess Congress
Derbyshire Chess Congress organizes the 4th Derbyshire Chess Congress as a weekend event with five rating-based sections. The congress gives players a clear two-day schedule, ECF rating coverage in all sections, and FIDE rating coverage in the Open and Major sections.
Email: djfwchess@gmail.com
Phone: +44 7976 701995
📍 Venue
Trent College, Derby Road, Long Eaton, Nottingham NG10 4AD, United Kingdom
The tournament takes place at Trent College in Long Eaton. The venue offers a spacious playing area, free on-site parking, and wheelchair-friendly access around the site. Also, players can buy hot drinks and light snacks at the venue, although sandwiches will not be sold.
🏨 Accommodation
Nearby accommodation options include Bennetts Hotel and Holiday Inn. Therefore, players who need overnight stays can use local hotel options near the venue.
| Accommodation Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Bennetts Hotel | NG10 1LW; phone +44 115 972 8481 |
| Holiday Inn | NG10 5NJ; phone +44 333 320 9327 |
🚆 How to Get There
Trent College has good road access from the A52 and M1. Long Eaton railway station is under 2 miles from the venue, so players can arrive by train and continue locally to Trent College.
ℹ️ Other Practical Information
Players must use congress scoresheets during the event. Also, they must switch off phones during play and keep electronic devices away from their person during games.
The school bans smoking inside the building and on the school grounds. Meanwhile, parents and guardians remain responsible for their children throughout the congress.
The congress does not plan a final prize-giving ceremony. Instead, it pays prizes by bank transfer where possible after the event.
Overall, this event gives players a practical opportunity to compete in Long Eaton during a well-structured weekend chess congress.
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $3,140
Organizer
♟️ About the Organizer
Derbyshire Chess Congress is a recurring weekend chess congress held at Trent College in Long Eaton, near Derby and Nottingham. The event began in 2023 and has developed into a regular East Midlands tournament for players who want serious over-the-board chess in a compact two-day format.
The congress runs under the main organization of David Woodhouse and uses Congress Org UK for online entries, payments, player lists, and event information. Its venue gives players a practical tournament setting with playing space, on-site parking, and good road access near the A52 and M1. As a result, the congress serves players from Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, the wider Midlands, and other parts of England.
🏆 Chess Events and Activities
Derbyshire Chess Congress focuses on standardplay chess with a five-round Swiss format. The 2026 congress includes five sections: Open U2400, Major U1950, Intermediate U1750, Minor U1600, and Foundation U1375. This structure helps players compete in a section that better matches their playing strength.
The congress uses a classical time control of 90 minutes plus 10 seconds per move from the start of the game. All sections carry ECF rating, while the Open and Major sections also carry FIDE rating. Therefore, ambitious players can use the congress for both national and international rating progress.
The event schedule follows a clear weekend rhythm, with three rounds on Saturday and two rounds on Sunday. It also allows one half-point bye in the early rounds, which gives players limited flexibility during the congress. In addition, the prize structure covers section prizes and rating prizes, while unrated players can still join the main competition sections.
🌍 Player Experience and Community
Players can expect a practical and competitive East Midlands chess tournament with clear rules, online entry, published sections, and a familiar school venue. The congress works well for experienced tournament players, club players, juniors, and improving competitors who want a serious weekend event without a long multi-day schedule.
The Trent College venue in Long Eaton gives the congress a strong regional location. It sits between Derby and Nottingham and offers convenient access for players travelling by car. Long Eaton railway station also gives rail travellers a nearby transport option.
The congress also fits naturally into the Derbyshire chess calendar. Local players can use it as a major weekend target, while visiting players can combine rated games with a well-organized playing environment. Overall, Derbyshire Chess Congress gives players a reliable route into ECF-rated and FIDE-rated chess in the East Midlands.
Venue on the Map
Hotels Near the Venue
Find nearby accommodation for this tournament location.
