Cornwall County Chess Association runs the 6th Cornwall Spring Chess Congress 2026 on May 1-3, 2026 in Falmouth, England. The congress offers a 5-round Swiss weekend with ECF Standard Play rating and a steady classical time control, and it welcomes competitive club players who want serious games in a focused congress setting. Organizers split the field across three sections (Open, U1800, and U1500) and award cash prizes in every section, which creates clear targets for both overall contenders and grading-prize chasers.

The seaside location adds extra value for players who want more than just the board. You can start on Friday evening, play two rounds on Saturday, and finish with two rounds on Sunday, which keeps the weekend structured and efficient. The congress also connects to Cornwall-specific trophies and titles, so local eligibility adds another layer of competition alongside the open section battles.

🗓️ Event Details

🏆 Prize Fund

Organizers run three sections and offer the same cash prize structure in each section. This structure creates a total cash payout of £395 per section and a total cash prize fund of £1,185 across the congress.

Organizers do not stack cash prizes: when a player qualifies for more than one cash prize, the player receives the higher amount and the congress director redistributes any remaining balance fairly. Trophy winners receive a £40 bonus in addition to any other prize they qualify for. Organizers restrict ungraded players: an ungraded player cannot win a grading prize or any trophy in any section, and the player cannot receive more than half the full value of a money prize in the Major or Minor. Organizers award trophies as soon as possible after all games finish, and they send money prizes after the congress.

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

Organizers run a 5-round Swiss in each section. Organizers set the rate of play to all moves in 75 minutes per player with a 30-second increment from move 1. Organizers use ECF Standard Play ratings from the March 2026 rating list for seeding and section allocation, and they decide any conversions or estimates for ungraded players.

Players must arrive on time: when a player arrives more than 30 minutes late, the controller may score the game as a default loss unless the controller can re-pair the player satisfactorily. Players whose opponents do not arrive must expect a re-pair 30 minutes after the round starts when possible. Players can request one half-point bye in rounds 1–4 (no byes in round 5), and organizers credit the bye as a draw for grading.

📂 Sections / Groups

📅 Schedule

📝 Registration

Register online using the official entry form:
https://www.cognitoforms.com/None3558/_6thCornwallSpringCongress

Organizers charge £30 for entry in any section and apply a £5 discount to juniors under 18 on August 31, 2025. Players must hold current ECF membership at Gold level; players without this membership must pay Pay to Play (£16, or £6.50 for juniors). Players must pay all fees before play starts.

Organizers accept payment by bank transfer (Sort Code: 20-87-94, Account Number: 70948624) and ask players to email payment confirmation to cornwallcongress@gmail.com. Organizers may accept late entries at the venue at their discretion, and they apply a compulsory first-round bye to late entries.

You can review entries to date here:
https://www.cornwallchess.org.uk/congress/spring/spring-entries.shtml

👥 Organizer

Cornwall County Chess Association organizes the Cornwall Spring Chess Congress as part of its established congress program, and the organizing team manages entries, section allocation, and congress operations under published rules for grading, prizes, and on-site conduct.

• Email: cornwallcongress@gmail.com

• Website: https://www.cornwallchess.org.uk/congress/spring/spring-2026.shtml

• Website: https://www.cornwallchess.org.uk/

🏨 Venue

The Falmouth Hotel, Castle Beach, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 4NZ, United Kingdom
The venue sits on the seafront by Castle Beach and gives players an easy base for the full weekend schedule. You can reach central Falmouth on foot, and you can combine rounds with coastal time between sessions. The hotel setting also keeps the playing and analysis areas close together for efficient round turnover.

🚗 How to Get There

Arrive by rail to Falmouth and continue by local taxi or on foot to Castle Beach and the venue. Drivers can reach Falmouth through Cornwall’s main road network and park locally according to venue and town arrangements. If you fly, you can use Newquay Cornwall Airport and continue to Falmouth by onward ground transport.

Take five long games, chase a section prize, and enjoy a classic congress weekend on the Cornish coast.

🧾 Other

Players must switch off electronic devices; any device that makes a sound results in an immediate loss. Players must not smoke or vape inside the venue. Players must leave congress equipment in the playing and analysis areas. Organizers may use event photographs for publicity, and any entrant who objects must inform the congress organizer. Organizers publish entries on the Cornwall Chess website and share games and results with the ECF for grading purposes.