Camberley Keith Richardson Rapid Play 2026 takes place on Saturday, September 26, at Heatherside Community Centre. Camberley Chess Club runs the annual memorial event in honor of Keith Richardson, a distinguished English correspondence and over-the-board player. Moreover, the one-day format combines six rated rapid games with a clear timetable and a fixed cash-prize schedule.
The event uses a six-round Swiss system with 20 minutes plus a five-second increment from move one. Play runs from 10:00 until approximately 17:00, including a lunch interval and a prize ceremony. Therefore, participants should arrive before the first pairing, bring proof of their ECF membership, and plan their return after the awards.
The organizer publishes one open section with an expected capacity of around 60 players. In addition, the prize structure includes overall, junior, and rating awards. The venue provides parking and refreshments, while players arrange their own lunch.
📌 Event Details
| 📅 Date | September 26, 2026 |
| 🕒 Playing Time | 10:00–17:00 |
| 🌍 Location | Camberley, Surrey, United Kingdom |
| 📍 Venue | Heatherside Community Centre – Martindale Avenue, Camberley GU15 1BB, United Kingdom |
| 🏢 Organizer | Camberley Chess Club |
| ♟️ Format | Individual six-round Swiss rapid tournament |
| 🔢 Rounds | 6 |
| ⏱️ Time Control | 20 minutes plus 5 seconds per move |
| 📊 Rating | English Chess Federation rapid rating |
| 👥 Expected Capacity | Approximately 60 players |
| 💷 Entry Fee | £25 |
| 🔗 Chess-Results | https://chess-results.com/tnr1440531.aspx?lan=1 |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
Each player receives 20 minutes and a five-second increment after every move. Consequently, the event offers enough time for serious rapid chess while keeping all six rounds within one day.
The tournament uses Swiss pairings and contributes to the ECF rapid rating list. Therefore, entrants should provide accurate ECF details and check the published player list before Round 1.
The organizer requires an appropriate ECF membership level for rated participation. Moreover, players should verify their current membership status rather than assume that a previous-season membership remains valid.
🏆 Prize Fund
The official event information publishes £400 in fixed cash prizes. Using the ECB reference rates dated June 26, 2026, the verified cash total equals approximately $530 after the established upward rounding rule.
| Award | Published Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st Place | £150 |
| 2nd Place | £100 |
| 3rd Place | £50 |
| Highest Junior | £50 |
| Highest-Rated Player Below 1600 | £50 |
The overall winner also receives a first-year Camberley Chess Club membership, which remains separate from the cash total. Therefore, the import prize field contains only the complete fixed cash amount.
📂 Sections / Groups
| Section / Category | Eligibility | Format / Award |
|---|---|---|
| Open Section | Accepted players with the required ECF membership | Six-round Swiss |
| Junior Award | Eligible junior players in the main field | £50 |
| Under-1600 Award | Eligible players under the published rating threshold | £50 |
The organizer’s latest regulations determine final eligibility and prize allocation. Therefore, participants should report any incorrect section or category before the last round.
🗓️ Schedule
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| September 26 | Before 10:00 | Arrival and attendance confirmation |
| September 26 | 10:00 | Round 1 |
| September 26 | 11:00 | Round 2 |
| September 26 | 12:00 | Round 3 |
| September 26 | 12:50–14:00 | Lunch interval |
| September 26 | 14:00 | Round 4 |
| September 26 | 15:00 | Round 5 |
| September 26 | 16:00 | Round 6 |
| September 26 | Approximately 17:00 | Prize ceremony |
📝 Registration
Players should register through the official Camberley Chess Club event page. The published entry fee is £25, and entrants should wait for confirmation before making restricted travel arrangements.
For tournament questions, participants may contact info@camberleychess.co.uk. Moreover, entrants should confirm the current ECF membership condition and report any name, rating, or club error before the first pairing.
👤 Organizer
Camberley Chess Club organizes the memorial rapid play. The club publishes the entry form, schedule, prize structure, and participation conditions through its official website.
The tournament commemorates Keith Richardson. Therefore, players can expect a competitive but community-focused event that follows the club’s established rapid-play format.
📍 Venue
Heatherside Community Centre – Martindale Avenue, Camberley GU15 1BB, United Kingdom.
The community centre provides the tournament hall and on-site parking. Moreover, the organizer offers tea and coffee, while participants arrange lunch independently.
Players should arrive early enough to identify the correct hall and complete attendance confirmation. Consequently, they should not plan to reach the car park at the exact first-round time.
🚗 How to Get There
| Option | Details |
|---|---|
| By rail | Travel to Camberley station, then continue by local bus, taxi, bicycle, or a short road transfer. Check current rail services through National Rail. |
| By bus | Use the Camberley and Heatherside bus network. Verify the Saturday route through Stagecoach because weekend frequencies may differ. |
| By car | Enter the full Martindale Avenue address. The centre publishes on-site parking, although players should still follow local signs and leave access routes clear. |
| From Heathrow Airport | Continue by coach, rail, taxi, or rental car through the Surrey/Berkshire network. Therefore, international visitors should allow a generous transfer margin. |
| Return journey | The awards are expected around 17:00, so participants should avoid a tightly timed departure immediately after Round 6. |
Transport schedules, road conditions, and parking rules can change. Therefore, participants should verify the route shortly before departure and retain the organizer’s contact details.
🏨 Accommodation Near the Venue
| Option | Details |
|---|---|
| Macdonald Frimley Hall Hotel & Spa | Official site: https://www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/frimley-hall. Confirm the road or taxi transfer to Heatherside. |
| Premier Inn Camberley Town Centre | Official site: https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/england/surrey/camberley/camberley-town-centre.html. A town-centre option with onward local transport. |
| Travelodge Camberley Central | Official site: https://www.travelodge.co.uk/hotels/540/Camberley-Central-hotel. Verify the Saturday morning route to the venue. |
Accommodation is not included unless the organizer confirms otherwise. Consequently, players should verify price, availability, cancellation terms, breakfast hours, and the exact venue transfer directly with the property.
ℹ️ Other Information
- The tournament honors Keith Richardson.
- The event contributes to the ECF rapid rating list.
- The published cash total equals £400.
- The organizer expects one open field rather than several separate sections.
- Tea and coffee are available, while players arrange their own lunch.
- The community centre publishes parking availability.
- Players should confirm their ECF membership before entry.
- The latest club notice controls any timetable or prize adjustment.
✅ Final Checks Before Travel
Before departure, participants should recheck the official player list, current regulations, venue address, and organizer messages. Moreover, they should save the route and leave enough time for attendance confirmation.
Tournament information can change as registration closes. Therefore, the latest official notice takes priority over preliminary listings. In addition, players should reconfirm round times, section placement, fees, awards, and transport shortly before the event.
Finally, visitors should keep the organizer’s contact details available during the journey. Consequently, they can resolve a delayed connection, room change, or entry question without relying on an older document.
🔗 Official Resources
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $530
Organizer
♟️ About the Organizer
Camberley Chess Club is an established chess organization based in Camberley, Surrey, England. Its history dates back to the 1920s, although the early club later became inactive. Local players re-established it in 1964 and again in 1972. The present organization developed from the 1972 revival and has remained an active part of the regional chess community.
The club welcomes adults, juniors, beginners, casual players, and experienced competitors. Its main club night takes place every Thursday at Heatherside Community Centre. In addition, the organization holds informal Sunday afternoon sessions for social and casual chess. New visitors may attend several meetings before deciding whether to join.
Martin Wallman serves as chairperson. Meanwhile, secretary Steve Harley and other committee members support administration, safeguarding, publicity, junior chess, tournaments, fixtures, and team management. The club also has its own ECF arbiter and tournament officer. Therefore, it can manage both internal competitions and larger public events.
Camberley Chess Club competes in the Berkshire Chess League and the Surrey Border Chess League. It enters teams across several divisions and cup competitions. Over the years, the club has won major regional trophies, including the Waechter Shield, Bell Trophy, and Haslemere Trophy.
The English Chess Federation named Camberley ECF Club of the Year in 2021. The award recognized the club’s response to the COVID-19 disruption. During that period, it created online meetings, presentations, tournaments, and educational material. As a result, members remained active while normal club meetings could not take place.
🏆 Tournaments and Chess Events
The Camberley Keith Richardson Rapid Play Tournament is the club’s principal annual open event. The organization launched the competition in 2017. It honors Keith Richardson, a former club member and the first British player to receive the Correspondence Grandmaster title.
The rapid tournament attracts adult and junior players from Camberley and the wider region. In 2024, the seventh edition welcomed a record 60 participants, including 18 juniors. Moreover, the club schedules another edition for September 2026 at its Heatherside venue.
Camberley Chess Club also runs a broad internal tournament program. Regular competitions include the Club Championship, Club Rapid Championship, and Club Blitz Championship. In addition, the calendar features an Open Blitz, Rapid Matrix, Under-1500 Matrix, and seasonal Chess960 events. The club submits eligible games for English Chess Federation rating.
Online chess remains part of the program as well. The club organizes events through Chess.com and Lichess. It also publishes tournament pairings and results through Chess-Results and the ECF League Management System. Therefore, members can follow their progress across club, league, and online competitions.
The main venue offers separate rooms for league matches, serious games, and casual chess. Furthermore, its large hall provides space for open tournaments. This flexible setup allows the club to host regular meetings and larger competitions at the same location.
🌱 Junior Chess and Community Development
Camberley Chess Club integrates junior players into its main club rather than operating a completely separate section. Young members can play ECF-rated games, enter club tournaments, and represent teams in local leagues. They also receive informal coaching from experienced members when the playing schedule allows.
The club welcomes juniors who already play at home or school and want to improve. Its program helps them develop practical skills, confidence, and tournament experience. Moreover, players can work toward an ECF rating through regular competitive games. Chess development may also support the skills section of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
Sunday sessions provide a relaxed environment for beginners, families, and new members. These meetings offer more time for advice, casual games, and conversation. Meanwhile, Thursday evenings provide structured competition and league preparation. Therefore, young players can move gradually from informal chess into rated events.
The club has also organized dedicated junior tournaments and public chess activities. In addition, it has welcomed leading players for educational events. Grandmaster Shreyas Royal visited in 2024 and shared advice with juniors, parents, and local players.
Through league teams, tournaments, online resources, and weekly meetings, Camberley Chess Club offers several routes into organized chess. Its program combines competitive ambition with a friendly community environment. As a result, players of different ages and strengths can participate at a suitable level.
Hotels Near the Venue
Find nearby accommodation for this tournament location.
