The Great Yarmouth Chess Congress 2026 takes place April 25-26, 2026 in Great Yarmouth, England, offering a classic weekend congress format with five rated rounds and three clearly defined sections. The Great Yarmouth Chess Congress 2026, April 25–26, 2026, and Great Yarmouth, England combine for an efficient competitive schedule that suits both local league players and travelling entrants who want serious long-play chess across a single weekend. The event forms part of the East Anglian Chess Union Marcus Misson Memorial Grand Prix and runs at Great Yarmouth Racecourse in a dedicated suite inside the Lord Nelson Grandstand.

The congress pays a total £1,210 in main cash prizes across the Open, Major, and Minor sections, and it supports additional junior and female prizes when enough eligible players enter a section. Players use a modern long-play time control with increment, and the tournament enforces practical on-site rules that keep rounds running on time. Free parking and straightforward road and bus access make the venue convenient, while Great Yarmouth’s broad range of off-season accommodation options suits a short weekend chess trip.

🗓️ Event Details

🏆 Prize Fund

Open

Major (U1900)

Minor (U1600)

No player may win more than one prize. The organizer may increase or decrease prize money, add prizes subject to entries, and reduce the number of sections. Junior and female prizes apply in any section that has two or more juniors or two or more females playing. Any monetary prize won by an unrated player in the Major or Minor receives a 50% reduction.

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The congress runs a 5-round Swiss with all games played at 90 minutes for the whole game plus 15 seconds increment per move from move 1. Ratings for entry follow the January ECF rating lists, and the organizer submits all games for rating. Players may request a single half-point bye in any round except the final round, and any further bye request remains at the controller’s discretion.

Players who arrive more than 30 minutes after the scheduled round start time will lose by default unless the controller can re-pair them satisfactorily. The controller may re-pair present players after the start of a round when an opponent does not arrive and a satisfactory re-pairing is possible.

📂 Sections / Groups

📅 Schedule

📝 Registration

Enter online using the official entry form:
https://forms.gle/QMs8RxtRSGxevJXT8

You may also enter by post by sending the completed entry slip to:
Mr J Wickham, 55 Shakespeare Way, Taverham, Norwich, NR8 6SL

Pay by bank transfer to:
Account Name: Norfolk County Chess Association
Account No: 44416568
Sort code: 30-90-90
Reference: GY + your name

Pay by cheque made payable to:
NORFOLK COUNTY CHESS ASSOCIATION

Entry fees depend on section, age, and ECF membership level.

ECF Silver, Gold, or Platinum members

ECF Non-members and ECF Bronze members

The entry closing time is 7:00pm on April 24, 2026. The controller may refuse entries or transfer entries, and the controller’s decision is final.

👥 Organizer

The Great Yarmouth Chess Congress team runs this long-established weekend congress as part of the EACU Marcus Misson Memorial Grand Prix, combining a consistent five-round timetable with clear section limits and practical venue access at Great Yarmouth Racecourse. The controller manages entries, byes, and on-site decisions and supports payments by online entry, bank transfer, cheque, and postal submission.

• Email: j.r.wickham@btinternet.com

• Phone: 07808 876785

🏨 Venue

Victory Suite, Lord Nelson Grandstand, Great Yarmouth Racecourse, Jellicoe Road, Great Yarmouth, NR30 4AU
The congress takes place inside the Victory Suite within the Lord Nelson Grandstand at Great Yarmouth Racecourse. The racecourse sits to the north of Great Yarmouth toward Caister and offers free parking for players.

🛎️ Accommodation

Great Yarmouth offers a wide range of accommodation options, especially at good value out of season. For accommodation listings and local stay options:
https://www.great-yarmouth.co.uk/where-to-stay/

🚗 How to Get There

Car: From the North and Midlands, reach the racecourse via the A47. Southern approach routes include the A11 (joining the A47 south of Norwich) and the A12 via Colchester, Ipswich, and Lowestoft. Use gate 11 off Freemantle Road for free parking access.

Bus: Bus routes 1, 1A, and 8 from Great Yarmouth pass the racecourse. Use the stop adjacent to Jellicoe Road or on Jellicoe Road.

Bring your best weekend form and turn five long-play rounds into a decisive performance across the Open, Major, or Minor fields.

🧾 Other

Mobile phones and other electronic devices must remain switched off at all times within the playing area and must stay in a bag or face down on the table; any failure to comply, or any device sound, results in loss of the game. The organizer may transfer players to a higher section or re-categorize grade limits if entries create an excessive imbalance, and a moved-up player will play in the higher section at the original entry fee.