The Manchester FIDE Summer Congress 2026 will take place from August 21 to 23, 2026, at the University of Bolton Arena in Horwich, Bolton, England.

The congress features three five-round Swiss tournaments: the Harry Lamb Memorial FIDE Open, the FIDE Rated Major Under 1930, and the FIDE Rated Knights Under 1630. All three sections offer FIDE-rated and ECF-rated standard-play chess.

Players will compete for a combined £2,925 prize fund, approximately $3,920. The program includes one round on Friday evening, two rounds on Saturday, and two rounds on Sunday.

🗓️ Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

All three sections use a five-round Swiss System. Swiss-Manager will produce the pairings, standings, and results.

The organizer uses a player’s current FIDE standard rating for section placement. If a player does not have a FIDE rating, the current ECF standard-play rating applies.

If no current rating exists, the organizer may use the player’s last available rating. Completely unrated players must send information about their playing strength at least seven days before the congress. Useful information may include an online rating or recent tournament results.

An unrated player who does not provide sufficient rating information may be placed in the Open section.

🏆 Prize Fund

The Manchester FIDE Summer Congress 2026 offers a combined cash prize fund of £2,925 / approximately $3,920.

Harry Lamb Memorial FIDE Open

Major Under 1930

Knights Under 1630

There will be no formal prize-giving ceremony. Instead, the organizer will pay prizes by bank transfer after the final results have been confirmed.

Players who may have won a prize should provide their bank details to the organizer.

♟️ Sections / Groups

The congress includes three FIDE-rated standard-play sections.

The organizer uses FIDE standard ratings first when determining section eligibility. If a player does not have a FIDE rating, the current ECF standard-play rating applies.

The Harry Lamb Memorial FIDE Open provides unrestricted entry. The Major and Knights sections give club players and improving competitors the opportunity to play opponents within defined rating ranges.

📅 Schedule

The congress begins with one evening round on Friday. Saturday and Sunday each feature two rounds.

There will be no formal prize-giving ceremony after Round 5. The organizer will arrange prize payments by bank transfer.

📝 Registration

Players can enter the congress through the online registration system.

Registration Details

The standard entry fee is £45 for each section.

Women and junior players receive a £10 reduction. Players should enter before the late-fee dates to avoid additional charges.

All participants must hold current ECF Gold membership or a higher accepted membership level.

Refunds paid through PayPal are available when the organizer receives notice of withdrawal before 16:00 on the opening day. A £5 administration fee, approximately $10, will be deducted.

👥 Organizer

Manchester Chess Federation organizes the Manchester FIDE Summer Congress 2026.

The federation manages tournament entries, section placement, pairings, rating submissions, safeguarding, and prize payments. Julian Clissold serves as the main congress contact and Safeguarding Officer.

📍 Venue

University of Bolton Arena – Arena Approach, Horwich, Bolton BL6 6LB, England.

The University of Bolton Arena will host all five rounds of the congress. Free parking is available at the venue.

The venue café sells drinks and snacks. Players may not consume food brought from outside inside the arena.

Premier Inn and Whites Hotel are adjacent to the venue. Players planning to stay overnight should book directly with their chosen hotel.

✈️ How to Get There

The University of Bolton Arena is located in Horwich, near Bolton and the Greater Manchester transport network.

Players travelling on Friday should allow additional time for Greater Manchester evening traffic and arrive before the 18:00 start of Round 1.

ℹ️ Other

The organizer may conduct random metal detector checks as part of the congress anti-cheating procedures.

Mobile phones must remain completely switched off. Players must place their switched-off phones face down on the table beside the board.

The congress team reserves the right to refuse an entry. All players must treat the controllers, arbiters, venue staff, and fellow participants with respect.