Telford in Telford, England, United Kingdom hosts the Shropshire Chess Congress 2026, a five-round weekend tournament that opens the new chess year for players from across Shropshire and beyond. You compete in four rating-based sections at The Wrekin Housing Group headquarters, play long classical games on comfortable boards, and enjoy a relaxed but well-organized congress atmosphere.

You play January 9-11, 2026 over three days with one round on Friday evening, two rounds on Saturday, and two rounds on Sunday, all at a single uniform time control. The congress uses live DGT boards on top boards in every section, offers identical main prizes in all four groups, and adds a special £100 prize for the best-performing female player, so every game you play can make a real impact on the final standings.

🗓️ Event Details

🏆 Prize Fund

Main section prizes

Additional prizes

Prize rules:

• No player may win more than one prize in a single section.

• When players share a place prize, the organizers split the prize money equally between the tied players.

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

• You play every game with all moves in 100 minutes plus 10 seconds increment per move from the first move.

• The congress runs as a five-round Swiss in each section, so you stay in your chosen group for all five rounds.

• Organizers base section eligibility and pairings on the October 2025 ECF rating list.

• You may request one half-point bye in any one of Rounds 1–4 when you submit your entry; you cannot request byes in Round 5.

• You must record all your moves until your remaining time drops below five minutes on your own clock.

• The arbiters apply current ECF rules throughout the event and handle any disputes that arise during play.

📂 Sections / Groups

📅 Schedule

Organizers pay prizes after Round 5 and do not hold a separate prize-giving ceremony.

📝 Registration

You register in advance through the official Shropshire Chess Congress channels and choose whether to enter online or by post.

• Online entry: use the “Online Entry” link on the Shropshire Chess Congress 2026 page.

• Postal entry: download the postal entry form from the same page, complete your details, and follow the instructions for payment and submission.

Entry fees:

• Congress entry: £38 for all players in any section.

• ECF congress fee: £15 for players who do not hold Gold or Platinum ECF membership.

When you enter, you:

• Choose your section according to your October 2025 ECF rating and the published rating limits.

• Indicate whether you request a single half-point bye in Rounds 1–4 (optional).

• Complete payment and entry details before the congress reaches its 170-player capacity.

👥 Organizer

Shropshire Chess Association organizes the Shropshire Chess Congress 2026 as its flagship weekend event and works to create a welcoming, well-run congress for local and visiting players. The team provides live DGT coverage on top boards in every section, a bookstall and analysis area, and clear information throughout the weekend so you can focus on your games.

• Organizer: Shropshire Chess Association

• Congress email: shropshire.congress@gmail.com

• Congress website: https://www.shropshirechess.org/shropshire-congress/shropshire-congress-2026/

• Association website: https://www.shropshirechess.org/

🏨 Venue

You play all rounds at The Wrekin Housing Group headquarters, Colliers Way, Old Park, Telford, Shropshire, TF3 4AW, England, United Kingdom. The venue lies close to Telford town center, offers modern office-style rooms converted into a spacious playing hall, and provides a comfortable setting for up to 170 players with live DGT boards, analysis space, and refreshment areas.

🛎️ Accommodation

You can stay in Telford town center or nearby areas and reach the congress venue quickly by car or short taxi ride. The town offers a range of hotels, guesthouses, and chain properties within a few minutes’ drive of Old Park and Colliers Way, so you can choose accommodation that matches your budget and travel needs.

When you book, you align your check-in and check-out dates with the congress schedule from Friday evening to Sunday evening, allowing enough time for Round 1 on Friday and the final round on Sunday.

🚗 How to Get There

Drivers follow routes toward Telford and then towards Old Park and Colliers Way, where The Wrekin Housing Group building sits a short distance from the town center. The venue offers free on-site parking, so you can arrive early, park close to the entrance, and walk straight into the playing area.

If you travel by public transport, you usually arrive at Telford Central railway station and then continue by local taxi or bus to Old Park. The short onward journey makes it easy to combine rail travel with a comfortable weekend stay in Telford.

🧾 Other

• The venue offers disabled access and free parking, which helps players with mobility needs reach the halls comfortably.

• Every player and visitor must sign in and out when they enter or leave the building, so you should allow a little extra time before each round.

• Live DGT boards run on top boards in all sections, with games relayed to screens in the analysis area so you can follow other boards between your own rounds.

• On-site catering includes light snacks on Friday and Saturday evenings, cooked breakfasts on Saturday and Sunday mornings, and hot meals from lunchtime onwards, including a traditional Sunday roast; hot and cold drinks remain available throughout the weekend.

You can launch your 2026 chess season in Telford, enjoy five serious classical games in a friendly congress setting, and test your form against a wide mix of club players at the Shropshire Chess Congress 2026.