British Chess Championships

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The British Chess Championships is a long-standing and famous event in the chess world, a series that has run almost unbroken since it first began in 1904 in Hastings. Junior sections have been included since 1923. The 2025 event will be the 111th British Chess Championship. The championship venue usually changes each year and has been held in various locations across England, Scotland, Wales, and once on the Isle of Man. This time, it will take place in Liverpool.

Liverpool – a city with a rich chess history, including one of the oldest chess clubs in the world, the Liverpool Chess Club (founded in 1837) – is hosting the championships for the second time, having last done so in 2008.

This is a large chess festival with events running over several days. Players can take part in one or more events depending on age, ability, and availability.

🗓 2025 Tournament Dates

31st July – 10th August 2025

📍Location

This year’s championship will be hosted across two central venues, both within walking distance of Liverpool Lime Street Station:

• St George’s Hall – Main venue for most championship events
  (Address: St George’s Place, Liverpool, L1 1JJ)
• Liverpool Holiday Inn – Hosts the Weekend Congress (1st–3rd August) and Rapidplay (9th August)
  (Address: Lime Street, Liverpool, L1 1NQ)

⏱ Tournament Format – What’s On?

The event is like a chess festival, with a wide range of tournaments:

• British Championship (often called Standardplay). This is a tournament for the top players (9 rounds).
• Major Open (9rounds).
• British Senior Championships (over 50 and over 65 – 7 rounds each).
• British Junior Championships (Under 16, U14, U12, U10, U8 – 7 rounds each).
• Weekend Tournaments (5 rounds).
• Weekday Morning and Afternoon Tournaments (6 rounds).
• Quickplay events, including Rapidplay (7-9 rounds) and Blitz (9 rounds) tournaments.

Each tournament has a different number of rounds and time control. Here’s a rough guide:

• Standardplay (Championship): 90 minutes for first 40 moves + extra time
• Rapidplay: 15 minutes + increment per move
• Blitz: 3 minutes + increment per move

🎉 More Than Just Chess

There’s also a social programme and chess-related activities for families and fans, such as:

• Outdoor social chess
• Masterclasses from top players
• Simultaneous displays (where one player plays many opponents at once)
• Cultural events

👧🧒 Who Can Join?

Most events are open to UK and Irish players and residents of British Overseas Territories, Isle of Man, and Channel Islands.

Eligibility details:

• Main British Championship – Requires qualification (by rating or title)
• Junior Championships – Open to eligible players in the correct age groups
• Other Events (Major Open, Rapid, Weekend, etc.) – Open to most eligible players; some rating restrictions may apply

Note for English players: You need to be a Gold member (or higher) of the English Chess Federation.

💷 Entry Fees

Fees vary depending on the event. Some titled players may enter for free. Approximate costs:

• Main Championship – up to £310
• Junior & Weekday Events – around £70–£90
• Early bird discounts are available

Full fee breakdown and registration details are available here.

🏅 Prizes & Trophies

There are generous prizes at all levels. Examples include:

• British Champion – £6,000 + the British Crown Trophy. There are prizes down to 8th place.
• British Women’s Champion – £1,250 + British Ladies Trophy. Prizes are awarded down to 3rd place.
• Junior Winners – £250 + trophy or medal per section. Prizes down to 3rd place are awarded.
• Major Open Winner – £1,000 + the City of Dundee Trophy. Prizes are awarded down to 4th place.
• Rapid/Blitz Winners – £220 with prizes down to 3rd place.

If players tie for a place, prize money is shared – except for 1st place in the main Championship, which is decided by a playoff.

You can find more details about specific tournaments and prizes on the event’s website.

🛏 Accommodation

Special accommodation deals are available via Visit Liverpool, including:

• Nearby hotels
• Student halls of residence like Albert Court and Liverpool Hope University

Accommodation details and booking links are available on the event website. Full details and booking links are available through the event’s website.

📬 Contact & Useful Info

Website: www.britishchesschampionships.co.uk
Email: manager.british@englishchess.org.uk
Phone: 01424 775222 (Weekdays, 9am–5pm)
Entry Form: Register Here
Tournament Rules: Read Rules PDF

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⚠️ Disclaimer

Tournament dates, fees, and formats are subject to change. Always check the organiser’s official website for the latest information.

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