EJCOA National Youth Championships
If your child is serious about chess and wants to take the next step – especially toward getting a FIDE rating – this tournament could be just what you’re looking for.
About the Organisers
The English Junior Coaches and Organisers Association (EJCOA), founded in 2019, is a national non-profit organisation made up of over 350 junior chess coaches and organisers across England. EJCOA:
- Runs regular in-person and online tournaments for young players
- Offers training for chess coaches
- Works closely with the English Chess Federation, FIDE Trainers Commission, and European Chess Union
- Aims to raise the standard of junior chess and coaching in England
🧩 What’s the National Youth Championships All About?
This tournament was created because there just weren’t enough FIDE-rated events for juniors in England. The EJCOA National Youth Championships aims to fix that.
The best part? Even kids in the Under 8 section can play FIDE-rated games – something that’s quite rare and valuable if your child is aiming for a FIDE rating early on.
The weekend also includes:
- Training sessions and coaching
- Game analysis with experienced trainers
- Short, fun lectures on chess topics
- A simultaneous exhibition (where a top coach plays multiple kids at once!)
📅 Tournaments Dates – 2025 Finals
The finals take place over three days:
- Friday 11th July
- Saturday 12th July
- Sunday 13th July
Match schedule:
- Friday: Round 1 – 6:30pm
- Saturday: Round 2 – 9:30am | Round 3 – 2:30pm
- Sunday: Round 4 – 9:30am | Round 5 – 2:30pm
📍 Location
The National Finals are held at Nottingham High School, Waverley Mount, Nottingham NG7 4ED. The school is near the centre of Nottingham.
- 12 miles from the M1 by car
- 2 miles from Nottingham Railway Station (12 mins by tram)
🧒 Who Can Join?
To enter the National Finals, here’s what you need to know:
Eligibility
- Your child must live in England
- They need to be an ECF Gold Member or higher (free for many juniors, or £12/year)
- They must be under 20 on 1st January 2025
(Age groups: Under 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20)
How to Qualify
There are three ways to qualify for the finals:
- Zonal Tournaments – Win your age group at a regional zonal event (1 boy and 1 girl per age group qualify)
- Rating Qualification – Your child’s rating meets or exceeds a set minimum (see below)
- Wild Card – Apply directly if your child has strong results but hasn’t qualified through the other two routes
🎯 Rating Thresholds
- U8: 800
- U10: 1000
- U12: 1200
- U14: 1400
- U16: 1600
- U18: 1700
- U20: 1800
💳 Entry Fee & Payment
The entry fee for the National Finals is £45.
⚠️ Important:
- Space is limited to 150 players and entry is first come, first served
- Players affiliated with Russia or Belarus must switch their affiliation to FIDE before entering
🎯 How the Tournament Works
- 5-round Swiss format, all games are FIDE- and ECF-rated
- Time control: 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move
- Late arrivals: Players arriving more than 30 minutes late will forfeit the round
- Byes: Your child can take a half-point bye in any round except the final one (Round 5). Just email: timpeterwall@gmail.com (subject line: EJCOA National Finals BYE)
🎓 What’s Included?
This isn’t just a tournament – it’s a full weekend of chess learning!
Your child gets:
- Access to free training events all weekend
- One-to-one analysis of their games with a coach
- Open lectures on chess strategy, tips, and more (short and accessible)
- A simul exhibition where a coach plays many kids at once
The coaches include highly qualified trainers—some are FIDE Senior Trainers.
🏅 Prizes
There’s a £3,000 prize fund (subject to entry numbers), with:
- Trophies and cash for the top boy and girl in each age group
- Additional prizes like chess software, online coaching, books, and more!
📬 Contact & Useful Info
Half-point bye requests: timpeterwall@gmail.com
Wild Card applications: timpeterwall@gmail.com
General queries or to join EJCOA:
Rob Willmoth – rob@chesscoachingservices.net | 07956 297329
Official website: https://ejcoa.co.uk
The full EJCOA National Youth Championships Zonals list: https://ejcoa.co.uk/national-youth-championships/zonals
⭐ Rate This Tournament
If your child has taken part in this event before, we’d love your feedback!
Leave a review and rate your experience below to help other parents learn more about this fantastic competition.
⚠️ Disclaimer
Tournament dates, fees, and formats are subject to change. Always check the organiser’s official website for the latest information.
Reviews
Rating summary
Rating per category
Post a review
Detailed reviews
There are no reviews yet. Be the first one to write one.