Greater London Chess Club Tournaments 2026-27

Bernfield, Foley and Ashelford Club Championship Tournaments

• Open to GLCC club members only. Tuesday evenings November 2026 to June 2027. Space permitting, entries from new members will be accepted up until February 2027
• Rated tournaments for all playing strengths (approximate rating limits: under 1500, 1500-1800 and over 1800)
• Games submitted for ECF rating
• All-play all groups with knockout play-offs if required
• Flexible tournament schedule – fit your tournament games around league matches through the season
• Entry fee – £6
  

Prizes

• Bernfield – winner will be declared the Club Champion and hold the Bernfield Trophy for one year. They will give the Club Champion's simultaneous display at the Autumn General Meeting. Current holder: Jason Rihel
• Foley – winner to hold the Foley Cup for one year. Current holder: Coskun Tuncer
• Ashelford – winner to hold the Ashelford Trophy for one year and earns the right to compete in the Foley the following year. Current holder: John Holden
• Engraved replica trophies awarded to all first time winners.

Format
In each tournament, all-play-all groups of up to six players. The controller may need to modify the grade banding of tournaments to ensure players are evenly grouped. Groups within tournaments will be drawn by lot once entries have been received. If necessary, Sonneborn-Berger tiebreak score will decide group placings. Rate of play: 75 minutes + 15 second increments (DGT2010 Method 18)

Arranging your games
You will be provided with contact details for players in your tournament and you should arrange games against opponents in your group for mutually convenient dates. The player of the White pieces has the responsibility of contacting his/her opponent and should offer up to four dates for the game to be played. One of these should be accepted by the player of the Black pieces.

Reporting of results
Winner of the game or player of the White pieces if a draw must report the games result within seven days of the game being played using the Google results reporting form lower down this page. Tournament tables will be published on the GLCC website and regularly updated.

Rules and Rating
The FIDE Laws of Chess apply. A copy of the current Laws (2023) has been placed in the club equipment cupboard for reference. In the event of a dispute the tournament controller will arbitrate. Results will be submitted for ECF rating on a regular basis, hence timely submission of results is essential. Unrated players should provide an estimate of playing strength.
Players must be ECF members (minimum Bronze membership) to take part in these tournaments.

Venue
Games will normally be played at St George’s Bloomsbury on Tuesday evenings, start time 6.30pm. By mutual agreement, players may arrange to play at another venue or with a different start time. Players not arriving at the board within 45 minutes of the agreed start time should expect to be defaulted. By mutual agreement of the players, games may be played using an online platform such as chess.com or lichess with the same time control as above. Online games cannot be submitted for standard ECF rating. Please inform the controller if any game is played online.

Time commitment
Before entering a tournament, please be sure that you will have sufficient time to complete all your games by June 2027. If you need to withdraw from a tournament please notify the controller as soon as possible. The tournament controller will rule on the scoring status of a withdrawing player’s games.

Enquiries
All enquiries to Nigel Blades, tournament controller, phone , email glcctournaments@gmail.com

How to enter

• Please enter by completing the Google Form (takes you to a separate page). New member entries accepted up to February 2027.
• Payment of entry fees - please use the buttons below for Paypal or card payment of £6, or pay by cash or cheque (payable to Greater London Chess Club) to the tournament controller on a Tuesday evening.

2. Tyrone Jefferies Rated Games (formerly LMS)

Named for Tyrone Jefferies, a dedicated team captain and organiser for GLCC who passed away in 2025. This event is designed to give members the opportunity to play rated games as often as they wish through the season, without participating in a tournament.

• Open to club members only, no entry fee required. ECF Bronze membership or higher is required
• FIDE Laws of Chess apply, rate of play 75 mins + 15 sec increment
• Tuesday evenings, start 6.30pm
• Play as few or as many games as you wish

To request a TJR game for the upcoming Tuesday, please complete the pairing request form, below, by 18.00 on the Sunday before. Pairings will be published by email by Monday evening. Pairings will be copied to team captains for matches upcoming that Tuesday, in case they are short of players. If asked, please prioritise playing for a team over a TJR game.

Results should be reported using the Google Tournament Results Form, below, by the winner, or player of the White pieces if a draw. Results will be submitted for ECF rating each week. A link to TJF results and standings will be set up on this webpage so players can follow their score.

TJR Game Pairing Request Form

TJR Standings (link to ECF LMS stats page)

Reporting Individual Tournament Results

For Club Championship Tournaments and Tyrone Jefferies Rated Games the winner, or player of the White pieces if a draw, should use the Google Tournament Results Form to report the result within seven days of the game being played.

Informal Club Rapidplays

• Occasional Tuesdays through the season
• Free entry for club members, £5 entry fee for non-members. Pay on the day, cash preferred, or Card/Paypal accepted.
• Unrated, no ECF membership required
• Five round single-section Swiss, 15 minutes per player per game
• Start 6.45pm. Advance entry not required, but please arrive by 6.30pm to sign up for the event
• No cash prizes

Christmas Tournament, Tuesday 22 December

• Five round rapidplay, 15 minutes per player per game
• 19th century set openings with odds-giving based on rating difference. Unrated
• Start 6.45pm, please enter in advance
• Entry fee £10 for club members, £15 for non-members, includes Christmas buffet and drinks
• Highest placed club member will hold the Phil Jeffries Trophy for one year

FIDE/ECF Rated Blitz Tournament, Tuesday 5 January

• Open and (U-1825 FIDE/ECF) Swiss or all-play-all tournaments, depending on entries
• ECF and FIDE ratings will be used
• Nine rounds, rate of play 3 minutes + 2 second increment per player per game
• FIDE Laws of Chess (2023) apply. All results will be submitted for ECF and FIDE blitz rating
• Free tea and coffee available during the tournament
• Full details and how to enter on the tournament page

Bush Time Handicap Tournament, Tuesday 16 March

• Five rounds, 30 minutes per game, divided between the players according to rating difference
• Unrated
• Start 6.45pm, please enter in advance
• Entry fee £5 for club members, £10 for non-members
• 40% of entry fees returned as 1st and 2nd cash prizes
• Highest placed club member will hold the Bush Trophy for one year

June Gorton Summer Tournament, Tuesday 22 June

• Five round rapidplay, 15 minutes per player per game
• Start 6.45pm, please enter in advance
• Entry fee £5 for club members, £10 for non-members
• 40% of entry fees returned as 1st and 2nd cash prizes
• Highest placed club member will hold the June Gorton Trophy for one year

Saturday Summer RapidplayTournament, July or August

• All day 10.30-17.00
• Five round rapidplay, Open, Major and Minor Sections
• Rate of play 25 mins + 5 sec increment
• ECF and FIDE rated
• Date tbc in early 2027