The Williamson Shield

FIDE-RATED Williamson Shield Championships 2024

Start Date - 19th January 2024

End Date - 21st January 2024

Venue - Maynard Sinclair Pavillion, Upper Newtownards Road Belfast BT4 3TA

Round times

Friday 19th January

Round 1; 7:30pm

Saturday 20th January

Round 2; 10:30am to 1:30pm   

Round 3; 2:00m to 5:00pm

Round 4; 5:30pm to 8:30pm

Sunday 21st

Round 5; 10:30am to 1:30pm   

Round 6; 2:00m to 5:00pm

Prize Giving 5:15pm

2 sections, both will be FIDE-rated:

Senior TBC

Intermediate TBC

FIDE National Arbiters: Chris Dorrian, Adrian Dornford-Smith

Deadline to enter: 12 noon on Wednesday 17th January. Entries after this date = £30 (Strictly Enforced)

Early entry fee = £25

Early entry rate for under 18s and full-time students = £20

As per FIDE guidelines, players should be members of their national federation to compete in a FIDE-rated event. Therefore, with the exception of newcomers or players visiting from overseas, local players should already be paid-up members of the Irish Chess Union [ICU] or Ulster Chess Union [UCU]. The 2023/2024 season begins on 1st September 2023, ending on 31st August 2024.
ICU rates for under 18s are €10 per season and for adults €35.
A full list of ICU membership rates are available here:
https://www.icu.ie/shop

UCU membership can be paid on the day at any tournament in Northern Ireland or the PayPal link can be sent in advance. The UCU Treasurer is present at almost all the events for anyone wishing to pay in cash. It costs £25 per season. Concessionary rate is £10 for Under 18s, full-time students, pensioners, unemployed.

To register please email 

greenislandfcchess@gmail.com

Rounds: 6

Time Control: 60+30

Pairing Software - Swiss Master 5.7

Tie-breaks - Buchholz, Progressive Scores, TPR Mixed

FIDE rules will apply. 

Default time = 30 minutes.

Players arriving late 3 times after their clock has started may be disqualified. 

Phones must be switched off. If a player’s phone makes any type of noise, the game is immediately lost by the offending player, including the loss of rating points. 

The competition will be rated by FIDE and the UCU.