FIDE RATED County Down Junior Chess Championships 2025 (for children aged 7-17)

Venue: City of Bangor International Chess Club, Church of Ireland Parish Hall, 30 Main Street, Groomsport, County Down, Northern Ireland, BT19 6JR

10am to 5pm

Format: Swiss pairing

The event will run as one open section with age specific champions crowned at the end of the day, based on the highest placed finish.

This event is open to children from any county (i.e. you not need to live in County Down to participate).

Number of Rounds: 10

Time control: 10+5

Date: 11 October 2025

Timetable:

Check-in opens at 9:30 and closes at 10:00

Take seats at 10:10

Round 1 at 10:15

Round 2 at 10:50

Round 3 at 11:25

Round 4 at 12:00

Round 5 at 12:35

Lunch break 1:00 to 2:00

Round 6 at 2:00

Round 7 at 2:35

Round 8 at 3:10

Round 9 at 3:45

Round 10 at 4:20

Prize-giving at 4:55 to 5:00

FIDE rules will apply. Remember mobile phones must be switched off and no food allowed in playing hall.

CHESS FEDERATION FEES:

Apart from tournament fees, remember to renew your ICU fees for the 2025/2026 season [1 Sept 2025 to 31 Aug 2026].

As per FIDE regulations, all players participating in a FIDE rated tournament must be paid up members of their National Federation, which in our case is the ICU which covers FIDE events in Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Per season, ICU fees cost:

€5 (£4.50) for U8s,

€15 (£13.50) for U12s.

€20 (£18) for U18s

€10 (£9) for brand new U18s.

Please renew your ICU fees online before the event at www.icu.ie/shop or send the equivalent in UK pounds along with your entry fee to B. Jamison, before the deadline.

The tournament organiser has ICU admin access to check the paid status of participants. The ICU updates the list at 6:30am each morning.

Tournament entry fees:

50% reduced price of £10 for players paying in advance by bank transfer, Revolut or PayPal.

£20 for anyone paying cash on the day.

Free entry for extra players from the same family.

Max capacity = 50 players.

Book and prepay to secure a place.

Places will only be guaranteed for players registered and paid before 12 noon deadline on Wednesday 8 October.

Engraved cups will be awarded as prizes for the following age bands:

U18 Champion

U16 Champion

U14 Champion

U12 Champion

U10 Champion

U8 Champion

Chief Arbiter: B Jamison

Deputy Chief Arbiter: P O’Connor

Tie Break order: Buchholz, Progressive, TPR Mixed

Pairing Software: Swiss Master

To enter please send your child’s full name and exact age (as at 11 October) to event organiser/arbiter B. Jamison. Once payment is received, the player will be added to entry list.

Contact Email*: fidechessni@gmail.com