FIDE RATED County Down Rapid Chess Championships 2025 (for adults)

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 pairings

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 adults aged 18+ 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 adult fees cost:

€20 (£18) for students, unemployed and O65s

€35 (£31) for working adults

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 trophies will be awarded as prizes for the following age bands:

U30 Champion

O30 Champion

O40 Champion

O50 Champion

O60 Champion

O70 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 full name and exact age (as at 11 October) to event organiser/arbiter B. Jamison

Contact Email*: fidechessni@gmail.com