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Event details
The English Seniors Championships will take place between Thursday 24th April and Monday 28th April 2025 at the Holiday Inn Kenilworth-Warwick, 212 Abbey End, Kenilworth CV8 1ED
Eligibility
Over 50 – players must be aged 50 or over on 31st December 2025; Over 65 – players must be aged 65 or over on 31st December 2025. Players must be born in England or have lived in England for at least the preceding 12 months. In addition, if they have a FIDE registration, it must be ENG. All players must be ECF Gold members or above.
Tournament rules – click here
Rating
Both sections will be FIDE-rated and ECF-rated
Format and playing schedule
There will be two competitions – 50+ and 65+. The congress will have a total of seven rounds over five days at 90 mins with 30 second increment time control, with playing schedule as follows for each of the championships –
| Thursday – Round 1 – 16.00 – 20.00 | Sunday – Round 5 – 10.00 – 14.00 |
| Friday – Round 2 – 10.00 – 14.00 | Sunday – Round 6 – 16.00 – 20.00 |
| Friday – Round 3 – 16.00 – 20.00 | Monday – Round 7 – 11.00 – 15.00 |
| Saturday – Round 4 – 14.00 – 18.00 | Prizegiving following Round 7 |
Time control
All moves in 90 minutes plus 30 second increment per move from move 1
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Prizes – Over 50
1st – £500
2nd – £250
3rd – £100
Performance Prizes
Under 2100 Highest W-We – £100
Under 1900 Highest W-We – £100
50+ Senior Championship trophy for the winner
50+ Senior Women’s Championship trophy for the highest placed female player
Prizes – Over 65
1st – £500
2nd – £250
3rd – £100
Performance Prizes
Under 2100 Highest W-We – £100
Under 1900 Highest W-We – £100
65+ Senior Championship trophy for the winner
65+ Senior Women’s Championship trophy for the highest placed female player.
No player may win more than one prize. Unrated players cannot win a performance prize. In the event of a tie for first place in either section, the award of the championship trophy and the title of Over 50/Over 65 champion will be decided by a tie break as set out in the regulations.
Please note that place prize money will be divided equally amongst the players tied for that place. Prizes will be paid by BACS after the conclusion of the event.
Byes
Players may take half-point byes in any round apart from Round 7, and up to two half-point byes can be requested.
Refreshments
Only refreshments obtained at the hotel may be consumed on the premises.
GDPR
Personal data collected will be handled according to the GDPR details accessible here [PDF]
Enquiries
Please email director.homechess@englishchess.org.uk
Chief Organiser – Nigel Towers
Chief Arbiter – Adrian Elwin
Seniors entrants list – https://www.englishchess.org.uk/english-seniors-championships-2025-entrants/
Details
The organiser reserves the right to refuse an entry for any reason. Players failing to arrive in the playing area within 30 minutes of the start for each round will be defaulted. Players whose opponents default will be offered a re-pairing if possible. Pairings will be made using the Swiss Manager program.
FIDE ratings used will be from the 1st April 2025 FIDE rating list. ECF ratings used will be from the April 2025 list. Players who are unrated must provide the organiser with details of their strength. For pairing purposes, the higher of the player’s FIDE and ECF rating will be used.