Colchester Junior Chess October Grand Prix

Venue

Prettygate Junior School

Plume Avenue

Colchester

Essex

CO3 4PH

A map of the venue can be found here

Car parking is available at the school, with overflow parking, and accessible off-road Sunday parking nearby

Sections

Our event is divided into five sections, depending on age or rating.

• Under 9

• Under 11

• Under 14

• Under 18 Minor (unrated players or ECF rating below 1300)

• Under 18 Open

Ages are as before 31 August 2023

Organisers reserve the right to merge sections if needed

U18 Minor Section

The U18 Minor section is for those under 18 years of age

These players are unrated in the ECF or have an ECF rating below 1300

ECF Membership & how to get started

You can learn more about the ECF Membership here. This includes how to join to make the most of a free Silver Membership in your junior's first year, and how to take advantage of other member benefits (including a discount to our tournament!)

You can find out more about the ECF ratings, how to find the ECF rating code, and more here

Timetable

9:00 - 9:25 - Arrival

9:30 – 9:45 - Playing Hall Meeting

9:45 - 10:35 - Round 1

10:45 - 11:35 - Round 2

11:45 - 12:35 - Round 3

--------LUNCH------------

13:15 - 14:05 - Round 4

14:15 - 15:05 - Round 5

15:15 - 16:05 - Round 6

16:40 - 17:00 - Prize Giving

Time control

20 minutes plus 5 seconds increments for all categories

Default time will be 10 minutes after the actual start time

The event is a Swiss System pairing tournament of 6 rounds

All players are expected to play in all 6 rounds, this is not a knock-out tournament

Results

Tournament results will be submitted to ECF for grading

Points from this tournament will be transferred to the Essex Junior Chess Association (EJCA)

towards the Essex Junior Grand Prix

For more information on the EJCA Grand Prix, click here

Pairings and Results

You can follow the results and check pairings on Chess-Results.com (when available)

Prizes:

Under 9, Under 11, Under 14

Trophies for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place

Tournament tiebreaks will apply and will be confirmed in the tournament confirmation email

Under 18 Open and Under 18 Minor

1st, 2nd, and 3rd places are guaranteed to win from the £150 cash prize pot

Best Performance from Colchester Juniors Award

This prize will be awarded to a member of the Colchester Junior Chess Club, who has an exceptional performance in the tournament

Cash prizes will be shared to the winners of the same points

Closing date of entry: 

Friday, 29 September, 2023 at 9 p.m. or if capacity has been reached before this date

*If you require a registration form to send in by mail, please contact us by email: colchesterjrchess.org@gmail.com

Organisers

This event is organised by the Colchester Junior Chess Club and partnered with Essex Junior Chess Association (EJCA)

Colchester Junior Chess Club is a non-profit chess club in Colchester, Essex

Any donations made to the organisation or from this event will help the organisation grow, enabling junior chess players in Essex to gain greater access to learning about and improving their chess

Please send all enquiries to colchesterjrchess.org@gmail.com or via our contact form

Organisers reserve the right to refuse entry without explanation

Arbiters

Michael Catabay 

Mohammad Rezaul Islam

The arbiter's decision will be final in all chess-related matters

Contact Information before the event

If you can no longer attend, please contact colchesterjrchess.org@gmail.com

Emergency phone number for the day only

Michael Catabay 07838 085656

Refreshments

Light refreshments will be available, but packed lunches are suggested

Hot takeaway food from Crazy Chef is just a 4 min walk away. They serve fish and chips, kebabs, pizza, and other hot food. Their phone number is 01206514989

There is a Co-Op Food Store, only a 4 min walk from the school. You will find ready-made sandwiches there, along with other items for lunch and snacking.

Boots is also nearby and may have sandwiches, drinks, and nibbles. 

Please bear in mind the food allergies of some players when selecting snacks and food to bring to the venue. 

STRICTLY NO NUTS PLEASE

Photography

Chess Photographer, Melinda Wilde, may take photos throughout the event. The photos will be used in our blog or other chess related publications. If you do not want your player included in the photos, please contact us by writing an email before the tournament. 

Fun

Our goal is to have a memorable yet competitive junior chess tournament. 

We hope everyone can follow the rules and have a wonderful day. However, there are a few things we must mention prior to your booking...

Organisers will not take responsibility for children and will need parental supervision throughout the day. If your junior is old enough to stay at the tournament alone, please make prior arrangements with the organiser in writing by email and provide emergency details. 

Safety is a priority for us. Our arbiters and volunteer committee have DBS clearance. 

Parents must supervise children when taking a break outdoors.

Under no circumstances are children permitted to play in the nursery area outside. Thank you!

We do not take responsibility for lost or stolen items.

We will be happy to answer all your questions, so please contact us anytime. 

We look forward to welcoming you to our chess tournament!

*Please note - only players need tickets for the event

Refund policy - £3 processing fee will be deducted from approved refunds