Following the popularity of our previous rapid tournaments, Stroud Chess Club is delighted to announce the Spring 2026 Rapid Play Chess Tournament - open to all.
This is a one-day, seven-round tournament to be held on Saturday, 28th of February 2026, with lots of monetary prizes across different rating ranges, including a special junior prize.
Free Entry for Candidate Masters and above!
*GM Peter Wells, FMs Indy Southcott-Moyers, Grzegorz Toczek, Daniel Kozusek, and Kenneth Hobson, plus several CMs will be playing.
*GM = Grandmaster, FM = Fide Master, CM = Candidate Master
Date: Saturday, 28th of February 2026
Venue: St Matthew's Church Hall, St Matthews Church, Stroud GL5 4JE
The venue can be reached by entering the church gates, walking down the path and turning right at the end. The hall is straight ahead.
Entry: Limited to 72 players. First come, first served.
Entry Fee:
- Titled FIDE Players (Candidate Masters and above) - FREE
- ECF Gold (or above) - Standard Entry - £18.50
- ECF Gold (or above) - Junior Entry - £16.50
- ECF Member - Standard Entry - £33.50
- Non-Gold ECF Member - Junior Entry - £22.50
*Note*: ECF Gold Membership available to juniors free for the first year. See ECF website - Members section.
Competition Format: Single Open Section, 7 Rounds, ECF Rated
Time Control: 15 minutes + 5 second per move increment
Playing Schedule:
- Round 1: 10:30
- Round 2: 11:20
- Round 3: 12:10
Lunch Break
- Round 4: 13:30
- Round 5: 14:30
- Round 6: 15:30
- Round 7: 16:30
Rating: ECF February 2026 rapid ratings. All games will be ECF Rapid rated.
Unranked Players: Ratings determined by the Organiser where possible and appropriate.
Prizes: Monetary awards based on entrant numbers. Includes 1st £120, 2nd £80, 3rd £40, rating prizes £30 each, and junior £30.
Parking: Limited on-site; nearby street parking suggested. There is also a small car park at Victory Park round the corner.
The hall is wheelchair friendly and a disabled toilet is available.
Refreshments: Tea, coffee and squash available for a 50p each donation so please remember to bring some change.
Please bring a refillable water bottle where possible to reduce waste. Local eateries and a large Co-op within easy walking distance.
Smoking/Vaping: Strictly prohibited within the venue and grounds.
Tournament Conditions:
- Prize Fund Adjustment: May be reduced for fewer than 50 players.
- Decision Finality: Organiser’s and Arbiter’s decisions are final.
- Entry Refusal: The Organiser reserves the right to refuse entry without giving a reason.
- Cancellation Policy: Possible due to weather or other reasons; partial refund attempted.
- Mobile Devices: Must be off and unreachable during games. Non-compliance may result in expulsion for that round.
- Data Use: For tournament administration; opt-out option for photo use and/or publishing.
- Liability: Organiser not responsible for personal items or accidents.
- Child Supervision: Responsibility of parent/guardian.
- Data Handling: Players' details held electronically for administration and future events; deletion or update upon request.
- Penalties: Non-compliance with tournament rules may result in penalties including disqualification or expulsion.
- Move notation not required, but optional.
- Touch move will be in effect, and a first illegal move will result in a minute being added to your opponent's clock, a second illegal move resulting in forfeit.
We warmly welcome entrants of all ages, abilities, genders, sexualities and from all countries.