Congress Details 2012

Hastings Masters
A ten-round accelerated Swiss Pairing tournament Friday 28th December 2012 to Sunday 6th January 2013. This event will provide opportunities to qualify for titles and for the FIDE Rating List. Such ratings go down to 1000, thus it would be reasonable for any player graded over ECF 75 to aspire to a partial FIDE Rating here.
Rate of Play
40 moves in 100 minutes, followed by 20 moves in 50 minutes, followed by all the moves in 15 minutes, with the addition of 30 seconds for each move from the start.
Entry fees
GM, IM,WGM,WIM – Free
FM, WFM £26
Players with FIDE Ratings:
2100 and above £70
Below 2100 £110
Players without FIDE Ratings:
ECF190 (Elo 2120) and above £120
Below ECF 190 (Elo 2120) £140
The entry fee will be reduced by 50% for players aged under 21 or over 60 on 01.09.2012 and for registered disabled players. All English entrants are required to be Gold or Platinum members of the English Chess Federation and must quote their membership number and level when entering. Other entrants are required to be members of a national federation affiliated to FIDE.
Prizes
£2000, £1200, £750, £500, £350, £250, £200 plus Horntye Brilliancy Prize + trophy. The winner will hold the Golombek Trophy for one year.
Plus £200 each for:
The highest placed female player
The highest placed player who is neither a GM nor an IM
Best relative FIDE rating performance by a player rated under 2200.
The two highest placed eligible players not already qualified will be entitled to play in the 100th British Championship in Torquay from 29th July to 10th August 2013.
The highest placed player from a county affiliated to the SCCU wins the SCCU Individual Championship and will be awarded the Glenroy Cup for 2012-13 and a prize of £100. The Champion also qualifies to play in the 100th British Championship in Torquay. If the Champion is already qualified, the place will be awarded to the highest placed SCCU player not yet qualified. This place is awarded in addition to the other qualifying places.
GM Chris Ward will provide commentaries on the games in progress, starting at 14.45 each afternoon.
Hastings Masters games will be shown on this website daily. Names of entrants to this and all other tournaments will appear from the start of October. The final cross-tables of all tournaments will be displayed.

PLEASE NOTE
ECF Members of at least Silver level may deduct £6 (juniors £4) from the entry fee for each of the tournaments below.

Christmas Tournament
Friday 28 December 2012 to Sunday 30 December 2012. Five round Swiss tournament over three days. This event will be in graded sections of approximately 16 players.
Entry Fee £34 (£32 Juniors)
Prizes (for each section): £120, £75, £50 plus a grading prize of £30.
Rate of play: 40 moves in 100 minutes, followed by all the moves in 20 minutes.

New Year Morning
Monday 31 December 2012 to Friday 4 January 2013. Five Round Swiss Tournament over five days. This event will be in graded sections of approximately 16 players.
Entry Fee £34 (£32 Juniors)
Prizes (for each section) £120, £75, £50 plus a grading prize of £30.
Rate of play: 40 moves in 100 minutes followed by all the moves in 20 minutes.

New Year Afternoon
Monday 31 December 2012 to Friday 4 January 2013. Five- round Swiss tournament over five days. This event will be in graded sections of approximately 16 players.
Entry fee £34 (£32 Juniors)
Prizes (for each section) £120, £75, £50 plus a grading prize of £30.
Rate of play: 40 moves in 100 minutes followed by all the moves in 20 minutes.
Default time: Players arriving 30 minutes more after the start of a session in any tournament shall lose by forfeit, unless the arbiter decides otherwise.

THE MAUREEN CHARLESWORTH TROPHY
The Maureen Charlesworth Trophy will be awarded for the most meritorious perform- ance by a local player. Further details will appear at a later date.

HASTINGS WEEKEND CONGRESS
Friday 4 January 2013 to Sunday 6 January 2013. First round 19.00
Major Tournament
Open to players below ECF180 (Elo 2040)
Entry Fee: £34 (£32 Juniors)
Prizes: £300, £200, £100, plus a grading prize of £50 for players below ECF 165.
Minor Tournament
Open to players below ECF 150 (Elo 1800)
Entry fee: £34 (£32 Juniors)
Prizes: £300, £200, £100, plus a grading prize of £50 for players below ECF 135.
Under-120 Tournament
For players below ECF 120 (Elo 1560) or with no previous experience of competitive chess
Entry £22 (£20 Juniors)
Prizes: £100, £75, £50, £25 plus grading prises of £25 for players graded below ECF 100 and ECF 80.
Players may take a ½ point bye in any round except the last. Requests for such byes must be stated on the entry form.
Rate of play: 40 moves in 100 minutes, followed by all the moves in 20 minutes.

NEW ECF MEMBERSHIP SCHEME
Players should be aware of the new English Chess Federation membership scheme. Membership is at four levels – Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. For every player, except in the Masters Tournament, who is not an ECF member or who is a Bronze member, the Congress has to pay a fee of £6 (£4 for juniors, juniors must be under 18 on 1st September 2012) to the ECF for each tournament entered. No fee is payable for ECF members of at least the Silver level.
We regret that there is a significant increase in entry fees this year. However all ECF members of at least the Silver level may deduct £6 (£4 for juniors, juniors must be under 18 on 1st September 2012) from the entry fee for each tournament entered.
Players wishing to take advantage of the £6 deduction per tournament are strongly recom- mended to be at least a Silver member before entering the Congress. It may be possible for non-members and Bronze members to become Silver members at the Congress.