Events 2018/19

Hastings Masters
A ten-round accelerated Swiss Pairing tournament – 28th December 2018 to 6th January 2019.

This event will provide opportunities to qualify for titles and for the FIDE Rating List.

Rate of play – 40 moves in 100 minutes, followed by all remaining moves in 50 minutes, with the addition of 30 seconds for each move from the start.

Entry fees – GM, IM, WGM, WIM Free; FM, WFM £36; Players with FIDE ratings 2125 and above £76; Below 2125 £116; Players without FIDE Ratings ECF 190 (ELO 2125) and above £126; Below ECF 190 (ELO 2125) £146.
The entry fee for this Masters event only is reduced by 50% for any one of the following – players under 18 or over 65 on 28th December 2018, registered disabled players, members of Hastings & St. Leonards Chess Club, and players residing in the Borough of Hastings. Those registered as ENG who are not Gold or Platinum members must pay an additional levy of £10.50

Non-English entrants are required to have a FIDE identification number. If they do not, they must obtain one in advance from their International Rating Officer.

Thanks to the John Robinson Trust, some assistance may be available for suitable players under 21 on 28th December 2018. Details will appear on this website.

The Masters winner will hold the Golombek Trophy in name for one year.

Prizes – £2000, £1200, £750, £500, £350, £250, £200.
There will also be prizes of £200 each for –

  • The highest placed female player
  • The highest placed player who is neither a GM nor IM
  • Best relative FIDE rating performance by a player aged 65 or over on 28th December 2018
  • The CON POWER Prize for the best relative FIDE rating performance by a player aged under 18 on 28th December 2018

Tradewise Insurance will award prizes for those (not already holding 3 norms) achieving GM/WGM or IM/WIM FIDE title norms, which will be valid towards titles — GM/WGM norms £200 and IM/WIM norms £100.

Horntye will present a prize of £100 and a trophy for the Winner of Best Game.

Congress Director, Alan Hustwayte, will present a prize for best performance against rating.

The highest placed eligible player not already qualified will be entitled to play in the 2019 British Championship.

Players, other than grandmasters, may take a half point bye in any round of the Masters apart from the last. Notice must be given early on the previous evening. This is particularly suitable on New Year’s Day.

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 October. The final cross-tables of all tournaments will be displayed.


RATE OF PLAY – applies to all the tournaments below – all moves in 110 minutes, with an extra 10 seconds for each move. Each player must keep score until the time remaining on his clock has dropped below 5 minutes. Once a player has stopped scoring under this rule, they do not need to resume scoring if their time then increases to above 5 minutes.


Christmas Tournament
28th December 2018 to 30th December 2018
5 round Swiss tournament over 3 days – see Schedule for playing times.
This event will be in graded sections of approximately 16 to 20 players below ECF 200 (FIDE 2200).
Entry Fee: £39 (Juniors £35)
Prizes (for each section): £140, £ 90, £65 plus a grading prize of £30.


New Year Morning and Afternoon Tournaments
31st December 2018 to 4th January 2019
5 round Swiss tournament over 5 days – see Schedule for playing times.
This event will be in graded sections of approximately 16 to 20 players below ECF 200 (FIDE 2200).
Entry Fee: £39 (Juniors £35)
Prizes (for each section): £140, £90, £65 plus a grading prize of £30.


HASTINGS WEEKEND OPEN CONGRESS
All these tournaments are 5 round events – 4th January 2019 to 6th January 2019

Open Tournament – FIDE rated
All English entrants must quote their membership number when entering. Other entrants are required to be members of a national federation affiliated to FIDE.
Entry Fee: £40 (Juniors £36)
Prizes: £500, £300, £150, plus a rating prize of £70 for those with a published FIDE rating below 1900.
Those registered as ENG who are not Gold or Platinum members must pay an additional levy of £10.50.

INTERMEDIATE TOURNAMENT
Open to players below ECF 160 (FIDE 1900)
Entry Fee: £39 (Juniors £35)
Prizes £400, £250, £100 plus a grading prize of £50 for players below ECF 140.

UNDER 130 TOURNAMENT
For players below ECF 130 (FIDE 1675) or with no previous experience of competitive chess.
Entry Fee: £26 (Juniors £23)
Prizes: £200, £150, £100, plus grading prizes of £40 for players graded ECF 99-80 and below ECF 80.


Players may take a half point bye in any round except the last. Requests for such byes must be stated on the entry form. This relates to all tournaments on this page.

PLEASE NOTE – ECF Members of at least Silver level may deduct £7.50 for adults and juniors from the entry fee for Christmas, New Year and Weekend Intermediate and U130 events.

Members of Hastings and St. Leonards Chess Club and players residing in the Borough of Hastings receive a £10 discount from the entry fee for the Christmas, New Year, Weekend Open, and Intermediate events and £5 from the Weekend U130.