Remember that our premier event, the club champs, will kick off on Tuesday 04 March.
Time control will be the same as last year at 60 minutes + 10 seconds per move from move 1.
One game per night over 6 weeks.
The format will be start time 7.15pm, 1 game per night. We will permit non members/prospective members to play in the first few rounds in the hope of invigorating membership. After that games will be limited to financial members (or financial members temporarily in arrears) and HBHS pupils. You can check when your sub is due by going to the website – About > Who We Are. Online payments preferred, see the website for details. If you are not currently a member but want to take part then you can join on the first night.
(Adult and Juniors both only $20 per year, — of which $15 is a levy to the national body, so in reality only $5 per year!!!)
A single division Swiss Style Tournament. The overall winner will be awarded the title Club Champion 2025 and receive all the accolades that are associated with the title. The highest rated junior will be awarded the title Club Junior Champion 2025.
The draw will be based on Current club ratings. New players without a club rating will be assigned 1500 points for the purposes of the draw.
Entry permitted in round one two and three, but round one preferred!. If you can’t make it on the first night let me know and you will be awarded a half point bye. If you enter in round two without prior notification you will retrospectively receive a zero point bye for round 1. Also if you want to play but might be a little late on the first night let me know and I will include you in the draw. Please don’t turn up after 7:15. Entries will not be accepted after week three.
Games start at 7.15pm – a 30 minute late time applies (your game is lost if you are 30 minutes late). Clocks will be started at 7:15 even if neither player is present.
Usual FIDE laws apply with the exception of the Hamilton Chess Club Special Rules found on the website. Disputes committee will be club executive (Graham Ian and Richard). If one or two of the disputes committee is/are party to a dispute, the remaining member(s) will constitute the disputes committee.
Please bring a pen if you wish to record your games. Recording is not mandatory, but if you don’t record your game you will not be allowed to claim a draw for the 50 move rule or 3 fold repetition unless agreed by your opponent.
One 1/2 point bye allowed per player, if notified to Ian before the round that it applies.
No half point byes allowed in rounds 5 or 6.
Tie breaks will be according to the NZ standard 1. Direct Encounter. 2. Cumulative (Sum of Progressive Scores). 3. Total Buchholz. 4. Sonneborn-Berger. 5. Buchholz Cut1. If still tied the award will be shared.
Club ratings have been updated to include the first four nights of the year so far. Several new members feature in the rating list for the first time. Graphs have been updated so you can see trends. Check out where you stand. 
Hamilton Chess Club 