The Castle Chess Fareham Congress will be on 19-21 January 2024, at the Lysses House Hotel in Fareham. The Congress – tournament, over the board games – is played in six Rounds, at a rate of play of 75 minutes plus 30 seconds per move. There are 3 Sections.

The venue

The Lysses House Hotel in Fareham is a pleasant and friendly venue that has been used by Castle Chess as well as the Hampshire Chess Association on previous occasions. The venue will host the three Castle Chess tournaments in 2024. The address is: Lysses House Hotel, 51 High Street, Fareham, Hampshire, PO16 7BQ.

Parking:

The Hotel has free parking for 35 cars, but there is a convenient car park very close to the venue: the Lysses Car Park, Lysses Path, Fareham PO16 7BE, free after 6pm and Sundays, whilst Saturday all day is only £3.50.

Tournament format

The format of the Congress is a six-Round Swiss: round one on the Friday evening, three rounds on the Saturday, and the last two games on the Sunday. Half point Byes may be requested (except Round 6).

There are three sections:

• Open: Under 2001
• Major: Under 1901
• Minor: under 1601

The Congress costs £40 to enter, with a £7 discount for Juniors (under 18). Non-ECF members will need to pay £9 extra.

Please note that an £8 Late fee is payable after 5th January.

There are also various accommodation packages – available through Castle Chess – if you would like to stay at the Lysses.

Tea and coffee will be provided for a donation.

Results of all games will be be sent to the ECF for Grading.

Rate of Play

The rate of play for the games is 75 minutes plus 30 seconds per move (about 3 and a half hours). All moves must be recorded throughout the game.

Playing schedule

• Round 1: Friday evening 19:00-22:30
• Round 2: Saturday morning 09:30-13:00
• Players Review forum Saturday 13:45-14:00
• Round 3: Saturday afternoon 14:00-17:30
• Round 4: Saturday evening 19:00-22:30
• Round 5: Sunday morning 09:30-13:00
• Round 6: Sunday afternoon, 13:45-17:15

There will not be a Prize-giving ceremony as prizes will be sent via bank transfer.

Castle Chess 2024 tournaments

They will host three Congresses this year at the Lysses House Hotel, in January, March and October.

• Castle Chess 23rd Fareham Congress 17-21 January 2024
• Castle Chess 24th Fareham Congress 15-17 March 2024
• Castle Chess 25th Fareham Congress 11-13 October 2024

Further information

EVENT ENQUIRIES:
Tony Corfe, 51 Borough Way, Potters Bar, Herts. EN6 3HA
Tel: 01707 661160 Mob: 07973 516718
email: tony@mrcorfe.co.uk or marc.shaw.chess@gmail.com
or Marc Shaw 07947 813303

See the Castle Chess website’s Fareham Congress page: CastleChess.co.uk – 23rd Fareham

Photos from last January’s tournament

A reminder to renew our membership subscriptions for 2024 for our venue, the Chandler’s Ford Central Club. Central Club Membership Renewals subscriptions run January to December each year. Renewals at the rates shown below are available from 5th January 2024 to 31st January online, and 8th January to 31st January at the Club. Any Membership renewals after then will be subject to a Late Renewals Fee of £5.

To renew your Membership, see the Central Club’s website Subscriptions Page 2024 which gives details on how to pay online – their preferred method, although other ways are available.

Chandler’s Ford Central Club Membership Renewals 2022

See the Subscriptions Page 2024 of the Central Club website, and the table below. Membership fees are an important part of the Central Club’s income.

The cost of renewal will be:

MEMBER	Without Pass Card *	With Pass Card *
MALE/FEMALE	£20.00	£23.50
OAP	£ 8.50	£12.00
LIFE	Not available	£ 3.50

* Note: Pass card enables entry to all other Club and Institute Union (CIU)

Fees can now be paid electronically to the venue’s Bank Account – see Website Subscriptions Page 2024 for account details.

When sending the money please ensure you put your Member Number which can be seen on your Membership Card and Surname into the Payment Reference, to enable the details to be matched on the system.

If you want a CIU Pass card, please remember to add £3.50.

New Membership at the Central Club

If you haven’t joined the Chandler’s Ford Central Club yet, and would like to, please see their website’s ‘Join Us’ Page. There you will find a link to the Application Form. This is completed by you, plus Proposer and Seconder. Two passport photos, the form, and the fee should then be passed to the Club Secretary during normal Club hours (see the Central Club’s Home page for details).

Annual subscriptions for the venue is one of three financial costs if you want to fully engage with playing chess and the chess club, the other two outlays being annual subs to the Chess Club itself, and the other, annual membership of the English Chess Federation – so that you can participate in ECF-graded League matches and chess tournaments. See our What does it cost Page.