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Our events:

BEXHILL RAPID 2025

TICKETS

Tickets are available now here:

WHERE AND WHEN

This year’s event will take place on Saturday 29th November 2025 at St. Marks community hall, Little Common, Bexhill, TN39 4BZ. St. Marks is fully accessible but please contact us if you have any specific needs. We will do our best to accommodate them.

THE EVENT

This is an ECF rated event. 6 rounds, 25 + 5. The tournament will be divided into two sections, a main section and a challengers section for those with a maximum of ECF 1475. Please specify which section you would prefer to play in when entering. (Players are welcome to play up). Should we feel someone is playing in the wrong section we will contact you directly to discuss this. We will use the November 1st rating list. 

ENTRY AND PRIZES

Adult entry = £30

Bexhill Members £25

Junior entry = £25

(Note: As this is an ECF rated event, anyone who is not a GOLD member will need to pay an extra £20 on the ticket price.)

Main tournament prizes:

1st place = £150 + perpetual trophy (The Moyra Mitchell cup) + permanent trophy

2nd place = £100 + permanent trophy

3rd place = £50 + permanent trophy

£120 in grading prizes. 

Permanent trophy for top senior (over 65) and top junior (under 18). 

The Joseph Sharp trophy for top Bexhill player.

Challenger prizes:

1st place = £60 + perpetual trophy (The Alan Ticehurst cup) + permanent trophy

2nd place = £40 + permanent trophy

3rd place = £20 + permanent trophy

Plus medal for top under 18, top under 12 and top grown-up.

No player will be able to win more than one prize. In the event of a tie, cash prizes will be split, but tie breaks will be used to award trophies. All decisions by tournament controllers are final. 

In the event that we do not sell out, entries will close at 6pm on Friday 28th November. There will be NO entries on the day. 


SCHEDULE

The hall will be open from 9am. The kitchen will be serving Tea and Coffee as well as bacon sandwiches and fresh pastries. A welcome speech will be given at 9.45 and the round times will be as follows: 

Round 1: 10.00 Round 2: 11.15 Round 3: 12.45

Round 4: 14:00 Round 5: 15.15 Round 6: 16.30

Prize giving will be as soon as possible after the last game finishes, approximately 5.45pm.

The tournament will be paired by UTU pairing system. Pairings will be displayed in the playing area 5 minutes prior to each round. Cross tables will be posted and updated regularly in the waiting areas as well as online if available. Digital clocks will be used for all games and help can be given to anyone new to playing with clocks. 

PARKING AND TRANSPORT OPTIONS

There is plenty of free parking available in front of the building accessed from Green lane. The main Eastbourne to Hastings buses stop a 2 minute walk from the venue. For those wishing to travel to the tournament by train, please contact us. Both the closest train stations are a fair distance away to walk, so last year we arranged a train station pick up for those arriving this way and the same can be arranged this year.

REFRESHMENTS

The kitchen will be open all day. Starting at 9am they will be serving bacon sandwiches and pastries as well as hot drinks. For lunch there will be options including sandwiches, toasted sandwiches and burgers, as well as drinks, cakes and snacks. A full menu will be posted nearer then time. Water will be available in the playing hall at all times.

WAITING AREAS

Outside of the playing area, we have two waiting areas. One large room with access to the kitchen and a second smaller room which will be set with boards and pieces for anyone who wishes to analyse their games.

FAIRPLAY

Please note that mobile phones and other electronic devices such as smart watches must be switched off at all times while in the playing area. We will have a zero tolerance policy.

RESPECT

We kindly ask all players to respect the volunteers that run this event, the building and its contents while on the premises. (As well as of course, each other!)

Any other questions, concerns, please contact:

lawryrhodes@yahoo.co.uk

TIMELINE – CHESS EVENTS

  • FINAL GRAND PRIX ( 10) – members only – FRIDAY JUNE 13th
  • TIME HANDICAP TOURNAMENT – FRIDAY 20th JUNE: Members only. 5 rounds – decided by ratings. Stronger players get less time.
  • LIGHTNING CHESS – FRIDAY 4th JULY – members only- you must play on the buzzer ( 10 seconds thinking time per move ). Failure to move promptly forfeits the game!
  • SIMULTANEOUS DISPLAY by Mark RICH – FRIDAY 18th JULY Members only. Mark is a national master and , with White, will play 20 opponents simultaneously.
  • HEAD AND HAND TOURNAMENT – FRIDAY 1st AUGUST Members only – a pairs game : The ‘head’ will for example say ”pawn” when his partner must move a pawn of his choosing. No communication between the pair as to what to play. 5 rounds, 10 mins with 3 second increments.
  • FRIDAY 1 AUGUST


    Here is Bill Tracey’s welcome message :
    Friday, 1st August, sees the 4th of our 5 Summer events, namely the Head and Hand tournament.
    For those not familiar with this, it is a pairs game. One of the pair is the Head and one is the Hand.
    The Head will name a piece to be moved but only in very general terms for example by saying Pawn,
    the Hand will then move a pawn that he/she thinks is the one that the Head had in mind.
    There is no need to pre enter, just turn up on the night.
    We will start at 7.30pm so please arrive in good time to be paired.
    Time control will be 12 plus 3 and, depending on numbers there will be 4 rounds.
    Hope to see you Friday.
    Bill
    HEADS UP, HANDS ON…..
  • ANNUAL BLITZ TOURNAMENT – FRIDAY 15th AUGUST Members only. Speed Chess, usually 5 minutes on the clock
  • ANNUAL RAPIDPLAY TOURNAMENT- SATURDAY 29th NOVEMBER. Open to non-members and members. Pay to play. Venue at St Marks Community Centre. Details to follow.