UK Open Blitz 2023

[Mick Norris]

The UK Open Blitz Championships for 2023 will follow the format used in previous years’ events with eight regional one-day qualifier events at locations across the country as follows —

England
London – Saturday 23rd September – St Luke’s Church, Kidderpore Ave, Golders Green NW3 7SU
Midlands – Saturday 23rd September – Quinborne Community Centre, Quinborne, Birmingham B32 2TW
North West – Saturday 30th September – Bolton Arena, Arena Approach, Horwich, Bolton BL6 6LB
South West – Sunday 1st October – Bristol Bridge Club, Grenville Hall, Oldfield Road, Hotwells, Bristol BS8 4QQ
North East – Sunday 8th October – Gosforth Empire Club & Institute, 32-34 Salters Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE3 1DX

Scotland
Edinburgh – Saturday 30th September – Novotel Edinburgh Park, 15 Lochside Avenue, Edinburgh EH12 9DJ

Wales
Bridgend – Saturday 30th September – Best Western Heronston Hotel, Ewenny Road, Bridgend CF35 5AW

Northern Ireland
Belfast – Saturday 30th September – NICS,Maynard Sinclair Pavilion, Stormont, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast BT4 3T

All qualifier events will be one day fifteen round Swiss tournaments at 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move. Events will generally start with round 1 at 11 am and round 15 completing by around 6-30 pm.

The top 2 players and top 2 women players for each event will qualify for the finals in December. There will also be category prizes for the qualifiers, and a total prize fund of £4,650 across the Open and Women's finals.

Website with online entry

[Roger de Coverly]

online entry

Multiple entries are permitted. Didn't they try to prevent this in its first year by holding all the events on the same day? That ran foul of events that clashed with the chosen dates when players were already committed to play.

[Mick Norris]

If it's £26 to enter, £30 in London, are multiple entries an issue?

[Mark Howitt]

£26 to enter... top 2 get into finals... if you're in top 16 of your group u get just under double entry fee...

Wish there was more money in chess... I guess smart people make money in other ways too while playing...

[Simon Myles]

I would suggest participating is very rarely just about the money for over the board players Mark, especially the majority who have day jobs. Also, if it's £26 to enter the regional qualifiers and the section prize is £50 then that isn't even just over double the entry fee as you claim. Surreal I know.

[Mark Howitt]

You're right I'll edit that don't want to inflate the prize money...

[Roger de Coverly]

Also, if it's £26 to enter the regional qualifiers and the section prize is £50 then that isn't even just over double the entry fee as you claim.

Qualifiers for the finals get prize money even if they just show up and finish last.

[Jon Mahony]

I would suggest participating is very rarely just about the money for over the board players Mark, especially the majority who have day jobs. Also, if it's £26 to enter the regional qualifiers and the section prize is £50 then that isn't even just over double the entry fee as you claim. Surreal I know.

Yeah, on the rare occasion I've managed to snag 1st in an Inter section, it maybe covered the hotel and train tickets. I can make more sat on the laptop in my dressing gown on Pokerstars but it's not why we play.

[Mick Norris]

Finals

The finals for the UK Open Blitz Championships 2023 will be held at the Woodland Grange, Leamington Spa on 2nd December. The Championships will include an Open and a Women’s final, each event having 16 players with 15 rounds of blitz games in an all play all format. The winners will become UK Open and Women’s Blitz Champions for 2023.