English Chess Forum

The 47th Kidlington Chess Tournament will be held on Saturday 31st January and Sunday 1st February 2026.
https://kidlingtonchess.org.uk/

The tournament will have four sections: Open, Under-2000, Under-1800, and Under-1600. The prize fund will exceed £2200.

We have a new venue - the Leonardo Royal Hotel, Godstow Road, Wolvercote, Oxford OX2 8AL. I'm really excited by this - the hotel is easy to get to (e.g. 30 minutes by bus from Oxford Railway Station) and the playing areas look great. Tea, coffee and other refreshments will be available at the hotel. I think the nearest shops are about half a mile away.

Jon D'Souza-Eva wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 17, 2026 6:12 pm

I think the nearest shops are about half a mile away.

There's an M&S and Wild Bean Cafe in the petrol station on the other side of the road.

Thanks Roger, I didn't realise that.
Details of BP petrol station:
https://map.bp.com/en-GB/GB/petrol-stat ... nnect/4872
Picture of garage:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/LUb8SBVVJvD6tJt36

Up to 173 entries now:
https://congress.org.uk/congress/637/entrants
Good to see Roger de Coverly and Tim Spanton in the list of entries, but, alas, no Kevin Thurlow this year.

Chess-results link: https://s2.chess-results.com/tnr1325299 ... 0&SNode=S0

Sorry - couldn't fit this one in, but it's a good entry and I hope it goes well.

LawrenceCooper wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 30, 2026 7:38 am

Chess-results link:

The congress.org site at https://congress.org.uk/congress/637/entrants is slightly more up to date.

Yochen Han is now top seed in the Open.

Roger de Coverly wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 30, 2026 11:51 am

LawrenceCooper wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 30, 2026 7:38 am

Chess-results link:

The congress.org site at https://congress.org.uk/congress/637/entrants is slightly more up to date.

Yochen Han is mow top seed in the Open.

Yes, I expect there will be a final update on chess-results before the pairings appear.

I thought the tournament was well organised and the venue by and large very good, so thanks and congratulations to the organising team.

The playing conditions were good and the location not a bad balance for those that arrive by car vs bus connections into the city.

Will certainly look out for the 2027 dates and aim to play again next year.

If coming by train, at least from London, the best station for walking from is Oxford Parkway - about 1.5 miles on the flat, pavement all the way

Tim Spanton wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 02, 2026 3:23 pm

If coming by train, at least from London, the best station for walking from is Oxford Parkway - about 1.5 miles on the flat, pavement all the way

Good point, I didn't think of that. I often catch the train to London (Marylebone) from there because the carpark is very cheap (£2.50 for the day) and the station is easy to drive to.