English Chess Forum

Launching in the 2025/2026 Season, the new White Rose Chess Circuit will encompass six separate 2 Day Congresses. Three existing Congresses (Ilkley, Bradford & Huddersfield) will be joined by three new additions to the calendar (York, Leeds and Harrogate).

Full details can be found here - https://whiterosechess.co.uk/wrc-circuit-2025%2F2026

WRC1 - York - September 2025
WRC2 - Leeds - October 2025
WRC3 - Bradford - January 2026
WRC 4 - Harrogate - February 2026
WRC 5 - Huddersfield - March 2026
WRC6 - Ilkley - June 2026

I am personally very much looking forward to the return of a Congress in York, which was always a highlight on the calendar for me as a player, and has great rail links for players travelling from further afield.

We built it, now lets see if they come!

Lovely venue that I'm somehow slightly surprised it's big enough. Hope it's a real success.

I'm gently intrigued to see who might bother chasing the circuit prize money.

MartinCarpenter wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 23, 2025 9:07 am

I'm gently intrigued to see who might bother chasing the circuit prize money.

There's a potential problem for anyone at or about the rating boundaries. According to the rules, they cannot carry forward points from one section into another. Someone who did very well in rating restricted tournamenst might find their rating increased so they had to move up a section if they wanted to continue to play.

Roger de Coverly wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 23, 2025 9:23 am

MartinCarpenter wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 23, 2025 9:07 am

I'm gently intrigued to see who might bother chasing the circuit prize money.

There's a potential problem for anyone at or about the rating boundaries. According to the rules, they cannot carry forward points from one section into another. Someone who did very well in rating restricted tournamenst might find their rating increased so they had to move up a section if they wanted to continue to play.

I'd probably call that a feature? Should give people genuinely U1900/1600 a chance rather than having some horribly under graded junior win every year!

Roger de Coverly wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 23, 2025 9:23 am

MartinCarpenter wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 23, 2025 9:07 am

I'm gently intrigued to see who might bother chasing the circuit prize money.

There's a potential problem for anyone at or about the rating boundaries. According to the rules, they cannot carry forward points from one section into another. Someone who did very well in rating restricted tournamenst might find their rating increased so they had to move up a section if they wanted to continue to play.

There are pro's and con's to any set of rules. We went with this as we think that it is fairest. It is clear and unambiguous.

MartinCarpenter wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 23, 2025 9:07 am

Lovely venue that I'm somehow slightly surprised it's big enough. Hope it's a real success.

I'm gently intrigued to see who might bother chasing the circuit prize money.

I'm assuming you mean the York venue? It will comfortably hold 100, which is where we are capping the entry.

Andrew Wainwright wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 25, 2025 10:19 pm

MartinCarpenter wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 23, 2025 9:07 am

Lovely venue that I'm somehow slightly surprised it's big enough. Hope it's a real success.

I'm gently intrigued to see who might bother chasing the circuit prize money.

I'm assuming you mean the York venue? It will comfortably hold 100, which is where we are capping the entry.

Yes, mainly. I have a mental picture of giant sports halls

The folk hall will be a far nicer venue than that! And having to turn people away would be a very good problem to have.

Solid bus service from the center of town too.

Is there a list of entrants for this weekend's Huddersfield Congress anywhere online, please?
TIA, David Woodhouse.

Thanks.