Tournament directory
Chess congresses in the South East
Every congress, rapidplay and junior tournament we can verify across Kent, Sussex, Surrey, London and the wider South East — with dates, venues, sections and entry links, checked against the organisers' own announcements.
August 2026
Sat, 15 August 2026
Golders Green FIDE Rapidplay
St Luke's Church, Kidderpore Avenue, Golders GreenLondon
Also 12 Sept · 10 Oct · 14 Nov
Open · Major (U1900) · Minor (U1600) · Amateur (U1100)
6 rounds · 20 min + 5 sec/move
Long-running monthly Saturday rapidplay. Dates from December onwards to be announced.
Sat 15 – Sun, 16 August 2026
Hastings Weekend U2000
Hastings & St Leonards Chess Club, 2 Cornwallis Terrace, HastingsEast Sussex
U2000
One of three weekend congresses the club runs each year at its own clubrooms (U1800 in April, Open in June, U2000 in August).
Sun, 16 August 2026
BBCA FIDE Rated Rapid
Micro Business Park Hall, 50B Greatorex Street, WhitechapelLondon
Open · Major (U1700)
6 rounds · 10 min + 5 sec/move
Tue 18 August – Tue, 8 September 2026
London Chess League Summer Congress
London Mindsports Centre, 21 Dalling Road, HammersmithLondon
Open · U2000 · U1600
5 rounds · 60 min + 30 sec/move
Played over five Tuesday evenings (18 and 25 August, 1 and 8 September), 6.30pm starts — a congress for people with weekday evenings free.
Tue, 18 August 2026
Muswell Hill FIDE Chess (Tuesday one-day events)
The Clissold Arms, 105 Fortis Green, Muswell HillLondon
Also 8 Sept · 15 Sept · 6 Oct · 13 Oct · 10 Nov · 17 Nov
Rapid (6 rounds, 20+5) · Standardplay (2 games, 60+30)
One-day midweek chess, 10.30am–5pm — choose the rapid or the standardplay event.
Thu, 20 August 2026
Camberley Open Blitz
Heatherside Community Centre, Martindale Avenue, CamberleySurrey
Open
6 rounds · 5 min + 3 sec/move
Thursday evening, 7.30pm.
Sat, 22 August 2026
Middlesex FIDE Blitz
All Saints Church, Church Walk, Childs HillLondon
Open
3 min + 2 sec/move
9 double rounds — 18 games of blitz in an afternoon.
Sat 22 – Sun, 23 August 2026
Mind Sports Olympiad London Rapid & Blitz
Mercure London Earls Court, FulhamLondon
10-round rapid (two days) · Two 11-round evening blitzes
The chess weekend of the wider Mind Sports Olympiad (22–30 August).
Mon 24 – Sat, 29 August 2026
Mindsports International Festival Super Swiss
London Mindsports Centre, 21 Dalling Road, HammersmithLondon
Single section, FIDE 2000+
9 rounds · 90 min + 30 sec/move
A norm-hunting Swiss for strong players — £4,000 prize fund, around 80 places.
Sat, 29 August 2026
Brentwood Bank Holiday Rapidplay
Wessex Auditorium, Brentwood School, BrentwoodEssex
Open · U1200
6 rounds · 20 min + 5 sec/move
Adults and juniors welcome.
September 2026
Usually September — dates to be confirmed (last held 13 September 2025 (the 42nd))
Crowborough Chess Congress
Crowborough Community Centre, Pine Grove, CrowboroughEast Sussex
Championship (Open) · Challengers (U1600)
6 rounds · 25 min + 5 sec/move
A friendly one-day congress twenty minutes from Tunbridge Wells — the 43rd edition is expected in September but not yet announced.
Usually September — dates to be confirmed (last held 2025/26 season: Crowborough (Sep), Eastbourne (Nov), Hastings (1 Jan), Horsham (Feb), Worthing (May))
Sussex Junior Grand Prix (season series)
across SussexEast Sussex
Junior age groups, all strengths
A season of one-day junior tournaments around the county, including the New Year's Day event alongside the Hastings International. Sussex Junior publishes the season calendar in late summer — the first LJCC-qualifying date (17 October) is already confirmed.
Thu, 3 September 2026
Hendon FIDE Blitz (first Thursdays)
Cumberland Lawn Tennis Club, 25 Alvanley Gardens, West HampsteadLondon
Also 1 Oct · 5 Nov · 3 Dec
Open
6 rounds
Monthly Thursday-evening blitz, 7.30pm–10.30pm.
Fri 4 – Sun, 6 September 2026
Army & Navy Club Pall Mall FIDE Congress
The Army & Navy Club, 36 Pall Mall, St James'sLondon
Single section (60 places)
A congress in a Pall Mall clubhouse — dress code applies (jacket and trousers), and under-16s are not permitted in the venue.
Sat 5 – Sun, 6 September 2026
Fareham FIDE Congress
Lysses House Hotel, 51 High Street, FarehamHampshire
U2300 · U1800 · U1550 (ECF rated only)
5 rounds · 60 min + 30 sec/move
Inaugural edition. ECF Gold membership minimum.
Sat 5 – Sun, 6 September 2026
Women's & Girls' FIDE/ECF Classical Congress
Pancras Square Library, 5 Pancras Road, King's CrossLondon
Also 28–29 Nov · 6–7 Feb · 22–23 May
Three rating sections
5 rounds · 60 min + 15 sec/move
Quarterly weekend congress for women and girls, with live boards and commentary.
Sun, 6 September 2026
Barnet Knights Junior Tournament
Copthall Girls School, Pursley Road, Mill HillLondon
U8 · U10 · U12 · U14
A qualifier for the London Junior Chess Championships.
Sun, 6 September 2026
LJCC Autumn Qualifiers (across London & the South East)
various venuesLondon
Also 13 Sept · 20 Sept · 26 Sept · 3 Oct · 4 Oct · 10 Oct · 11 Oct · 18 Oct · 25 Oct · 7 Nov · 8 Nov · 14 Nov · 15 Nov · 22 Nov · 29 Nov · 5 Dec · 6 Dec · 12 Dec
U8 · U10 · U12
Twenty-plus one-day qualifiers for the London Junior Championships run across London, Surrey and beyond every autumn weekend — Wimbledon, Hammersmith, Hampton, Chiswick, Twickenham, Mill Hill and more. The LJCC qualifying page lists them all with venues; Kent and Coulsdon qualifiers are listed separately in this directory.
Tue, 15 September 2026
GLCC Open & U1825 Blitz
Upper Vestry House, St George's Bloomsbury, BloomsburyLondon
Open · U1825
9 rounds · 3 min + 2 sec/move
Tuesday evening; incorporates the LPSCL Individual Blitz Championships.
Sat 19 – Sun, 20 September 2026
East London FIDE Congress
Collingswood Hall, Barnsley Street, Bethnal GreenLondon
U2400 · U1900 · U1600
4 rounds · 60 min + 30 sec/move
Sun, 20 September 2026
Children's Chess Tournament (Mill Hill)
The Eversfield Centre, 11 Eversfield Gardens, Mill HillLondon
Also 11 Oct · 8 Nov · 29 Nov
All abilities
A gentle first tournament: ECF-rated games with coaching between rounds.
Fri 25 – Sun, 27 September 2026
Medway FIDE Congress
Chatham Masonic Hall, 5 Manor Road, ChathamKent
Open · U1800 · U1400
5 rounds · 90 min + 30 sec/move
Friday evening to Sunday. Free places for female players; online entry closes the day before.
Sat, 26 September 2026
Camberley Keith Richardson Rapidplay
Heatherside Community Centre, Martindale Avenue, CamberleySurrey
Open
Annual memorial rapidplay for correspondence GM Keith Richardson.
Sat, 26 September 2026
Newham Junior Grand Prix
Gallions Primary School, Warwall, BecktonLondon
Also 24 Oct · 21 Nov · 16 Jan · 13 Feb
Junior sections by age and strength
A season-long series of Saturday-morning rapidplays.
Sat 26 – Sun, 27 September 2026
Southall FIDE Congress (monthly weekends)
Parkside Yards, 1 Seva Drive, SouthallLondon
Also 17–18 Oct · 14–15 Nov · 12–13 Dec
U2400 · U1900 · U1600
5 rounds · 60 min + 30 sec/move
A two-day congress most months, £720 prize fund.
Sat, 26 September 2026
Southall Junior Rapidplay (monthly)
Parkside Yards, 1 Seva Drive, SouthallLondon
Also 17 Oct · 14 Nov · 12 Dec
U8 · U10 · U12 · U14
5 rounds · 15 min each
Saturday-morning junior event alongside the Southall congress weekends.
Sun, 27 September 2026
Kent Junior Grand Prix (KJCA)
usually BromleyKent
Also 18 Oct
U9 · U11 · U14 · U18
The county's junior tournament series, feeding a season-long Grand Prix table and county squad selection. Later rounds are announced through the season — check kjca.org for venues and entry.
October 2026
Sat, 3 October 2026
Snodland Rapidplay
SnodlandKent
Date announced; venue and sections to follow on the Invicta Chess site.
Sun, 4 October 2026
CCF Junior Grand Prix (Coulsdon)
Coulsdon Chess Fellowship, CoulsdonSurrey
Also 25 Oct · 22 Nov
Junior sections by age and strength
The first two legs double as LJCC qualifiers. CCF also runs junior holiday camps in late October.
Sun, 4 October 2026
Ealing FIDE Rapidplay (monthly)
Open Ealing Arts Centre, Unit 14 School Lane, EalingLondon
Also 8 Nov · 6 Dec
Open · U1900 · U1600
6 rounds · 15 min + 5 sec/move
Sunday afternoons, £720 prize fund.
Fri 9 – Sun, 11 October 2026
Thanet FIDE Congress
Baypoint Club, Ramsgate Road, SandwichKent
Open · U1800 · U1550 (ECF rated only)
5 rounds · 90 min + 30 sec/move
The 54th edition of East Kent's long-running congress. ECF Gold membership minimum.
Fri 23 – Sun, 25 October 2026
Hampshire Chess Congress
Lysses House Hotel, 51 High Street, FarehamHampshire
Three sections for all standards
Incorporates the Hampshire Individual Championship.
Sun, 25 October 2026
Hampshire Open Junior FIDE Blitz
Badger Farm Community Centre, WinchesterHampshire
Open junior (U18)
Open to juniors from any county.
Tue 27 – Wed, 28 October 2026
Muswell Hill FIDE Congress
The Clissold Arms, 105 Fortis Green, Muswell HillLondon
Single section
4 rounds · 60 min + 30 sec/move
A two-day midweek congress in half-term week.
November 2026
Usually November — dates to be confirmed (last held 26 November – 7 December 2025, Emirates Stadium and Novotel London West)
London Chess Classic
LondonLondon
Elite invitational · FIDE Open · Weekend congresses and junior events
England's flagship chess festival — an elite event plus a FIDE Open, weekend congresses and junior tournaments anyone can enter. 2026 dates not yet announced.
Usually November — dates to be confirmed (last held 9 November 2025 (age groups); girls' championships 7 December 2025)
Sussex Closed Junior Championships
across SussexWest Sussex
U9 · U11 · U13 · U18
County championships for Sussex-qualified juniors, with a separate girls' championships in December.
Sun, 1 November 2026
CCF Adult Rapidplay (Coulsdon)
Coulsdon Chess Fellowship, CoulsdonSurrey
FIDE-rated Open · Rating-limited sections depending on entries
CCF runs events year-round from its own premises — the diary at ccfworld.com is worth a bookmark.
Sun, 1 November 2026
Guildford Junior Rapidplay
The Guildford Institute, Ward Street, GuildfordSurrey
Open to players up to 18
5 rounds
The club's first junior rapidplay — open to juniors from any county.
Tue 10 – Sun, 15 November 2026
Isle of Wight Ocean Tournament
The Ocean View Hotel, 5 Park Road, ShanklinIsle of Wight
Adult event (16+)
A week-long residential seaside tournament — ferry from Portsmouth or Southampton. Over-16s only.
Sat, 28 November 2026
Bexhill Rapidplay
St Marks, Green Lane, Bexhill-on-SeaEast Sussex
6 rounds · 25 min + 5 sec/move
December 2026
Sat 12 – Sun, 13 December 2026
CCF Adult Long Play Congress (Coulsdon)
Coulsdon Chess Fellowship, CoulsdonSurrey
Open · Premier (FIDE U1900) · Minor (FIDE U1600) · Non-rated section
ECF Gold membership required for the rated sections.
Sat 12 – Sun, 13 December 2026
London Junior Chess Championships Finals
University of Westminster, 35 Marylebone Road, MaryleboneLondon
Also 28–30 Dec
U8 · U10 · U12 · U14 · U16 · U18
The U10 and U14 finals run 12–13 December; the U8, U12, U16 and U18 finals run 28–30 December. Younger sections need qualification (or a rating); U14 and above are open entry.
Sat 12 – Sun, 13 December 2026
Northwick Park Congress
University of Westminster, 35 Marylebone Road, MaryleboneLondon
Three sections
An adult congress running alongside the LJCC finals weekend — handy for parents who play.
Mon, 28 December 2026 – Tue, 5 January 2027
Hastings International Chess Congress
Horntye Park Sports Complex, HastingsEast Sussex
Hastings Masters (Open) · Supporting weekend and afternoon events
The 100th edition of the world's longest-running annual chess congress, an hour down the road from Tunbridge Wells. The Masters returns to a single open section for the centenary.
Mon 28 – Wed, 30 December 2026
London Christmas Congress
University of Westminster, 35 Marylebone Road, MaryleboneLondon
Three sections
Three days of chess between Christmas and New Year, alongside the LJCC finals.
January 2027
Usually January — dates to be confirmed (last held 31 January – 1 February 2026 (the 30th))
South of England Junior Chess Congress
University of Sussex, Falmer, BrightonEast Sussex
U11 · U13 · U15 · U18
One of the South's biggest junior weekends — U11 upwards FIDE rated, with England team trial qualification on the line.
Sat 23 – Sun, 24 January 2027
Silvertown FIDE Congress
The Tate Institute, 1 Wythes Road, SilvertownLondon
Weekend congress at the historic Tate Institute in East London.
March 2027
Usually March — dates to be confirmed (last held four Saturdays, March–June 2026, plus a finale at the London Chess Classic)
CSC Junior Grand Prix
South Hampstead High School (last series), North LondonLondon
U8 · U10 · U12 · U14 · U18
£5 entry (free for CSC-school pupils), capped at 200 players — one of the cheapest ways into junior tournament chess.
April 2027
Usually April — dates to be confirmed (last held 11–12 April 2026)
Hastings Weekend U1800
Hastings & St Leonards Chess Club, 2 Cornwallis Terrace, HastingsEast Sussex
U1800
One of the club's three annual weekend congresses; 2027 dates not yet announced.
May 2027
Usually May — dates to be confirmed (last held May–June 2026: Kent (Bromley, 9 May), Surrey (Addlestone, 2–3 May), Sussex (Cuckfield, 24 May), London (13 June))
UK Chess Challenge Megafinals (Kent, Surrey, Sussex & London)
regional venuesKent
Age groups U7 to U18
The biggest and most accessible junior event in the country — any child can enter through school or a club, no rating needed. Players scoring well qualify for the Gigafinals.
June 2027
Usually June — dates to be confirmed (last held 6–7 June 2026)
Hastings Weekend Open
Hastings & St Leonards Chess Club, 2 Cornwallis Terrace, HastingsEast Sussex
Open
One of the club's three annual weekend congresses; 2027 dates not yet announced.
Usually June — dates to be confirmed (last held 5–7 June 2026, with 84 players)
Tunbridge Wells FIDE Congress
Tunbridge Wells Bridge Club, 40 London Road, Tunbridge WellsKent
Open · Major (U1800) · Minor (ECF rated only) (U1575)
5 rounds · 90 min + 30 sec/move
Held at our own venue — the same room our club nights run in. The 2026 edition drew 84 players; 2027 dates are expected but not yet announced.
July 2027
Usually July — dates to be confirmed (last held 21–26 July 2026, £5,000 prize fund)
Sussex University Chess Festival
Student Centre, University of Sussex, Falmer, BrightonEast Sussex
Masters (FIDE 2000+) · U2050 · U1700 · U1300 (ECF rated only)
A summer festival with norm opportunities in the Masters and GM guests; 2027 edition not yet announced.
Usually July — dates to be confirmed (last held 18–19 July 2026)
UK Chess Challenge Southern Gigafinal
Sandown Racecourse (last edition), EsherSurrey
Age groups U7 to U18 (Megafinal qualifiers)
The southern regional stage for Megafinal qualifiers, leading to the national Terafinal.
Nothing matches those filters. Try widening the county or format — or.
New to congress chess?
What a congress is
A congress is a weekend tournament, usually five or six games against different opponents, each round paired by how everyone is scoring. You don't need a team or an invitation — you enter, turn up and play. Most run Friday evening to Sunday, or a single day for rapidplay.
Sections and rating bands
Most congresses run several sections so you play people of about your own strength: an Open for anyone, then bands like Major (U2000)or Minor (U1700) — "U" means your ECF rating must be under that number. New to rated chess? Enter the lowest section that will take you.
Classical, rapidplay, blitz
Classical games give each player an hour or more — one or two games a day. Rapidplay is 10–30 minutes each, six games in a day.Blitz is faster still. If a whole weekend sounds like a lot, a one-day rapidplay is the friendliest way in.
What you need
For ECF-rated congresses in England you'll needECF membership — organisers usually let you join when you enter. Bring a pen for the scoresheet; sets, boards and clocks are provided. Want practice first?Come along to a club night.