Mindsports Chess Festival

by ChessBase
5/27/2024 – The 2024 Mindsports International Festival returns to the London Mindsports Centre this July. There will be an International Open with title norm opportunities up to Grandmaster for players with a FIDE standard rating of 2000+ from the 18th - 23rd July (six days consisting of three single round and three double round days). Limited to 50+ players and special conditions available for players holding IM & GM titles. There is a minimum £2,000 prize fund for the International Open.

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The venue of the 2024 Mindsports International Festival is the Mindsports Centre, 21 Dalling Rd, London W6 0JD. Due to limited capacity, entries are not considered accepted until the entry fee has been paid. Entries are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Any problems with this form email Lance: lancelesliesmith2002@gmail.com. 

All players with an English flag on their FIDE profile or new players who wish to be registered with FIDE as English must have membership with the English Chess Federation.

The festival will have an International Open for players with a FIDE rating of 2000+ with title norm opportunities, and a FIDE Congress with under 2000 and under 1700 sections. *Side events: These include a Rapidplay / Blitz / Chess960 tournaments.

Open format: 9 rounds, swiss format (not a knockout, and may use the BAKU Accelerated pairing system)

Round 1 & 2 on Thursday 18th @11.00am & 16.30 (4.30pm)
Round 3 on Friday 19th @16.30 (4.30pm)
Round 4 & 5 on Saturday 20th @11.00am & 16.30 (4.30pm)                                          Round 6 on Sunday 21st @16.30 (4.30pm)
Round 7 & 8 on Monday 22nd @11.00am & 16.30 (4.30pm)
UPDATED Round 9 on Tuesday 23rd @11.00am

Time control: (90min + 30 sec/move) - no second period.

Prizes: Open £2,000 minimum prize fund (subject to being increased depending on the number of entries). 1st £800, 2nd £500, 3rd £300, 4th £200, & two rating prizes of £100 each). Prizes will be shared in the event of a tie.

CONDITIONS

These are limited on a special basis to GMs / IMs, at the Organiser's discretion. You can contact the organiser (Lance) by email or WhatsApp, details listed in this submission form.

ENTRY FEE

  • Players with a WIM / WGM / IM / GM title or have a FIDE rating of 2400+: Free Entry 
  • Players with an FM / WFM title or a FIDE rating of 2300+: £75.00                        
  • Players with a FIDE rating of 2000+: £100
  • Players with a FIDE rating of under 2000: £150+ (subject to the organiser's discretion)
  • English players not registered at Gold level membership or above (£15.00 surcharge)

The organiser reserves the right to decide the entry fee and determine how many players rated below 2000 may be accepted. There is a 25 rating point difference between entry fee categories to determine how much the entry fee is.

SIDE EVENTS

All the side events are limited to a maximum capacity of 50+ players.

19th July 2024: FIDE Rapidplay, 11:00 (11am) until 16:00 (4pm). 

Five rounds of Rapidplay chess with a time control of 15 minutes + 5 seconds increment from move one. Round timings are on the hour: Round 1 (11:00), Round 2 (12:00), Round 3 (13:00), Round 4 (14:00), Round 5 (15:00). There will be an open and under 1700 (FIDE and ECF) sections. Default time is 15 minutes.

Prizes (1st £100, 2nd £80) in both sections. Additionally, one rating prize in each section TBD depending on the number of entries. Entry fee: £25.

21st July 2024: Chess960 Rapidplay, 11:00 (11am) until 16:00 (4pm). 

Five rounds of Chess960 Rapidplay chess with a time control of 15 minutes + 5 seconds increment from move one. Round timings are on the hour: Round 1 (11:00), Round 2 (12:00), Round 3 (13:00), Round 4 (14:00), Round 5 (15:00). This tournament will have only one open section. Default time is 15 minutes. Prizes (TBA). Keep an eye out for more details! Entry fee: £25.

21st July 2024: 1st FIDE Blitz, 18:30 (6.30pm) until 21:30 (9.30pm).

Ten rounds of Blitz chess with a time control of 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment from move one. Round timings are approximate (one after the next - with no scheduled break): start at 18:30 and finish by 21:30 at the latest. This tournament will have only one open section. Default time is 3 minutes. Prizes (1st £100, 2nd £60, 3rd £40, 4th, £20, rating prize £30). Entry fee: £20.

23rd July 2024 UPDATED: 2nd FIDE Blitz, 18:00 (6pm) until 21:30 (9:30pm).

Seven rounds (14 games) of Blitz chess with a time control of 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment from move one. Round timings are approximate (one after the next - with no scheduled break): start at 18:00 (6pm) and finish by 21:30 (9:30pm) at the latest. The format is 2 games (with both colours) against each opponent, 7 rounds of 2 games each = 14 games. This tournament will have only one open section. Default time is 3 minutes. Prizes (1st £100, 2nd £60, 3rd £40, 4th, £20, rating prize £30). Entry fee: £20.

For more details or register for the festival: https://form.jotform.com/241063927509358.

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