The Middlesex FIDE Blitz
Every player needs a realistic chance to win a prize!
MCCA and Chess England want to give every player a realistic chance of winning a prize!
Players on 1800 or over already have a realistic chance of winning first or second prize. For players below 1800 we are introducing TWO rating prizes, each worth £25.
These new rating prizes replace the previous one based on median rating.
FIDE & ECF rated - 18 games!
Middlesex County Chess Association with Chess England
are hosting blitz events on these Saturdays:
15 Nov 2025, 14 Mar 2026, 9 May 2026, 6 Jun 2026, 22 Aug 2026*
(*our 2026/27 programme will appear here in late September or early October)
from 1.00 pm to 5.00 pm
at All Saints Church, Childs Hill, Church Walk, London NW2 2TJ
ANYONE CAN PLAY
No need to be a member of a club OR the English Chess Federation.
You WILL need a FIDE ID if you are not ENG.
Register here: https://eu.jotform.com/form/243094045258962
The tournament is 9 double rounds of 3 minutes each plus 2 seconds a move added time (=18 games), and is FIDE- and ECF-rated.
PRIZES: 1st = [number of entries x £3]; 2nd = [half the 1st prize)
Two Rating Prizes of £25 each= U1800 (1600-1799) and U1600
The U1800 rating prize will be for players rated between 1600 and 1799
The U1600 rating prize will be open to players below 1600
Scroll down to read the Prize Rules
ALL PRIZE WINNERS ARE LISTED IN THE MIDDLESEX CHESS ROLL OF HONOUR
Entry price
£35 if paid before the day by bank transfer
£40 if paid on the day
Prize Rules
Last revised 11 June 2026 17:45
- Prizes are for paying customers only; we may sometimes invite parents, MCCA officials and others in attendance to play one or more rounds to avoid giving byes or for other reasons. They may affect their opponents' points and ratings, but these casual players won’t be eligible for prizes. "Player(s)" refers exclusively to those who have paid, as does "paid entries".
- There are no tie-breakers.
- A player who wins first or second prize may also win a rating prize, and vice versa.
- The first prize is £3 multiplied by the number of paid entries.
- The second prize is £1.50 multiplied by the number of paid entries
- Notwithstanding the last two rules, if two or more players have the most points there shall be no second prize and the first prize will be £4.50 multiplied by the number of paid entries and shared equally among the winners of the first prize.
- The ratings for the purpose of the rating prizes shall be based on a player's OTB ratings in the following order: FIDE Blitz; FIDE Standard; ECF Blitz; FIDE Rapid; ECF Rapid; ECF Standard. If the player has none of these OTB ratings, his ECF Online ratings shall be used in the following order: Blitz; Rapid; Standard. In the absence of any of the aforementioned ratings, the Chief Arbiter may at his discretion use other online ratings or exclude the player from the pool of potential rating prize-winners until he has one or more of the named ratings.
- The “best” player in either rating range is the one with the most points after the last round of the tournament.
- The best player whose rating is between 1600 and 1799 inclusive shall receive the U1800 rating prize of £25. A player whose rating is below 1600 shall not be eligible for the U1800 rating prize.
- The best player whose rating is below 1600 shall receive the U1600 rating prize of £25.
- If two or more players qualify to win a rating prize it shall be shared equally among them.
- Players should provide the Chief Arbiter with their current bank details to ensure they receive their prize(s).
