5th Portishead Junior Rapidplay

This is our fifth junior rapidplay which is again being held at the fabulous Somerset Hall.

As this is a rated event you must have Gold membership of the English Chess Federation at the time of the event. You can obtain this at https://www.englishchess.org.uk/ecf-membership-rates-and-joining-details/. This is free for the first year but please check that your membership is current and up-to-date and does not require renewal.

There will be 6 rounds and you will play in all rounds (each round you will be paired against another player on the same score). The tournament is usually divided into age group sections: U-9s, U-11s, U14s and U-18s - although this may change depending on numbers.

Please enter early as these events have a habit of selling out fast.

You will have 15 minutes on the clock plus 5 seconds for each move made (don't worry if you haven't used a clock before - everything will be explained!) The tournament is run on the same lines as the Megafinals which some of the players will already have experience of.

There will be prizes in the form of cups, shields, medals and certificates. These will be decided on nearer the event when we have a better idea of how many players there are in each age group - but no-one will go away empty handed!

The entry fee is £15.00 (£10.00 for additional siblings) and the deadline for entries is 2nd May 2025 - but the event may well be sold out before then! Payment and a valid ECF membership number is required to secure a place.

There is a viewing zone where non-players can sit in the playing hall without interfering with play. There is also a large Refreshment Area adjacent to the Playing Hall where tea, coffee, soft drinks and cakes will be available. Somerset Hall is in the Town Centre with many coffee shops and eateries within a few minutes walk .A WhatsApp Group will keep everyone up-to-date during the tournament.

It is also hoped that the top board(s) will be played on Smart Boards and the games relayed live to the Refreshment Area, where spectators can discuss the games as they develop, facilitated by a strong player.