36th Nottingham Rapidplay

The Nottingham Rapidplay returns to Nottingham High School on Sunday 7 February 2027, from 10:00 am to 6:30 pm. It's the 36th edition of the tournament, one of the Nottinghamshire Chess Association's most established one-day events, and it's back in the same room that hosts the Nottingham Congress and other major local chess days.

There's a bit of history behind the organisers here. The NCA is the county chess organisation for Nottinghamshire, founded in 1922 by a group connected with the Nottingham Mechanics' Chess Club, with J. W. Broadbent as its first Honorary Secretary. Over the years, the Rapidplay has grown into a long-running fixture on the local calendar: the 35th edition in February 2026 brought together 169 players, and from 2025 the principal sections became FIDE Rapid rated as well as ECF rated. The Nottinghamshire Chess Foundation has also backed the event, funding prize support for the Improvers section to make rated over-the-board chess more accessible to newer players. Beyond this tournament, the NCA runs the Nottinghamshire League from September through May and enters county teams in Midland and national championships.

On the day, it's a full day of chess at Nottingham High School, Forest Road East, Nottingham NG1 4HH. Entry is £25 per section, with a reduced rate of £20 for juniors under 18 on 1 January 2027. It's free for Grandmasters, International Masters, Woman Grandmasters, and Woman International Masters. The play runs from 10:00 am to 6:30 pm.