50th Nottingham Congress

The 50th Nottingham Congress takes place at Nottingham High School on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 April 2027. It's a big one this year — the golden anniversary of one of the city's longest-running weekend chess tournaments, run by the Nottinghamshire Chess Association (NCA).

There are five sections to choose from, all FIDE and ECF rated, so you can pick the one that fits your level. The time control is 90 minutes plus 10 seconds per move, which gives you plenty of time to work through your games without the clock running away from you. The first round starts at 10:00 am on the Saturday, and the whole thing wraps up by 6:00 pm on the Sunday.

The Congress is a landmark for the NCA, which has been the county's chess organisation since it was founded in 1922 by a group connected with the Nottingham Mechanics' Chess Club. Its first Honorary Secretary, J. W. Broadbent, held the post from 1922 to 1929. The association is affiliated with the English Chess Federation and the Midland Counties Chess Union, and the Congress sits alongside the Nottingham RapidPlay and the Nottinghamshire County Championship as part of its main individual competition series. Last year's 49th edition reached the 200-player capacity at the school, so it's worth getting your entry in early if you're planning to play.

Beyond the Congress, the NCA runs the Nottinghamshire League from September through May and supports junior chess through the Nottinghamshire Primary Schools Chess Association and the Nottinghamshire Chess Foundation. Entry for the Congress is £35 per section, or £30 for juniors under 18; a £16 pay-to-play ECF fee applies to non-Gold members, which is £7 for juniors. The venue is Nottingham High School, Forest Road East, Nottingham NG1 4HH.