Shropshire Congress 2016

[Steve Rooney]

The Shropshire Chess Congress 2016 is now open for entries! The congress takes place on 8-10 January 2016 at Wrekin Housing Trust, Telford TF3 4AW.

We have made a number of significant changes to the event this year which we hope will help it to be the best yet. We have a new FIDE-rated Open section with a £1,000 first prize, thanks to the support of a very generous sponsor, alongside ECF-graded Major and Minor sections.

We are also moving to incremental time controls of G90 + 30 sec from move one throughout the congress and consequently we will run five rounds from Friday evening to Sunday rather than the previous format of three on Saturday and two on Sunday.

The 2016 congress is the first in recent years which does not clash with Hastings which has enabled us to attract a number of titled players. So far, the FIDE Open will include Keith Arkell GM, Stephen Gordon GM, Mark Hebden GM, John Cox IM, Ameet Ghasi IM, and Sophie Milliet IM - hopefully with more to follow.

We aim to have improved live coverage of up to 10 boards and are also making improvements to the playing facilities to give more space around the tables. Our legendary congress food will once again be provided by the fantastic catering team at Wrekin Housing Trust.

We remain committed to running one of the friendliest, most professional events on the UK congress circuit and hope to welcome lots of forum members at the event.

http://www.shropshirechesscongress.org.uk

[Steve Rooney]

We are slightly ahead of same point last year in terms of numbers, but still hoping for good rush of entries over next few weeks. We have additional playing space, so lots of room for many more ...

Entries to date

[Steve Rooney]

Just a reminder to encourage entries this weekend - late entry fee applies to all those received after Mon 21 Dec.


80 entries to date

[Steve Rooney]

GMs Danny Gormally and Jahongir Vakhidov are among the latest welcome entrants for the Shropshire congress. It will definitely be the strongest-ever tournament in the county's history.

[MJMcCready]

Always thought that 3 games in one day is too many. Can understand putting one game on the Friday evening.

[Steve Rooney]

Latest entrant to the Shropshire Open is Alan Merry FM. Here's the current line-up with four of the top five currently limbering up in Hastings.

Still room for more ... registration deadline is noon on Friday 8 Jan.

We are aiming to have the top ten matches on live boards from 7pm on Friday.

SHROPSHIRE OPEN 2016
JAHONGIR VAKHIDOV GM 2554
DANNY GORMALLY GM 2506
STEPHEN GORDON GM 2493
MARK HEBDEN GM 2481
KEITH ARKELL GM 2474
AMEET GHASI IM 2460
ALAN MERRY FM 2376
SOPHIE MILLIET IM 2369
JOHN COX IM 2351
ADAM BUKOJEMSKI 2270
STEVEN JONES 2180
NIGEL FERRINGTON 2140
ANTONY HYNES 2132
MIKE SURTEES 2132
TOMASZ SYGNOWSKI 2049
SHABIR OKHAI 2030
BRIAN GALLIGAN 2029
DAVID GOSTELOW 2023
LEE DAVIS 2002
MARK WHITEHEAD 1995
NICK ARKELL 1987
RICHARD BRYANT 1961
OLEG CUKOVS 1949
NATHANAEL PAUL 1933
DAVID EVERINGTON 1915
ANDREW PRICE 1841
GLYN PUGH 1838
STEPHEN TARR 1779
NEIL HOMER 1751
JAKE HOLTON 1730
JACOB CONNOR BOSWELL 1638