21 February 2026 Colchester Rapidplay with Mayor vs MP

[David York]

A unique opportunity to play in a tournament with a side of entertainment and do so in a stunning venue.

The Colchester Rapidplay Chess Championship 2026
Moot Hall, Colchester Town Hall - Saturday 21 February 2026

Moot Hall photo by Colchester City Council.jpg (758.09 KiB) Viewed 4625 times

6-Round Open ECF rated Rapidplay (15+5) Swiss tournament

Prizes: First £150, Second £90, Third £60 + ratings prizes (£50 each)
The Mayor’s Colchester Rapidplay Chess Championship Trophy will be awarded to the highest placed player from Colchester (postcode).

Entry fee: £26 (ECF Gold level or above)

The day is raising money for the Mayor's Charities and there will be antics; so while the arbiter is working out how to split all the cash prizes and your name is perhaps being engraved on the Colchester Chess Rapidplay Championship Trophy you can kibitz the game between Mayor Mike Lilley and Colchester MP Pam Cox. You might even win the auction to be a commentator...

Full info and sign up to play at: https://congress.org.uk/congress/724/home

Mayor's Charities: https://www.colchester.gov.uk/mayor-town-hall-heritage
The newly restored Moot Hall is worth a visit in itself. Its new chairs have been tested on that floor and they do not squeak!https://www.colchester.gov.uk/info/cbc- ... d=KA-04987 and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colchester_Town_Hall
The Moot Hall organ even has its own website https://moothallorgan.co.uk/

[David York]

ChessDayForECF.jpg (158.56 KiB) Viewed 4464 times

The tournament is part of a day of chess that has 'something for everyone'.
https://colchesster.org.uk/chess/

So, tournament players can bring their whole family (not the dog though, as not permitted in the Town Hall) to Colchester to enjoy the fun and of course all the other attractions that make Colchester a great destination. Possibly not the right time of year for outdoor chess at the Jonathan Penrose Chess Park though. https://www.mercurytheatre.co.uk/jonath ... chess-park/

[David York]

grandjury.jpg (248.09 KiB) Viewed 4340 times

Entries for the other elements of the day of chess have been exceeding expectations - especially those for the schools event which involves Chess in Schools and Communities. The Rapidplay may well end up mainly being played in a cupboard near the car park.

Or, more likley in the Grand Jury Room which has seen some chess before. Note that no GM Michael Adam is included with this tournament.

Still time to sign up to play https://congress.org.uk/congress/724/home

[David York]

Tournament report now available https://congress.org.uk/node/161

I was very impressed with the facilities that congress.org.uk provides.