Basingstoke Rapidplay Congress

[John Upham]

For the first time (apart from Hampshire Megafinals) since the days of Dick Boxall and Joe French there is a brand new one-day rapidplay congress in Basingstoke.

This will take place at the splendid venue of

Basingstoke College of Technology (BCoT), Worting Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 8TN
https://what3words.com/going.hiding.moves

on Saturday, April 26th from 9.30am until 5pm

The Open and the U18 event will be ECF rated over six rounds using a R20' + 5" time control

The unrated U18 event will feature seven rounds using a R20' + 0" time control.

You may enter via

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/basingst ... 3165825719

Entries may be inspected via

https://chess-results.com/tnr1136046.as ... turdet=YES

21 entries as at 17th March 2025

[John Upham]

Now at 25 entries as of March 21st

[James Toon]

It's good to see a new chess event on the calendar.

However, I'd be interested to know why John chose a date for this event which he knew was a direct clash with the nearby Guildford FIDE Congress.

[John Upham]

It's good to see a new chess event on the calendar.

However, I'd be interested to know why John chose a date for this event which he knew was a direct clash with the nearby Guildford FIDE Congress.

I did not chose the date. I was given the date.

The date was chosen by Basingstoke Chess Club of which I am not a member.

I believe that the event's date was set prior to the date for the Guildford FIDE Congress being changed from April 11th to April 13th to its current weekend.

(From the Guildford Chess Club web site: "Next year's event takes place at the same venue from Friday 11 April to Sunday 13 April 2025": https://guildfordchessclub.com/?categor ... e-congress)

The Basingstoke event is not FIDE rated and is principally a junior (U18) event with an ECF rated Open alongside.
Clearly an unfortunate clash and for 2026 better coordination is required.

[James Toon]

Fine. But the original post does give the impression that this is a new initiative. And also that you are the driving force behind it.

As you say, better coordination is needed. However, the nature of the Guildford venue means we are very restricted in our choice of date.

[John Upham]

Fine. But the original post does give the impression that this is a new initiative. And also that you are the driving force behind it.

As you say, better coordination is needed. However, the nature of the Guildford venue means we are very restricted in our choice of date.

It is a new initiative. David Graham started talks with BCoT in 2024. The previous congress was many moons ago.

I have never claimed I was the driving force behind it. David Graham and Basingstoke Chess Club is / are the driving force.

I was brought in in an advisory role and as Arbiter and to help with marketing, IT and publicity.

[James Pratt]

Basingstoke College was encouraged to welcome more diversity to its portals and chess was - successfully as it happens - suggested, put forward. John is certainly not to blame for the clash with Guildford. Basingstoke CC wanted a Sunday as many of Joe French's knees-ups were held on Sundays but BCoT came forward with Saturday either side of Easter. Thus the die was cast and I gather - I used to work there - that if all goes well several events of localised provincial magnitude may follow.
The last events held at the college were in 1977-9 with Nunn and the late Simon Webb carrying off the laurels .. Uninterestingly enough the first of these clashed with the Yateley Jubilee Congress! It's a tough life.
James

[John Upham]

A successful day at Basingstoke College of Technology gave us two sets of results:


https://chess-results.com/tnr1136046.as ... turdet=YES

and

https://chess-results.com/tnr1136546.as ... turdet=YES