South Yorkshire Zonal (National Youth Championships) - Saturday April 20th 2024

What is the EJCOA National Youth Championships? A major national competition aimed at providing experience and training for young chess players. The EJCOA National Youth Championships are organised by the English Junior Coaches and Organisers Association: a national non-profit organisation, in partnership with regional junior chess organisations across England.

Games: Players play all five games, starting at 12pm.

Time control: 15 minutes each on the clock for the game, with an additional 10 seconds per move. This competition will be ECF Rapidplay rated. 

This is an individual competition. 

Venue: Sheffield Chess Centre, 329A Coleford Road, Sheffield, S9 5NF

Entry fee: £20 (general); £15 (SASCA/Sheffield Chess Centre members) 

Age categories: Under 8, Under 10, Under 12, Under 14, Under 16, Under 18 & Under 20 (ages as of 1 January 2024) Zonals will combine groups as needed. All tournaments will include female and male players, with prizes and titles specifically for male and female players in each age group. The top boy and the top girl in each age category will qualify from their Zonal to the National Finals.

(In case there is no qualifier from a particular age group, extra wild card places will be awarded by EJCOA, based on results in the Zonal)

Prizes: Each Zonal will award trophies to qualifiers and other prizes, depending on the number of entries.

Multiple entries: You can play in as many Zonals as you like to try and qualify for the National Finals.

National Finals: The National Finals of the EJCOA Youth Championships will be 5-round Standard play FIDE-rated tournaments to be held at Nottingham High School, Waverley Mount, Nottingham NG7 4ED July 2024

Prize fund: Trophies/medals. Book prizes if we have 25+ entrants. Cash prizes of at least £100 total will also be paid if we have a total of 40+ entrants. 

ECF membership: You must either:

a) Have silver ECF membership or above (free for the first year, join at ecf.azolve.com), or

b) pay the ECF's 'pay to play' competition fee (currently £2.50 for junior-only events).

Playing schedule:

Round 1 - 12pm

Round 2 - 1pm

Lunch break

Round 3 - 2.45pm

Round 4 - 3.45pm

Short break

Round 5 - 5.00pm

Prizegiving - as soon as possible after Round 5. We aim to finish by 5.45pm.

Please make payment eiher:

a) by credit/debit card online with your entry, if this option is available, or

b) by bank transfer with your child's name as the payment reference to:

South Yorkshire Chess

08-92-99

67282861

c) By cash at the Sheffield Chess Centre 

Terms and conditions:

• I accept that the FIDE Laws of Chess and ECF Competition Rules apply, and the English Chess Federation's 'Rules for Acceptance of Games for Rating'.
• I accept that the Arbiters' decisions are final in all matters.
• I enter this competition at my own risk. I understand in particular that, whilst the organisers will take sensible health and safety precautions, I will not hold the organisers liable in the event of any transmission of Covid-19.
• I will comply with Covid precautions (e.g. sanitising hands, maximum capacity of rest/analysis room, leaving playing hall immediately after match, etc) which are required either by law or by the organisers for health and safety reasons.
• I agree to treat the venue and premises with respect.
• I agree to let the organisers know as soon as practical in the event that I am unable to attend, as maximum capacity rules may be in place.
• I understand that it is a condition of entry that photographs may be taken of the event for publicity purposes. If I am not happy for my child to be included in any such photographs, I agree to inform the organisers. 
• Entries after April 13th will be subject to a late fee of £2.50. Withdrawals will be refunded only until April 13th.
• I understand that if the automated payment link isn't operational I will make payment by bank transfer with my child(ren)'s name as the reference.