Singapore Seniors National Chess Championship 2026
Eligibility: Individuals aged 50 and above (Born on or before 31 Dec 1976), Singaporeans, PRS, or players with SGP flag on FIDE website. The highest ranked Singaporean/PR shall be crowned National Champion.
Dates: 24 April – 2 May 2026 (see schedule below)
Format and Time Control:
- Default format: Open FIDE Rated, 7 Rounds Swiss, 90 minutes + 30 second increment from move 1
- Tournament format may be adjusted to a round robin format in the event that we have 8 or less participants
- Tournament may be cancelled if there are 5 or less participants.
Venue: SCF Conference Room – 51 Bishan Street 13, #02-01A SIGC (Bishan CC), Singapore 579799
Entry Fee: Free
Closing date: 10 April, 6pm
Schedule (to be confirmed one day after the closing date):
| Date | Event | Time |
| 24 April, Friday | Arbiter’s Briefing Round 1 | 645pm 7pm |
| 25 April, Saturday | Round 2 | 7pm |
| 26 April, Sunday | Round 3 | 7pm |
| 27 April, Monday | Round 4 | 7pm |
| 29 April, Wednesday | Round 5 | 7pm |
| 30 April, Thursday | Round 6 | 7pm |
| 2 May, Saturday | Round 7 Prize Ceremony | 7pm End of Event |
*Prizes:
1st – $600
2nd – $500
3rd – $400
4th – $300
5th – $200
6-10th – $100
*The organizer reserves the right to amend prizes based on final playing list. The organizer also reserves the right to reject entries without assigning any reasons.
All prizes come with trophies.
The final ranking is determined by the number of points scored and tiebreaks as follows:
(1) Direct Encounter
(2) Buchholz Cut 1
(3) Buchholz
(4) Greater number of wins with black pieces
(5) Greater number of wins
There will be no sharing of prizes.
Appeals Committee
- SCF shall appoint 3 members to form the Appeals Committee.
- An appeal shall be made in writing within 15 minutes of the completion of the relevant playing session, accompanied by an appeal fee of S$100.
- Fees shall be refunded if the appeal is upheld, and forfeited if appeal is deemed unsuccessful.
- The ruling of the Appeals Committee is FINAL and no further correspondence shall be entertained.
Fair Play
- Only writing material and personal medication is allowed in the playing area.
- All other personal belongings including wallets, handphones, watches and bags are not allowed in the playing area. These items will be kept in a designated storage area, and players will only retrieve their belongings upon completion of their games. Players who have collected their belongings are NOT allowed to return to the playing area.
- The playing area is defined as the area where boards are set up and numbered for contestants to play at. This will be in the conference room of SCF.
- At the entrance of the playing venue, Arbiters and Fair Play Officers reserve the right to search players via metal detector or manual means.
- Arbiters and Fair Play Officers may conduct searches at any point before, during or after the game.
- Players are to seek Arbiter’s permission if they are to move outside of the playing area. Players may be searched by Arbiters and Fair Play Officers upon re-entry.
- Players are to play to the best of their natural ability. Any outside assistance in person or via electronic means is strictly prohibited. Arbiters reserve the right to disqualify or declare a game loss if an individual is found to be receiving assistance.
- All participants shall comply and co-operate with the Fair Play rules. Players may be removed from the tournament at any time on final decision of the Chief Arbiter based on Fair Play rules
Default Time: Players have to arrive and make their first move within 30 mins. Absence after 30 mins will be declared a default loss.