Tournaments
2026 Hong Bao Rapid Chess Tournament
The event is organised by the Singapore Chess Federation. All events are played under the FIDE Laws of Chess.
Dress Code
Casual with covered shoes. Sandals and flip-flops are strictly forbidden.
Chief Arbiter and/or Tournament Director reserves the right to remove individuals who flout this rule until dress code has been rectified.
Venue: Singapore Chess Federation – 51 Bishan Street 13, Singapore 579799 #02-01A
Schedule:
Date | Time | Event |
Saturday 7th March 2026 | 150PM | Arbiter’s Briefing |
2PM | Round 1 | |
315PM | Round 2 | |
430PM | Round 3 | |
Sunday 8th March 2026 | 930AM | Round 4 |
1045AM | Round 5 | |
12PM | Round 6 | |
1PM | Lunch | |
2PM | Round 7 | |
315PM | Round 8 | |
430PM | Round 9 | |
545PM | Prize Presentation* |
*Prize Presentation may be brought forward depending on completion of last round
Format and Time Control:
9 Rounds Swiss System, 15mins and 10 seconds increment from move 1
Default time – when clock runs to zero.
Tie Break:
1. Direct encounter
2. Buchholz Cut 1
3. Buchholz
4. Sonnenborn Berger
5. Cumulative system – Sum of Progressive Scores (Sum of Progressive Scores: After each round a player has a certain tournament score. These scores are added to determine the total Sum of Progressive Score)
Category:
OPEN – Rapid FIDE Rated, Open to all
FIDE ID is compulsory for all players. Participants with ineligible FIDE ID will not be allowed to participate in this event.
**Prizes:
Open
1st – $888 | 2nd – $588 | 3rd – $388 | 4th to 5th – $188 each | 6th to 10th – $88 each
Women
1st – $288 | 2nd – $188 | 3rd – $88
Trophies
Top 10 Overall, Top 3 Ladies and Top 3 in U8, U10 and U12 for boys and girls
Players may only win one prize. No sharing of cash prizes in the event of tie.
**All individuals are expected to attend the prize ceremony. Price recipients who fail to attend the prize ceremony will forfeit their prize.
Entry fees (Fees reflected below includes GST):
Ratings are based on STANDARD or RAPID ratings, whichever is higher. BLITZ Ratings DO NOT count below.
| Rating Band | Public | SCF Members or Players registered in SCF Programs* |
| Unrated | $119.9 | $102.46 |
| Below 2000 | $76.3 | $65.4 |
| 2000 and above | $54.5 | $49.05 |
| GM/WGM or IM/WIM | Free | |
| Para Athlete | Free | |
*This applies for 2026 Q1 Chess courses from Beginner to Developmental or under our National Training Programmes.
Closing Deadline: 28 Feb 6pm or first 120 entries.
Late entries and entries without payment will not be accepted.
Entry fees are strictly non-refundable. Organiser reserves the right to reject any entries without any assigning reasons.
Disputes:
In the event of any disputes, the Chief Arbiter’s decision is final and no further correspondence shall be entertained after the tournament.