National Seniors Chess Championship 2025

Eligibility: Individuals aged 50 and above (Born on or before 31 Dec 1975), Singaporeans, PRS, or players with SGP flag on FIDE website. 

The highest ranked Singaporean/PR shall be crowned National Champion. 

Dates: 23 April – 4 May 2025

Format and Time Control: 

1. Default format: Open FIDE Rated, 7 Rounds Swiss, 90 minutes + 30 second increment from move 1 
2. Tournament format may be adjusted to a round robin format in the event that we have 8 or less participants
3. Tournament may be cancelled if there are 5 or less participants. 

Venue: SCF, 51 Bishan Street 13, #02-01A SIGC (Bishan CC), Singapore 579799

Entry Fee: Free

Closing date: 31 March, 6pm

Click here for Registration Form

Schedule (to be confirmed one day after the closing date):

Date	Time	Event
23rd April (Wed)	6.45pm	Arbiter’s Briefing
	7.00pm	Round 1
24th April (Thur)	7.00pm	Round 2
25th April (Fri)	7.00pm	Round 3
27th April (Sun)	1.30pm	Round 4
29th April (Tue)	7.00pm	Round 5
2nd May (Fri)	7.00pm	Round 6
4th May (Sun)	1.30pm	Round 7
	6.30pm	Prize Ceremony

Bye Allowance
Players may take up to 2 half point byes within rounds 1-5.
Any players who need to take byes should inform the Tournament Director/Chief Arbiter before pairings are launched

Prizes:
1st – $600
2nd – $500
3rd – $400
4th – $300
5th – $200
6-10th – $100

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 

1.  SCF shall appoint 3 members to form the Appeals Committee.
2. 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.
3. Fees shall be refunded if the appeal is upheld, and forfeited if appeal is deemed unsuccessful.
4. The ruling of the Appeals Committee is FINAL and no further correspondence shall be entertained.

Fair Play

1. Only writing material and personal medication is allowed in the playing area.
2. 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.
3. The playing area is defined as the area where boards are set up and numbered for contestants to play at. At SCF, this will be the classrooms and function room.
4. At the entrance of the playing venue, Arbiters and Fair Play Officers reserve the right to search players via metal detector or manual means.
5. Arbiters and Fair Play Officers may conduct searches at any point before, during or after the game.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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 1 hour. Absence after 1 hour will be declared a default loss.