.png){kind=logo}
For Players Aged 16 Years & Over
Great Hotel Rates & Discounted Ferry Travel
FIDE Rated but still enjoyable
Isle of Wight Chess Ocean Tournament
November 10th - 15th 2026
Thank you to the Ocean View Hotel and Wightlink Ferries for supporting the event.
This relaxed play-and-stay chess event takes place at the Ocean View Hotel in Shanklin, a classic British seaside hotel with fantastic sea views. The event will include a weekday tournament followed by a weekend congress, offering players the chance to enjoy up to 12 rounds of FIDE-rated classical chess in a friendly hotel setting.
The event is aimed at casual and club players looking for a chess holiday rather than a high-level norm event. It takes place during term time and is therefore an adult event for players aged 16 or over. Junior players are very well catered for at our February International and other local events throughout the year.
Entry Fee:
7 Round Weekday £65
5 Round Weekend Congress £45
Weekday + Congress £95
Players without an ECF Gold Membership must pay the £16.50 additional charge.
Venue and Accommodation
The Ocean View Hotel is a welcoming 3-star, ocean-facing hotel located directly above the beach, close to cafés, bars, restaurants and Shanklin’s thatched village. The playing hall is a large ballroom with sea views, connected to a spacious adjoining room with seating and a bar.
Room rates including breakfast:
£65 per night single occupancy
£90 per night for two people sharing
Room types include single, double, twin and family rooms.
Sea-view and premium upgrades may also be available.
Dinner can be added to your booking.
To book accommodation, call 01983 861 111
or email info@oceanviewhoteliow.co.uk and quote your tournament entry ticket booking number. Website: www.oceanviewhoteliow.co.uk
Register Here:
Tournament Sections & Schedule
Time control for both the Weekday & Congress 90+30 minutes.
Weekday Tournament:
Sections:
-
Open
-
Under 1900
-
Under 1600
Round Times:
We recommend traveling and staying on Monday 9th November or using a bye.
-
Round 1: 10:00, Tuesday 10th November 2026
-
Round 2: 15:00, Tuesday 10th November 2026
-
Round 3: 10:00, Wednesday 11th November 2026
-
Round 4: 15:00, Wednesday 11th November 2026
-
Round 5: 10:00, Thursday 12th November 2026
-
Round 6: 15:00, Thursday 12th November 2026
-
Round 7: 10:00, Friday 13th November 2026
Weekend Congress:
Sections:
-
Open
-
Under 1900
-
Under 1600
Round Times:
-
Round 1: 19:00, Friday 13th November 2026
-
Round 2: 10:00, Saturday 14th November 2026
-
Round 3: 15:00, Saturday 14th November 2026
-
Round 4: 10:00, Sunday 15th November 2026
-
Round 5: 15:00, Sunday 15th November 2026
Additional Information and Regulations
Chief Arbiter: Derrick Walker
Tournament Director: David Lightfoot
All games will be played in accordance with the FIDE Laws of Chess.
The rate of play for all sections is 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move. All games will be both ECF and FIDE rated.
Players without a FIN (FIDE Number and Federation) shall be registered as with England as their Federation.
Players may take up to two byes per event, excluding the final round.
Unlimited zero point byes are also available.
Where possible, players who finish within 30 minutes of the next round will be given at least a 30-minute break before their next game.
Rating will be used in the following order until a valid rating is found. Tournament rating will be based on November 1st 2026 rating. Section eligibility will be based on October 1st 2026.
-
ECF Standardplay Rating, October 2026, categories A to P
-
FIDE Standardplay Rating, October 2026
-
ECF Rapidplay Rating, October 2026, categories A to K
-
FIDE Rapidplay Rating, October 2026
Where available, a FIDE Standardplay rating will replace an ECF P rating.
Players without a rating shall have one determined for them by the tournament director using reasonable methods such as online rating or any other available chess rating. If this is not possible then the player must play in the Open section.
Weather
The Isle of Wight is often one of the warmer parts of the UK, but this is still November, so sunshine cannot be guaranteed. Expect some bright days, some rain, and plenty of good excuses to enjoy the local pubs, cafés and restaurants when you are not playing.
Travel
We strongly recommend travelling by train and ferry, which is usually cheaper and easier than bringing a car.
All players will receive a 20% Wightlink Ferry Discount code. If booking without a car, you do not need to book far in advance as the rate is fixed and around £31 return after discount without age concessions.
Recommended route:
Train to Portsmouth Harbour
Wightlink FastCat ferry to Ryde, around 22 minutes ~£31 return
Get the train to Shanklin directly as you get off the boat ~£5 and 20 mins
(Check times, usually as boat arrives).
Or bus from Ryde Esplanade (end of pier) to Shanklin, £3
Walk from Shanklin station to the hotel, around 10 minutes
Please note that you can book your FastCat ferry travel as part of your train ticket, meaning your Railcard discount can also apply to the journey.
For example, looking on 26 August for November dates, a return journey from London to Shanklin, including the ferry, is around £69 with a Network Railcard. Simply search for "Shanklin Train Station" as your final destination when booking your rail journey.
Eligible Railcards include Senior, Veterans, Network, Disabled Persons, Family & Friends, 26–30 and 16–25 Railcards.
Or take the RedJet Ferry from Southapton to Cowes, 28 mins
Bus from Cowes to Shanklin ~£3, ask for through to Shanklin - 1 hour.
If travelling by car, the hotel is able to book ferry travel for you at around a 30% discount. Please ask them when booking your stay. Car ferry return travel is usually around £90 to £120 after discount and can take up to seven passengers.
Hotel parking is reserved for playing guests staying at the venue and has around 30 spaces. There is also free on-street parking nearby, and paid car parks within a ten-minute walk.
For elderly players travelling on foot, please contact us before booking and we will try to arrange a local player car pool from the ferry to the venue for £10. If there is enough demand, we will look to arrange a minibus at set times on arrival day. Local taxis are also available for around £25.
Prizes:
Prizes are based on paid entries per section. This amount will be published live on the website and updated. It’s our hope that if the tournament becomes popular in future years, the Open section might have quite a significant prize pool. Please note a small number of helpers and invited players may not qualify as a paid entry.
Prizes will be shared equally based on points. Tie-break will determine x1 Rating prize winner.
Weekday Open
1st x 25 Entries - (£750 based on 30 entries) or (£1,250 based on 50 entries)
2nd x 6 Entries - (£180 based on 30 entries)
3rd x 4 Entries - (£120 based on 30 entries)
Rating x1 Entries - (£30 based on 30 entries)
Weekday U1900 & U1600 + Congress all Sections
1st x 5 Entries - (£150 based on 30 entries)
2nd x 3 Entries - (£90 based on 30 entries)
3rd x 1 Entries - (£30 based on 30 entries)
Rating x1 Entries - (£30 based on 30 entries)
There are no prizes currently available for the My First Tournament Unrated section.
Entries to date:
Click Section title for Chess-Results - Next update after 1st Oct.
Prizes based on entries per sections (Increases with more) See prize table
Weekday
(13) - 1st Place £325
FM Dickenson, Neil F - TR 2271 ECF
Potter, John M - TR 2206 ECF
FM Kett, Tim - TR 2173 ECF
Brown, Matthew - TR 2028P ECF
Homer, Stephen J - TR 2029 ECF
Mulleady, Peter J - TR 1969 ECF
Punnett, Alan K - TR 1960 ECF
Hunn, David - TR 1960 ECF
Welford, Richard R - TR 1844 ECF
Westcott, Dale - TR 1825 ECF
Di-Vetta, Andrew - TR 1778 ECF
Marriner, Samson - TR TBC
Lenton, Steve TR TBC
(19) - 1st Place £95
Singh, Amrik - TR 1889 ECF
Lekoudis, George - TR 1821 ECF
Moseley, Alan - TR 1809 ECF
Heatman, Jordan - TR 1797 FIDE
Bardal, Asgeir - TR 1785 FIDE
Sturt, Charles A - TR 1761 ECF
Waters, Andrew C - TR 1740 ECF
Walker, Elmira - TR 1715
McClatchey, Rob - TR 1688 ECF
Singhal, Saket - TR 1666 ECF
Flanagan, Keith - TR 1662 ECF
Waldock, Adrian DP - TR 1643 ECF
Seymour, Paul - TR 1609 ECF
Nicholas, Warner - TR 1597 ECF
Troshina, Irina - TR 1571 ECF
Moorman, Mark - TR 1575P
Read, Brandan - TR 1502 ECF
Sellen, John - TR 1397 ECF
Hill, Glyn - TR 1343 ECF
(9) - 1st Place £45
Cook, Chris - TR 1578 ECF
Aniecko, Colin - TR 1538 ECF
John, Constable - TR 1513 ECF
Taplin, William - TR 1482 ECF
Constable, Christine - TR 1441 ECF
Merikallio, Pete - TR 1302 ECF
Richardson, Steve - TR 1400 TBC
Archer, David J - TR 1297 ECF
Ash, Martin - TR TBC
Weekend Congress
(17) - 1st Place £85
FM Dickenson, Neil F - TR 2271 ECF
Potter, John M - TR 2206 ECF
FM Kett, Tim - TR 2173 ECF
Homer, Stephen J - TR 2029 ECF
Mulleady, Peter J - TR 1969 ECF
Punnett, Alan K - TR 1960
Hunn, David - TR 1960 ECF
Hordnes, Niclas - TR 1913 ECF
Best, Francis P - TR 1893
Vernon, Harry - TR 1831 ECF
Westcott, Dale - TR 1825 ECF
Heatman, Jordan - TR 1797 FIDE
Di-Vetta, Andrew - TR 1778 ECF
Moore, John J - TR 1576 ECF
Ash, Martin - TR TBC
Lenton, Steve TR TBC
Marriner, Samson - TR TBC
(16) - 1st Place £80
Singh, Amrik - TR 1889 ECF
Edney, Richard - TR 1845 ECF
Lekoudis, George - TR 1821 ECF
Moseley, Alan - TR 1809 ECF
Walker, Elmira - TR 1715
Morris, Samuel - TR 1711 ECF
Bloom, Paul - TR 1646 ECF
Flanagan, Keith - TR 1662 ECF
Waldock, Adrian DP - TR 1643 ECF
Seymour, Paul - TR 1609 ECF
Coles, Rob - TR 1592 ECF
Read, Brandan - TR 1502 ECF
Holmes, Thomas - TR 1461 ECF
Bellow, Santiago - TR 1450 ECF
Sellen, John - TR 1397 ECF
Gregg, Aiden - TR TBC
(16) - 1st Place £80
Aniecko, Colin - TR 1538 ECF
Hubbock, John - TR 1490 ECF
Constable, Christine - TR 1441 ECF
Markey, Kevin D - TR 1430 ECF
Williams, Dave - TR 1412 ECF
Shepherd, Robeena - TR 1346 ECF
Richardson, Steve - TR 1400 TBC
Mitra, Somnath - TR 1379 ECF
Hill, Glyn - TR 1343 ECF
Merikallio, Pete - TR 1302 ECF
Hampson, Kenny - TR 1281 ECF
Denford, Les - TR 1281 ECF
Buckman, Andy - TR 1234
Johnson, Mark - TR 1050P TBC
Wimble, Gary - TR 1007 ECF
Shoulders, Andrew - TR 825 ECF
