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IOW 2025 INTERNATIONAL LOGO TEXT ONLY BLACK copy.png
Entry all sections + £10 after 1st Dec 2024
 
9 ROUND MASTERS
6 ROUND U2000  
WEEKEND CONGRESS

 
30 MINS FROM PORTSMOUTH 
HOTELS FROM £35pn & DISCOUNTED FERRY CROSSING

With thanks to sponsors:

Player images curtesy of Chessbase, Wikipedia and John Upham/ British Chess News, Dennis Dicen

The Isle of Wight International Chess Tournament Feb 2025

The Island will host elite chess players from across the globe in a six day, nine round tournament. Ryde is a sea side town with many hotels and Airbnbs, currently you can get rooms in the Ryde Travelodge for £35 per night. See full travel info and suggested hotels here. If traveling by car you are never more than a 45 min drive from the venue. Newport has many more hotels and is around a 20 min drive away.

 

The Isle of Wight Masters has a £4,000+ prize pool and norm chances, aiming to attract a large number of Grandmasters and other titled players. Players over 1600 FIDE are eligible to enter.

The Visit IOW "Holiday" U2000 will also see a strong field competing over six rounds, Tues - Fri.  This is not a norms event but it is a fantastic opportunity for junior and casual players to gain experience playing in a longer competition over the February half term break.

The event culminates with the five round Wightlink Congress, which is a perfect bolt on for players taking part in the U2000 tournament.

Players will also have the chance to compete for additional cash prizes with three separate Blitz events. The Friday afternoon session being perfect for people finishing the U2000 and early enough for anyone arriving for the Congress.

The event welcomes junior players. There is a large viewing platform looking over the main playing area and a café where parents can wait. One parent must remain within the school grounds. We have side events to occupy parents and you will be able to watch the games on screens in the venue.

International Arbiter, Shohreh Bayat, is once again is in charge and we already have an excellent line up of players including 12 Grandmasters. All games will be FIDE and ECF Rated. There will be a large number of LiveBoards providing most players the opportunity to play and have their games broadcast live on chess.com and Lichess.

Venue: The Ryde School, Ryde Isle of Wight

Ryde School has over 17 acres of beautiful grounds with stunning Solent views and great modern facilities.

There's a large and free car park at the venue with 50 spaces.

The school is very close to ferry services, on the main bus route and a short walk from our recommended hotels. Players will play across multiple locations within the school.

The school cricket pavilion café will be open, serving reasonably priced meals and snacks, the analysis room will be here.

The school is a short walk back to town which is full of bars, cafes and restaurants.

There will be a Chess & Bridge shop open throughout the tournament in the main school reception and entrance.

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Travel & Accommodation

Our sponsors Wightlink, have generously provided a 20% discount on both foot and car ferry travel.  A 50% discount is available to first 50 players in the Masters. We will email these unique codes to registered players towards the end of this year. We hope to be able to offer a fixed Ferry rate for return car crossings soon. Please note that up to x7 passengers can travel on one Car Ferry booking. Many local hotels also offer deals of Car crossings with your stay.

Hotels: Ryde is a seaside destination with many local hotels and great rates out of season. Also lot's of Airbnb and traditional B&B. See the list below and click to book directly. We have limited rooms avail at a local hotel which you can pay a deposit on while booking your ticket.

 

​Ryde is also connected by train (Sandown & Shanklin) and has great bus links, so if you did want to stay further out and see more of the island, you are never more than 1 hour from the venue.

If driving there are x4 large Away resorts on the Island. These are higher end Caravans and Chalets, (Hot tub optional!). On your ticket confirmation email there is a 5% discount Code (the 15% offer has now expired) for Away Resorts. This allows a family of x4 to stay for 6 nights for around £330 or less. Whitecliff Bay and St Helens are both within a 20 minute drive of the venue. This discount also applies for shorter stays for other the Congress and U2000 tournament.

How to get here:

The easiest route is from Portsmouth Harbour Train station. The train stops right outside the Ferry Terminal which is itself within the station.

Foot Passengers: Use the FastCat (22 mins) - From Portsmouth to Ryde. £31 return after 20% discount.

Ferry's depart just after the hour at either 15 or 20 past. Try to arrive around the hour mark by train to avoid waiting around. Ferry time table. 

 

You will arrive on Ryde Pier, a train usually departs approx. 5 mins later which will take you to the end of the pier. Alternatively, weather and luggage depending this is a fantastic 10 min walk down the pier. You can also book a local cab by using the taxi phone in the Portsmouth terminal.

Car travel: A similar discount is available for car travel or foot passengers on the car ferry (45 mins). This travels from Portsmouth (different departure terminal) to Fishbourne, which is a 10 minute drive from the venue. Many local hotels offer discounted car crossings, check these as it may be better than our 50% or 20% discount.

Private Boat/ Sail Boat: For the more nautically inclined, Ryde Marina has reasonable mooring rates: 01983 613879.

Airports: Gatwick Airport is the nearest large London airport and approx. 90 mins by train. You can also fly to Southampton Airport then get the train to Portsmouth (though flights are normally more expensive). London Heathrow is approx. 2 hours to Portsmouth.

We have secured fantastic rates with a local hotel:

4 star seafront hotel including a cooked breakfast. For any duration during the tournament.

 

The hotel is near the beach and the main bus and train station. This is immediately after you come off the pier if travelling by Fast Cat Ferry. It's a 10/15 min walk slightly uphill to the venue, the local bus stop is outside and you can go directly to the venue in 10 mins for £2.

www.royalesplanadehotel.co.uk

 

  • £55 Per night single room, x1 person

  • £82 Per night Double/Twin x 2 persons

 

Upgrade supplements available:

  • Premier Twin/Double £10 per room per night

  • Premier Twin/Double Sea View £20 per room per night

  • Superior Twin/Double Sea View £35.00 per room per night

 

These are available until they sell out. You must call or email and use the discount code provided on your player entry confirmation. The deposit is £25.

Paid parking is available nearby or you can park at the playing venue for free. Please be aware that the playing venue car park will be locked after play so you will not be able to access your car until the next morning. The event is on until late most days.

Many other hotels and various room sizes are also available, see the list below for contact info. Click to go directly to the hotel website. 

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HOTELS

Nearby Hotels to book directly:

Event Details:

OPEN 25
INTERNATIONAL MASTERS
9 ROUNDS - NORM CHANCES

18 - 23 Feb 2025

Capacity x112

 

90+30

FIDE & ECF RATED

2 byes allowed for 0.5 points each

(1 bye if conditions provided)

Not in the final round

GM,WGM

Contact hello@iowchess.com to apply, set number of conditions available

 

IM/WIM or 2400+ £50

(Conditions may be avail from your Federation)

 

FM/WFM or 2300+ £95

2000 to 2299 £125

1600 to 1999 £175

1600 to 2400 Women's Player £75

Under 1600 - Not Eligible

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PRIZES
£4,000

​1st £1500 + Trophy​

2nd £750

3rd £500

4th £300

5th £150

​Rating Prizes (by tie break):

 

Highest placing 2100 to 2299 £100 

Highest placing 1900 to 2099 £100

Highest placing Under 1899  £100

(Based on FIDE rating)

​​

Best Woman £250

2nd Best Woman £100

(As determined by ECF/FIDE Profile)

Best Under 18 £100

Best over 55+ £100​

Players on tied points will split the prize pool. 

(For example if x3 players come 1st, they will split £2,750 and the next player will be 4th.)

The trophy will go to the winner by tie break ranking.

 Players are eligible for one cash prize and will receive the highest of these. 

None placing prizes are determined by tie break.

None FIDE rated players are not eligible for rating prizes.

Prize pool subject to minimum player capacity being achieved.

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PRIZES
£1,500

1st £300 + Trophy​

2nd £225

3rd £125

4th £100

​Rating Prizes:

Highest placing 1600 to to 1799 £100

2nd highest placing 1600 to to 1799 £75

(Based on highest of ECF & FIDE rating)

 

Highest placing 1400 to to 1599 £100

2nd highest placing 1400 to to 1599 £75

(Based on highest of ECF & FIDE rating)

Highest placing Under 1399 £100

2nd highest placing Under 1399 £75

(Based on highest of ECF & FIDE rating)

 

Best Woman £75

(As determined by ECF/FIDE Profile)

Best Under 18 £75

Best over 55+ £75

Final ranking determined by tie break. Players are eligible for one cash prize. 

Unrated (ECF & FIDE)  players are not eligible for rating prizes and will receive 50% of cash prizes.

Prize pool subject to minimum player capacity being achieved.

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HOLIDAY U2000
6 ROUNDS 

18 - 21 FEB 2025

Capacity x120

 

90+30

FIDE & ECF RATED

2 byes allowed for 0.5 points each

(Not in the final round)​​

Entrants

£65

£45 Women's Player

Gain experience playing in a longer tournament format and test your skills over the four day event.

 

A professional tournament structure for the amateur player with prizes available for all levels. Your games will coincide with the elite players in the Open.

When you finish you can watch the top table games in a 250 seat theatre or on the live broadcast screens.

U2000 25
CONGRESS 25
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CONGRESS
5 ROUNDS - OPEN, MAJOR, MINOR
ALL SECTIONS NOW FIDE RATED

21 - 23 FEB 2025

Capacity x120

 

All Entrants

£45

1 bye allowed for 0.5 points 

(Not in the final round)

Open 

90+30 

ECF/FIDE

U1850

75+30 

ECF/FIDE

U1550

75+30

FIDE/ECF

​​

(Tournament entry based on highest of  FIDE/ECF rating. You will be moved up to the relevant section according to rating 1st Feb 2025. You may play in a higher section than your rating if you wish to.

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PRIZES
£2,000

OPEN

1st £250 + Trophy

2nd £175

3rd £150

4th to 8th

Chess and Bridge Goody Bag 

​Rating Prizes:

Highest placing

Under 2000 £75

2nd highest placing

Under 2000 £50

(Based on highest of ECF & FIDE rating)

 

Best Woman £50

(As determined by ECF/FIDE Profile)

Best Under 18 £50

Best over 55+ £50

U1850

1st £175 + Trophy

2nd £150

3rd £100

4th to 8th

Chess and Bridge Goody Bag 

​Rating Prizes:

Highest placing

Under 1700 £50

Highest placing

Under 1600 £50

(Based on highest of ECF & FIDE rating)

 

Best Woman £25

(As determined by ECF/FIDE Profile)

Best Under 18 £25

Best over 55+ £25

U1550

1st £125 + Trophy

2nd £75

3rd £50

4th to 8th

Chess and Bridge Goody Bag 

Best Woman £25

(As determined by ECF/FIDE Profile)

Best Under 18 £25

Best over 55+ £25

Final ranking determined by tie break. Players are eligible for one cash prize. 

Unrated players are not eligible for rating prizes and will receive 50% of cash prizes.

Prize pool subject to minimum player capacity being achieved.

BLITZ 25
IMG_4224.HEIC
3 PRIZE POOLS
£1,000

Each Event:

1st £100 + Trophy​

2nd £75

3rd £50

Highest placing U2000 £50​​

Highest placing U1500 £50

(Based on highest of ECF & FIDE Blitz rating)

Final ranking determined by tie break. Players are eligible for one cash prize. 

Unrated players are not eligible for rating prizes and will receive 50% of cash prizes.

Prize pool subject to minimum player capacity being achieved.

BLITZ
7 ROUNDS 
3 EVENTS

19, 21 & 22 FEB 2025

 

Capacity x112 per event

3 Separate Events!

£39 Blitz Pass

£29 Weekend Blitz (Fri & Sat)

Or £17 individually

Wednesday 19th Feb 5+3

6pm - 8.30pm

Friday 21st Feb 5+3

3pm - 5.30pm

Saturday 22nd Feb 5+3

8pm - 10.30pm

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