At Rugeley Chess Club we run a number of events throughout the year. 

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Our main one being the Club Championships which runs from June - April the following year. For 2026-27 the Club Championship is being run as a 5 round Swiss Tournament. The rules are as follows:- 

 

1. ​For each round, pairings will be published at the start of the month in which the round starts. The rounds will be:-

 

Round 1 – June/July

Round 2 - August/September

Round 3 – October/November

Round 4 – December/January

Round 5 – February/March

 

If players are tied at the end of Round 5, the following finals will be played in April:

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2 players equal on points = a 2 game final. If still equal, sudden death rapid play.

3 players equal on points = an all play all. If 2 players still equal, sudden death rapid play. If 3 players still equal after all play all, return to original tournament table and apply tie break.

4 players equal on points = single-game semi-final, followed by single-game final. Parings in semi-final and colours (in semi-final and final) to be drawn. If a semi final or final is drawn, then sudden death rapid play

If 5 or more players are equal on points = the tie break will be applied as there will not be time to determine a winner by further play.

 

2. Once pairings are published, white should offer their opponent 3 dates to play the game. Black can accept a date or offer 3 alternative dates (remembering that Thursdays are also available). If no suitable date can be agreed, the Tournament Director should be informed as soon as possible.

If one player makes no attempt to arrange a game during the 2 month period, they forfeit the game. The player who attempted to arrange the game scores 1 point for the round. The player who failed to attempt to arrange the game scores 0 points for the round.

If neither player makes any attempt to arrange the game, both forfeit the game and both score 0 for the round.

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3. If there is an odd number of players in the tournament, players awarded a bye will score 1 point for that round.

 

4. Players who wish to take part in the Club Championship must advise the Tournament Director that they wish to be involved by the 24th May.

 

5. The default time control will be 80 minutes + 10 second increment (same as league matches). However, if both players agree, an alternative time control can be used so long as there is a minimum of 60 minutes on each clock.

 

6. The decision of the Tournament Director will be final in regard to the running of the Club Championship, although the Tournament Director may refer any issues to the Committee for discussion if this is felt appropriate.

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Subject to demand, our other main tournament is the Rugeley Summer Rapidplay. 

This consists of two pools of players playing it out in an all play all. Winner of Pool A will play the winner of Pool B in the final.

 

At the moment there is no plan to run the Summer Rapidplay in 2026.

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Our third tournament is the Rugeley Blitz. Held once a year shortly after the AGM. It is an All play All with all moves played in 5 minutes, no increment. We have prizes for the top three places and a few extra prizes.

 

Our final tournament is the Rugeley Christmas Crazy. Every year our resident arbiter organises a handicap tournament to give the weaker players a fair shot at the stronger ones. The normal laws of chess apply apart from the following:

1/ The greater the rating difference the less time the stronger player gets. 

 

2/ The Random rule.  

There is always an extra twist thrown in to spice things up on the night. We’ve had Random Openings for each game, No Limit, Fischer Random. What the twist is this year, nobody knows... until it’s too late. ​

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