Cheques should be made payable to Hastings International Chess Congress. Entries should be sent to the Congress Director (address given below). If a written acknowledgement of an entry is required a stamped addressed envelope must be enclosed.
The Congress reserves the right to refuse any entry. Except in such cases, a deduction of 20% will normally be made from any refund of entry fee. Refunds will be made only if notification of withdrawal is received by the Director no later than 22 December 2018. Late entries will invoke a late entry fee of £10 to the Masters and £6 to other tournaments for entries postmarked after 10 December 2018 (or 23 December 2018 for the Weekend Tournaments).
Eligibility to play in an event will be determined by the Grading and Rating lists as of 1 December 2018. The actual grade or rating used for all other purposes will be the most up-to-date value available on the first day of each event.
Visas
Players needing visas should apply by 19 November 2018. For a formal invitation contact Pam Thomas Tel: 01424 445348 Email: pae123@aol.com
Evening events
There will be a number of special evening events such as blitz or pairs tournaments. Further details will be announced in the programme and on this website.
Information for overseas players
It is better to fly to Gatwick as there is a direct rail link to Hastings. Those arriving at Heathrow or Stansted airports should travel to Charing Cross Station and those coming from Luton airport should travel via St.Pancras International and then to Hastings via Ashford high speed service. Players from London should travel on the direct trains from Charing Cross, Waterloo East or London Bridge stations. National Express Coaches also have a daily service between London and Hastings. Further information at
www.nationalexpress.com
Overseas players are also advised that they should expect to pay a minimum of £40 per person per night for bed and breakfast accommodation in Hastings. Please note that players are responsible for their own insurance against damage or loss to personal property. Hastings Borough Council website – www.visit1066country.com – gives information on all aspects of the town including accommodation and travel.
Congress Director: Alan Hustwayte, 54 Oxford Road, St.Leonards on Sea, East Sussex TN38 9EY Tel: 01424 443300 Email: alan.hustwayte@yahoo.com
Please note that when the Congress Director is unavailable queries should be addressed to Pam Thomas
Tel: 01424 445348 Email: pae123@aol.com
Announcements to all participants
Electronic devices such as mobile phones must be completely switched off and placed in a bag under the player’s table. The bag must not be moved at any time during the game.
Default time – players arriving 30 minutes or more after the start of a session in any tournament shall lose by forfeit, unless the arbiter decides otherwise.
Refreshments while at the board – players must confine their refreshments to tea, coffee and cold drinks.
Juniors are players under 18 years on 28 December 2018
The Maureen Charlesworth Trophy will be awarded for the most meritorious performance by a local player. Further details will appear in the programme.
Playing venue – the Horntye Park Sports Complex, Bohemia Road, Hastings TN34 1EX Telephone: 01424 716666 is one of the best regular chess venues with excellent lighting. It is just over 1km from the town centre and is shown on the map on this site. Bus services run from the town centre to the venue. There is adequate car-parking space. The playing venue is accessible to players with disabilities, and includes toilet facilities for the disabled and a lift between floors.
Catering will be available during most of the playing times.
Subject to confirmation on this website, the telephone number of the chess office at Horntye Park will be 0758 214 9239 from 28th December 2018.
Players should note that under UK law smoking is banned in all inside areas of Horntye Park Sports Complex. This also includes e-cigarettes.
PLAYERS REPRESENTATIVE
The Hastings Chess Congress Committee includes a Players’ Representative. Nominations are invited for this post for the forthcoming year. Nominees must have played in at least two of the last four Hastings Congresses including this one. Nominations may be made before the
Congress in writing or by email. These will be shown on the Congress website. Nominations may also be made at the Congress before 31st December, 2018. Voting will take place during the Congress after that date.