North Island Championships 2025

Friday July 4th 2025 – Monday July 7th

Organised by: New Plymouth Chess Club

Venue: Vogeltown Bowling Club rooms, 26 Norman Street, Lower Vogeltown, New Plymouth

Schedule: Two rounds per day, starting at 9:30 AM and 2:30 PM.

Format: Single group, eight-round, open Swiss. Time control: 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move from the first move.

Entry Fee: $100 Adults, $80 Juniors (born 2005 or later). Free entry will be given to the first 10 entries received from players with a FIDE standard rating of 1850 or over at the time of entry. See further details below. (NB: all free entries have now been taken)

Rating: NZCF and FIDE rated where possible. Non-NZL players must have or obtain a FIDE ID from their national federation.

Pairings and Rating-Based Prizes: NZCF ratings will be used for pairings and rating-based prizes. Players without ratings may be assigned a rating by the Chief Arbiter. The most recently published rating lists will be used – this will be the 2025-2 rating list to 30 June 2025 if available (if not then the 2025-1 list to 31 March will be used – that is what is currently loaded into the Vega files)

Half-point Byes: Up to two half point byes are available in any of the first four rounds. Notice should be given before the start of the tournament and can be given on the entry form.

Prize Fund: Guaranteed prize fund of $4,000 with first prize of $1,200. See further details below.

How to Enter
You can enter online (preferred) or by emailing the New Plymouth Chess Club. If you want to be considered for a free entry then you MUST enter online.

To enter by email:  NI Chess Champs 2025 Entry Flyer V2
To enter online: use this link: Online Entry

Further Details
There will be a players’ meeting at 9:00 AM on the first day. Players not present at the players meeting will not be paired in the first round unless the chief arbiter decides otherwise.

The North Island champion will be the highest-placed New Zealand player who is a member of a North Island club or lives in the North Island if not a member of any club.

Free entry will be given to the first 10 entries received from players with a FIDE standard rating of 1850 or over at the time of entry. Players need to provide their FIDE ID on entry to qualify. Non-NZL players must be present in NZ at the time of entry to qualify. The entry fee will be deducted from any prize money won at the rate of 50 cents for each dollar won. The closing date for entries is Wednesday 2nd July or when the venue capacity (60 players) is reached, if earlier.

Only one cash prize may be won.

Prize giving will take place as soon as possible after completion of the final round.

Prize Fund

Overall

• 1st $1,200
• 2nd 500
• 3rd 300

B Grade (rated < 1800)

• 1st $600
• 2nd $350
• 3rd $150

C Grade (rated < 1500)

• 1st 350
• 2nd $250
• 3rd $100

Top Taranaki Player $200 (highest-placed Taranaki resident)

The organiser reserves the right to alter grade boundaries if the numbers entered in any rating group would otherwise result in an unfair distribution of prize money.

VEGA Files and results here