A series of tournaments will be run in Christchurch from January 2 to 12, 2022. With the new changes in the Covid restrictions, everybody can travel to this tournament if they’re CVC-compliant. More details from the organisers:
Kia ora chess clubs and chess players,
Please find attached the updated form-fillable PDF entry form/information sheet for the 129th New Zealand Congress to reflect additional Covid tournament regulations and late entry fees have been adjusted (late entry fees will only apply to entries received and paid on or after 20 December). Of particular note is that Congress and the banquet will be run under CVC compliance i.e. vaccine passes are required for all attendees including players, spectators, arbiters and officials unless a legal exemption applies (under 12 years 3 months of age, or approved exemption from the Ministry of Health – a recent negative Covid test is not sufficient).
Canterbury Chess Club and NZCF acknowledge and thank our supporters and sponsors: Respectrum Insurance (specialists in business insurance), Nail Perfect NZ (wholesale beauty supplies), Chessventures (chess coaching, tournament, equipment and books), Kiwi Gaming Foundation, Christchurch City Council and the Racecourse Hotel and Motor Lodge (the hotel directly across the road).
We have negotiated a cheap rate of $120/night from the Racecourse Hotel and Motor Lodge – players should contact them via their website at https://racecoursehotel.co.nz/ and advise that they are attending the chess tournament. Note the while previously this was advertised as a popular time of year for the hotel, the Racecourse Hotel has seen a lot of Covid disruption (like many other hotels), so they ask that when players book, they indicate potential restaurant reservations if possible to help planning of staffing and supplies.
The form can also be downloaded from the NZCF calendar page – www.newzealandchess.co.nz and the calendar link is to the left (Vega links with up-to-date entries are also there for viewing). Other accommodation options are also linked on the Canterbury Chess Club website – www.chess.org.nz/congress .
All events are NZCF and FIDE-rated where possible, with standard NZ classical, rapid and lightning time controls, and master points and serious chess are both available.
Congress will be held at Riccarton Park (www.riccartonpark.nz), 165 Riccarton Racecourse Road, Sockburn, Christchurch, and the events and dates will be:
- NZ Championship & Major Open – 2-10 January, 1 round per day starting at 2pm
- NZ Junior and Age Group Championships – 3-9 January, 1 round per day starting at 9:00am
- Canterbury Open – 3-9 January, 1 round per day starting at 9:00am
- Banquet Dinner & Prizegiving – 10 January from 6:30pm, prizegiving at approximately 8pm
- NZ Lightning Championship – 11 January in the morning
- NZ Rapid Championship – 11 January in the afternoon and 12 January
- AGM and workshops – 11 January in the evening
The prize fund is still $10,000 and the highest-placed NZ players in the official NZCF tournaments are eligible for NZ titles, including the NZ Champion, NZ Major Open Champion, NZ Junior and Age Group Champions, NZ Rapid Champion and NZ Lightning Champion.
If you could bring this to your members’ attention, that would be gratefully appreciated.
All the best,
Craig Hall
Canterbury Chess Club Secretary
E: canterbury@chess.org.nz
Attachment: https://www.aucklandchess.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Congress2022EntryForm-Fillable-Revised-For-Covid.pdf
