The 50th Guernsey International Chess Festival | 1 - 7 November 2026
The 50th edition of the Guernsey International Chess Festival has come to an exciting conclusion, celebrating another fantastic gathering of chess players from near and far. In the Open Section, Katarzyna Toma took first place, with Polle van Arendonk finishing in second place and Karsten Dam securing third. In the Challengers Section, Peter Kirby claimed…
Read moreAfter some technical challenges the Blits tournament finally started around 8:30. Time control was 3 minutes + 2 seconds/move. There were 18 participants. Four of them were not playing in the festival. At the start of the 9th (and last) round there were still 3 potential winners: Arita Strade, Polle van Arendonk and Karsten Dam.…
Read moreOn what was once the website of the chess festival, Fred Hamperl is sitll maintaining a complete history of all played results. In older years even with game notations. If you are interested in statistics, numbers of appearences, numbers of participants, the statistics page contains lots of information. http://www.guernseychessclub.org.gg/festival/history.htm
Read moreWednesday at 8:00 PM we will do a new attempt for the Blitztournament. Still 3min + 2sec/move Please register with the arbiter (Geert Bailleul) or on the list that will be posted in the playing hall.
Read moreThe 50th Guernsey International Chess Festival has started with 62 participants devided in an Open and a Challengers group. The tournament has returned to the Peninsula Hotel after 2 years of covid and 4 years in St. James.
Read moreThe blitz tournament will be held on Saturday evening 31th October (8:00 PM) Time control is 3 minutes + 2 seconds per move. To subscribe, just come to the playing area 30 minutes before the start (or earlier) The is no subscription fee.
Read moreUK Ferry Timetables Finally Released Good news for players travelling to the Guernsey Chess Festival (1–7 November 2026): the ferry timetable for the start of November has finally been published. Brittany Ferries has now released its winter 2026–27 schedule, covering travel from 1 November 2026 onwards. This includes services between the UK and Guernsey, with…
Read moreImportant Information for Participants If you are travelling to Guernsey to participate in the tournament, please be aware of a recent change in UK and Channel Islands entry requirements. From 2026, many visitors from Europe and other countries are required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling to Guernsey. This system has been…
Read moreThe last game of round five has finished and the results of the fifth round of play are now available at Open Tournament – Round 6 and Challenger Tournament – Round 6 Pairings for the fourth rounds are also available at chess-results.com at Open Tournament – Seventh Round Pairings and Challenger Tournament – Seventh Round…
Read moreThe last game of round five has finished and the results of the fifth round of play are now available at Open Tournament – Round 5 and Challenger Tournament – Round 5 Pairings for the fourth rounds are also available at chess-results.com at Open Tournament – Sixth Round Pairings and Challenger Tournament – Sixth Round…
Read moreThe last game of round three has finished and the results of the third round of play are now available at Open Tournament – Round 3 and Challenger Tournament – Round 3 Pairings for the fourth rounds are also available at chess-results.com at Open Tournament – Fourth Round Pairings and Challenger Tournament – Fourth Round…
Read moreThe last game of round three has finished and the results of the third round of play are now available at Open Tournament – Round 3 and Challenger Tournament – Round 3 Pairings for the fourth rounds are also available at chess-results.com at Open Tournament – Fourth Round Pairings and Challenger Tournament – Fourth Round…
Read moreThe last game of round two has finished after 108 moves and the results of the second rounds of play are now available at Open Tournament – Round 2 and Challenger Tournament – Round 2 Pairings for the third rounds are also avaalabe at chess-results.com at Open Tournament – Third Round Pairings and Challenger Tournament –…
Read moreThe results of the first rounds of play are available at Open Tournament – Round 1 and Challenger Tournament – Round 1 Pairings for the second rounds are also avaalabe at chess-results.com at Open Tournament – Second Round Pairings and Challenger Tournament – Second Round Pairings
Read moreRegistration is now open for the The 49th BWCI Guernsey International Chess Festival | 19 – 25 October 2025 and early bird discounted tickets are available at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-49th-bwci-guernsey-international-chess-festival-2025-tickets-1309550584049 until the end of April 2025.
Read more48th BWCI Guernsey International Chess Festival – Prize Winners 2024 We are very happy to announce the winners in the following categories were: Open Tournament Category Place Name Country Open Tournament 1st Arita Strade Guernsey =1st Katarzyna Toma England =3rd Keith Arkell England =3rd Peter Kirby Guernsey …
Read moreThe seventh and final round of the 48th BWCI Guernsey International Chess Festival starts at 09:30 today. In the Open Tournament WFM Olivia Smith (WLS) leads the field, half a point ahead of Gunnar Johnsen (NOR), WFM Arita Strade (GCI), WGM Katarzyna Toma (ENG) & Peter Kirby (GCI). In the Challengers Tournament Pierre Moyroud…
Read moreThe sixth round of the 48th BWCI Guernsey International Chess Festival starts at 14:00 today. In the Open Tournament WFM Olivia Smith (WLS) leads the field, half a point ahead of GM Keith Arkell (ENG) who is ahead of Gunnar Johnsen (NOR) on tiebreaks. In the Challengers Tournament Pierre Moyroud (FRA) leads by tiebreaks…
Read moreThe third round of the 48th BWCI Guernsey International Chess Festival came to a close a short while ago. The Open Tournament third round results are available here. Fourth round pairings for the Open Tournament are available here. The Challenger Tournament third round results are available here. Fourth round pairings for the Challenger Tournament are available…
Read moreA great day of chess today with the second round of the 48th BWCI Guernsey International Chess Festival coming to a close a short while ago. The Open Tournament second round results are available here. Third round pairings for the Open Tournament are available here. The Challenger Tournament second round results are available here. Third round…
Read moreA great day of chess today with the first round of the 48th BWCI Guernsey International Chess Festival coming to a close a short while ago. The Open Tournament first round results are available here. Second round pairings for the Open Tournament are available here. The Challenger Tournament first round results are available here. Second round…
Read more47th BWCI Guernsey International Chess Festival – Prize Winners 2023 We are very happy to announce the winners in the following categories were: Open Tournament 1st IM Harry Grieve =1st GM Keith Arkell =1st Daniel Gormally Ladies Prize 1st Rosemary Giulian 2nd Arita Strade Veterans Prize…
Read moreAnother great day of chess today with the sixth round of the 47th BWCI Guernsey International Chess Festival coming to a close a short while ago. The Open Tournament sixth round results are available here. Seventh round pairings for the Open Tournament are available here. The Challenger Tournament sixth round results are available here.…
Read moreAnother great day of chess yesterday with the fifth round of the 47th BWCI Guernsey International Chess Festival coming to a close yesterday evening. The Open Tournament fifth round results are available here. Sixth round pairings for the Open Tournament are available here. The Challenger Tournament fifth round results are available here. Sixth…
Read moreAnother great day of chess today with the fourth round of the 47th BWCI Guernsey International Chess Festival coming to a close a short while ago. The Open Tournament fourth round results are available here. Fifth round pairings for the Open Tournament are available here. The Challenger Tournament fourth round results are available here.…
Read moreAnother great day of chess today with the fourth round of the 47th BWCI Guernsey International Chess Festival coming to a close a short while ago. The Open Tournament third round results are available here. Fourth round pairings for the Open Tournament are available here. The Challenger Tournament third round results are available here.…
Read moreAnother great day of chess today with the second round of the 47th BWCI Guernsey International Chess Festival coming to a close a short while ago. The Open Tournament first round results are available here. Second round pairings for the Open Tournament are available here. The Challenger Tournament first round results are available here. Second round…
Read moreA great day of chess today with the first round of the 47th BWCI Guernsey International Chess Festival coming to a close a short while ago. The Open Tournament first round results are available here. Second round pairings for the Open Tournament are available here. The Challenger Tournament first round results are available here. Second round…
Read moreBlitz Tournament The organising committee for the 47th BWCI Guernsey International Chess Festival is pleased to announce that there will be a Blitz Tournament held at St. James on Saturday 14th October starting at 19:00. 1st PRIZE: £75.00, 2nd PRIZE: £50.00, 3rd PRIZE: £25:00Additional Chessable prizes in addition to the cash prizes. TIME CONTROL: 3…
Read moreIM Brandon Clarke The organising committee for the 47th BWCI Guernsey International Chess Festival is sorry to announce that English IM Brandon Clarke will be not be participating in this year’s event. Due to a scheduling conflict Brandon has to withdraw from the tournament.
Read moreIM Harry Grieve The organising committee for the 47th BWCI Guernsey International Chess Festival is pleased to announce that English IM Harry Grieve will be participating in this year’s event. Harry became an IM In 2022 and has 2 GM norms (in British Championship 2022 and 4NCL 2022-23). He was UK Chess Challenge Champion 2017,…
Read moreGM Keith Arkell The organising committee for the 47th BWCI Guernsey International Chess Festival is pleased to announce that English GM Keith Arkell will be participating in this year’s event. Keith has been winning 10 or more tournaments a year for 45 years. Best recent results include jointly winning Vienna Open with 7.5/9, ahead of…
Read moreGM Daniel Gormally The organising committee for the 47th BWCI Guernsey International Chess Festival is pleased to announce that English GM Daniel Gormally will be participating in this year’s event. In November 2006 Daniel was joint winner of the British Rapidplay Chess Championship. In 2015 he tied for the second place with David Howell and Nicholas…
Read moreIM Brandon Clarke The organising committee for the 47th BWCI Guernsey International Chess Festival is pleased to announce that English IM Brandon Clarke will be participating in this year’s event. Brandon is a former British Junior Champion, Australian Blitz Champion and New Zealand Champion His career highlights include winning the UK Chess Challenge, playing in…
Read moreGuernsey International Chess Festival – Prize Winners 2022 We are very happy to announce the winners in the following categories were: Open 1st GM Boris Chatalbashev 2nd GM Mark Hebden 3rd Gunnar Johnsen, John Wager & Harry Zheng Ladies Prize IM Harriet Hunt & WGM Sheila…
Read moreSeventh Round Results With the seventh round of the 46th Guernsey International Chess Festival completed, there is just one round left! The seventh round results are available here. The final standings after the seven rounds of the 46th Guernsey International Chess Festival are available here. We would like to thank our partners & supporters for helping to…
Read moreSeventh Round Pairings With the sixth round of the 46th Guernsey International Chess Festival completed, there is just one round left! The sixth round results are available here. Seventh round pairings for the 46th Guernsey International Chess Festival are available here. We would like to thank our partners & supporters for helping to make this happen.
Read moreSixth Round Pairings With the fifth round of the 46th Guernsey International Chess Festival completed, we have now passed the halfway point in the tournament. The fifth round results are available here. Sixth round pairings for the 46th Guernsey International Chess Festival are available here. We would like to thank our partners & supporters for helping to…
Read moreFifth Round Pairings With the fourth round of the 46th Guernsey International Chess Festival completed, we have now passed the halfway point in the tournament. The fourth round results are available here. Fifth round pairings for the 46th Guernsey International Chess Festival are available here. We would like to thank our partners & supporters for helping to…
Read moreFourth Round Pairings Another great day of chess today with the third round of the 46th Guernsey International Chess Festival coming to a close. The third round results are available at http://chess-results.com/tnr628064.aspx?lan=1&art=2&rd=3 Fourth round pairings for the 46th Guernsey International Chess Festival are available here. We would like to thank our partners & supporters for…
Read moreThird Round Pairings Another great day of chess today with the second round of the 46th Guernsey International Chess Festival coming to a close. The second round results are available at https://chess-results.com/tnr628064.aspx?lan=1&art=2&rd=2 Third round pairings for the 46th Guernsey International Chess Festival are available here. We would like to thank our partners & supporters for…
Read moreSecond Round Pairings A great day of chess today with the first round of the 46th Guernsey International Chess Festival coming to a close a short while ago. The first round results are available at http://chess-results.com/tnr628064.aspx?lan=1&art=2&rd=1 Second round pairings for the 46th Guernsey International Chess Festival are available at http://chess-results.com/tnr628064.aspx?lan=1&art=2&rd=2 We would like to thank…
Read moreFirst Round Pairings It’s looking like it will be an exciting day of chess tomorrow. First round pairings for the 46th Guernsey International Chess Festival are available at http://chess-results.com/tnr628064.aspx?lan=1&art=2&rd=1 We would like to thank our partners & supporters for helping to make this happen.
Read moreGM Boris Chatalbashev The organising committee for the 46th Guernsey International Chess Festival as pleased to announce that Danish GM Boris Chatalbashev will be participating in this year’s event. He is a four times Bulgarian champion winning in 1991, 1998, 2007 & 2010. Winner of over 50 open tournaments in classical chess over the years,…
Read moreGM Mark Hebden The organising committee for the 46th Guernsey International Chess Festival is pleased to announce that English GM Mark Hebden will be participating in this year’s event.. In addition to winning the Open Section of the Guernsey International Chess Festival in 2015 and 2019, Mark is the current English 50+ Champion, winning the…
Read moreIM Harriet Hunt The organising committee for the 46th Guernsey International Chess Festival are pleased to announce that English IM Harriet Hunt will be participating in this year’s event. Harriet is the current British Ladies Champion, having won the title five times (1995, 1996, 1997, 1999 & 2021). Her career highlights including winning the World…
Read moreWGM Sheila Jackson The organising committee for the 46th Guernsey International Chess Festival are pleased to announce that English WGM Sheila Jackson will be participating in this year’s event. Sheila is a four-time winner of the British Women’s Chess Championship (1975, 1978, 1980, 1981), is also a double Olympiad Silver Medallist (individual Silver Lucerne 1982…
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