The Wightlink Isle of Wight Chess Congress will be held at the Ryde Castle Hotel from Friday 19th to Sunday 21st April 2024.
The organisers invite all island chess players to get involved and help establish the Isle of Wight as a leading chess destination in the UK chess circuit.
Book now
The tournament has capacity for 72 players in total, be sure to book your spot in advance to avoid disappointment.
The Open section is filling up fast with former English Chess Champion, GM Keith Arkell leading the way.
Williams: Shaping up to be a superb event
David Williams, head of marketing at Wightlink Ferries commented,
“Wightlink Ferries are delighted to support the Isle of Wight Chess Congress this April.
“The Congress is shaping up to be a superb event, with interest from many high level UK competitors, we very much look forward to this being a successful Congress and putting the Isle of Wight on the map as more than just a wonderful holiday destination.”
High profile arbiter secured
Tournament Director, David Lightfoot, commented,
“It’s amazing to see such support for the event already, the Island has a thriving chess community and we can’t wait to welcome some of the best players from around the country.
“Our chief Arbiter for the event is Shohreh Bayat, who was in charge of the Women’s World Championship Final in 2020 and can be seen at most high profile UK events.”
Lightfoot: We couldn’t have hoped for a better start
David went on to add,
“We also have a few titled players now signed up to play, including a former English Champion. We couldn’t have hoped for a better start and it firmly establishes the IOW as a serious contender in chess tournaments.
“It’s our hope we can grow this, year on year, and start to rival the large event held on the Isle of Man, possibly attracting thousands of visitors outside of the main season.”
Find out more
The tournament has different entry points to accommodate all levels of play, if you are a keen player or just starting out, check out our website for more information.
News shared by David on behalf of
