The 130th New Zealand Chess Congress is set to take place from 2-12th January at the Wellington Bridge Club, 17 Tinakori Road, Thorndon in Wellington.
The Congress consist of five events:
- New Zealand Championship 2023
- Major Open
- New Zealand Blitz Championship
- New Zealand Rapid Championship
- New Zealand Junior and Age Group Championships
The first placed New Zealand player in the 2023 New Zealand Chess Championship will be offered first choice of representing New Zealand at the Oceania Open Zonal to be held in Melbourne from 23 – 28 January 2023.
Top rated players in the Championship are GM Elshan Moradiabadi USA 2514, FM Ben Hague NZL 2494, GM Samy Shoker EGY 2491, FM Nicolas Croad NZL 2442, IM Anthony Ker NZL IM 2425 etc
2023 New Zealand Championship
2 – 10 January 2023
Format: 9 Round Swiss.
Time Control: 90 minutes for the first 40 moves followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game with an additional 30 seconds per move from move one.
Eligibility: Open to all players, however players rated less than 2000 (NZCF or FIDE) are encouraged to play in the Major Open, also non NZ residents must have a FIDE id.
2023 Major Open
2 – 10 January 2023
Format: 9 Round Swiss.
Time Control: 90 minutes for the first 40 moves followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game with an additional 30 seconds per move from move one.
Eligibility: Players must have an NZCF rating below 2100 or a FIDE rating below 2000, also non NZ residents must have a FIDE id.
2023 New Zealand Blitz Championship
11 January 2023
Format: 9 Round Swiss tournament
Competition Rules: Article B.4 of the Laws of Chess will apply.
Time Control: 3 minutes for the game with an additional 2 seconds per move starting from move one.
Eligibility: Open to all, except that non NZ residents must have a FIDE id.
2023 New Zealand Rapid Championship
11-12 January 2023
Format: 9 Round Swiss tournament
Competition Rules: Article A.4 of the Laws of Chess will apply.
Time Control: 25 minutes for the game with an additional 5 seconds per move starting from move one.
Eligibility: Open to all, except that non NZ residents must have a FIDE id.
2023 New Zealand Junior and Age Group Championships
3 – 9 January 2023
Format: 7 Round Swiss tournament
Time Control: 60 minutes for the game with an additional 30 seconds per move starting from move one.
Eligibility: Open to players born in 2003 or later, also non NZ residents must have a FIDE id.
