The Summer Cup will be a five-round tournament in which games are played on any mutually agreed internet-based platform such as Zoom, Lichess or WhatsApp, or by telephone. The general default platform will be Zoom as most members find this accessible and people can dial into meetings if they prefer or if they do not have internet access. Players for whom Zoom is genuinely inaccessible should mention this when entering and if possible special arrangements will be made to accommodate their participation.
The event will run for 12 weeks with four weeks allowed for Round 1 because many players will be at the Chairman’s Cup during that time, and two weeks allowed for Rounds 2 to 5. Games are played at a mutually convenient time agreed by the two players. Ideally, there should be a third-party timekeeper for each game unless it is played on a dedicated chess server such as Lichess. Players may take a half point bye in any one of the first four rounds and will be able to request this when entering or arrange it at fairly short notice. The arbiters will be Gerry Walsh and Julie Leonard. If we’re lucky, Bittor Ibanez may once again collate all the games for us!
The tournament will be open to all members and associate members of the BCA. Entry is free. Depending on the entries, we may be able to incorporate a Ladies’ section and a Challengers’ section for those whose ECF online standard play rating or estimated rating is below the cutoff point, which is likely to be around 1750. Trophies will be awarded to section winners, provided they are based in the UK or can arrange to collect the trophy at one of our over the board events within twelve months. Trophies will not be posted to overseas winners.
The tournament will be a friendly and fairly informal event. We urge members and associate members to “have a go” regardless of their playing strength. Results will be sent for rating in the ECF Online Rating system.
To enter please complete the appropriate online form here by Monday
30th June 2025. The online form is the preferred method of entering. Please try it as it will guide you through the information you need to provide. If you cannot use the form, you may email your entry to the organiser, Julie Leonard, at organiser.summercup@braillechess.org.uk, giving your full contact details, your location or time zone if you’re not in the UK and stating which playing platforms you can use. You must also give consent for your contact details to be shared with all 2025 Summer Cup players and arbiters and for rating information to be sent to the ECF.