British Bughouse Chess Championships
On Thursday 4th December 2025, the Emirates Stadium will play host to a brand new event. Teams of two players will compete in a Swiss tournament for the title of British Bughouse Chess Champions. Entrants to this tournaments are also able to spectate on the main event of the 2025 XTX Markets London Chess Classic or listen to the live grandmaster commentary.
Below is a summary of some of the key rules of the tournament. For full details, please see the LCC Regulations.
Who can enter?
The British Bughouse Chess Championships are open to teams of two players.
Venue
The British Bughouse Chess Championships will take place at the Emirates Stadium.
Schedule/format
The tournament will begin at 5pm. The format will be a Swiss tournament with as many rounds as time allows. The final round will be the first to begin after 7.30pm.
Prize fund
TBD
Time Control
0 minutes plus a 10-second delay per move. In other words, a player has a maximum of 10 seconds to complete their move; time saved from one move is not banked for subsequent moves.
Variant rules
There are no standard rules for bughouse chess. The British Bughouse Chess Championships will feature the following rules:
A captured piece may be placed on any unoccupied square on the board, but a pawn may not be placed on the first or last rank.
Pieces may be placed to create check (“drop check”) or checkmate (“drop mate”). Pieces may not be placed to capture a piece on the same move (“drop capture”). For a full set of rules, please refer to the LCC Regulations.
Byes
Byes are not permitted in this event and all teams are expected to play every game.
Entry fee
£40 per team
Free entry for all teams with at least one GM or IM
Free entry* for all teams with at least one female player (British citizens only)
Free entry* for all teams with at least one player U25 (must be born on or after 26/11/2000) (British citizens only)
Free entry* for all teams with at least once active CSC tutor.
Please note: to receive a free entry, players in the categories above must guarantee to play all rounds. Players will be asked to pay the standard entry fee upfront and will have that refunded at the end of the tournament on completion of all the games.
Fair play policy
Please see the London Chess Classic Festival Fair Play Policy.
Parental responsibility
Parents or guardians are responsible for their children during the tournament. The organisers and helpers are not able to act “in loco parentis” and are not able to take responsibility for any child’s actions, or for the actions of anyone that may affect your child. The Emirates Stadium does not allow children under the age of 16 to be unaccompanied. All players under the age of 16 must have a parent or guardian on-site at all times.
Liability
The organisers accept no responsibility for any loss, theft or accident during the tournament.
Right to refuse entry
The Chief Organiser reserves the right to refuse entry without being required to state a reason, and to transfer players between tournaments at any time.
