Emirates Blitz Tournaments
Seven Emirates Blitz Tournaments will take place at the 2025 XTX Markets London Chess Classic. Entrants to the Blitz Tournaments are also able to spectate on the elite event or listen to the live grandmaster commentary once their own games have finished, at no extra charge.
Below is a summary of some of the key rules of the tournament. For full details, please see the LCC Regulations.
Participants
The Blitz Tournaments are open to any player.
Venue
All Blitz Tournaments will take place at the Emirates Stadium.
Schedule
There will be seven Blitz Tournaments, each starting at 6pm and finishing around 9pm:
Blitz Tournament 1 - Wednesday 26th November 2025
Blitz Tournament 2 - Thursday 27th November 2025
Blitz Tournament 3 - Friday 28th November 2025
Blitz Tournament 4 - Saturday 29th November 2025
Blitz Tournament 5 - Sunday 30th November 2025
Blitz Tournament 6 - Monday 1st December 2025
Blitz Tournament 7 - Tuesday 2nd December 2025
Prize fund
TBD
Format
9-round Swiss tournament
Time Control
3+2
Byes
No byes are permitted in these event, and players are expected to play in all 9 rounds.
Entry fee
Free entry for:
GMs, IMs
*female players (British citizens only)
*U25 (must be born on or after 26/11/2000) (British citizens only)
active CSC tutors
Please note: to receive a free entry, players in the categories marked * above must guarantee to play all 9 rounds (i.e. maximum one bye). These players will be required to pay the normal entry fee upfront and will have that refunded at the end of the tournament on completion of all 9 games.
All players, irrespective of their country of FIDE registration, must either be Gold members of the ECF or pay a £20 Pay-to-Play surcharge. This includes players who qualify for free entry - the Pay-to-Play surcharge will not be refunded. For more details, please see the LCC Regulations.
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.
