NL Open Championship 2026

October 23rd, 2026, October 24th, 2026, October 25th, 2026

Core Science Facility, CSF5115. MUN. St. John's, NL
45 Arctic Avenue

Registration is now open for the Newfoundland and Labrador Open Championship 2026.
This is the premier CFC event of the year.

Please click Here to register via google form. Filling out the form is mandatory.
(Note: Pre-registered player list will be published and updated on this page periodically including a list of player names and ratings.)

Date: Friday, October 23 - Sunday, October 25

Location: NOTE NEW LOCATION: Core Science Facility (new white building that is attached to the University Centre) Room CSF5115. 45 Arctic Avenue (near Engineering Building)

Format: Swiss System, 5 Rounds

Time control: 90 minutes + 30 seconds per player per game. 

Schedule:

  • Check-in: Friday, October 23, 6:00 PM

  • Round 1: Friday, October 23, 6:30 PM

  • Round 2: Saturday, October 24, 10:00 AM

  • Round 3: Saturday, October 24, 4:00 PM

  • Round 4: Sunday, October 25, 10:00 AM

  • Round 5: Sunday, October 25, 4:00 PM

Entry Fee: $40 if paid via pre-registration / $50 onsite
If you are a new member, entry fee cost is half price: $20 to pre-register / $25 onsite!
Please show proof of new membership or inquire.

Payment can be made via e-transfer to nlchessca@gmail.com

CFC Membership is required in addition to Entry fee. Join or renew via link below: https://www.chess.ca/en/players/membership-join/

In lieu of membership, you can pay a single tournament fee of $20 for adults or $10 for juniors. (This would be in addition to entry fee.)


Prizes:

1st place - 35%
2nd place -15%
3rd place - 10%
Top junior - 10%
Top Under-1600 rated player (excludes unrated players) - 10%
NLCA and rating fees - 20%
(Note: a player may not win two prizes. In the case of top junior winning 1st or second, Top junior prize will go to the next highest place junior.)

The winner(s) will also have their name(s) engraved on the NL Open Championship Trophy.

Byes

  • Players may request up to two half-point byes in rounds 1–4.

  • Round 5 byes are zero points.

  • Bye requests must be submitted no later than one hour after the completion of the previous round. Requests may be made in person or by email, and I will confirm each request.

Pairings

  • Pairings for each round will be announced within about one hour after the completion of the previous round, to allow for bye requests.

Attendance

  • Please arrive on time for your games.

  • If you are sick or unable to attend, email stevew83@gmail.com as soon as possible.

  • You may be late, but if you do not show up within 30 minutes of the round start time, your game will be forfeited.

  • Players who miss a round without notice may be withdrawn from the tournament.


Phone Policy: Phones are to be placed face down next to your clock and powered off. 

Any phone that rings, vibrates, or is found on a player’s person during a game will result in one warning being issued, and the next time will result in forfeiture of that game.
Spectators should not use phones in the playing hall. If they need to, they should step outside.

General rules and etiquette: No talking, or making loud noises, or otherwise distracting your opponent or other players. Standard CFC rules apply according to the CFC Handbook. 

At the tournament site, I will make some announcements for players who may be new to over the board chess, such as touch move rules, using the same hand to move pieces and press clock and so on. 


Tiebreaks & Qualification

1. Provincial Title

There will be no playoff for the NL Open Championship title. Any players tied for 1st place at the end of the final round will be declared Co-Champions and listed on the NL Championship trophy.

2. Qualification to the Canadian Closed

Qualification for the provincial representative spot at the Canadian Closed will be determined using tiebreak scores in the following order:

1. Direct Encounter (Head-to-Head result among tied players)

2. Buchholz Cut-1

3. Sonneborn-Berger

4. Total Number of Wins

* Succession Policy: If the highest-placed player declines the qualification spot or is unable to attend the Canadian Closed, the spot will be offered to the next highest-eligible player according to the final tiebreak standings.

Pre-registered list (October 16, 2026):

Ryan Pickard - 2193
Daley Merrigan - 2148
Bao (Moon) Nguyen - 2100
Anthony Leonard - 2058
Vimal Simha -1997
Steve Martin - 1940
Luke Stuart - 1818
Muharrem Kemaoglu - 1812
John David Farrell - 1805
Chris White - 1784
Toprak Kemaglu - 1774
Rensel Matthew Bacuyag - 1737
Antoine Gingras - 1675
Maya Kemaoglu - 1660
Cameron Coates - 1651
Ben Parsons - 1599
Tanav Sharma - 1565
Blair Ozon - 1401
Shiven Chauhan - 1376
Noah Burt - unr
Jaowad Hossain - unr


Tournament Director: Steve Martin

Contact: stevew83@gmail.com