16th Monarch Assurance Isle of Man International

22 September - 30 September 2007

Last updated: Saturday, September 22, 2007 5:08 PM

Tournament: Monarch Assurance PLC 16th International Chess Tournament

Venue: The Ocean Castle Hotel, Port Erin, Isle of Man

Dates: Saturday 22 September to Sunday 30 September 2007

Sponsored by: Monarch Assurance, the Isle of Man Tourism Department and the Port Erin Commissioners.

The tournament is dedicated to the memory of Richard Furness. This is the official website for the tournament.

Left: King Dennis the First! Tournament director Dennis Hemsley has retired after fifteen years of organising the
Monarch Assurance tournament but we will still see him around at the 2007 Monarch Assurance. Right: View of Port Erin from Bradda Head
 

How to enter • Download an entry form in MS Word format

Masters • an open 9-round Swiss - 22-30 September 2007 (Venue: Ocean Castle Hotel, Port Erin)
Tony Bridson Memorial • players rated under 2000 / ECF grade 175 or unrated/ungraded (Venue: Cherry Orchard Hotel, Port Erin)
Dennis Hemsley Tournament • players graded under ECF 130, or unrated/ungraded (Venue: Cherry Orchard Hotel, Port Erin)
(Both these events are 7 round Swisses 24-30 September)

The Masters is registered as an Association of Chess Professionals event.

LIST OF MASTERS ENTRIES - UPDATED 20 SEPTEMBER 2007
(ratings as at July 2007

LIST OF TONY BRIDSON [MAJOR] ENTRIES - UPDATED 20 SEPTEMBER 2007

LIST OF DENNIS HEMSLEY [MINOR] ENTRANTS - UPDATED 20 SEPTEMBER

TOURNAMENT DETAILS AND HOW TO ENTER [PROVISIONAL]

TOTAL PRIZE FUND £17,500

FREE REFRESHMENTS are available during play • Smoking is not allowed in the playing venues • The use of mobile phones is forbidden in the playing venues (if phone activated, loss of the game) • Spectators are welcome and admission is free

Opening Ceremony: Saturday 22 September at 1pm

• All events are part of the English Chess Federation (ECF) Grand Prix • Title norms are possible in the Masters

The highest placed eligible player in the Masters will qualify for the 2008 British Chess Championships.

Congress Director/Organiser - Jean-Pierre Depin
Chief Arbiter: David Welch; international arbiters Peter Purland and David Sedgwick

MASTERS

Open to all
Prizes £3,000, £2,000, £1,500, £1,000, £800, £600, £500, £400, £300, £200

Prizes of £200 for players rated 1801-2050, 2051-2200, 2201-2300, 2301-2450
All the rating prizes are each for the best improvement in rating using k=10
Best score by an unrated player £200
If there is only one entry in such categories, the player must score at least 3/9 in order to be awarded this prize
Best Game Prize £500
Prizes of £200 for the best score by a Senior (over 60), Female, Junior (Under 18), Manx.

All English entrants to the Masters must be members of the English Chess Federation and should quote their membership number when entering.

Conditions, including flights within the UK, accommodation, breakfast and evening meals and start money may be available for certain titled players. Players must pay own flights to the Isle of Man. UK to Isle of Man flights or ferry will be reimbursed on production of travel receipt. You should apply in confidence to Jean-Pierre Depin (click here for contact details)

It is unlikely any support will be available after July. Players from the British Isles, females and the first entrant from their federation tend to be favoured.

Players wishing to have their flights within the UK and accommodation prepaid for them must pay a deposit of £100 in advance. This is because several leading players failed to honour their commitment in the past, leading to a waste of several thousand pounds. By agreeing to play in the masters and returning the completed entry form, players are reminded that this is a form of contract.

Masters Schedule: Saturday 22 September to Sunday 30 September 2007
Play: Rounds 1-8 - 1.30 to 8.30pm. Round 9 - 10.30am to 5.30pm
Rate of play: 40 moves in 2 hours, 20 moves in 1 hour, all the moves in 30 minutes

Entry Fee: GMs, IMs, WGMs or WIMs and registered disabled players: FREE
Seniors, Females and Juniors: £15
All others: £28
ECF Direct Members may deduct £3 from the entry fee
Penalty Fee: £10 for entries made after 12 September 2007

Download an MS Word Entry Form

Click here for further notes

TONY BRIDSON MEMORIAL

For players rated under 2000 or ECF 175, or unrated/ungraded.
Players eligible to play in the Minor may nonetheless play in this event.

Photo shows the late Tony Bridson (left) and Dennis Hemsley

Prizes £600, £500, £400
Prizes of £200 for players in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th grading groups
All grading prizes are for the best improvement in grading performance, relative to the player's published grade.
Prizes of £200 for the best score by a Senior (over 60), Female, Under 18, Manx.

Schedule: Monday 24 September to Sunday 30 September 2007
Play: Rounds 1-6: 1 to 7pm. Round 7: 10.30am to 4.30pm
Rate of play: 40 moves in 2 hours, all the moves in 1 hour

Entry Fee:
Registered disabled players: free
Seniors, Females and Juniors: £10
All others: £22
ECF Direct Members may deduct £2 from the entry fee
Penalty Fee: £10 for entries made after 12 September 2007

Download an MS Word Entry Form

Click here for further notes

DENNIS HEMSLEY TOURNAMENT

For players graded under 130 (1640), or unrated/ungraded

Prizes £400, £300, £200
Prizes of £150 for players in the 2nd, 3rd, grading group
All grading prizes are for the best improvement in grading performance relative to the player's published grade.
Prizes of £150 for the best score by a Senior (over 60), Female, Under 18, Manx

Schedule: Monday 24 September to Sunday 30 September 2007
Play: Rounds 1-6: 1-7pm, Round 7: 10.30am to 4.30pm
Rate of play: 40 moves in 2 hours, all the moves in 1 hour

Entry Fee: Registered Disabled players: free
Senior, Females and Juniors: £8
All others: £16
ECF Direct Members may deduct £2 from the entry fee
Penalty Fee: £10 for entries made after 12 September 2007

Download an MS Word Entry Form

NOTES

Rating List: The FIDE Rating List of 1 July 2007 will be used to determine rating (grading) prizes for the Masters. The ECF Grading List of August 2007 and other appropriate national grading lists will be used to determine eligibility and grading prizes for the Tony Bridson Memorial and Dennis Hemsley Tournaments. Ungraded players will be assessed using all available information. Ungraded players may only win half the value of a main prize in the Dennis Hemsley Tournament.
Registration All players in the Masters must register in advance by 8.00pm on 21 September 2007. If unable to do so in person, you must make personal telephone contact with The Ocean Castle Hotel, tel. +44(0)1624 836399. In the first round of the Tony Bridson Memorial and Dennis Hemsley Tournaments, players whose opponents have not arrived must elect to re-paired after one hour.
Byes Other than those receiving conditions, players may claim a ½ point bye in any round, except the last, provided this is requested on entry.
Bulletin All players in the Masters will be expected to help ensure their games are entered on ChessBase shortly after after finishing each game. Please make sure all score sheets are legible.
Age Eligibility This refers to the age on 1 January 2007 both for both seniors and juniors.
Prizes: Where players finish equal, cash prizes will be shared, however, if a player wins more than one cash prize, they will receive the larger of the prizes. The smaller prize will be redistributed to other players (in the case of level scores) or re-awarded to the next eligible players, at th discretion of the organisers.
Refusal The organisers reserve the right to refuse any entry without giving a reason. Except in such cases a deduction of 50% will normally be made from any refund of entry fee and then only if the organisers are notified before 21 September.
Appeals A player may appeal against the decision of an arbiter. An Appeal Committee will be formed, chaired by an International Arbiter not involved in the original dispute, with two other members acceptable to all parties.

THE ISLE OF MAN

• The Ocean Castle Hotel is situated in Port Erin, a picturesque resort. The Cherry Orchard Hotel is in the village centre.
• The room rate at the Ocean Castle is £34.50 per person per night, bed and breakfast, for either single or twin occupancy.
• The evening meal at the Ocean Castle costs £15.
• It is approximately 30 minutes by road from Douglas, the capital.
• The Isle of Man is a Crown dependency. Although situated in the British Isles off the west coast of England, it is not in the United Kingdom. It has the oldest democratic parliament in the world.
• There are many sites of special interest on the island. At one point, on a clear day, it is possible to see England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
• The weather at that time of year is usually temperate.
• To reach the Isle of Man, most people will probably fly. For players coming from outside the British Isles, the most convenient route is probably via Gatwick, Luton or Manchester. This is likely to be about £130-£160 return at that time of year.
• It is also possible to travel by ferry from Heysham or Liverpool. This enables players to bring their own cars. The cost is £38-£46 or £169-£189 for two in a car.
• Transport from the airport is free of charge.
• There is a wide variety of accommodation on the island, including pub, farmhouse, guesthouse, hotel or self-catering. Typical guest house is £25 per night without private facilities, or £30 with. Hotels with private facilities are approximately £32 per night. Self-catering accommodation at the excellent Cherry Orchard apartments is: one bedroom £80 per night and two-bedroom £85 per night.
• Travel insurance can be provided at a cost of £21 and transfers at £20.
• Those who require visas can obtain them from the British Embassy. Separate permission to travel to the Isle of Man is usually just a formality, but you should apply in good time. We recommend you commence proceedings by 23 August 2007.

To book flights and accommodation, contact the Ocean Castle Hotel, Port Erin, Isle of Man.
Tel: +44(0)1624 836399   Email: hotel@oceancastle.co.uk

Isle of Man website: http://www.visitisleofman.com

http://www.bcmchess.co.uk/monarch2007 is the official website for the tournament

 
British Chess Magazine Home Page: www.bcmchess.co.uk
Website Feedback: • 2006 Monarch Assurance • 2005 Monarch Assurance •
• 2004 Monarch Assurance • 2003 Monarch Assurance

Hotel/Venue: Ocean Castle Hotel, Port Erin - email: hotel@oceancastle.co.uk
General Map of the Isle of Man • Another map here • Detailed road map
Other available accommodation: Empress Hotel, Douglas (22 kms from Port Erin)