Isle of Man Chess Club.

Defending Manx Champion – Keith Allen.

Defending Candidates Champion – Glenn Cross.

Defending Challengers Champion – Kyle Cross.

Zone – Manx Championship.

Zone – Manx Championship / Candidates.

Zone – Manx Championship / Candidates / Challengers.

Round Eight – 08/04/2025 – Clocks 7.30pm.

Board.	White.	v	Black.	Result.
1.	N Davies	v	K Allen	1/2-1/2
2.	B Woodard	v	H Fabri	0-1
3.	K Cross	v	S Gumireddy	1-0 w/o
4.	S Sipos	v	A Hamilton	1-0
5.	J Griffin	v	G Cross	0-1
6.	B Towers	v	C McClelland	1-0 w/o
7.	A Jackson	v	P Smith	0-1
8.	D Dunkley	v	C Watkinson	0-1
	T Robinson			1pt bye.
	H Dobson			0pt default.

Round Seven – 25/03/2025 – Clocks 7.30pm.

Board.	White.	v	Black.	Result.
1.	K Allen	v	S Sipos	1-0
2.	N Davies	v	B Woodard	1-0
3.	G Cross	v	S Gumireddy	0-1
4.	A Hamilton	v	H Dobson	0-1
5.	K Cross	v	C McClelland	1-0 w/o
6.	C Watkinson	v	B Towers	0-1
7.	P Smith	v	T Robinson	1-0
8.	D Dunkley	v	A Jackson	0-1
	H Fabri			1/2 pt bye.
	J Griffin			1/2 pt bye.

Round Six – 18/03/2025 – Clocks 7.30pm.

Board.	White.	v	Black.	Result.
1.	H Fabri	v	K Allen	1-0
2.	H Dobson	v	B Woodard	0-1
3.	S Sipos	v	B Towers	1-0
4.	C Watkinson	v	J Griffin	1-0
5.	S Gumireddy	v	D Dunkley	1-0
6.	A Jackson	v	A Hamilton	0-1
7.	P Smith	v	K Cross	1/2-1/2
8.	T Robinson	v	C McClelland	0-1
	G Cross			1pt bye.
	N Davies			1/2pt bye.

Round Five – 25/02/2025 – Clocks 7.30pm.

Board.	White	v	Black.	Result.
1.	J Griffin	v	K Allen	0-1
2.	K Cross	v	H Fabri	0-1
3.	A Hamilton	v	N Davies	0-1
4.	B Towers	v	H Dobson	0-1
5.	S Sipos	v	A Jackson	1-0
6.	S Gumireddy	v	C Watkinson	1-0
7.	B Woodard	v	T Robinson	1-0
8.	G Cross	v	P Smith	1-0
9.	D Dunkley	v	C McClelland	0-1 w/o

Round Four – 18/02/2025 – Clocks 7.30pm.

Board.	White.	v	Black.	Result.
1.	K Allen	v	H Dobson	1-0
2.	K Cross	v	H Fabri	0-1 w/o
3.	J Griffin	v	P Smith	1-0
4.	A Jackson	v	B Towers	0-1
5.	N Davies	v	G Cross	1-0
6.	D Dunkley	v	A Hamilton	0-1
7.	C McClelland	v	C Watkinson	0-1
	S Gumireddy			1 pt bye.
	S Sipos			1/2 pt bye.
	B Woodard			1/2 pt bye.
	T Robinson			1/2 pt bye.

Round Three – 11/02/2025 – Clocks 7.30pm.

Board.	White.	v	Black.	Result.
1.	K Allen	v	B Woodard	1/2-1/2
2.	H Fabri	v	S Gumireddy	1-0
3.	B Towers	v	N Davies	1/2-1/2
4.	J Griffin	v	V Hodgson	1-0 w/o
5.	P Smith	v	C McClelland	1-0
6.	C Watkinson	v	S Sipos	0-1
	D Dunkley			1 pt bye.
	G Cross			1/2 pt bye.
	H Dobson			1/2 pt bye.
	K Cross			1/2 pt bye.
	A Jackson			1/2 pt bye.
	T Robinson			1/2 pt bye.
	A Hamilton			1/2 pt bye.

Round Two – 28/01/2025 – Clocks 7.30pm.

Board.	White.	v	Black.	Result.
1.	B Towers	v	K Allen	0-1
2.	H Dobson	v	G Cross	1-0
3.	A Hamilton	v	K Cross	0-1
4.	S Gumireddy	v	J Griffin	1-0
5.	B Woodard	v	C Watkinson	1-0
6.	V Hodgson	v	A Jackson	0-1
7.	S Sipos	v	H Fabri	0-1
8.	N Davies	v	P Smith	1-0
9.	R Cockburn	v	C McClelland	0-1 w/o
10.	T Robinson	v	D Dunkley	1-0

Round One – 21/01/2025 – Clocks 7.30pm.

Board.	White	v	Black	Result
1.	K Allen	v	S Gumireddy	1-0
2.	P Smith	v	S Sipos	1/2-1/2
3.	H Fabri	v	B Towers	0-1
4.	H Dobson	v	N Davies	1-0
5.	G Cross	v	B Woodard	1-0
6.	K Cross	v	T Robinson	1-0
7.	D Dunkley	v	J Griffin	0-1
8.	C McClelland	v	A Hamilton	0-1
9.	R Cockburn	v	C Watkinson	0-1 w/o
	V Hodgson			1/2 pt bye.
	A Jackson			1/2 pt bye.

Refer to T&C’s bottom of page.

Entries. (Closed)

	Name.	FIDE Rating.	Fed’n.	ECF Member.	Club Member.	Bye Request.	👀
1.	K Allen 🏆	2114	IRL	Yes	Yes
2.	S Sipos	1963	IOM	Yes	Yes	Rnd 4
3.	H Fabri	1909	IOM	Yes	Yes
4.	N Davies	1871	ENG	Yes	Yes
5.	G Cross	1850	IOM	Yes	Yes	Rnd 3
6.	S Gumireddy	1848	IOM	Yes	Yes
7.	P Smith	1812	IOM	Yes	Yes
8.	B Towers	1804	IOM	Yes	Yes
9.	H Dobson	1799	IOM	Yes	Yes	Rnd 3
10.	B Woodard	1786	IOM	Yes	Yes	Rnd 4
11.	K Cross	1779	IOM	Yes	Yes	Rnd 3
12.	J Griffin	1742	ENG	Yes (p)	Yes(p)	Rnd 7
13.	C McClelland	1702 (est)	IOM (p)	Yes	Yes
14.	C Watkinson	1666	IOM	Yes	Yes
15.	V Hodgson	1657	IOM	Yes	Yes	(withdrawn)
16.	A Jackson	1647	IOM	Yes	Yes	Rnd 1 & 3
17.	T Robinson	1593	ENG	Yes	Yes	Rnd 3 & 4
18.	D Dunkley	1518	IOM	Yes	Yes
19.	A Hamilton	1498 (est)	IOM (p)	Yes	Yes	Rnd 3
20.	R Cockburn	1234 (est)	IOM (p)	Yes (p)	Yes (p)	(withdrawn)
	Key:
	est	estimated.
	p	pending.
	Manx
	Candidates
	Challengers

2025 Manx Chess Championship.

Terms & Conditions

(Update 08/01/25 re FIDE rating and naming of arbiters).

8-round – FIDE / ECF rated Swiss (accelerated).
Venue: PromSpace, Loch Promenade, Douglas.
No entry fees.

All games will be FIDE and ECF rated.

Titles will be given for 1st place in each zone.

Open Tournament. (Three zones of competition: Manx, Candidates & Challengers)

Controller: Glenn Cross / Chief Arbiter: FA Brian Towers / Arbiters: NA Glenn Cross, NA Colin Watkinson, NA Brian Woodard.

Timetable

Refer to Calendar – Clocks 7.30pm. Missing players will be defaulted after 30 minutes, unless, in exceptional circumstances, the Controller decides otherwise.

Players who don’t have an opponent after 30-minute default time who have not played each other may be paired and play a game if they both so wish. Clocks will be adjusted (i.e. 60 minutes + 30 seconds a move instead of 75 minutes / 30 seconds) to fit the playing schedule.

Ratings

The January 2025 FIDE ratings will be used. Players without a rating will have an estimated
rating given for the purpose of the tournament.

Zones

Once entries close, players will be zoned to either the Manx, Candidates or Challengers depending on playing strength. Any player can win the Manx. Only players in the Candidates or Challengers can win the Candidates. Only players in the Challengers can win the Challengers.

Entry Requirements

IOMCA member / ECF member / Federation member. If you are not a member of a federation it will be presumed that you wish to appear in the FIDE Ratings Database under the Isle of Man flag and an application to this affect will be made on your behalf, subject to you providing your full name and date of birth. If however you are joining an alternative federation, please advise Brian Woodard. Please note you must be member of a federation before the draw for round 1 otherwise you will be withdrawn from the tournament.

Entries

Entries will open immediately and will close 14th January 2025.
Please enter via email only to brianwoodard@iomchess.com confirming you have read and will abide by the T&C’s.

Rate of Play

75 minutes, plus 30 seconds a move for the whole game.

Byes

Two ½ point byes can be taken from rounds 1 – 7. Byes must be confirmed by Thursday before the following round. Players cannot take a bye in round 8.

Draw

Organisers will seek to publish the draw no later than the Saturday afternoon before each round.

Tie Break

In the event of two players tying for first place, the winner will be decided by tie break in the following order of priority:

The result between the players involved in the tie. The number of games played. (A 1-point bye will count as a game that was played) If the two players are still tied then arrangements will be made for a two-game match to be played at a rapid time control on a date to be agreed, followed by a blitz play-off on the same night if necessary. Full details will be announced by IOMCA committee.

In the event of three or more players tying for first place, all placings will be determined by tie-break, in the following order of priority.

The results between the players involved in the tie. (Applicable only where all the players involved in the tie have played each other)

The number of games played. (A 1-point bye will count as a game that was played)

Sum of progressive score.

Sum of opponents’ scores (Buchholz)

Sonneborn-Berger.

Number of games won.

Arbiters

Brian Towers is the chief arbiter, to be assisted by up to three other arbiters, the names of which will be announced before each round.

If his assistance is required during play, Brian has the right to stop his own clock until the issue is dealt with. If Brian is unavailable or is directly involved in the issue, one of the other arbiters will be available to deal with the matter in question.

Players’ Conduct

A reminder that article11.5 of the FIDE Laws of Chess includes this wording: “It is forbidden to distract or annoy the opponent in any manner whatsoever. This includes…the introduction of a source of noise into the playing area.” Therefore, there is to be no eating at the board (including sweets). If players need to eat, they must step outside the playing room without causing disruption. Drinks are allowed at the board, if consumed quietly, although cans must only be opened outside the playing room.

In the case where a player deliberately makes a loud noise which may disturb other players as well as his opponent, the arbiter has the right to impose a 2-minute time penalty against the offending player instead of giving his opponent and additional 2 minutes. If the player has less than 2 minutes on the clock before the imposition, then he loses on time.

These are some other selected articles from the FIDE Laws of Chess that we wish to remind the players of:

“4.2.1” Only the player having the move may adjust one of more pieces on their squares, providing that he/she first expresses his/her intention (for example by saying “J’adoube” or “I adjust”

“6.2.3 A player must press his/her clock with the same hand with which he/she has made his/her move…”

“6.11.2 A player may stop the chess clock only in order to seek the arbiter’s assistance, for example when promotion has taken place and the piece required is not available.”

“8.1.5 Both players must record the offer of a draw on the scoresheet with a symbol (=).”

“8.5.2 If only one player has not kept score. . . Provided it is that player’s move, he/she may use his/her opponent’s scoresheet, but must return it before making a move”

“9.1.2.1 A player wishing to offer a draw shall do so after having made a move on the chessboard and before pressing his/her clock…”      

Mobile Phones

If you bring a mobile phone to the venue then it must be switched off and left on the table in plain sight until the end of the game.   

Disputes

In the event of a dispute on the night, an appeal must be lodged to glenn.iom@outlook.com by 1pm the following day, which will be addressed by an independent panel of three to be nominated by the IOMCA committee whose decision will be final.