LJCC qualifier age groups
Age groups updated to Under 8, Under 10 and Under 12 to align with the LJCC qualifier age groups.
Event Details
- Saturday 17 October 2026
- Timetable to be confirmed
- Moulsham Junior School
- Princes Road
- Chelmsford
- CM2 9DG
- View on Google Maps
- Under 8
- Under 10
- Under 12
- Under 18 Minor (ECF rapid rating 1300 or below)
- Under 18 Open
Sections may be combined if entries are low.
- Round 1 of the EJCA Grand Prix 2026-27 season
- 6-round Swiss tournament, not a knock-out
- All players are expected to play all 6 rounds
- 25 minutes + 5 seconds per move, with clocks
- Results submitted to the ECF for rating
Prize details to be confirmed.
Email: essexjuniorchess@gmail.com
LJCC Qualification
For the 2026 London Junior Chess Championships finals, these scores apply in the corresponding six-round qualifying section:
| Final | Qualifying score |
|---|---|
| Under 8 | 4 points or more out of 6 |
| Under 10 & Under 12 Minor | 3½ or 4 points out of 6 |
| Under 10 & Under 12 Major | 4½ points or more out of 6 |
- Age cutoff: age on 31 August 2026 determines eligibility. Players must be under 8, 10 or 12 respectively on that date.
- Major qualification: qualifying for a Major final makes a player ineligible for the corresponding Minor final.
- Rating route: published ECF standard or rapid ratings with A or K status also qualify: 1000+ for Under 8, 1500+ for Under 10 Major and 1750+ for Under 12 Major. There is no rating route to the Minor finals.
- Older sections: Under 14 and above need no prior qualification.
- Combined sections: LJCC treats a merged section as the higher age group, with the lower age group qualifying threshold reduced by half a point. See the official FAQs for examples and qualification through a higher section.
- Finals entry is separate: achieving a qualifying score does not automatically enter the player into the finals.
Official LJCC rules · Qualification FAQs · Enter the LJCC finals
Entry Fees
Standard Fees
Price Summary
Tournament Entry
Limited to 100 entrants across all sections. Please enter early to avoid disappointment.
Please join the waiting list here. The organiser will contact you if a place becomes available.
Rules & Notes
- Under 8, Under 10 and Under 12 sections will be played to EPSCA Quickplay rules, including Rule 11 on illegal moves.
- In Under 18 sections, FIDE rules 7.5b and A4b will not be enforced. Players are allowed 2 illegal moves at any time, with 1 minute awarded to the opponent; a third illegal move loses the game.
- The Arbiter’s decision will be final in all chess-related matters.
- Drinks and light refreshments will be on sale during the day, payable with cash only.
- The Tournament Protocol on the EJCA website applies to entrants and parents.
- The organisers cannot accept responsibility for supervising players between rounds.
Supervision & Safeguarding
The organisers take no responsibility for looking after children. This is the responsibility of the accompanying adult.
All children in Year 6 or below must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the tournament. Older children can be left only if arranged in advance and full contact and medical details are provided.
The organisers cannot act in loco parentis, and any child left unaccompanied is at the parents’ risk. There will be gaps between games.
The organisers cannot take responsibility for theft or accident during the event.
Photos of children may be taken by the organisers in the playing hall and may be published on chess websites or in chess-related articles. If you do not wish your child to be photographed, please inform the organisers by email before the start of the event.
Your email address may be used to send chess-related information unless you inform the organisers otherwise.
