2025 – 2026 Under-1500 Matrix Tournament

This new tournament will run from 16th October 2025 to the end of March 2026 on Thursday evenings. It is specifically aimed at inexperienced and new members who are not currently playing in our league teams. It will give these members an opportunity to play competitive games against each other, in addition to the usual friendlies. It will provide experience of playing in match conditions (recording games, managing time etc) and will enable unrated players to get their first official ECF rating. The results and progress of players’ ECF ratings will also help our captains to judge who is ready to be selected for our teams this season, and whether we are in a position to enter more teams in the leagues next year.

To view all the latest results of the U-1500 Matrix, click below:

ECF LMS Event – U-1500 Matrix results

The rules are:

  • Entry is open to current club members, including juniors, without a standard play ECF ratings, or with a rating <1500. [If anyone with a slightly higher rating wishes to be considered, please let the organisers know].
  • New members who join the club after the start of the competition are welcome to enter.
  • Play as many or as few games as you wish.
  • You can challenge any other competitor to a Matrix game – it is like an all-play-all, but without the expectation that all the match-ups will be completed.
  • You do not have to accept a challenge if you don’t want to.
  • You can arrange games either on a Thursday night or in advance. Steve will set up a WhatsApp group to facilitate the arranging of games.
  • Games must be face-to-face (not on-line) and played during Thursday club meetings.
  • Maximum two games against each opponent (reverse colours in the second game).
  • Toss (or “which hand”) to choose colour in the first game.
  • The default time limit is 50 minutes plus 10 second increment (the same as the SBL Division 6), or a longer standard play time (e.g. 65+10 or 80+10) by mutual agreement.
  • Normal standard play rules apply (touch move etc, and recording moves is mandatory).
  • Preferably use the maroon clocks (if available) in case penalty time needs to be added for illegal moves.
  • The player with most points at the end of the tournament is the winner, irrespective of how many games they have played.
  • You must be an ECF member at Bronze level or above because this is a rated tournament [contact Steve Harley if you don’t know how to do join ECF].

The results cross-table will be updated weekly and will be displayed at all the club meetings. The results will also be viewable on the ECF League Management System and via our Club website.
Please contact Steve Harley in person or at secretary@camberleychess.co.uk to enter.