EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
To all parents of junior players
The European Schools Tournament will be held in Limerick University in the Republic of Ireland from May 30th to June 8,th 2024.
This is an individual tournament, second in importance only to the European Youth Championship. It travels around Europe each year and will not come this close to Wales again for decades, if at all.
The age categories are under seven, nine, eleven, thirteen, fifteen and seventeen, all on January 1st, 2024. In each category there is an open tournament and a separate tournament for girls.
Entry to the tournament is open, but it must be made through the Welsh Chess Union.
The tournament will take the form of a nine round Swiss and the time limit will be all moves in 90 minutes with a 30 second increment from move one.
The total cost is 899 euros per person, whether player or accompanying adult.
This includes nine nights accommodation in single en-suite rooms in the university, full board from lunch on May 30th to breakfast on June 8th, transport to the tournament venue from either Dublin or Shannon Airport and back, entry fees, registration fees and all taxes.
The deadline for registration is Monday, February 19th. Flights have to be booked by then, as the relevant information is required as part of the registration.
While the tournament coincides with the half term holiday, it occupies part of two separate weeks, which means that the participants will have to be absent from school for at least two days and probably more. Parents are advised to consult their children’s schools about dates and permission to be absent. You should stress the point that the children are representing Wales in an international tournament. This is bigger than the rugby Six Nations!
Expressions of interest are requested by Monday, January 22nd. Please contact the WCU Director of Junior Chess, Mr. Ian Eustis. (e mail: ianrhos@hotmail.com).
