Tournament Details

Tournament Name: NCC Qualifier 1

Event: Canadian Online Chess Open 2026 – Qualifier #1

Date: Sunday, November 8, 2026

Starting Time: 6:00 PM EST

Format: 6-Round Swiss System

Time Control: 5+2 (5 minutes with a 2-second increment per move)

Platform: Lichess.org

Rating: CFC Quick Rated

Qualification Requirement: Minimum 2 points out of 6

First-Place Prize: Cash prize + direct championship invitation with 50% registration discount

Organizer: Northern Chess Club (NCC)

Registration Status: OPEN

Coupon Codes: No Coupon Codes allowed for this tournament unless given by NCC personally for this special qualifier.

Registration Fees

NCC Qualifier 1 features three registration periods.

SPECIAL ENTRY OFFER FOR TITLED PLAYERS!

FREE ENTRY for FIDE-titled players! This includes GMs, IMs, FMs, NM's, and CMs as well as corresponding women's FIDE titles.

All title holders must provide their official FIDE or CFC identification for verification during registration.

Early Bird Registration – $20 CAD

Available through November 1, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST.

Take advantage of our early bird registration period and save $5 compared with regular registration!

Regular Registration – $25 CAD

November 2–7, 2026

The regular registration fee takes effect on November 2.

Tournament-Day Registration – $30 CAD

Sunday, November 8, 2026

Players registering on tournament day must pay the $30 tournament-day entry fee.

Important Registration Information

Registration and payment must be completed and verified before tournament participation is confirmed.

Players must have an active CFC membership or an applicable Single Tournament Membership to participate in the CFC-rated event.

Interac e-Transfer: Amirrezadarzabi1000@gmail.com

Please include your full name, CFC ID, and "NCC Qualifier 1" in your payment message when possible.

Players outside Canada who cannot use Interac e-Transfer may contact NCC regarding an approved alternative payment method.

After registration and payment verification, players will receive their confirmation email and information about accessing the private Lichess tournament.

Registration Form: https://forms.gle/uoAta1CEXLjsUyYJ8

Qualification Requirements

NCC Qualifier 1 is the first of five planned qualifying tournaments for the Canadian Online Chess Open 2026.

Players must score at least 2 points out of 6 rounds to earn qualification for the main championship.

Qualification Examples:

6/6 – Qualified

5/6 – Qualified

4/6 – Qualified

3/6 – Qualified

2/6 – Qualified

*Below 2 points – Not Qualified through Qualifier 1*

Players who qualify will receive an opportunity to register for the Canadian Online Chess Open 2026.

*Important: Qualifier entry fees and championship entry fees are separate.*

Earning qualification does not include free championship registration. Qualified players must pay the applicable championship entry fee.

Official Qualifier 1 Prize

1st Place – Qualifier Champion

The first-place finisher will receive:

• Cash Prize – Official amount to be announced.

• Direct Invitation to the Canadian Online Chess Open 2026.

• 50% OFF the Canadian Online Chess Open 2026 championship entry fee.

Other Qualified Players

Players finishing with at least 2 points will receive qualification for the Canadian Online Chess Open 2026.

No additional cash prizes or championship discounts are guaranteed for other placements in Qualifier 1.

The official first-place cash prize amount will be announced before the tournament begins.

Withdrawal & Refund Policy

Please carefully review the following policy before registering.

Until November 6, 2026 – 100% Refund Eligibility

Players requesting withdrawal on or before Friday, November 6, 2026, are eligible for a refund of 100% of their registration payment, minus the following fees:

• $4.00 CAD handling and administration fee

• Any applicable Interac e-Transfer or payment processing fee

These deductions apply to refunds requested during this period.

The refund received will therefore be less than the original registration payment.

November 7, 2026 – 50% Refund

Players requesting withdrawal on Saturday, November 7, 2026, will be eligible for a 50% refund of their registration payment.

The remaining 50% is non-refundable.

November 8, 2026 – NO REFUNDS

All registrations become non-refundable on Sunday, November 8, 2026.

This includes withdrawal requests submitted before the tournament starts at 6:00 PM EST.

Players who withdraw on tournament day, fail to attend, or leave after the tournament begins will not be eligible for a refund.

Tournament Cancellation

If Northern Chess Club cancels the tournament, affected players will receive a full refund without any type of handling fee of their registration payments.

Refund Policy Acknowledgement

By registering and submitting payment, players acknowledge that they have reviewed and accepted these withdrawal and refund conditions.

Tournament Rules & Fair Play

All players must follow Northern Chess Club, Lichess, and applicable Chess Federation of Canada tournament regulations.

The use of chess engines, computer assistance, outside advice, or other unauthorized assistance during games is strictly prohibited.

Players must compete using the Lichess account provided during registration.

Participants are expected to maintain appropriate sportsmanship throughout the event.

*NCC reserves the right to investigate suspected fair-play violations and apply appropriate tournament penalties in accordance with applicable rules.*

Players should be prepared to participate in all six rounds unless they have informed tournament organizers otherwise.

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN;

NCC Qualifier 1 – November 8, 2026

Start Time: 6:00 PM EST

Time Control: 5+2

Rounds: 6

Rating: CFC Quick Rated

Early Bird: $20 CAD – Until November 1

Regular: $25 CAD – November 2–7

Tournament Day: $30 CAD – November 8

Registration: https://forms.gle/uoAta1CEXLjsUyYJ8

Registered Players: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1c11by3Gkijmu4qsKJiN1VJUFQhqSubaZe5YQFcVWbHA/edit?usp=sharing

Tournament Website: https://www.northernchessclub.ca/next-tournament

Questions: northernchessofficial@gmail.com

Join Northern Chess Club for the first step toward the NCC Canadian Online Chess Open 2026 Championship!

We look forward to welcoming all participants to NCC Qualifier 1.

Northern Chess Club (NCC)
northernchessofficial@gmail.com