Enter

Entry and Registration Fees:

Registration Fee: NZ$90 (all players)

Entry Fee Open Zonal: NZ$160 (players except for official players, GMs, WGMs, IMs and WIMs)

Entry Fee Women's Zonal: NZ$130 (female players except for official players, GMs, WGMs, IMs and WIMs)

Entry Fee Blitz: $40 (free for GMs, WGMs, IMs, WIMs)

Enter via Trybooking from 1 May: https://www.trybooking.com/nz/BCVX

GMs, WGMs, IMs and WIMs may request the reduced entry fees by emailing the Organiser.

General entries to the Open Zonal are now closed as the limit of 160 players has been reached using Trybooking. A waitlist will be used and entries accepted in FIDE rating order as places become available e.g. other players withdraw - please register for the waitlist here. Official players and GMs, WGMs, IMs and WIMs are additional to this limit.

There are no entry number restrictions to the Women's Zonal.

Entries will close when full or otherwise at 11:59pm NZDT on 15 January 2027.

Refunds: Full refunds available until 11:59pm NZDT on 8 January 2027. Refunds after that date are at the organiser's discretion.

By entering, players accept the regulations and venue requirements including collection and usage of information as outlined by the the privacy statement (see Regulations), and consent to photos and videos being taken of them and used for publicity purposes.

Eligibility to Enter

Player are entitled to enter if they are registered with FIDE with an Oceania National Chess Federations (Zone 3.6 federations) or associated members.

Official players have free entry and shared accommodation provided as noted below and should be notified to the organiser by their federations. Official players who enter and are later notified as official by their federations will have their entry fee refunded (but not the registration fee).

Players who do not have a FIDE ID must obtain one from their national federation prior to entering. Players who are not registered with FIDE under an Oceania federation must be transferred to an Oceania federation before entering (players registered with FIDE as FID must also transfer to an Oceania federation before entering).

There is no required rating limit to play but as a qualification tournament in the world championship cycle, this is not suitable for beginners or inexperienced tournament players. Note that reasonable knowledge of the Laws of Chess and FIDE regulations and technical regulations e.g. Fair Play regulations is expected as these will be strictly enforced.

Official Entries

Each Oceania federation or associate FIDE member may enter two (2) official players, being one (1) player in the Open Zonal and one (1) player in the Women's Zonal.

Official players will not be charged an entry fee as noted above (registration fee of NZ$90 per player is still payable) and are also entitled to twin share accommodation (room only - meals not included) at the official event hotel, Hotel Carnmore Christchurch from 2pm 21 January (arrival) to 10am 28 January (check out).

Any upgrades e.g. to not share, additional nights, accompanying persons etc. are subject to availability and paying costs incurred.

Why play in the Oceania  Zonal Chess Championships?

1. The winners of the Open and Women's Zonals qualify for the World Cup and Women's World Cup respectively

2. Direct Titles (players from 5 federations required)

3. Player norms (subject to norm requirements)

4. An opportunity to obtain or improve an international (FIDE) rating

5. Compete against the best Oceania chess players

6. $10,000 prize fund

7. Visit Christchurch!