Events

♟️ Victorian Women’s Championship 2026 Hobsons Bay Chess Club, in partnership with Geelong Chess Club, is proud to host the Victorian Women’s Championship 2026 — a premier classical event celebrating female chess talent across Victoria. Under the Patronage of Chess Victoria (FIDE & ACF Rated Classical Event) 📅 Dates: Saturday 12 September 2026 Saturday 19 September 2026 📍 Venue: Hobsons Bay Chess Club, 108 Queen St, Altona VIC 🏆 Event Details Format: 5 Round Swiss Time Control: 60 minutes + 30 seconds increment (from move 1) Rated: FIDE Classical & ACF Standard Rated Tie-breaks: Buchholz Cut 1 (BH-C1), Buchholz (BH), Sonneborn-Berger (SB) 👩 Sections Open Women’s Championship Junior Girls Section (subject to sufficient entries) Additional sections may be introduced subject to entries and Chess Victoria approval 🗓️ Schedule Week 1 – Saturday 12 September 2026 8:45 – 9:30 Registration 9:30 – 9:45 Opening Ceremony 9:45 – 12:45 Round 1 12:45 – 1:30 Lunch Break 1:30 – 4:30 Round 2 Week 2 – Saturday 19 September 2026 9:00 – 12:00 Round 3 12:00 – 12:45 Lunch Break 12:45 – 3:45 Round 4 4:00 – 7:00 Round 5 7:15 – 7:45 Prize Presentation 💰 Prizes Total Cash Prize Pool: $1500 Trophies for Top 3 Overall (official title) Best Age Group (number of age groups depends on players registered) Best Unrated (Unofficial title) Best Upset (both players must be rated) Best Geelong Chess Club/ Hobsons Bay Chess Club player 🚆 Getting There Ample street parking available Walking distance to Altona Train Station and local bus routes ⏰ Registration Early Bird closes: 1st September Final Registration: 11 September 2026 Final Date for Withdrawal Request (eligible for refund): 4th September 2026 Early Bird (Seniors) $97.85 Early Bird (Juniors) $87.55 Early Bird FM/ WFM $66.95 Early Bird WIM/IM/GM/WGM $0.00 Late Entry (All categories) $113.30 Tournament Rules https://drive.google.com/open?id=1rloaKWMKFEQ1rtShkFxQ27I2nQ5lVK2u&usp=drive_fs Spots are limited — secure your place early for this flagship women’s event! 🌟 Why Play? Official Victorian Women’s Championship title Dual rated (FIDE & ACF) Plenty of prizes including total cash prizes $1500 High-quality playing conditions Welcoming and supportive competitive environment DGT Boards Live Twitch coverage Any questions, please email us major_tournaments@hobsonsbaychess.com

Venue: Hobsons Bay Chess Club, 108 Queen Street Altona Rating: FIDE Rapid / ACF Quick Rating Contact: NA Steven Hogan tournaments@hobsonsbaychess.com Chief Arbiter: TBC Deputy Chief Arbiter: TBC Entry: $Free (members only price) $25 (non-members) To register as member: https://portal.hobsonsbaychess.com/member/memberships Schedule: 7:30 PM - Tournament starts Format: 5 rounds, 13 minutes + 2 seconds per move Eligibility:    Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident OR FIDE ID (registered with home country chess federation) Non Citizen or PR holder are required to register your FIDE ID with your home country. No exception on this. 

Venue: Hobsons Bay Chess Club, 108 Queen Street Altona Format: Players commence with a fixed number of points based on ACF quick rating. Players lose a full point for a loss, half a point for a draw and keep points for a win. Players are eliminated when reduced to 0 points. Starting Points as follows: 1000 or lower - 4.5 points 1001 to 1150 - 4.0 points 1151 to 1300 - 3.5 points 1301 to 1450 - 3.0 points 1451 to 1600 - 2.5 points 1601 to 1750 - 2.0 points 1751 and above - 1.5 points Rating: Unrated Contact: NA Steven Hogan tournaments@hobsonsbaychess.com Chief Arbiter: NA Steven Hogan Deputy Chief Arbiter: TBC Entry: $Free (members only price) $25 (non-members) To register as member: https://portal.hobsonsbaychess.com/member/memberships Schedule: 7:30 PM - Tournament starts Format: Games are 3 minutes + 2 seconds per move. See above. Tournament ends when one player is left standing

♟️ Victorian Junior Rapid & Blitz Championships 2026 📅 Dates Saturday, 3 October 2026 – State Juniors Rapid Championship Sunday, 4 October 2026 – State Juniors Blitz Championship     📍 Venue Bacchus Marsh Grammar – Maddingley Campus 37 South Maddingley Rd, Maddingley VIC 3340   🚀 Event Highlights 🌟 First time held in Melbourne’s West ⚡ First-ever Victorian Junior Blitz Championship ♟️ FIDE Rated for U12–U18 sections 📡 DGT live boards for featured games 🛍️ Vendor showcase: ChessNut & ChessLife 🏛️ Attendance by Members of Parliament and media coverage   🧭 Getting There   🚗 By Car (Recommended) ~40 mins from Melbourne CBD via Western Freeway (M8) ~25 mins from Werribee, Point Cook, Tarneit, Caroline Springs ✅ Ample on-site parking with easy drop-off zones ✅ Minimal congestion compared to metro venues   🚆 By Public Transport V/Line (Ballarat Line) 🚉 Bacchus Marsh Station (~5 min walk) ~35–45 mins from Southern Cross Station   🚸 Junior Drop-off Information Plenty of street parking available Entry via Gate 1, S Maddingley Rd, Maddingley VIC 3340 Parents/visitors permitted inside Players will be guided to playing rooms Parents may collect children after each round   ♟️ Event Format (Swiss System) Section Format Rating Date U8 & U10 Rapid 9 rounds · 13+2 ACF Quick 3 Oct U12–U18 Rapid 9 rounds · 13+2 FIDE Rapid ACF Quick 3 Oct U8 & U10 Blitz 11 rounds · 3+2 ACF Quick 4 Oct U12–U18 Blitz 11 rounds · 3+2 FIDE Blitz + ACF Quick 4 Oct       🕒 Schedule (Indicative – subject to change)   ⚡ Rapid – Saturday, 3 October 2026 Time Activity 8:45 – 9:30 Registration & Check-in 9:30 – 10:00 Opening Ceremony 10:00 – 10:10 Arbiter Briefing 10:10 – 10:50 Round 1 11:00 – 11:40 Round 2 11:50 – 12:30 Round 3 12:30 – 1:10 Round 4 1:10 – 1:50 Lunch Break 1:50 – 2:30 Round 5 2:40 – 3:20 Round 6 3:30 – 4:10 Round 7 4:20 – 5:00 Round 8 5:10 – 5:50 Round 9 ~6:00 Prize Giving       ⚡ Blitz – Sunday, 4 October 2026 Time Activity 8:45 – 9:30 Registration & Check-in 9:30 – 9:40 Arbiter Briefing 9:45 – 11:15 Rounds 1–6 11:15 – 11:45 Break 11:45 – 1:00 Rounds 7–11 1:40 Prize Giving       ⚙️ Tournament Details Rapid: 9 rounds · 13+2 Blitz: 11 rounds · 3+2 Seeding: ACF Quick → FIDE rating → Arbiter’s discretion   Rating U8 & U10: ACF Quick Rated only U12+: Rapid: FIDE Rapid + ACF Quick Blitz: FIDE Blitz + ACF Quick   FIDE ID for U12- U18 Valid FIDE ID required for FIDE rating. If you have no FIDE ID and you are Non-citizen/non-PR players/ NZ citizens- You must obtain FIDE ID via home federation be eligible to play you are citizen/ PR players- we will register you with Australian Chess Federation If you are not sure, immediately email use at major_tournaments@hobsonsbaychess.com.    🏆 Titles & Divisions   Divisions Open: U8, U10, U12, U14, U16, U18 Girls: U8, U10, U12, U14, U16, U18   Key Notes Girls may play Open OR Girls (not both) Players may play up in higher age groups   Additional Prizes 🎖️ Non-title medals (e.g. odd age group categories) 🏅 Up to 72 total prizes 📜 Certificates of participation available   📅 Age Eligibility (2026) U18: Born 2008 or later U16: Born 2010 or later U14: Born 2012 or later U12: Born 2014 or later U10: Born 2016 or later U8: Born 2018 or later   👨‍👩‍👧 Important Notes U8 & U10 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian Sections may be merged if required (ACF rules) Titles/trophies awarded per ACF regulations   🎟️ Registration Early Bird: Closes 1st September 2026 Final Entry: 2 October 2026 (12:00 PM) ❌ No entries after deadline   👉 Register here: https://portal.hobsonsbaychess.com/public/schedule/events/83487-victorian-junior-rapid-blitz-championship-2026   💰 Refund Policy Full refund (less fees) before 25 September 2026 No refunds from 26 September onwards   📩 Enquiries 📧 major_tournaments@hobsonsbaychess.com

Tournament is catered for beginners, juniors and rookies (including adults) below ACF 1500 or FIDE 1700.  Venue: Hobsons Bay Chess Club, 108 Queen Street Altona Rating: FIDE/ ACF Classical Rating Contact: FA Kuanysh Batyrbekov tournaments@hobsonsbaychess.com  Chief Arbiter: TBC Deputy Chief Arbiter: TBC Entry: $45 (members only price) $65 (non-members) To register as member: https://portal.hobsonsbaychess.com/member/memberships Early Bird ends strictly 1 week in advance: 25th JULY 2026 (SATURDAY), Late Entry $75 with no exceptions.  Last Day to Register: 30th JULY 2026 (THURSDAY), preliminary R1 pairings to be distributed on 31st JULY (Friday) Schedule: 6:00 PM - Tournament starts Format: 7 rounds, 60 minutes + 30 seconds per move (1 round per week), with 2 weeks' break in September (school holidays) Notation is mandatory Two Half Point byes available per player between Rounds 1 to 5. Must be notified at least one day in advance of the round. Eligibility:  Unrated  (rating by Close of tournament registration) or ACF below 1500 (rating by Close of tournament registration) or  FIDE rating below 1700 (rating by Close of tournament registration) Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident OR FIDE ID (registered with home country chess federation) Non Citizen or PR holder are required to register your FIDE ID with your home country. No exception on this.  Trophies/ Medals + Cash Prizes Cash prizes are as below First Prize Rating Group 1: $200 Second Prize Group 1: $100 Third Prize Group 1: $50 Rating Group 2 Winner: $50 Rating Group 3 Winner: $50 (based on number of entries) Rating Group 4 Winner: $50 (based on number of entries) Tournament Rules - please view here

Entry: MEMBER ONLY EVENT $30 (members). Add $15 late fee for entries after Tuesday 29 September Free entry for titled players (includes GM/WGM/IM/WIM/FM/WFM/CM/WCM). Must enter by Tuesday 29 September Rating: FIDE / ACF Classical Rating Eligibility: Australian Citizens or Permanent Resident OR FIDE ID for players registered with a non-Australian Federation. Format: Top 8 qualified players during the year - 8 player round robin over 7 weeks              Remaining Players - 7 round swiss. Contact: NA Steven Hogan tournaments@hobsonsbaychess.com Chief Arbiter: TBC Schedule: Tuesdays 7:30 PM. Round schedule provided below. Format: 7 rounds. 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move (1 round per week). Notation is mandatory for all moves. Two half point byes are available in the Reserves Championship between rounds 1 to 5. Must be notified to the Chief Arbiter by 5pm Wednesday following the previous round to bye@hobsonsbaychess.com. No Byes in Club Championship Trophies & Cash Prizes Cash Prizes below $1,000 Prize Pool Club Championship Winner - $700 Reserves Championship Winner - $300 Cash Prize Rules: Eligibility rating is as at start of Round 1 One prize per player (highest value) Ties split prize money equally Rating prizes are “Under” cut-offs (e.g., U1600 means <1600) Tournament Rules: Here

We’re excited to announce that registrations for HBCC Junior Chess Coaching are now open for 2026 Term 4! Building on the fantastic momentum from our redesigned coaching framework, our dynamic coaching team—featuring five top-performing players from the HBCC Open section—is ready to welcome your young players back for an amazing final term of the year! These experienced competitors bring strong playing credentials, modern training methods, and firsthand tournament experience, ensuring students continue to receive high-quality instruction that connects theory with practical play. Reminder: Our venue for chess coaching remains at Hobsons Bay Chess Club @ Altona. Being based here makes it super easy for coaching students to jump straight into our ongoing Rookies and Junior tournaments! We welcome all returning Term 3 students and eager new faces to join our vibrant chess community for Term 4 2026! PS: Timings mentioned are indicative only. Class timings will differ based on group scheduling or coach availability for one-on-one sessions. See our Coaching Terms and Conditions here.  

Tournament is catered for beginners, juniors and rookies (including adults) below ACF 1500 or FIDE 1700.  Venue: Hobsons Bay Chess Club, 108 Queen Street Altona Rating: FIDE/ ACF Classical Rating Contact: FA Kuanysh Batyrbekov tournaments@hobsonsbaychess.com  Chief Arbiter: NA Joemar Lacson Deputy Chief Arbiters: NA Krishna Bodke, NA Nancy Arora, NA Uma Ramalingam, NA Elisa Watson Entry: $45 (members only price) $65 (non-members) Divisions: 8-player Round Robin for the 2026 Junior Club Championship (no "byes" allowed). List of qualifiers available here (still ongoing subject to the results of the Koshnitsky R&J). Regular Swiss format for the Rookies & Juniors Reserves Championship (only club member Juniors are eligible to win the Reserves title, adults can play and win monetary prizes).  To register as member: https://portal.hobsonsbaychess.com/member/memberships  Early Bird ends strictly 1 week in advance: 10th October 2026 (SATURDAY), Late Entry $75 with no exceptions.  Last Day to Register: 15th OCTOBER 2026 (THURSDAY) for R&J Reserves, preliminary R1 pairings to be distributed on 16th OCTOBER (Friday). Last day to register for the Junior Club Championship is 10th October 2026 (qualifiers must be club members). Schedule: 6:00 PM - Tournament starts Format: 7 rounds, 60 minutes + 30 seconds per move (1 round per week), with 2 weeks' break in September (school holidays) Notation is mandatory Two Half Point byes available per player between Rounds 1 to 5. Must be notified at least one day in advance of the round. Eligibility:  Unrated  (rating by Close of tournament registration) or ACF below 1500 (rating by Close of tournament registration) or  FIDE rating below 1700 (rating by Close of tournament registration) Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident OR FIDE ID (registered with home country chess federation) Non Citizen or PR holder are required to register your FIDE ID with your home country. No exception on this.  Trophies/ Medals + Cash Prizes Cash prizes are as below First Prize Rating Group 1: $200 Second Prize Group 1: $100 Third Prize Group 1: $50 Rating Group 2 Winner: $50 Rating Group 3 Winner: $50 (based on number of entries) Rating Group 4 Winner: $50 (based on number of entries) Tournament Rules - please view here