2026 MCC Spring Festival of Chess
Spring Rapid:
Grand Final Eve Blitz:
Spring Classic:
Thursday, September 24
Friday, September 25
Tuesday, September 29 to Thursday, October 1
All tournaments are ACF & FIDE rated.
Venue:
Organiser:
Chief Arbiter:
Deputy Chief Arbiter:
Arbiter:
Contact:
Melbourne Chess Club - 66 Leicester Street Fitzroy
IA Walter Wolffs
IA Walter Wolffs
TBC
TBC
Entry Fees
MCC Members | Early Bird* | |
Classic | $75 | $70 |
Grand Final Eve Blitz | $25 | $20 |
Rapid | $35 | $30 |
All Events | $120 | $110 |
Non-Members | Early Bird* | |
Classic | $80 | $75 |
Grand Final Eve Blitz | $30 | $25 |
Rapid | $40 | $35 |
All Events | $135 | $125 |
*Early Bird must be paid no later than Sunday, September 13, at 11:59pm.
Free entry for GMs, WGMs, IMs, and WIMs.
Discounted entry for FMs and WFMs.
Contact tournament organiser, IA Walter Wolffs to claim.
Trophies and Cash Prizes
$3000* Estimated across all events.
- First Place
- Second Place
- Third Place
- Rating Group A
- Rating Group B
- Rating Group C
- Top Unrated
*Total prize pool is not guaranteed and it will adjust proportionally to the number of players that enter
Tournament Details
MCC Spring Rapid
24/09/2026
Thursday
9 rounds
12 minutes + 3 seconds per move
9:45am - Pairings Published
9:50am - Opening Ceremony
10:00am - Start
4:30pm (approx.) - Presentations
Registrations close on Wednesday, September 23 at 11:59pm.
MCC Grand Final Eve Blitz
25/09/2026
Friday
13 rounds
3 minutes + 2 seconds per move
1:45pm - Pairings Published
1:50pm - Opening Ceremony
2:00pm - Start
6:00pm (approx.) - Presentations
Registrations close on Friday, September 25 at 1:00pm.
MCC Spring Classic
29/09-01/10/2026
7 rounds
60 minutes + 30 seconds per move
Forfeiture time is 30 minutes from when the clocks are started.
Registrations close on Monday, September 28 at 6:00pm. Round 1 pairings will be posted shortly after.
If you require a round 1 bye, the Chief Arbiter must be notified by close of registrations.
The Chief Arbiter reserves the right to repair players in the first round if required.
29/09/2026
Tuesday
9:50am - Opening Ceremony
10:00am - Round 1
2:00pm - Round 2
6:30pm - Round 3
30/09/2026
Wednesday
10:00am - Round 4
2:00pm - Round 5
01/10/2026
Thursday
10:00am - Round 6
2:00pm - Round 7
Presentations at the completion of the final round
