The 47th Kidlington Chess Tournament will be held on Saturday 31 January and Sunday 1 February 2026.
The venue is changing, our new Venue is THE OXFORD LEONARDO HOTEL, OX2 8AL.
The tournament will have four sections: Open, Under-2000, Under-1800, and Under-1600. The prize fund will exceed £2200.
This year’s event attracted some 184 entrants from all over the country. We look forward to welcoming returning and first-time players next year.
Entries for our 2026 event will open online in early Autumn. For those who prefer to pay by bank transfer rather than via PayPal, this option is now available for online entrants. We still retain the option of postal entry for those who want it. Entry forms and further information can be found via the ‘Kidlington 2025’ tab above.
I would remind local players that the Open section will incorporate the second leg of the Oxfordshire Individual Championship, the first leg being the Open section at the 12th Witney Weekend Chess Congress taking place in November 2025. The title of Oxfordshire Chess Champion and the Championship Trophy will be awarded to the eligible player with the highest combined score in the Open sections of the two events.
Tim Dickinson It is with great sadness that I announce the death of Tim Dickinson. Tim was known far and wide and was a key member of the Kidlington Congress team for a number of years. His knowledge, sense of humour, and all the work he did will be greatly missed.
Keith Freshwater
[updated, 5 June 2025]