Nelson to host 2026 South Island Chess Championships

The South Island Championships 2026, an official New Zealand Chess Federation (NZCF) event, is scheduled to take place in Nelson from September 30 to October 3, 2026. The tournament will be held at the Rutherford Hotel and will consist of eight rounds following a Swiss system.

Participants will play with a time control of 90 minutes per player plus a 30-second increment per move starting from the first move. The games may be FIDE rated. Entry fees are set at $120 for adults and $100 for juniors under 20 if registered before January 1, 2026.