Welsh Correspondence Chess Federation

Austin Lockwood  Sunday, July 12, 2026

The 2026/28 BCCC will commence play on 1st October 2026, registration is now open.

The Championship section is usually around Category 8, so this should be a very attractive prospect for British players looking for SIM or even GM norms (but please note that we cannot guarantee entry to the Championship section, even for players rated over 2,400).

The Candidates section may also carry title norms, however in order to be classed as a title tournament, we do need to have a mix of players of different nationalities and we usually have a lot more English players than Welsh or Scottish players.  If you are a Scottish or Welsh player rated 2,200 - 2,400 then you are strongly encouraged to enter to improve the chances for all participants for earning title norms.  If more than 15 players are qualified for the Candidates, we will run it in the Silli format.  This year we are guaranteeing all players rated 2,200 or higher a place in either the Candidates or the Championship, because we had a few mismatches in last year's Reserves.

The last section will be the Reserves, which might carry minor norms, it you are rated below 2,200 and are seeking CCE or CCM norms, then this is the event for you! - Again, if more than 15 players qualify, we will run it in the Silli format.

The entry fee this year is €10.50 Euros (unfortunately that's a significant increase from last year, due to increased ICCF fees, but it's still less than £10 and so represents good value when compared to other ICCF title events).  There are no prizes other than the title "British Correspondence Chess Champion".

Entry is via the ICCF Direct Entry system, please log onto the ICCF website, select "New Events" from the menu, and then "Wales" from the list of categories.  We will close entries on Monday 21st September.

The British Championship, having been run annually since 1921, is the most prestigious correspondence chess event of the British calendar, and all British correspondence chess players are cordially invited to participate.

The rules for the 2026/28 season are here.

British Championship Organising Committee

• Austin Lockwood (Wales)
• Phill Beckett (England)
• Andrew Macmillen (Scotland)
• Keith Kitson (Tournament Director)

Austin Lockwood  Thursday, July 9, 2026

We have had very little interest in this event from players rated under 2,200.  This is a final call, if we can't make a team then unfortunately we will have to withdraw.

Anyone rated under 2,200 who would like to represent Wales in a British team event, please contact me at [email protected].

Austin Lockwood  Thursday, June 25, 2026

Good luck to the Welsh team, Mark Bastow, Ioan Rees, Vaughan Thomas, Neil Evans, Bob Hurn, Mark Paffard, and Team Captain Paul Scott, in the Giorgio Porreca Memorial Semi Final 2

Austin Lockwood  Friday, June 12, 2026

The following medals and certificates will be presented at the ICCF Congress at Neuhardenberg, Germany on Monday October 12th 2026.

Grand Master

• Marc Wakeham

Senior International Master

• Marc Wakeham

International Master

• Mark Adams
• Tom Gunn
• Marc Wakeham

If any of the above recipients would like to attend Congress to be personally presented with their medal and certificate by the ICCF President, please let me know.  Otherwise I will forward them to you by post.

Austin Lockwood  Monday, May 25, 2026

Firstly a reminder about the Giorgio Porreca Memorial Team Tournament, for which we are currently looking for Welsh players rated under 2,300.  We currently don't have enough players to submit a team and may be forced to withdraw - if your current rating is under 2,300 and you would like to represent Wales in an official ICCF rated event, then please get in touch ([email protected]) as soon as possible.

We are also in the process of organising a British team event with games against players from England and Scotland; this one will be for players rated under 2,200.  Please get in touch if you would like to play.

Austin Lockwood

WCCF Secretary

Austin Lockwood  Sunday, May 10, 2026

ICCF has announced the annual Memorial Team Tournament for players under 2,300.  Please see attached for details.

WCCF would like to submit at least one team to represent Wales, if you are rated under 2,300 and would like to play in our team, please contact Paul Scott ([email protected]) with copy to Marc Wakeham ([email protected]) before 31st May.

All participants must have had their ICCF accounts validated, and preference will be given to Premium Members.

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Austin Lockwood  Friday, April 24, 2026

Ioan Rees has earned his first Correspondence Chess Expert (CCE) norm in José Daniel Finkelstein Memorial TT SF4 Board 3.

Well played Ioan!

Austin Lockwood  Monday, April 13, 2026

Our friends from Cuba have invited Wales to submit a team to the second "Caribbean Team Battle Tournament", a team event over six boards - Details are attached.

It would be 12 games.

Each board has a very specific rating range:

• Board 1 – 2450
• Board 2 – 2400
• Board 3 – 2350
• Board 4 – 2300
• Board 5 – 2250
• Board 6 – 2200

If you are interested in playing in this event, please let me know asap ([email protected]).  Please also let me know if you are willing to play a lower board than your rating would permit (for example if you are rated 2,425, would you be willing to take the slot on Board 3?) - I ask this because we may not be able to fill all the boards.

As usual, priority will go to Premium Members.

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Austin Lockwood  Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Marc becomes the first ever Welsh Correspondence Chess GM and only the third British GM since 2011 - a fantastic achievement, well played Marc!