2026 Best in the West (Hobsons Bay Chess Club)
This listing is aggregated from public sources. Always confirm critical tournament details with official links before travelling or entering.
Tournament links
About
The flagship chess weekend in Melbourne’s Western Suburbs returns! A premier classical weekend tournament attracting strong players from across Victoria and beyond. It is a 5-Round Swiss, FIDE & ACF Rated, with a maximum of 120 players recommended for ratings ≥ 1000 ACF or FIDE.
Schedule
Saturday – 29 August 2026: Registration & Player Briefing: 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM, Round 1: 9:30 AM, Lunch Break: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM, Round 2: 1:30 PM, Round 3: 5:30 PM. Sunday – 30 August 2026: Round 4: 9:30 AM, Lunch Break: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM, Round 5: 1:30 PM.
Details
- Fees
- Early Bird: $80 (by 14th August 2026), Early Bird Concession (Pensioners & Juniors): $60 (by 14th August 2026), Free Entry for GM / WGM / IM / WIM / FM / WFM / CM / WCM (by 14th August 2026), Late Entry Fee: +$15 for entries received after Friday 14th August 2026.
- Format
- 5-Round Swiss (no tiebreaks). Time Control: 60 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move (Scoresheet required). Rating: FIDE & ACF Rated. Maximum Entries: 120 players.
- Prizes
- Guaranteed 1st Place: $1,200, 2nd Place: $600, 3rd Place: $300. Best Juniors (Guaranteed): $1,000 (sponsored by Bendigo Bank). Best Ladies: $300. Rating Group 1 Winner: $200. Rating Group 2 Winner: $200. Best Unrated Player: $200. Biggest Upset: $100.
- Eligibility
- Recommended Rating: ≥ 1000 ACF or FIDE. Free Entry for GM / WGM / IM / WIM / FM / WFM / CM / WCM.
- Contact
- FA/ CM Tony Davis – Tournament Director 📞 [hidden]. IA Casey Goh- Chief Organiser ✉️ [email protected]
From the thread
No tiebreaks – prizes are shared equally. Players may win one prize only. Rating groups will be published by Round 2. One ½-point bye available in Rounds 1–3, Round 1 bye must be requested in advance.
May mention VegaResults, live games or pairings links added in replies — check the discussion thread for the latest.