February 7th 2009 - MIT Waitangi Rapid, Auckland.
Venue: NO Block, North Campus, Manukau Institute of Technology, Otara, Auckland. A 6-round swiss-system rapid-play tournament. Time control 25 min + 5 sec/move. Entry fee: $35 for A, B, or C Grade; $25 for Junior Trophy Grade. Prizefund: A Grade (1700+): 1st $400, 2nd $200, 3rd $150. B Grade (1700-1400): 1st $250, 2nd $150, 3rd $100. C Grade (1399 and below): 1st $200, 2nd $120, 3rd $80. Junior Grade (under 14 years old on 1st January 2009 and under 1300): 1st $120, 2nd $80, 3rd $60, under-12 $50, under-10 $50, under-8 $50. Schedule: players' meeting 9:00am. Rounds at 9:30am, 10:45 am, 12:00pm, 2:00pm, 3:15pm, and 4:30pm. This event is a Millennium Hotels Grand Prix class 1 event. More details from John McRae, 34 Gifford Rd, Papatoetoe, tel 09 278 4520, e-mail brabham@xtra.co.nz or davidtaylor550@hotmail.com.

February 28th 2009 - Bay of Plenty 25'+5" Rapid, Mt. Maunganui.
Venue: Kiwi Room, Hillier Centre, 31 Gloucester Rd (Girven Road end), Mt Maunganui, Tauranga. Two-section 6-round swiss-system, with a time control of 25 minutes each plus an increment of 5 seconds per move. Prizefund: minimum total $900. Schedule: 9 am Players' Meeting, 9:30 rd 1, 11:00 rd 2, 12:30 rd 3, 14:30 rd 4, 16:00 rd 5, 17:30 rd 6, prize-giving after completion of last round. Contact: Caleb Wright, e-mail first25plus5@hotmail.com, phone 027 339 3151. This event is a Millennium Hotels Grand Prix class 2 event.

March 15th 2009 - 2009 Howick-Pakuranga Chess Club Annual Latvian Tournament, Pakuranga, Manukau City.
Venue: Te Tuhi Centre of the Arts, 13 Reeves Road, Pakuranga. Two sections, open and under-1700, 6 round swiss-system, with a time control of 25 minutes each plus an increment of 5 seconds per move. Entry fee $30 for adults, $20 for juniors. Prizefund: $3,500. Enquiries: Organiser Kees van den Bosch, 37 Centre Court, Pakuranga, Manukau City, email kvdbstj@clear.net.nz. This event is a Millennium Hotels Grand Prix class 1 event.

March 27th-29th 2009 - Auckland Chess Centre Weekender, Auckland.
Organised by the Auckland Chess Centre. Venue: Auckland Chess Centre, 17 Cromwell, St, Mount Eden, Auckland. An Open and an under-1700 tournament, each a 6-round Swiss system with a time control of all moves in 60 minutes for the first 40 moves plus 15 minutes to finish the game, with an increment of 30 seconds per move from move one. The Open will be a FIDE-rated event. Both tournaments will be nationally rated and are therefore open only to NZCF-registered players; unregistered players may register at the tournament (adults $13 or juniors $6.50). Entry fees: Open $45 (no junior entry fee); U-1700 $35 (no junior entry fee). No entries accepted after 26th March. Prizefund: Open: 1st $360, 2nd $240, 3rd $120, grading prizes totalling $80; U-1700: 1st $250, 2nd $150, 3rd $100, grading prizes totalling $100. Round times: Fri 27th March, players' meeting 6:30pm, rd 1 7:00pm; Sat 28th, rd 2 9:00am, rd 3 1:30pm, rd 4 6:00pm; Sun 29th, rd 5 9:00am, rd 6 1:30pm. Prizegiving when games have finished. A half-point bye may be taken on the Friday or Saturday only, if claimed at the time of entry (no byes on Sunday). This event is a Millennium Hotels Grand Prix class 1 event. Details from Michael Steadman, 109a Taylors Rd, Mt Albert, Auckland, e-mail steadmanm@hotmail.com.

April 5th 2009 - North Island Rapid Championship, Hamilton.
Venue: Saint Paul's Collegiate School, Hukanui Road, Hamilton. A 6-round swiss-system rapid-play tournament. Time control 25 min + 5 sec/move. Entry fee: $35; $25 for juniors (under 20). Prizefund: 1st $200, 2nd $150, 3rd $100, plus grade prizes totalling $250. Schedule: players' meeting 9:00am. Rounds at 9:30am, 11:00 am, 12:30pm, 2:30pm, 4:00pm, and 5:30pm. This event is a Millennium Hotels Grand Prix class 2 event. More details from G Judkins, 25 Sandford Pl., Chartwell, Hamilton, e-mail g.judkins@stpauls.school.nz

April 10th-13th 2009 - 2009 North Island Championship, Wellington.
Hosted by the Wellington Chess Club. Venue: The Wellington Bridge Club Rooms, 17 Tinakori Road, Thorndon, Wellington. Open 8-round FIDE-rated tournament with a time control of all moves in 90 minutes plus an increment of 30 seconds per move from move one. Single group swiss with B and C division prizes. Prizefund: Open 1st $500, 2nd $300, 3rd $150; B-grade 1st $125, 2nd $75; C-grade 1st $125, 2nd $75; Best Junior $75. Personal trophies for all division winners and Best Junior. Highest placed Wellington Region player to be Wellington Champion. Entry fees: standard $85, unwaged or junior $60. Players must be NZCF-registered. Schedule: Friday 10th April: 9:15am players' meeting; rd 1 9:30am; rd 2 2:30pm. Saturday 11th April: rd 3 9:30am; rd 4 2:30pm. Sunday 12th April: rd 5 9:30am; rd 6 2:30pm. Monday 13th April: rd 7 9:30am; rd 8 2:30pm. Enquiries: Alan Aldridge, e-mail alan_aldridge@paradise.net.nz. This event is a Millennium Hotels Grand Prix class 1 event.

April 21st-25th 2009 - New Zealand Women's Chess Championship, Auckland.
Venue: Auckland Chess Centre, 17 Cromwell Street, Mount Eden. The Championship will be a 10-player FIDE-rated round robin, with a time control of 90 minutes for 40 moves + 30 minutes to finish the game with a 30 second increment per move. Schedule: Tuesday 21st April, 2:00pm players' meeting; rd 1 2:30pm; Wednesday 22nd April, rd 2 9:00am; rd 3 2:30pm; Thursday 23rd April, rd 4 9:00am, rd 5 2:30pm; Friday 24th April, rd 6 9:00am; rd 7 2:30pm; Saturday 25th April, rd 8 9:00 am, rd 9 2:30 pm. Prize-giving after final round. Prizefund: 1st $250, 2nd $150, 3rd $100, 4th $75. The highest placed New Zealander in the Championship will be 2009 NZ Women's Chess Champion and hold the Mabel Abbot Trophy. The Reserve will be a rapidplay event with a time control of 25 minutes plus 5 seconds per move. Reserve prizefund: 1st $100, 2nd $75, 3rd $50. Entry fees: $55 for the Championship and $30 for the Reserve. Players who are not registered members of the NZCF must pay an additional $13 ($6.50 for juniors). Contact: Mike Steadman, e-mail steadmanm@hotmail.com. This event is a Millennium Hotels Grand Prix class 2 event.

May 8-10 - NZ Seniors Championship (Class 2), Hamilton.
5 round swiss. 90 mins + 30” a move. Males born before 1/01/49 and females born before 01/01/59 are eligible. Prize-fund: $700. Entry fee: $50. Contact Hilton Bennett hiltonb@wave.co.nz

May 30th-June 1st 2009 - 32nd Waitakere Licensing Trust Open, Auckland.
Organiser: Waitakere Chess Club Inc. Four separate 6-round swiss-system tournaments, with a time control of 90 minutes each plus an increment of 30 seconds per move. The A-grade section will be FIDE-rated. Prize-fund nearly $7000 (1st prize $1000). Contact: Bob Smith, e-mail Caissa@xtra.co.nz. This event is a Millennium Hotels Grand Prix Super Class event.

June 11th 2009 - Bay of Plenty Girls Chess Championship, Tauranga.
Venue: Tauranga RSA, 889 Cameron Road, Tauranga. This will be a one-day rapidplay event, 6 round swiss-system, in three sections (Primary, Intermediate, and Secondary) with a time control of 25 minutes per player per game. Schedule: Players' meeting 9am; play starts at 9:10am. Email: grandmaster@kol.co.nz . This is part of a nationwide Chess for Girls Week, an initiative of the New Zealand Chess Federation, to encourage girls to try chess in an all-girl environment.

July 7th-10th 2009 - New Zealand Junior Championship and Rapid Championship, Auckland.
To be organised by Howick-Pakuranga Chess Club. Junior Championship 7th-9th July and Junior Rapid on 10th July. More details will follow.

July 10th 2009 - South Island Rapid Championship, Dunedin.
home.otagochess.clear.net.nz/pages/otagochess Venue: Otago Chess Club, 7 Maitland Street, Dunedin. A 6-round swiss-system rapid-play tournament. Time control 25 min + 5 sec/move. Entry fee: $35; $20 for juniors (under 20). Prizefund: Estimated $300 minimum. Schedule: players' meeting 10:00am. Rounds at 10:30am, 11:45 am, 01:15pm, 2:30pm, 3:45pm, and 5:00pm. This event is a Millennium Hotels Grand Prix class 3 event. More details from Quentin Johnson, tel. (03) 473 7853, e-mail otagochess@clear.net.nz.

July 11th-14th 2009 - South Island Championship, Dunedin.
home.otagochess.clear.net.nz/pages/otagochess Venue: Otago Chess Club, 7 Maitland Street, Dunedin. An 8-round swiss-system NZCF and FIDE rated tournament. Time control 90 min + 30 sec/move. Entry fee: $60; $35 for juniors (under 20). Prizefund: Estimated $700 minimum. Schedule: Saturday 10th July players' meeting 10:00am; Rounds at 10:30am and 3:00pm. Sunday 12th - Tuesday 14th: rounds at 10:00 am and 3:00pm daily. This event is a Millennium Hotels Grand Prix class 2 event. More details from Quentin Johnson, tel. (03) 473 7853, e-mail otagochess@clear.net.nz. Download entry form here (pdf file - includes entry form for South Island Rapid Championship).

August 4th-6th 2009 - NZ Interschools Competition: Tauranga Regional Event, Tauranga.
The Regional (Tauranga District Schools) Tournaments are sponsored and supervised by the Mount Maunganui RSA Chess Club. Venue: Tauriko School Performing Arts Centre, 768 State Highway 29, Tauriko, Tauranga. Teams of four players will compete in three sections. Sections: Secondary (Yr 9-13) on 4th August (Tuesday); Intermediate (Yr 7 & 8) on 5th August (Wednesday); Primary on 6th August (Thursday). Time control: 25 minutes per player per game. Schedule: from 9am to 2:30pm approx. Email: grandmaster@kol.co.nz . This is the Bay of Plenty Regional teams qualifier for the National teams finals in September.

August 7th-9th 2009 - Waikato Chess Open, Hamilton.
Organised by Hamilton Chess Club. Venue: Saint Paul's Collegiate School, Hukanui Road, Hamilton. An Open 6-round Swiss system tournament with a time control of all moves in 90 minutes plus an increment of 30 seconds per move from move one. The Open will be a FIDE and NZCF rated event, open only to NZCF-registered players; unregistered players may register at the tournament (adults $13 or juniors $6.50). Entry fees: Open $45 (junior under 20 $35). Free entry for IMs, $10 discount for FMs and NMs. Prizefund: 1st $350, 2nd $250, 3rd $150, 4th $100; there will be additional grading prizes, and also awards for the best Waikato players. Round times: Fri 7th Aug, players' meeting 7pm, rd 1 7.15pm; Sat 8th Aug, rd 2 9am, rd 3 2pm, rd 4 7pm; Sun 9th Aug, rd 5 9am, rd 6 2pm. Prizegiving when games have finished. A half-point bye may be taken in any of the first five rounds, if claimed at the time of entry. This event is a Millennium Hotels Grand Prix class 1 event. Details from Hilton Bennett, PO Box 604, Hamilton, e-mail hiltonb@wave.co.nz.

August 29th 2009 - Gordon Hoskyn Memorial Rapid, Palmerston North.
Venue: Palmerston North Boys' High School, on Featherston Street, between intersections of Rangitikei Street and North Street. An Open 6-round Swiss system tournament with a time control of all moves in 25 minutes plus an increment of 5 seconds per move. The event will be NZCF-rated, open only to NZCF-registered players; unregistered players may register at the tournament (adults $13 or juniors $6.50). Entry fees: Open $35 (junior under 20 $25). Free entry for GMs, IMs, and female FIDE-titled players. Prizefund: Grade Prizes A, B, C, Junior. Plus Best Senior and Female Prize. All entry fees go straight into prizefund; this is a non-profit event. Grade prizes will be increased based on entries. Schedule: Sat 29th Aug, players' meeting 9.45 am, rd 1 10.00 am sharp. Prizegiving when games have finished. Details from Tournament Secretary: e-mail gordonrapid@hotmail.com.

September 20th 2009 - Kapiti Rapid, Kapiti.
Venue: Kapiti Community Centre, 15 Ngahina Street, Paraparaumu, Wellington. An Open 6-round Swiss system tournament with a time control of all moves in 25 minutes plus an increment of 5 seconds per move. The event will be NZCF-rated, open only to NZCF-registered players; unregistered players must register (adults $13 or juniors $6.50). Entry fees: Open $35 (junior under 20 $15). Prizefund: a minimum of $1000. Information: from the Kapiti Chess Club's website: http://sites.google.com/site/kapitichessclub/ or email: chess@hapu.co.nz. This event is a Millennium Hotels Grand Prix class 2 event.

September 26th-27th 2009 - National Interschool Finals, Palmerston North.
Venue: Palmerston North Boys High. More information will become available on www.sims.net.nz, the website of the organiser, Martin Sims.

October 5th-7th 2009 - 2009 Auckland Junior Chess Championship, Auckland.
Organised by Chess for Miracle. Venue: Avondale Intermediate School, 12 Holly Street, Avondale, Auckland. A 9-round Swiss system event with a time control of all moves in 50 minutes plus an increment of 10 seconds per move from move one. This is a junior event and all players must be under 20 on 1st January 2009. It is open only to NZCF-registered players; unregistered players may register at the tournament (juniors $6.50). Entry fee: $45. Prizes: Chess books, chess sets/boards or other chess merchandise will be awarded to the first three in the age groups under-9, u-12, u-15, u-18 and u-20. Schedule: Monday 5th October: 9:00 registration/players' meeting; 9:30 round 1; 12:30 round 2; 14:40 round 3. Tuesday 6th October: 9:00 round 4; 11:10 round 5; 14:00 round 6. Wednesday 7th October: 9:00 round 7; 11:10 round 8; 14:00 round 9. Prizegiving when games have finished. Details from Victor Wang, 4 Beverly Place, New Lynn, Waitakere0600, e-mail haiqiwang@clear.net.nz.

October 23rd-26th 2009 - Merv Morrison Memorial Chess Tournament, Auckland.
Organised by the Auckland Chess Centre. Live games will be shown on www.aucklandchesscentre.co.nz. Venue: Auckland Chess Centre, 17 Cromwell, St, Mount Eden, Auckland. An Open and an under-1700 tournament, each a 6-round Swiss system with a time control of all moves in 90 minutes plus an increment of 60 seconds per move from move one. The Open will be a FIDE-rated event. Both tournaments will be nationally rated and are therefore open only to NZCF-registered players; unregistered players may register at the tournament (adults $13 or juniors $6.50). Entry fees: Open $40 (no junior entry fee in Open); U-1700 $40 (junior under 20 $30). Prizefund: Open: 1st $320, 2nd $200, 3rd $100, grading prizes totalling $80; U-1700: 1st $320 and the Merv Morrison Trophy for 2009, 2nd $200, 3rd $100, grading prizes totalling $80. Round times: Fri 2rd Oct, players' meeting 6:15pm, rd 1 6:30pm; Sat 24th Oct, rd 2 9:30am, rd 3 4pm; Sun 25th Oct, rd 4 9:30am, rd 5 4pm; Mon 26th Oct, rd 6 9:30am. Prizegiving when games have finished. A half-point bye may be taken in round one only, if claimed at the time of entry. This event is a Millennium Hotels Grand Prix class 1 event. Details from Michael Steadman, 109a Taylors Rd, Mt Albert, Auckland, e-mail steadmanm@hotmail.com.

January 2nd-14th 2010 - 117th New Zealand Congress, Auckland.
Organised by Auckland Chess CentreVenue: Alexandra Function Centre, Lyell Creek/Owners & Trainers Lounge, Green Lane, Auckland. Events: running from 2nd-12th January, the 117th New Zealand Championship (restricted to NZ players rated over 2000, or 2100 FIDE) and the Major Open (open to players under 2000); January 13th-14th, the New Zealand Rapid Championship; 14th January, the New Zealand Lightning Championship. Schedule: the Championship and Major Open will be 11-round Swiss system tournaments with one round a day. Time control: 90 minutes for 40 moves plus 30 minutes to finish the game with an increment of 60 seconds per move from move one. This event is a Millennium Hotels Grand Prix super class event. More information will follow. Contact: Mike Steadman, e-mail steadmanm@hotmail.com.

January 4th-9th 2010 - 2010 New Zealand Premium Junior Chess Event, Auckland.
Organised by Auckland Chess Centre and Chess for Miracle. Venue: Alexandra Function Centre, Lyell Creek/Owners & Trainers Lounge, Green Lane, Auckland. Events: 6-round swiss-system tournaments; juniors will be divided into three groups according to rating. No pre-arranged byes are permitted - players are expected to compete in every round. Prize fund: in each group there will be the following prizes: 1st $150, 2nd $120, 3rd $90, and two grading prizes of $30. Entry fee: $50 per player. Players belonging to Auckland Chess Centre or Chess for Miracle may deduct $5. Schedule: one round a day, at 9:30 am on each day except the final Saturday (9th January) when the round will be at 9 am. Time control: each player has one hour to complete the game. This event is a Millennium Hotels Grand Prix class 2 event. Contact: Mike Steadman, e-mail steadmanm@hotmail.com.

February 27th 2010 - Bay of Plenty 25'+5" Rapid, Mt. Maunganui.
Venue: Kiwi Room, Hillier Centre, 31 Gloucester Rd (Girven Road end), Mt Maunganui, Tauranga. Two-section 6-round swiss-system, with a time control of 25 minutes each plus an increment of 5 seconds per move. Prizefund: minimum total $900. Schedule: 9 am Players' Meeting, 9:30 rd 1, 11:00 rd 2, 12:30 rd 3, 14:30 rd 4, 16:00 rd 5, 17:30 rd 6, prize-giving after completion of last round. Contact: Vaughan Collingwood, e-mail: grandmaster@kol.co.nz. This event is a Millennium Hotels Grand Prix Class 2 event.