The European Senior Chess Championship is open to all players representing ECU Chess Federations who have been born in the year 1971 or earlier, regardless of their title or rating. There is also no limit in the number of participants per federation. Applications have to be sent by the National federations or to be approved by the National federations.
In accordance with the ECU tournament rule the Championship will be played in two categories: one for those who shall have reached the age of 50 (category SENIOR 50+), and one for those who shall have reached the age of 65 (category SENIOR 65+).
Players who have reached the age of 65 by the 31st December 2021 are allowed to participate in the category SENIOR 50+ if they request it. In each age category an Open and a Women’s competition is organized. There is also no limit of participants per federation.
The championship is based on Swiss system in accordance with the ECU Tournament Rules and FIDE Rules of Chess. The playing time will be 90 minutes for 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game with an increment of 30 seconds per move, starting from move one.
Women tournament will be played separately. If in total the women participants are less than nine they will play in the Open tournaments with separate prizes.
According to FIDE Handbook D.04.03, the top 3 players from each category of the European Senior Championship 2020 are qualified with personal rights (free board and lodging) to the World Senior Championship 2022 or 2023 according to FIDE decisions.