New Open File
Autumn 2026
Under the new editorship of Tristan Searle, we have a packed edition which reflects the ongoing vitality and resergence of both Armed Forces Chess and the wider chess world.
The centrepiece of this edition is Carl Portman's report of on the 2026 UK Armed Forces Championship at Defence Collage Shrivenham.
We also have reports on the Int Core's success at Shrivenham as well as the chess highlights of Mike Fieldings posting to America, a 4NCL report from Chas Chapman and some memories of the first 4NCL Online during Covid and a continuation of Richie Kellys experiences of playing in the BBCs 'Chess Masters: The Endgame'.
You don't want to miss it! Click below to read this packed edition of Open File.
NATO Chess Championship
2026
Good luck to the UK team at the 36th NATO Chess Championship in Lativa. This event is coming in October (11-17th), and there should be live coverage of the top boards on LiChess.
Best Wishes To The Team!
4NCL Chess
A reminder to all members that they can play for the Association in the Four Nations Chess League (4NCL). There are two seperate events - one over the board classical, the dates of which can be found in the Diary section on this page. Please note, Gold ECF Membership is a requirement to play in this event.
Members can also play in the online version of the Four Nations Chess League every second week on a Tuesday evening from the confort of your armchair. Players need to be Bronze ECF members to take part in the online edition of 4NCL.
Enter the UK Armed Forces Rapid Play
The rapid play will take place over a weekend at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire, with eight rounds of rapid play (20 mins with a 5 second increment).
The opening ceremony will kick off the event off at 1200 on Saturday14th November, with a social evening on Saturday evening followed by the final rounds the next day, ending the event at 1300 on Sunday 15th November.
All entry details can be found in the DIN (click the box below), however accomodation is limited so if you want to play, then do not hesitate!
Carl Portman MBE!
Our congratulations go out to our former magazine editor, Carl Portman, who was awarded an MBE in the King's New Years Honours List. The award was given for services to chess in the community, and in particular, his work with chess in prisons. This is well documented in Carl's book, Chess Behind Bars.
We have many past editions of Open File archived in this section, with several from the early years of the RAF Chess Association in pdf form. Click Below to enter the Open File archive.
10-11 Oct 4NCL Div 4 in Bedford
11-17 Oct NATO Championship in Jurmala, Latvia
9th Nov UKAFCA vs Parliamentary Chess Team
14-15 Nov UKAFCC at RAF Benson
23-24 Jan 4NCL Div 4 in Peterborough
27-28 Feb 4NCL Div 4 in Coventry
20-21 Mar 4NCL Div 4 in Peterborough
1-3 May 4NCL Div 4 in Coventry
UKAFCA Fair Play Code of Conduct for Online Chess Events