The Confucius Cup 2022 will take place from 23rd–25th September, 2022 at the Confucius Institute in UCD Dublin. The Rapid tournament will be played on Friday night, while the Cup itself will be played on Saturday and Sunday. Attracting a strong field (previous winners include Kim Youngsam, Mero Csaba, and Fan Hui), the Confucius Cup is the premier tournament in the Irish calendar. The Confucius Cup is a Level C Bonus Point tournament in the European Grand Prix.

Location

The tournament will take place on the campus of UCD Dublin, on the south side of the city. The university is well connected to the airport via the Aircoach shuttle service, and offers plentiful parking for those driving. The Confucius Institute building is close to the main entrance from the N11 (campus map).

Accommodation

Accommodation in Dublin can be expensive and we recommend booking early.

We have arranged a group rate at the nearby Talbot Hotel in Stillorgan: €169 per night for a twin room, including breakfast (€159 for single occupancy). The Talbot is located 2km away from the tournament venue, along the 700 route of the Aircoach express bus service from the Airport. Email reservations@talbotstillorgan.com and quote the code “Confucius Cup” to receive the discount. If you are interested in sharing a room but don’t have a partner in mind, contact the tournament director and we will try to match you with someone.

There may also be one or two spaces available in the homes of Dublin players.

Covid Restrictions

Players travelling from outside Ireland should check the Covid requirements for entry into Ireland. At the moment, there are no Covid-related restrictions on entry to Ireland. Normal visa requirements apply. Covid restrictions on events taking place in UCD have also been lifted, in accordance with Irish government guidelines — vaccination certificates are no longer required.

Registration

Registration is now open. If you’re planning on attending, please register in advance — it helps greatly in keeping things running on time. See the list of registered players.

Entry for the Confucius Cup is €25, with a concession rate of €10 for students and unwaged. Entry for the Rapid is €10. Players who register before August 1st pay a reduced entry fee of €30 for the two events.

Format

The Confucius Cup is a five round McMahon tournament, with the first three rounds played on Saturday and the remaining two on Sunday. Time controls are 60 minutes main time plus five periods of 30 seconds byo-yomi (EGF Class A). Komi is 6.5. Handicap is difference in McMahon Score minus 2. Ties are broken by direct comparison, SOS, then SOSOS.

The Rapid tournament is a five round Swiss tournament. Time controls are 20 minutes sudden death for the first round, decreasing by 2 minutes for each subsequent round. Handicap is difference in score plus 1. Ties are broken by direct comparison, SOS, then SOSOS.

Schedule

Friday

19.00 Check-In
19.30 Rapid Tournament Rounds 1–5

Saturday

09.00 Check-In
09.45 Opening Ceremony
10.00 Confucius Cup Round 1
13.30 Confucius Cup Round 2
16.30 Confucius Cup Round 3
19.30 Dinner

Sunday

09.00 Check-In
09.15 Confucius Cup Round 4
13.00 Confucius Cup Round 5
16.30 Closing Ceremony and Prize-Giving
19.30 Dinner and drinks

This schedule is subject to change.

Prizes

There will be additional smaller prizes for players who achieve five wins in the Confucius Cup.