Cambridgeshire County Chess Association

Individual Championship Rules

General

1. All games shall be played over the board. There shall be no simultaneous games, so only one game shall be played at the same time between each pair of players in any competition.
2. All competitions shall be completed (subject to adjudication or dispute), by the date of the annual Jamboree, or 30th April if no Jamboree is held. Any games not completed by that date shall be deemed to be defaulted by both players or teams, unless exceptional circumstances can be shown.
In all competitions, won games shall count one point and drawn games half a point, (for the purposes both of scoring and grading).
The whole of the play in these competitions shall be governed by "The Laws of Chess".
All of these rules shall be administered by the Executive Committee, whose decision on all matters connected therewith shall be final. Alterations or additions to these rules may be made by the membership at the A.G.M.
Each tournament shall be run by a Tournament Controller, who will interpret these rules and arbitrate disputes. Any decision of the Tournament Controller must be appealed to the CCCA disputes committee in writing within 7 days, else it shall be deemed final.

Individual Champion Competitions

1. The Annual Individual Competition(s) shall be open to all members of the Association paying an entrance fee as fixed by the Executive Committee.
2. The Junior Individual Competition shall be open to any player normally residing within the bounds of the association, paying an entrance fee as fixed by the Executive Committee. Entrants must be below the age of fifteen on 31st August on year of entry.
3. The "Under 18" Individual Competition shall be open to any player normally residing within the bounds of the Association, paying an entrance fee as fixed by the Executive Committee. Entrants must be below the age of eighteen on 31st August on year of entry.
4. The junior competitions may be organised as a one or two day Swiss event, at the discretion of the Junior Organiser.
5. Junior sections of local congresses may be recognised as providing a county "under age" champion, at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

Individual Competition Format

Details of the venue for each round, the date on which it shall be played, and the date by which entries must be made, shall be sent to each private member entrant, and to each club secretary whose club is affiliated.
Entries must be made to the tournament controller by such date as the Executive Committee may determine. Club secretaries may submit collective entries from affiliated members. Entries must be accompanied by the entry fee. No entry shall be accepted from a player entering in the championship of any other county during the same season.
1. The competitions shall be conducted either
  1. On a "knock-out" basis, with a draw preceding the first round. In this case the Tournament Controller shall make the draw, at least ten days prior to the date fixed for round one. A draw seeded by current player BCF grade may be used.
  2. A multi-round Swiss tournament, with the format used at the discretion of the Tournament Controller.
  The format to be used shall be elected at the Executive Committee meeting, when dates and venues are to be determined.
  All privately entered members shall be sent details of their opponents. All club secretaries shall be furnished with lists of the draw, so far as it affects their members.
2. The Tournament Controller shall announce the time set for close of play. Clocks must always be used. If a clock is broken, then the game shall be adjourned until a replacement can be found. Colours shall be decided by choice of pawns. Play shall start at 7.30pm, (unless otherwise specified beforehand), and where one player of a pair is absent at this time the Tournament Controller or his deputy will act in place of the absent player for choice of colour and the clock will be started at that board.
3. The rate of play shall be the same as that used in CCCA league games. (This is currently 36 moves in 75 minutes, with a subsequent fifteen move quick-play finish).
4. Any game unfinished at the time set for the close of play shall be adjourned. The player to move at this time shall seal his next move, recording this move before stopping his clock. He will place a copy of the position, his move, and the clock time for both players in a sealed envelope, which will then be signed over the seal by both players. Adjourned games must be played off within seven days. Drawn games must be replayed, and a decision reached within fourteen days. Article 15 of "The Laws of Chess" shall be strictly observed.
5. Games may be played privately (see under rule 13). When the tournament reaches the semi-final stage, all games shall be considered as being played under privately arrangements. When drawn games are replayed, colours shall be reversed. In all replayed or adjourned games between two players, the choice of venue shall alternate.
6. Where a game has to be postponed because one of the players is unable to attend, the non-defaulting player shall offer the other player the choice of three dates falling within the next two weeks. If the opponent is unable to keep one of these dates, he is considered to have forfeited the game.
In the event of any competitor failing to appear at the appointed place, date or time, (subject to rules 9(e,f), or 11), he shall after half an hours grace has been allowed, forfeit the game by default.
1. In special circumstances, such as illness or bereavement, an extension of time for completing the round may be permitted, on application to the Tournament Controller. (see under rule 14)
2. If the period of illness exceeds a fortnight, the player who is ill shall forfeit the game and withdraw from the competition.
The competitor winning the final shall be deemed the champion for the ensuing year, and shall be entitled to hold any trophy or receive any prize that may be awarded.

Private Match Arrangements

1. Players belonging to the same club or residing in close proximity to each other, drawn together, may play their game privately if they so wish. Any competitor who finds it inconvenient to attend the common venue on the date fixed, may, with the consent of his opponent, make private arrangements for the game. However, the non-defaulting player will have choice of venue.
2. Games played under private arrangements should (where possible) be played on or before the round, and the intention to play privately must be notified to the Tournament Controller before the date laid down for that round. The result of each game must be notified to the Tournament Controller within seven days.
3. Where a game has to be postponed because one of the players is unable to attend, the non-defaulting player shall offer the other player the choice of three dates falling within the next two weeks. If the opponent is unable to keep one of these dates, he is considered to have forfeited the game.
4. Matches arranged by private agreement should, in the first instance, be organised by the players themselves. However if they cannot agree the date or venue, then following procedure will be used.
  1. If any player cancels without common agreement, then his opponent will have choice of venue for the rematch. (This is necessary to prevent players cancelling when the formal venue does not suit them. However this right may be waived, if appropriate)
  2. The player with choice of venue should give his opponent choice of night.
  3. If the players cannot agree, then the Tournament Controller will toss a coin to decide who has choice of what
  4. Player with choice of night must then offer 3 nights in the next fortnight to player with choice of venue
  5. If any player is being deliberately evasive, then the opponent can appeal to the Tournament Controller, who will initiate (iii) above, if he sees fit.
  6. If the match does not then take place, the defaulting player will be disqualified, unless exceptional circumstances can be shown (see rule 11).

Resolving Drawn Matches

In the event of difficulty resolving a match due to repeated draws / ill-health, etc., when there are less than 7 days to the date of the next round, then the Tournament Controller will invoke the following procedure.
1. If both players are trying to resolve the tie, but cannot before the due date, they may be given extra time to complete it, solely at the discretion of the Tournament Controller. This will nominally be a maximum of 7 days, but will only be granted with the approval of their next round opponent. If this is not forth-coming, then 14(b) applies.
2. The Tournament Controller will advise both players that they must resolve the tie within the next 7 days. In the event that there have previously been an uneven number of games played, the player who is to be white next may insist on a full length (3hours) game. In this case a quick-play finish will be applied, such that the game must be finished before the adjournment time. (Standard league time controls will apply).
3. Once the 7-day warning has been given, the player with choice of night must then offer 2 nights in the next 7 to the player with choice of venue. If the match does not then take place, the defaulting player will be disqualified. If the players cannot agree, then the Tournament Controller will toss a coin to decide who has choice of what.
4. If rule 14(b) is satisfied, then a quick-play finish must be used. Players can use any form of quick-play or blitz game to resolve the tie, by mutual agreement. If there is no agreement, then a full-length (3hours) game will be played, using standard league time controls and including a quick-play finish. If an even number of games have previously been played, then players will draw for choice of colours.
5. If the fixture is still tied at the end of the evening, then either player can insist on a toss a coin to decide who goes forward. Further matches within the 7-day period shall only occur by mutual agreement.

Message Board	The Association	Clubs	League & Cup
County Championship	County Matches	Special Events	Games