1    All matches shall be played according to the FIDE Laws of Chess. The decision of the Arbiter shall be final in all matters. All players must complete all their matches.

2    CCF holds the right to arrange your Monday evening matches in respect of allocating dates for all CCF Cup matches between 1^st June and 21^st September inclusive. For this reason, all players must notify CCF as soon as they know of any Mondays they cannot do in the specified time range, regardless of whether or not they think they may have a scheduled game on that date. They should also notify of any dates that become clear (having previously been listed as not possible) for the same reason. 

NB.    We will obviously be as reasonable as possible in everything we arrange and bend over backwards to try and accommodate everyone (we are aware some players like to prepare for matches), but some harsh decisions may have to be taken to ensure the competitions finish by the deadline. Fixtures will inevitably be changing all the time as some players are very bad at giving us advanced notice of absence and only tell us at the last minute when they look at the fixtures and realise they are down to play on a date that they have forgotten to tell us they could not make.  CCF must have the flexibility to know it can re-arrange dates knowing that players will be free or otherwise. One cancellation can result in the movement of several fixtures to get the best combination to get the section finished as soon as possible.  As such, players must be prepared to be flexible.

3    CCF has the right to assume that all players on email will have read and accepted any information included in the weekly "Coulsdon Chess News" email and on the CCF Web Site up to and including midnight at the end of the preceding Wednesday before any scheduled Monday for CCF Cup matches.  It is the responsibility of every player to find out in advance whether or not they have a match, whether or not they are deemed by CCF to be on the internet.

NB:  Fixtures will be arranged and advised up to 10 days in advance and listed on the web site.  Players should not assume that a fixture published with 10 days to go will stand as they can be changed without notice up until the moment Coulsdon Chess News is sent out 5 days prior to a scheduled date.  It is up to players to check the web site every week to ensure they have noted any changes.  Any changes made following the Wednesday email (in respect of fixtures due within 5 days later) will be made by contacting the players involved.

4    Any player failing to play a scheduled match without having followed the protocol laid down in these rules shall be defaulted by the tournament controller. Under normal circumstances, there will be no opportunity to replay the game because of the tight schedule. Please read the attached guidelines (below) as these will have to be followed in the event of a need to postpone.

5    In exceptional circumstances, players must be prepared to play matches at other times (this will only be done if absolutely necessary).

6    The Time Control for all CCF Cup matches shall be Fischer timings of 75 minutes for all moves plus 30 seconds added per move, except for the FIDE Rated Open which shall be Fischer timings of 90 minutes for all moves plus 30 seconds added per move.

7    Sealed moves may not be used without express permission from the Chief Controller. This will only be given in exceptional circumstances. Players must be prepared to complete their matches on the night they start.

8    Unless otherwise agreed with the Controller, no matches may begin before 7.30pm. White’s clock will be started at 7.40pm where a game has not already started. No new long play games may start after 9pm. All games starting after 7-40pm must reduce their time control to prevent too late a finish. For this purpose, FIDE increments of 30 seconds per move assume an extra ½ hour beyond the starting time (ie. a total of 60 moves each in the game). Players may reduce the start time down to a minimum of 30 minutes per player plus 30 second increments.

9    A player arriving later than 8-15pm shall be considered to have defaulted until he/she has phoned ahead to notify us that he/she is definitely coming, in which case there shall be no default time until such time as their clock runs out of time.

10  In all groups and leagues, 4 points will be awarded for a win, 2 for a draw and 1 for a defeat. Any player defaulting shall score 0. 

11  League positions shall be decided on the following: 1) Most Points, 2) Result of Direct Match(es) between players tied, 3) Best Grading performance (including defaults) in comparison (plus and minus) to a player's published grade (this will not be workable in the event of a player with an estimated grade), 4) Reserve colour Play-Off(s) as directed by the controller.  However, where players are level on points, no tie break shall be used in respect of prize monies which will be shared equally. The tie breaks shall only be used in the case of deciding qualification and trophies. Where players cannot be split on a tie-break and need to be, the controller shall make arrangements as appropriate to split the players tied. (NB With the grading tie-break, this is unlikely to happen, but would normally involve a reverse colour long play match, but may have to be organised as a shorter game should time be short).

12  Presentations will be made before the start of play on an allocated evening in September.  All prize winners are expected to attend if possible.

13 Players may only play in the section that their grade or CCF estimate allocates them to, or the section immediately above that, unless CCF agree that they will be a suitable candidate in a higher section.  If they wish to play in a higher section, they should apply, giving playing information for their application to be considered.

14 English players in the FIDE rated sections must be members of the English Chess Federation.

A1   A maximum of 2 matches may be played in the All-Play-All against each player. There should not be more than one of each colour against the same opponent.  Unless it repeats a game already played, all matches in the CCF Cup shall also count in the All-Play-All.

A2   The time control should be the same as non-FIDE Open CCF Cup matches, except for matches counting for both the Open Section of the CCF Cup and the All-Play-All.

A3   A maximum of 12 games per player can be counted in the All-Play-All.  Players may not play in more than 12 long play games on Monday nights during the season and extra games may only be included where players have had to play extra CCF Cup games not played during the normal club time-span (the logic behind this is that it is unfair on players who have to play other nights who would then not be able to get a game in on a Monday because it would take them over the 12 game maximum.  As such, this ensures their right to play 12 games in 12 weeks as before but ensures that the maximum number of games that can be counted is 12 to stop people taking advantage and playing extra games on other nights).. 

A4    Prizes will be awarded to the highest scoring players in the competition and not based on grade groups as previously was the case. 

R1   A maximum of 2 matches may be played in the Rapid Play against each player. There should not be more than one of each colour against the same opponent.

R2   A total of 24 Rapid Play matches per player may be recorded during the competition.  Players may not play in more than 24 long play games which are relevant for the competition. 

R3   Time control shall be 20 minutes each plus 10 seconds added Fischer timings from Round 1. Shorter or longer time controls can be agreed by mutual consent provided they are acceptable to BCF Rapid Play rules.

R4    Prizes will be awarded to the leading players overall in the competition and not based on grade as previously was the case. 

R5    All matches must be played at CCF on allocated Monday evenings from 7-30pm.

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To avoid your opponent having the right to claim a win by default, you must have taken suitable steps to notify both your opponent and CCF by 5pm on the day of the game (at the latest) should you not be able to attend. It is not CCF’s responsibility to pass messages or contact opposing players for you.

NB Please note that CCF will use this system in reverse to notify players of a change of arrangements.

There are 2 types of notification of unavailability:

1 Standard Cancellation Notification (SCN) is considered to have been made if you have notified both your opponent (verbally or in writing) and also CCF in writing (preferably email) by 5pm on the evening of the preceding Thursday to the scheduled/arranged date of he match (where the match is a Monday - please adjust the days accordingly should a game have been arranged for another night of the week). This must be done as follows:

a Where both players are on email

Where it is possible, an email should be sent to both CCF and the opposing player. CCF will acknowledge receipt to both players. The opposing player should acknowledge receipt to CCF and the player canceling to ensure that everyone knows the message has been safely received. Where receipt is not received, the onus is no the player canceling to chase for one.

b Where the player canceling is not on email

Notification should be handed to CCF in writing at least a week beforehand. This written notice should include details of how and when you notified your opponent and that you have received confirmation that the message got through. If this is not possible, verbal notification will be accepted from less than a week before up to the end of the SCN period. The opposing player should notify CCF as soon as they receive the message if they are on email.

c Where you are cancelling and your opponent is not on email

Notification should be handed to CCF in writing (preferably by email) at least a week beforehand. This written notice should include details of how and when you notified your opponent and that you have received confirmation that the message got through. If this is not possible, verbal notification will be accepted from less than a week before up to the end of the SCN period.

(Where verbal notification is acceptable, a message left on the CCF answer-phone shall be considered as acceptable - please record the name of who you speak to if you leave a message)

2 Late Notification Notice (LNN) is considered to be anything after 5pm on the evening of the Thursday preceding the match. In these cases, it is incumbent on the player canceling to ensure that any message has been received by the opposing player and by CCF. All options possible for the player canceling that are listed below must be used to ensure as far as possible that the message gets through. These would be as follows:

a An email sent to your opponent and copied to the CCF office by 5pm on the day of the match at the latest. You must then ensure you seek to receive a receipt from both parties before letting the matter rest.

b A telephone message left by 5pm on the day of the match to every number that the opposing player has listed in the contact list followed by a call to the CCF office confirming this action has been completed. If this is not responded to, it is incumbent on you to chase the matter as appropriate, remembering that some players travel long distances.

A text is sent to the opposing player on their mobile number (if appropriate) and this fact advised by phone or email to the CCF office.

 

(Obviously, as soon as you have successfully contacted the player, you have completed your task other than confirming details with the CCF office to cover yourself).

Where players fail to fulfill the above criteria, they shall be defaulted.

All players are obliged to ensure that they notify all the players in their section (not just group within a section) and the CCF office immediately of any changes to any contact information notified in the notification sent / hand delivered or emailed at the start of the competition. It is not the responsibility of CCF to ensure that changes of details are notified to other players.

Explanation
Whilst CCF needs to arrange fixtures, it does not (particularly on a Monday) have the time or staff to chase players regarding cancellations. We apologies for the strict rules and guidelines but hope that everyone understands the need for them in that CCF has to cover itself in such circumstances. It is hoped that, where appropriate, players will show clemency in genuine cases where matches ought to be re-arranged.