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 all matches in respect of allocating dates for all CCF Cup matches between 1^st June and 21^st September inclusive. These matches will generally be on Monday but can be on other nights by arrangement to ensure deadline dates are achieved.  For this reason, all players must notify CCF as soon as they know of any Mondays they cannot do in the stated time range, regardless of whether or not they think they may have a scheduled game on that date. They should also notify CCF of any dates that become clear again (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 necessary 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 players' availability. 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.  As a rule, we try and avoid changing fixtures on the day but this will sometimes be unavoidable.

3    It is the duty of every player to check their section's page of the web site on receipt of the weekly "CCF Chess News" to see if they have a fixture.  Anyone not receiving the email by Thursday lunch is obliged to immediately advise CCF.

NB:  Fixtures will be arranged approximately 1 week in advance and listed on the web site.  Players should not assume that a fixture published 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.  Please keep watch on your emails.

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 but this can only happen with the 100% agreement of both the controller and all of the other players in the (entire) section. Please read the attached guidelines (at the bottom) as these will have to be followed in the event of a need to postpone.

5    Although we will avoid it where possible, players MUST be prepared to play matches at other times (this will only be done if absolutely necessary and times will be agreed between the players involved).

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 (and not because players are young and/or tired - as otherwise the whole competition gets held up). Players must be prepared to complete their matches on the night they start, even if the match runs later than expected.

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. Long play games may be so classed provided that a player starts with at least 30 minutes on the clock with 30 second Fischer 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) Fewest defeats, 4) Sonneborn-Berger tie-break (see below).  5) Reverse 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).

NOTE: Sonneborn-Berger is a tie-break that calculated performances against other players according to how well they have done (as opposed to their grade or estimate).  You add up the scores of the opponents that you have beaten and then add half the value of the scores of the players you have drawn against and you get your total.  The higher total wins.

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

13 Players may only play in the section that their grade allocates them to except for players whose grading performance since their grade was published places them inside the bracket of the higher section they wish to play in.  Exceptions may be allowed in the Under 130 section if CCF require  FIDE rated players who are graded below 100.  We will also consider requests from any FIDE rated player who is graded below 100 ECF who wishes to play in the Under 130 Section.

14 Players registered with FIDE as English and who are playing in the FIDE rated sections must be members of the English Chess Federation before playing their first match.

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 up until the All-Play-All closes (after the penultimate Monday in August).

A2   The time control for All-Play-All matches not also in the CCF Cup shall be 75 minutes for all moves plus 30 seconds added Fischer increments from move 1.

A3   A player may only have one match in progress at any given time (except in the extremely rare circumstance that a sealed move has been allowed to take place). 

A4   A player may count their best results in the All-Play-All up to and including the number of games that would equal the number of Mondays available to them.  (ie.  we normally have 12 Mondays available - but sometimes 13) and this figure will be the maximum number of games that can be registered.

A5    Prizes will be awarded to the highest scoring players in the competition and not based on grade groups as previously was the case.  League positions will be decided as the CCF Cup Groups.

A6    Except where CCF Cup matches have to be played on other evenings, only matches played during the scheduled Monday evening club shall be counted. 

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   Players may only include a maximum of 2 times the number of long play games allowed in the Long Play All-Play-All in the current season.  (In other words, if we have  12 weeks available for the Summer season, 24 is the maximum - if we have 13 weeks available, then 26 is the maximum).

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

SUMMER CHESS INFORMATION PAGE
CHESS CLUB HOME PAGE
RETURN TO CHESS HOME PAGE 

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.