These rules are to try and cover every eventuality that may arise during the competition. However, it is inevitable that issues will arise that have not directly been covered in these rules. It is hoped that, regardless of any situation, all players will be accommodating of everyone else in the club. Everyone’s situation is different and there are many different expectations of how this competition should run and what players hope to achieve from it.

1 All matches shall be played according to the FIDE laws of chess and (as stated in the Laws of Chess) the CCF appointed arbiter’s decisions shall be final in all matters relating to the laws of the game and any issues not covered by the laws. Any decision to refer an issue to a higher qualified arbiter will be made by CCF if it is felt appropriate.

2 For the purposes of the long play individual competitions, CCF reserves the right to state on which night matches will be played where it is appropriate. As such, it reserves the right to amend the fixtures as necessary. Such changes will require positive notification as laid down in the rules for cancellations. Notification by the Wednesday email shall be considered as notice given (as players should contact CCF if they do not receive the email).

All matches shall be played on their advertised (or re-arranged) due date or the match shall be treated as defaulted, unless postponement is made according to the rules.

3 Matches should be completed on the evening they are started. Sealed moves may only be made with the permission of the arbiter and only in exceptional circumstances. This will only be allowed if the completion of the match does not affect the overall running of the competition.

4 All matches played within the competition shall be graded with the English Chess Federation and those divisions appropriate to be rated with FIDE.

5 The time limit for all matches shall be 1 hour and 15 minutes for all moves plus 30 seconds per move added from Move 1 Fischer timings, except in the Premiership where matches will be 1 hour and 30 minutes each on the clock plus 30 seconds per move added from Move 1 Fischer timings.

Players should note that, with increments of 30 seconds or more, they are obliged to record moves at all times, regardless of how much time is left on the clock.

6 Players shall be awarded 4 points for a win, 2 points for a played draw and 1 point for a defeat over the board. Defaulted games, whether drawn or lost shall score 0.

7 League positions shall be decided as follows:

1 Most points scored

2 Result(s) of direct match(es) involving the players tied. Further tie breaks using this principle may be used within a sub-group of tied players.

3 Best grading performance. For this purpose (including defaults), we will ignore the normal 40 point ceiling and floor when calculating grades. Ungraded players will be retrospectively given a grade at the end of the season for the calculation of other players’ scores in the event of this tie break being needed.

8 Clocks shall be started at 7-40pm on a match night (by the arbiter if necessary) except where a player has special dispensation. Where both players are absent, white’s clock shall be started. Players are encouraged to start at 7-30pm if possible.

9 If a player has not arrived at the board by 8-15pm, he/she shall default the match, unless telephone notification has been received from that player after 7pm on the night confirming that they are definitely on their way, in which case that player shall only be defaulted when they run out of time. Such notification must be made on 020 8645 0302.

NB. Parents of juniors must note that they are fully responsible for ensuring that either they or their child have followed the rules. Also, they should note that the club does not stop during half-term breaks!; the only Mondays we do not play are over Christmas and at Easter.

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 should you not be able to attend. It is not CCF’s responsibility to pass messages on 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 cancelling to ensure that everyone knows the message is through. Where receipt is not received, the onus is on the player cancelling to chase for one.

b Where the player cancelling 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 answerphone shall be considered as acceptable)

2 Late Notification Notice (LNN) is considered to be anything after 5pm on the evening of the Thursday preceding the scheduled match. In these cases, it is incumbent on the player cancelling to ensure that any message has been received by the opposing player and by CCF. All options possible for the player cancelling 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. If this is not responded to, it is incumbent on you to chase the matter as appropriate, remembering that some players travel long distances.

c 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.

 

(As soon as you have spoken to the player, you have completed your task other than confirming details with the CCF office).

Where players fail to fulfil the above criteria, they shall be defaulted. Players who win by default shall be allowed to re-arrange the game if they so wish so long as it does not prevent the completion of another match in the competition. It is hoped that players will show clemency in appropriate cases.

All players are obliged to ensure that they notify all the players in their division and the CCF office immediately of any changes to contact information notified in the notification sent / hand delivered or emailed at the start of the season. It is not the responsibility of CCF to ensure that changes of details are notified to other players.

CCF will consider information sent on its "Coulsdon Chess News" weekly email as received, read and accepted without the need for receipts to be returned. It will be up to players on email to ensure they have contacted CCF in the event of them not receiving the email to find out why.