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. The web site charts are only an indication of the order of fixtures should everyone be available every week (which never happens).  CCF reserves the right to set and amend fixtures as necessary for the overall good of the competition.  CCF can set any fixture for any event on any Monday night that it believes players are available to play.  All matches shall be played on their set date or the match shall be treated as defaulted, unless postponement is made according to the rules (see below).  Players are obliged to inform CCF in advance (as far advance as possible) of any Monday they are unable to play on.  However, although reasonable steps will be taken to try and ensure everyone gets the sort of fixture spread that they want from the event(s), CCF will not accept players specifically limiting themselves to perceived dates allocated to specific events, as this simply could not work if everyone were to do this.

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 ("late nights for juniors" cannot generally be accommodated as a reason). This will only be allowed if the completion of the match does not affect the overall running of the competition as the successful completion of the tournament is paramount.

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 long play matches shall 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 FULLY 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 Fewest Defeats (as this may give an extra tie break by effectively looking at the 3-2-1 scoring system)

4 Sonnerborn-Berger (click the link for an explanation on Wikipedia)

5 Only if required then, a player's best + or - grading performance compared with their grade (or estimate).  (This may be necessary in the World Cup to decide which players qualify for which knock-out phase).

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 suitable notification (as deemed by the arbiter) 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 generally be made on 020 8645 0302.

10 Where a match has been declared "defaulted" by the arbiter, according to the rules, this decision can only be overturned if either it is determined that the player(s) defaulting had, after all, fulfilled the requirements to postpone, or a unanimous decision agreed by everyone in their particular section of the competition is reached (ie. those who could be deemed to be affected by the decision).

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.

10 In the group phase of the competition, the same rules will apply as for the standard club championships for deciding positions in the group tables.

11 In the opening knock-out round of the competitions, in the first knock-out round, the "higher" qualifying player will have choice of colour and must have confirmed their choice by 1st January, or the choice will be given to the other player who must choose within 48 hours.  The onus will be on them to email CCF without request f they think that they might have the option.  If neither player register colour, then it will be assumed that the higher rated player will want white. 

12 In the knock-out phase of the competition, a draw in the 1st match will be followed by a replay with colours reversed.  If the match is drawn again, unless agreed by both players and the tournament controller, a rapidplay match (original colours) shall be played (standard RP Club Championship Time Control), followed by a reverse colours replay if that is drawn.  After that, the Controller shall direct how the match is to be decided.

13 CCF reserves the right to default a player who is unable to play a game by a given deadline, for whatever reason.  (This is not a rule we will invoke lightly, but with a knock-out competition, one match can hold the whole competition up, whereas in an all-play-all event, the other matches can continue unhindered).

Your duty is to notify the controller - as soon as you know - of any dates you cannot play during the season.  Please do not wait until the last minute, especially after fixtures have been produced a week before.  We accept that emergencies will crop up, but a lot of careful planning goes into arranging the fixtures and it is (to be blunt) extremely annoying when someone suddenly spots that they have a fixture and asks to cancel because "they forgot to tell us that they were going on holiday........," etc.

Fixtures are generally arranged during the day on a Monday, one week ahead of the date they are due to be played.  Towards the end of the season, as we are running out of weeks, a schedule working ahead a few weeks is often listed so players can see how things have to map out.  As such players should NOT walk in and inform us on the Monday night that they cannot come next week, because the fixtures will, more often than not, already have been done.

If however, you have to cancel, please note that the onus is on YOU to ensure you get the message to the controller.  Players are NOT to contact the opposing player anymore; CCF will do that by text and email.  We do not want players contacting their opponents as opponents have a habit of immediately deciding that they are going to do other things instead, and we may need them to play a game.

BEFORE THE DAY BUT BEFORE THE WEDNESDAY EMAIL GOES OUT
1    Email chess@ccfworld.com to advise us of your request to cancel and the reason.  CCF will then (albeit with a little frustration!) try to re-arrange the fixtures so everyone has a game (not always easy).  Any fixtures changed up to the moment that CCF Chess News goes out on the Wednesday preceding the fixtures, will merely be changed on the web site and it will be assumed that players will know this, as they are expected to look at the web site AFTER seeing the CCF Chess News in case of changes.  After that time, changes will only be made by direct communication with the players affected.  Players are obliged to chase for CCF Chess News if they do not get it.

BEFORE THE DAY BUT AFTER CCF CHESS NEWS GOES OUT
1    Email chess@ccfworld.com to advise us of your request to cancel and the reason.  Please note that playing for another chess team will not be acceptable this late.
2    Ensure you receive a receipt.  Please note that if the controller is stewarding a Chelsea match on the day you send it, you might have to wait till the evening for this.

ON THE DAY - ONLY BEFORE 5pm ALLOWED
1    Email chess@ccfworld.com to advise us of your request to cancel and the reason.  Please note that playing for another chess team will not be acceptable this late.
2    Text the chess mobile (the number should be stored on your phone and will be listed each week in CCF Chess News (as part of the heading) to re-confirm that information.
3    You should then receive both an email detailing the cancellation and any changes of fixtures affecting anyone plus a text to inform players that the email is there and that the web site has been changes. 

NOTE: Do not ring the CCF Office number to make a cancellation.  The rules stipulate the chess mobile because Scott is usually out and about and he is normally the person who must deal directly with such a situation, as it can involve the late re-arranging matches.  Deals between players not to play are not allowed - even if apparently agreed by other CCF staff members.  The process MUST be done by email and/or text to the chess mobile number.  The number can be seen on the CCF Chess News every week.