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 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 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).

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.