ELIGIBLE PLAYERS FOR SEMI-FINALS           JUNIOR CHESS HOME PAGE            CHESS HOME PAGE

Dear Parents / Carers of Invited Players

Those listed on the web site (see link above) have qualified for the semi-finals of the English Chess Challenge - and we therefore invite you to enter them for one of the semi-finals as detailed below.  Only those eligible can enter and those eligible are players who have qualified as a result of:
*    Having a score in the highest one third of boys or girls for their age group in their qualifying competition(s). 
*    Scoring 15 points or more in their qualifying competition.
*    Benefiting from another player qualifying twice (or more) who has "passed down" their extra qualification to the next score group.

This could have been from:
*    One of many school chess club competitions in the Spring Term.
*    The Open tournament at Wimbledon Park in January.
*    The Open tournament at Coulsdon in April.
*    A tournament at an out of school chess club. 

Entries will be on a first come, first served basis.  The venues do not hold unlimited numbers - and CCF cannot accept responsibility for anyone who is unable to enter the zone of their choice because spaces have gone.  CCF reserves the right to regulate the last few entries to try and ensure sections have enough players in them.

You have a choice of 3 venues on different dates.  Please note that you can only enter ONE of the 3 events, but you are totally free to choose which (subject to space and deadline).  No entries will be accepted for any zone after 9am on the Thursday immediately preceding competitions:

Please click on the appropriate link above for the semi-final that you wish to enter - this can be done online using any debit/credit card or a pay-pal account.  This is our preferred method of entry as it streamlines the job for us and enables us to deal with entries at convenient times, however you can enter by sending a cheque to CCF with the name of your child and the section they want to play in on the back - together with appropriate contact information.  Entries will not be accepted by trainers at school clubs and we cannot accept responsibility for any such entries.  Please check the web site (list of entrants - link above) after entering to make you it has been received.

GENERAL INFORMATION

All players will be required for all rounds - a draw value bye in any round is possible depending on the format of that section.  But it must be booked before the event.

CCF have the normal insurance to cover for their public liability. However, please note that, although CCF will do their best to supervise players on the day, legal responsibility for the safety of your child is yours and not CCF’s. Your child’s school and your child’s trainer cannot be held liable for the safety of your child.

Players and parents are reminded that the playing hall is strictly out of bounds except for those still playing.

CONDITIONS OF ENTRY - ANY ENTRY TAKEN IS DONE SO ON THIS BASIS OF AGREEMENT TO THIS INFORMATION

HOW THE EVENTS WILL RUN
In principle, boys and girls play separately and also in the different age groups as follows:

Under 18    Dates of Birth from  1 September 1999 to 31 August 2002
Under 15    Dates of Birth from  1 September 2002 to 31 August 2004
Under 13    Dates of Birth from  1 September 2004 to 31 August 2006
Under 11    Dates of Birth from  1 September 2006 to 31 August 2007
Under 10    Dates of Birth from  1 September 2007 to 31 August 2008
Under 09    Dates of Birth from  1 September 2008 to 31 August 2009
Under 08    Dates of Birth from  1 September 2009 to 31 August 2010
Under 07    Dates of Birth from  1 September 2010 to 31 August 2011
Under 06    Dates of Birth from  1 September 2011

However, CCF reserves the right to merge sections as appropriate, although this will only be for pairing purposes and will not remove any medals due to be presented for what turns out to be a  smaller section.

SWISS SYSTEM TOURNAMENTS
Where numbers allow (ie 7 players or more), each section will be run on a Swiss system basis.  Players are paired round by round against someone they have not already played (primary rule) who is on as close a score to them as possible and in order to try and balance the colours played as much as the rules allow.  Where players are tied at the end, progressive score decides the winner (this is done by adding the score each player had after each round and the higher score wins).  Direct result is the next tie-break before we use a reverse colour play-off if necessary.

ALL-PLAY-ALL FORMATS
Where numbers are limited, we run all-play-all formats. Where players tie, the first tie break is/are the direct result(s) of the match(es) involving those tied and then the Neustadtl (Sonneborn-Berger) system (click link to read an explanation on Wikipedia), or else play-off games are arranged.  

The All-Play-All formats we use are:
*    6 players - a 5 round tournament is easy to arrange with everyone playing everyone else.
*    5 players - a 5 round tournament will see everyone play everyone once with players sitting out 1 round each. 
*    4 players - a 3 round all play-all, followed by 2 rounds on a Swiss system with reverse colours.
*    Less and we look to merge, but this may happen with higher numbers anyway because of small adjacent sections.   

QUALIFYING FOR THE FINAL
The finals will be held on (Bank Holiday) Monday 27 August 2018.  In the semi-final tournaments, anyone scoring more than 50% in Swiss tournaments exclusive to their age/gender groups will be invited to enter the final.  From all-play-all events, a minimum of the top 50% of players from each age/gender bracket will be invited (tied scores and both/all players go through).

OTHER GENERAL INFORMATION
Medals: Every child playing will be presented with a medal, but only if they stay and receive it at the prize giving. We consider the prize giving as important a part of the event as the playing and expect every player to remain for it. We will not normally pass on medals to friends or hand them out early or via schools.
Food for Sale: Please see confirmation email for each event as details will vary.  No pre-prepared food will be on sale.
Clothes: As far as CCF is concerned, players can wear what they wish.
Advise us: of any medical conditions you feel we should be aware of in respect of your son/daughter.

ELIGIBLE PLAYERS FOR SEMI-FINALS           JUNIOR CHESS HOME PAGE            CHESS HOME PAGE