Internal Competition Rules
The LCU, ICU and FIDE rules shall apply to club competitions. Where there is a conflict between these, the LCU rules shall take precedence, with the following exceptions:
1. Phones may be left on, preferably on silent/vibrate. Calls must be taken away from the playing area, and finished before returning to the table.
2. A player may not claim a win if an illegal move is made in the last 5 minutes of a game when moves are not being recorded. The illegal move must be corrected, and the opponent receives one extra minute on the clock.
3. Clocks should be started by 8.30pm by players or controller or committee member, unless otherwise agreed by both players.
4. A player who fails to record his/her moves may incur a time penalty, at the discretion of a committee member present.
5. Any dispute arising during a game must be referred to a committee member immediately, or to the full committee within 48 hours, showing the last recorded position and the last reached position, as well as the time left on both clocks. In the event that a clock has fallen, the game is forfeit. The decision of the committee shall be final.
6. If you cannot make one of your fixtures in the competition YOU must contact your opponent as soon as possible otherwise you will lose your match on time as your clock will be started and you will forfeit your game.
Format for Club Championship Qualifiers
1. There will be four groups.
2. The groups will be seeded and the games will be rated.
3. Seedings will be based on the most up to date rating that can be found on the I. C. U . ratings website at 21.00 hrs the day before any competition draw is made.
4. If two or more seeds have the same rating (which effects proceedings) e.g. seeds who would be eight and ninth are joint eight, the competition controller will draw lots to determine the order.
5. If both players agree, Fischer time may be used, with 70 minutes on each clock, and increments of 30 seconds for each move. All moves are to be recorded. Otherwise, standard time control of 1 hour 30 minutes for all moves will apply.
6. Each group will comprise 5 or more players, and will be all play all.
7. The players who finish first and second in each of the four groups will have an automatic place in Club Championship “A”.
8. The players who finish third in each of the four groups will play in a play – off for a place(s) in Club Championship “A”. lossers will play in Club Championship “B”. These games will not be rated. This rule is subject to change, pending on competition entries.
9. The players who finish fourth & fifth in each of the four groups will have an automatic place in Club Championship “B”. This rule is subject to change, pending on competition entries.
10. All other players who finish below fifth place will play in Club Championship “C”. This rule is subject to change, pending on competition entries.
11. Players who arrive after any rated competition has started, may or may not be given a place in the competition. This decision will be discussed by the competition controller & the committee.
12. In the event of a draw in a play – off game, a sudden-death blitz will apply. (Seebelow)
13. When all games in any group are finished, and any players are tied on the same score (which effects proceedings), the results of the games between the players involved shall determine the placings in the group.
In a two player tie, for example, if player A beat player B in their group game, player A will finish ahead of player B.
If three or more players tie, the results of the games between the three players (mini league style) will count. The player with the most points finishes ahead of the others.
If, using the above rules, a multiple player tie can be reduced to a two player tie, the game between the players comes into effect.
If the players in a group can still not be separated, then the following shall apply:
The win/draw/loss record against the player with the lowest points is taken into account. The player who scores best against this player will finish ahead of his rivals.
If players are still tied, the results against the player who finished second last are used. This procedure continues until the players can be placed in the group.
If players are still tied, a sudden-death blitz play-off will follow.
Sudden-death Blitz Play-off
1. One game of 30 minutes on each clock
2. One game of 20 minutes on each clock
3. One game of 10 minutes on each clock
4. The order of these games will be drawn at random
5. In each game players will draw for colours
6. Best of three games wins
7. All games to be played in one session
8. If scores are still level after three games, repeat the process on another occasion
9. Blitz games are not rated, and need not be recorded
Format for Club Championship Deciders
The player with the most points wins their club championship section.
In event of a tie the following procedure shall determine the winner of the competition:
(A) The result of the game between the 2 or more players involved shall determine the winner. i.e.
(A1.1) 2 Player tie: Player “A” beat Player “B” then Player “A” is declared Champion;
(A1.2) 3 or more tie: Result of the games between the players count and the player with the most points is declared Champion.
(A1.3) If at any stage using the above criteria a multiple player tie is reduced to a tie involving just 2 players then the procedure above in (A1.1) will be applied.
If a winner can still not be determined (e.g. the 2 players drew in the main competition) then the following shall apply:
(B) The win/draw/loss record against the player with the lowest points in the competition (or players if joint lowest score) is taken into account. These results indicate the position order of the player’s total score. The player who scores best against this player(s) is deemed winner on count back. If players are still tied, then results against the 2nd lowest player(s) are used. This procedure continues until a winner can be determined (i.e. 3rd lowest, 4th lowest etc). If at any stage using these criteria a multiple player tie is reduced to a tie involving just 2 players then the procedure above in (A1.1) will be applied.
(C) If the Players are still tied, then a playoff will be played. Players draw for colours. In the event of a 3 way playoff, players play each other and who ever wins most points is declared champion. In the event that there is still no outright winner the players will play again with opposite colours. If there is still a tie then, and only then shall the competition be shared.
In the event of a 4 way play off then 2 semi-finals and a final will determine the winner.
Note these games will NOT be rated as they are only used to determine the winner of the competition.
Drogheda Chess Club 