Frome Chess
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Competition Rules

Entries — ECF and FIDE membership

It is not necessary to be an ECF member to enter the congress. However, entrants who are not ECF members at level Gold or above, nor FIDE-registered members of another national body, must pay a grading fee of an additional £16 (or £6.50 for Juniors). The ECF will use this fee to upgrade existing Bronze members to Gold for the remainder of the season.

All sections except the Standard section will be FIDE rated (as well as ECF rated).

The organisers require players to provide their FIDE ID (also known as FIN or FIDE Identification Number) where this is available. Players who are not sure of their FIN can search for this either on the ECF ratings website or the FIDE ratings website. Players without a FIDE ID will be automatically registered with FIDE as affiliated with England. Players who are confident that they will need to be assigned a new FIDE ID are strongly encouraged to request a new FIN directly from the ECF in advance of the congress.

For further information or assistance with rating information, please contact the ECF ratings officer directly at rating@englishchess.org.uk.

Unrated players may enter any section, but must provide evidence of playing strength (e.g. recent tournament or match results, Rapidplay or online ratings). The organisers reserve the right to transfer a player to a more appropriate section.

Refunds and Discounts

A Junior Discount of £5 may be applied in all sections. The ECF defines a Junior as a person under the age of 18 on the day before the Congress starts.

A late entry fee of £3 applies for entries received after 1st May.

Before the 1st of May, the organisers will be happy to refund entry fees less an administration charge of £2.

Ratings

The January ECF Standardplay rating list will be used to determine section eligibility for the Congress. The Original (not Revised) value is normally applied. In most cases the most recently published ECF Standardplay rating list will be used for Swiss Pairing purposes.

The organisers reserve the right to either refuse an entry or to transfer a player to another section.

By entering, players agree to their rating information and results being shared with the ECF and FIDE. Results will be published on the ECF rating website and chess-results.com.

Except for the Standard section, rating data and player data (including date of birth) will be shared with FIDE. Results and player data (including year of birth) will be available through the FIDE website.

ECF Tournament Rules & FIDE Laws of Chess

The congress complies with the ECF Tournament Rules. These in turn are based upon the current FIDE Laws of Chess and will apply with the following exceptions and clarifications:

Time Control and Recording of Moves.
The rate of play is 90 minutes plus an increment of 30 seconds per move in all sections. Please note that this means that all moves must be recorded (even when under 5 minutes is remaining). Moves must be recorded using the Algebraic System of notation.

Article 6.7.1: Default time.
Players will be defaulted (i.e. will lose their game) if they are not present within 30 minutes of the start of a round. A new pairing may be made for any player whose opponent has not arrived, or for any player who was initially awarded a (full point) bye.

Article 11.2: Playing Venue and Playing Area.
The ‘playing venue’ is defined to be the Selwood Academy buildings (including toilets) and excludes the grounds and car park. Note that a player may not leave the playing venue whilst their game is in progress. The ‘playing area’ is defined to be the spaces used for competition games, including the main hall and any other rooms set aside for this purpose. Note that a player having the move may not leave the playing area without an arbiter’s permission.

Article 11.3.2: Mobile Phones.
Whilst play is in progress, any electronic means of communication and any device capable of suggesting chess moves:

1. must be completely switched off
2. may not be carried on the player’s person (but may be stored in a bag, provided that this bag is not used without an arbiter’s permission)

Failure to comply will result in the loss of the game.

Article 11.3.4: Smoking.
Smoking (including e-cigarettes) is not allowed anywhere within the Academy building or grounds.

Prizes

Cash Prizes

1. All cash prizes are subject to the number of entries
2. There will be at least one rating prize per section (subject to entries)
3. For purposes of grading prizes, a player’s Pairing rating will be used. This will normally be their ECF Standardplay rating at the date of the tournament; but might be some other estimated grade used where no appropriate ECF rating is available
4. All cash prizes will be split between players on the same score (tiebreaks are not used)
5. No player may win more than one prize (the highest value prize will be paid). This does not include the Team Competition
6. There is a team prize of £100 for the highest score by a genuine club team. The winning team will receive the Gerry Udell Shield
7. All cash prizes will be forwarded within 14 days of the Congress

Somerset Trophies

To be eligible for a Somerset trophy, a player must satisfy one of the following criteria:

1. Birth in the County.
2. Five years consecutive residence in the County at any time.
3. Two years immediately previous and present membership of a club either in or affiliated to the County.
4. One month immediately previous and present residence in the County.
5. Present attendance as a teacher or student at a school, college or university in the County.

N.B. In this case Somerset is defined as the Ceremonial County of Somerset (which includes the Councils of Somerset, North Somerset and BANES) plus South Bristol.

Somerset Trophy Tie-Breaks

The following methods will be used in order:

1. Result of individual game (if applicable)
2. Sum of progressive scores
3. Sum of opponents’ scores
4. Sonneborn-Berger (summing the score of each defeated opponent, and half the score of each drawn opponent)
5. Number of games with the black pieces

Safeguarding & Parental Supervision

Frome Chess Congress is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all players to enjoy chess and to be respected by others. The Congress endeavours to make every effort to comply with the most recent ECF safeguarding policy.

The Congress and its officials are not able to act ‘in loco parentis’ at any stage in the event. Parents/carers/guardians remain responsible for their child when they are attending the Frome Chess Congress. Ideally, they should accompany their child to sessions, remain on the congress premises, and escort their child home. Any alternative arrangements made with other responsible adults should be put in writing and shared with the Congress Safeguarding Officer.

Photography & Video

The Congress organisers will take photos to record and publicise the event. These might appear within future congress emails or on the Frome Congress website. If you particularly object to having your photo taken, then please speak to the Congress organisers.

Anyone other than Congress staff wishing to use photographic/film/video equipment should register their intent and contact details with the organiser of the event.

Privacy Policy

Frome Chess Congress is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. The Privacy Policy on the Frome Congress website explains when, how, and why we collect personal data about people.

Disputes

In all disputes, the decision of the Congress Controllers shall be final.

Amendments to Rules

The Congress Controllers reserve the right to amend these rules at any time. Any changes will be published on the Frome Congress website and will be notified to players at the start of the tournament.