1. Game arrangements
The schedule and pairings for each round will be published separately. Note that the Quarter-Final games Q1 and Q2 can be played immediately without waiting for the Preliminary Round to finish. Dates and times should be mutually agreed between the players. Games may be played at an intermediate neutral venue if both players agree. Please let the Individual Competitions Secretary (ICS) know by email when your match has been arranged. In all rounds, players should toss for colour on the day. Please note that a faster match format can be used this year (see section 3 below) if both players agree; this format guarantees that the match will be resolved in a single play session.
2. Seeding
The four highest graded players have been seeded, with the rest of the pairings being determined on the basis of grade in the usual manner.
3. Format / Time control Please read this section carefully!
The default ‘slow’ format for play is described under “FORMAT A” below – if this format is used, each match will be decided in either one or two play sessions. However, in any round prior to the Final, the faster format described under “FORMAT B” may be used instead if both players are in agreement – this will guarantee that the match is concluded within a single play session.
FORMAT A:
Under this format, the DCCA time control agreed at the 2017 AGM will apply – i.e. each player receives 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move. The players should toss a coin to determine colour in the first game. If this first game is decisive, then the game winner is immediately declared the winner of the match. In the event of a draw in the first game, a second game shall be played with colours and venue reversed. Again, if this game is decisive, the game winner is declared the winner of the match. In the event of a second draw, the players must resolve the match immediately after the second game with a sudden-death shootout, as specified by the italicised text below – except in the Final, where the match must be resolved via further replays, reversing colours / venue each time.
Sudden death shootout
The format of a ‘sudden death shootout’ shall be as follows: the players will play 15-minute games repeatedly (tossing a coin to decide colour in the first game and alternating thereafter) until one player scores a victory in one game: that player will be immediately declared the winner of the match. If the first four 15-minute games are all drawn, the time per player will be reduced to 5 minutes and play will continue in the same way until there is a decisive game. There is no need to record moves in any of the shootout games (either 15-minute or 5-minute). The results of 15-minute games will be submitted for rapidplay grading. The results of any 5-minute games will NOT be submitted for grading. The players may mutually agree to limit the maximum number of 15-minute games to two rather than four; however, this should be agreed before the shootout begins and before tossing for colour.
FORMAT B:
In any round prior to the Final, the players have the option (providing both agree) to use the following sequence of games to decide their match in a single playing session: firstly, play TWO games (one as White and one as Black, tossing a coin to decide on colour in the first game) with a time control of 60 minutes each for all moves. (If a digital clock is available, the players may mutually agree to add on a small increment of up to 10 seconds per move, in addition to the original 60-minute allocation.) If one player is leading after these two games, that player is declared the winner of the match. Otherwise, if the score is 1-1, the players proceed to the “sudden-death shootout” described in italicised text above. The results of the two 60-minute games will be submitted for standardplay grading, and the results of any 15-minute games will be submitted for rapidplay grading.
4. Flexibility
Please note that the ICS will be flexible in permitting minor adjustments to the time controls and/or shootout structure described in part 3 above, provided that these are agreed in advance by both players and the ICS. Any such agreement must be made in writing (e.g. by email).
5. Game scores
Duplicate score sheets for games are available on request. By mutual agreement, one or both players should provide the game score to the ICS within three working days of the game. The ICS would be delighted if the moves could be provided in electronic format (ideally as a pgn file, or otherwise typed into an email) rather than as a hand-written scoresheet. The games will be posted online shortly after submission.
6. Competition timetable
Due to the possibility of a replay (if FORMAT A is used), please make every eff ort to arrange your games promptly. The schedule provided above indicates the target fi nish dates for each round.
7. Delays
If a particular match is taking an unreasonable amount of time to complete, the ICS shall have the discretion to take any reasonable course of action to resolve the problem, including but not limited to:
- double defaulting the match;
- defaulting the match in favour of one player;
- determining which player advances through a random drawing of lots, to be performed publicly in the presence of witnesses.
Such measures will not be invoked without first providing the players with due notice that their match needs to be completed, such notice to include a final deadline.
8. Trophy presentation
The winner will be presented with the Thomas Winter-Wood Shield at the conclusion of the tournament – if possible, this presentation will be made at a high-profile DCCA event.
