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TOURNAMENTS
We have to follow rules to run a tournament on schedule. All
problems that are not reported on time will be fixed after the first round if
we are notified in writing. Please use a form provided at the tournament
for any correction.
We usually have many new students that never played in tournaments before – please review tournament rules with them. Cases of how to make or claim a draw, how to record the results, and how to behave during the tournaments. Please review clock rules.
If you are new to chess the first tournament will be a great learning experience.
Problems still do happen every tournament and a few kids get upset.
Some students will loose /not win games because they did not
know / misunderstand some rules. Please consider it as a learning experience
and not as anybody’s fault. It takes a while to learn, understand and apply all
rules of participation in a tournament. It is impossible for a coach or for a
Tournament Director at the beginning of the tournament to explain all rules in
details in one session.
Example of problems: (You can avoid it by reporting the problem on-time)
It is really important that parents and coaches to verify registration list on the tournament page or email us to get the list. No changes are made after pairings for next round are done! For a big tournament it takes up to 30 minutes to make correction, do new pairings, and print all pages out!
During the tournament:
No byes to miss one or more rounds. If you want to participate in the tournament please plan to come for the entire day!
Notify us if you are leaving for the day. No comebacks are allowed. When you withdraw and we do not know about it other player will not play a game because of that.
All changes must be submitted in writing.
Make sure your student sits at the correct board number, shown on the pairing list. Sitting on the wrong board will forfeit the game for that player automatically, no matter what the result.
Below is the summary of most important things you need to know.
A successful tournament starts with registration.
If any change to be
made – we need it in writing (or by
email): Section name (K-1, 2-4, 5-8), last name, and correct information.
We will not accept any changes without paperwork.
At the Chessmates tournaments in K-1, 2-4 grades use rule #1, 5-8 grades use rule #2.
The rules for clock at the scholastic tournaments:
1) K-3 Section: both players have to agree to sue clock and one of the players has to have clock to use.
2) 4-6 Section: If one player wants to use clock and has his clock then game is played with clock.
In all sections the clock might be used if games continue over 40 minutes. Every player will get 10 minutes for the rest of the game. We have to use clock so the game doesn’t go longer than one hour. If your student is against playing with clock please do not participate.
When time is expired for one of the player it has to be claimed by another player only. No parents or Floor Judge interference is allowed, except the time limit for the game (1 hr) is reached. Only when time of the game is over 1 hr and one of the players is lost on time but another player is not claiming it – the game will be recorded as a tie (1/2). Only one of the TD can claim this result.
If a student has any dispute with his opponent or other players around – he/she needs to raise the hand to call the Floor Judge first of all. Floor judge will try to help or he will bring the TD to figure it out. The TD decision is final. In some cases there is no solution suitable for both players, but players and parents have to respect the TD decision under the circumstances. We have several experienced TD at the scene and in some difficult cases they will consult each other.
Please prepare you players that they need to go with the judge decision and do not get upset.
There are many cases when one player (A) claims that his opponent (player B) touched the piece but moved another piece. Or Player B took his hand off the piece but then changed his move.
In all situations with such claims and without witnesses we have to go with what is on the board. We have to go with player B if he is denying that he did not took his hand off the piece. We will keep track of claims like this and see if some players’ name comes more than once.
If a player accidentally touches a piece with his hand we may give a warning. It is usually easier to determine if a touch was accidental.
Students can ask FJ questions only on using chess rules not about the position that on the board. They cannot ask, “Is it checkmate?” They can ask, “How do I use chess clock”.
· · No changes are made when the pairing in progress - this will delay the tournament a great deal.
· · If your students have wrong schools please notify us right away – otherwise they may play each other. We will make change as soon as possible but not when pairings are done or in progress.
Students shall not leave their table until the result is
recorded. We will post ½ (tie) for
all missing results! You will have to
notify us immediately when you see that your results are not recorded
correctly.
After telling the Floor Judge your result - Ask the floor judge to show you if it was recorded correctly.
VERIFYING THE STANDINGS
Two years ago a student did not realized that his game in
round 3 was not recorded right. Instead of win he got “loss” – 0 points. He won
the rest of the games and thought he had won all games but at the standings he
had only 4 points out of 5. He reported the problem at the end of the
tournament.
TD’s DECISION: The students result was not changed for standings and trophies
(but it was corrected for ratings).
WHY? The pairings are based on number of points. If a students has 3 points out of 4 before the last round he will get considerably easier opponent than the player who has 4 points. If our student would have had the correct number of points in his standings he would have to play much stronger player in the last round and in that case the result might have been different.
Other players who have played much more difficult opponents would be affected by awards.
RESULTS will be posted at http://www.whsca.org/tournreports.html with new ratings usually by next Tuesday.