Chess

Competition Guidelines:

Particular Conditions: 

• The tournament is open to players from school Year 2 and above. 

• Each church can only have 1 representative playing in each age group.

• Tournament uses a straight knockout format with winners advancing to the next round. Draws are replayed with alternating colors until a winner is determined.

•  Colour assignment for each round is typically decided by draw, but arbiter can consider previous colour assignments to ensure fairness. 

• Time control is 10 minutes per player with 5 second increment per move (Fischer timing). Running out of time results in a loss unless the opponent cannot checkmate.

• Clocks start according to the announced timetable. Late players may be assigned black pieces and clock starts at scheduled time. Being over 10 minutes late results in a forfeit loss. 

• Only players, arbiters, and organisers are allowed in the playing area. All others including parents and spectators must seek permission to enter.

General:

• The board is placed so each player has a white corner square on their right side. 

• En passant and castling rules apply. 

• Castle rights are lost if king or rook has moved. Castle is prevented if king's path is attacked.

•  Moves must be made with one hand. Same hand used to stop clock. 

• Players can adjust pieces after announcing intention first.

• Checkmate, resignation, or 3 warnings win the game. Stalemate or dead position draws. 

• Agreement or 3-fold repetition draws. 50 move rule also applies.

• Flag fall is observed by arbiter or claimed. 

• Incorrect initial position requires replay. Wrong board placement continues from reached position.

• Illegal moves revert to last legal position. First 2 get warnings, 3rd loses. 

• Displaced pieces are put back or play continues from last legal position.

Code of Conduct: 

• Players cannot hover over or hit the clock forcibly. Improper clock handling will be penalized at arbiter discretion. 

•  Only arbiter can stop clocks, except players may stop clock to request arbiter assistance for things like missing promotion piece. Unjustified stopping risks penalties.

• Players cannot leave playing area without arbiter permission. Violation risks verbal warning or immediate loss based on arbiter judgement. 

• Distracting or annoying opponent is forbidden, including unreasonable claims/draw offers or noisemaking. Penalties again at arbiter discretion.