The Fédération québécoise des échecs, the organizer of the 2018 CO, is pleased to welcome players to the Canadian Open in Quebec City. Similar to the CYCC thread, let’s review competition rules and format in detail.
II.The Canadian Open (CO) 2018
Web sites
Official site: information, registration, accommodations:
https://www.chessopen-canada.com/
Chess-Results server: tournament files, pairings, results:
https://bit.ly/2J5Tmrf
Sections
There are five (5) sections in this tournament, by rating.
Section A (Open) Open to all players.
Section B (U2000) Player’s rating has to be below 2000.
Section C (U1800) Player’s rating has to be below 1800.
Section D (U1600) Player’s rating has to be below 1600.
Section E (U1400 and unrated) Player’s rating has to be below 1400. This is the only section where an unrated player can enter.
Player ratings
Ratings are used for section composition, pairings and prizes in the following manner:
Section A (Open):
FIDE rating is used for pairings. If a player has no FIDE rating:
- for a player residing in Quebec - FQE rating will be used;
- for a player residing elsewhere in Canada- CFC rating will be used;
- for a player residing in the U.S. – the USCF / CFC / FQE.
Sections B-C-D-E:
- for a player residing in Quebec - FQE rating will be used;
- for a player residing elsewhere in Canada- CFC rating will be used;
If a Quebec resident has a CFC rating that is more than 100 points greater that a rating ceiling for a section where a player is registered, the organizer can, in his sole discretion, transfer this player to a higher section.
The rating freeze date is July 05, 2018, which takes into account the July FIDE Rating List. No changes in player ratings after that date will be taken into account for the CO.
Rating the results
The following sections will be rated with FIDE, the CFC and the FQE:
Section A (Open), Section B (U2000), Section C (U1800)
The following sections will be rated with the CFC and the FQE:
Section D (U1600), Section E (U1400 and unrated).
Memberships
Players need to have valid CFC or FQE membership (direct links are available on the CO Web site) or to purchase it on-site with a surcharge before the start of the tournament.
Format
Regular Swiss, nine (9) rounds.
Byes
A player can request up to three (3) half-point byes in any of the first four (4) rounds of the tournament if he notifies the organizer in writing before the start of Round 1.
Time Control
(90 min / 40 moves + 30 min / end + 30 sec. increment starting with Move 1) in all sections.
Playoffs
There will be no playoff games. All places will be determined by tiebreak criteria (see further below).
Schedule
Code:
Sat, July 07 08:00 - 09:00 – Late registration on site.
11:00 – Opening and Round 1.
Sun, July 08 10:00 – Round 2.
18:00 – Round 3.
Mon, July 09 18:00 – Round 4.
Tue, July 10 10:00 – 14:00 – Blitz tournament.
18:00 – Round 5.
Wed, July 11 18:00 – Round 6.
Thu, July 12 09:00 – Grandmaster simul.
18:00 – Round 7.
Fri, July 13 10:00 – Grandmaster lecture.
18:00 – Round 8.
Sat, July 14 11:00 – Round 9.
19:00 – Closing ceremony
Forfeit time
If a player doesn’t arrive at his chessboard 60 minutes (i.e., one hour) after the start of a round, his game will be forfeited, the result “0F” will be entered, and he will not be paired for subsequent rounds.
Recording the moves
As per FIDE Laws of Chess, Art. 8.1.1:
“In the course of play each player is required to record his own moves and those of his opponent in the correct manner, move after move, as clearly and legibly as possible, in the algebraic notation (Appendix C), on the ‘scoresheet’ prescribed for the competition.”
Marking the results
When the game is finished, each player shall clearly mark its result on his or her scoresheet as “1-0”, “½-½”, or “0-1” and to sign this scoresheet. Then, the player shall cross-sign his opponent’s scoresheet and ask his opponent to cross-sign his. Once both scoresheets have results and two signatures, players shall proceed to the official pairings sheet displayed on the wall and clearly mark the game result there.
If players do not follow this procedure and do not mark the game result on the official sheet, the result of the game can be entered as “0-0” in the sole discretion of the Chief Arbiter.
Electronic devices
As per FIDE Laws of Chess, Art. 11.3.2.1, any electronic device has to be stored in a player’s bag and to be switched off completely. Game forfeit is an automatic penalty if player is found to be near any kind of a non-stored electronic device during the round anywhere in the playing venue, including toilets.
Playing Venue
As per FIDE Laws of Chess, Art. 11:
- The ‘playing venue’ is defined as the ‘playing area’, rest rooms, toilets, refreshment area, area set aside for smoking and other places as designated by the arbiter.
- The playing area is defined as the place where the games of a competition are played.
- Only with the permission of the arbiter can:
o a player leave the playing venue,
o the player having the move be allowed to leave the playing area.
o a person who is neither a player nor arbiter be allowed access to the playing area.
- During play the players are forbidden to use any notes, sources of information or advice, or analyze any game on another chessboard.
Spectators are not allowed to communicate with players anywhere in the playing venue (e.g., in the toilets or in the hallway).
Photographs
Photos without flash are allowed during the first fifteen (15) minutes after the round starts. An official CFC photographer will attempt to take photos during the rounds and to make them available.
Tiebreak criteria
As per FIDE recommendations and the FQE rules, the following tiebreak criteria will be used for all sections.
1) Direct encounter
2) The greater number of wins
3) The greater number of games with Black (unplayed games shall be counted as played with White)
4) Buchholz Cut 1