International Correspondence Chess Federation ICCF Rules (Valid From
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1 International Correspondence Chess Federation ICCF Rules (Valid from 1.1.2021) The following is a summary of new rules/procedures that reflect Congress 2020 decisions (the Congress proposal number indicated by "[2020-###]"). Further details can be found in the referenced section(s) in this document: (1) Triple block time control system rules and procedures were incorporated in this document in each appropriate section. Since the triple block system can only be applied to server (versus postal) events, all descriptions of triple block system rules in this document only pertain to server-based events. Different rules between the STANDARD and TRIPLE BLOCK systems were designated in these Rules in that way (that is, with those system’s names in capital letters). Sections where information specific to the triple block system were added and/or where rules were delineated that differentiate the standard time control system from the triple block system are all the following: §§2, 2.4(1), 2.4(2), 2.5(1), 2.5(2), 2.5(3), 2.5(4), 2.5(5), 2.6(1), 2.6(2), 2.9(1), 3.14.5., 3.15.2.2(c), 3.16.1(a), 3.16.1(b), 3.16.2., 3.16.3., 3.16.4., 3.16.5., 3.17.1.1(b), 3.17.1.3., 3.17.4., 3.17.5., 4.7.3., 4.7.5., 5.6.2., 5.6.2.2., 5.7, & 6.3(2). See also Appendix 3. [2020-009] (2) §1.2.1(7): The following was added to this section: A half qualification is valid for 3 years from the end of the tournament in which it was obtained. If a second half qualification is obtained in this period, the full qualification will be valid for 3 years from the end of the tournament in which the second half qualification was obtained. All “half qualifications” obtained in tournaments ended before 31/12/2020 are valid until 31/12/2023. [2020-017] (3) §1.2.1.8., §1.5.2(5b) & §1.5.2(6b): These sections, describing or referencing the Ladies Olympiad, were deleted. The last Ladies Olympiad has been completed based on the decision there will be no more. [Based on last year’s 2019-022] (4) §1.2.3.1.: There is a new ICCF tournament called the World Team Cup scheduled to begin June 2021, open to everyone. See this new section of the Rules for details. [2020-036] (5) §1.2.4(9).: FIDE GMs, besides ICCF GMs, can now play for free in GM norm events. [2020-029] (6) §1.2.4(11b).: Players’ qualifications for specific norm events were made more flexible, to move up or down according to rating changes. [2020-025] 2 (7) §1.3.3.: The heading was changed to be more inclusive. A detailed description for a new type of event called a “regional” event was added to the existing “invitational” and “open” events in this section. [2020-024] (8) §1.3.3.: There is a new limitation on the number of open tournaments with entry fee (that is, a limit of 2) run by a single MF during a year. [2020-034] (9) §1.5.2(2). & §3.17.5.: The requirement for there being at least 5 Grandmaster opponents while earning GM norms to earn the GM title was deleted. This only changes the GM title requirements from the time of Congress 2020 forward, and not retroactively. [2020-008] (10) §2.9(2). & §4.7.5.: The following sentence was added to the first listed section: If the opponent offers a draw during a player's 10-move count (that is, within 10 moves subsequent to the player's having made a draw offer), then the player's 10-move count is terminated at that time. A phrase meaning the same thing was added within the second listed section. [2020-012] (11) §2.11.: The outdated requirement for players to maintain hardcopy records of ongoing server-based games was deleted. [2020-005] (12) §2.11.: The outdated requirement for players to update personal addresses to the ICCF was deleted, with some language being corrected accordingly under the “Team” subheading. [2020-006] (13) §3.16.1(b) and §3.16.2.: Both sections, related to the resetting of clocks if the server is unavailable for a while, were clarified with one additional phrase each. [2020- 23] (14) In §4.6.5.1.: The phrase “the parameters of the event” replaced the previous “type of event” [2020-018] (15) In §4.7.5.: A new round robin tournament format was approved that combines elements of Knockout and Swiss systems. This format is described in this section. [2020-019] (16) In §5.3. & Appendix 1, §8 & §11: The flexibility in setting the assumed rating for an unrated player in a friendly match no longer exists. All unrated players in friendly matches are to be given an assumed rating of 1800. Additionally, in Appendix 1, the following replaces the previous set of assumed ratings: If at least 75% of players of an event are rated, then the average rating of the rated players shall be applied to the players with an unpublished rating. If less than 75% of players of an event are rated, the assumed rating shall be 1800 without any exception (unless the player has a FIDE rating…). [The implementation on the ICCF server of this change in rules will be later than 1/1/2021.] FIDE ratings should be treated as unfixed ratings: 3 If a player new to ICCF has indicated having a FIDE rating, this rating shall be the player’s start rating (and consequently qualifies this player for the appropriate tournaments, and the rating which is calculated for his opponents). [2020-018] (17) §5.7.: When initiating a player substitution/replacement on their own, team captains (TCs) are now permitted to make that change in player on their own; that is, without requiring the tournament director (TD) to enact that substitution/replacement for the team captain. Additionally, the World Tournament Director (WTD) was given the right to correct any initial error made by TCs made when trying to implement such a substitution/replacement. [2020-031] (18) Appendix 2, §1(e): The following sentence was added to the existing text: An event that is restricted to players from one specific federation or club shall be considered an internal event and therefore cannot qualify as a title tournament no matter how many flags are represented by those potential participants. [2020-010] (19) Appendix 3: This new appendix incorporates all the information concerning the triple block time control system in one place for reference. Anything relevant to an individual rule or procedure has also been incorporated into this Rules document where appropriate. People can therefore look up specific rules/procedures or general descriptions of the system as desired. [2020-009] Errata and clarifying wording to the 1/1/2020 edition of ICCF Rules are listed at the end of this document. KEY: SERVER: the subsequent text applies only to server-based games POSTAL: the subsequent text applies only to postal games (in blue font) BOTH: the subsequent text applies to both server and postal games STANDARD: the subsequent text applies only to standard time control events TRIPLE BLOCK: the subsequent text applies only to triple block events INDIVIDUAL: the subsequent text applies only to events consisting of individuals TEAM: the subsequent text applies only to events consisting of teams Table of Contents SECTION 1: Overview of the ICCF ........................................................................... 11 1.1. Introduction ...................................................................................................... 11 1.2. ICCF tournaments ........................................................................................... 11 1.2.1. Championship Tournaments ................................................................................................ 12 4 1.2.1.1. Preliminaries of the World CC Championship................................................................ 14 1.2.1.2. Semi-Finals of the World CC Championship .................................................................. 15 1.2.1.3. Candidates' Tournament................................................................................................ 16 1.2.1.4. Final of the World CC Championship ............................................................................. 17 1.2.1.5. Semi-Finals of the Ladies World CC Championship ....................................................... 17 1.2.1.6. Final of the Ladies World CC Championship .................................................................. 18 1.2.1.7. CC Olympiad (National Team World Championship) ..................................................... 18 1.2.2. Promotion Tournaments ...................................................................................................... 19 1.2.3. World Cup Tournaments ...................................................................................................... 20 1.2.3.1. World Team Cup Tournament ...................................................................................... 20 1.2.4. Norm Tournaments .............................................................................................................. 21 1.2.5. Champions League ............................................................................................................... 23 1.2.6. Special Tournaments ............................................................................................................ 24 1.3. Tournament Organization Rules ...................................................................... 24 1.3.1. Organizational rules applicable to all ICCF tournaments ...................................................... 24 1.3.2. Rules specific to international team tournaments & friendly matches ................................ 25 1.3.3. Rules specific to different types of tournaments ................................................................