Rules & Regulations for the Candidates Tournament of the FIDE
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Rules & regulations for the Candidates Tournament of the FIDE World Championship cycle 2016-2018 1. Organisation 1. 1 The Candidates Tournament to determine the challenger for the 2018 World Chess Championship Match shall be organised in the first quarter of 2018 and represents an integral part of the World Chess Championship regulations for the cycle 2016- 2018. Eight (8) players will participate in the Candidates Tournament and the winner qualifies for the World Chess Championship Match in the last quarter of 2018. 1. 2 Governing Body: the World Chess Federation (FIDE). For the purpose of creating the regulations, communicating with the players and negotiating with the organisers, the FIDE President has nominated a committee, hereby called the FIDE Commission for World Championships and Olympiads (hereinafter referred to as WCOC) 1. 3 FIDE, or its appointed commercial agency, retains all commercial and media rights of the Candidates Tournament, including internet rights. These rights can be transferred to the organiser upon agreement. 1. 4 Upon recommendation by the WCOC, the body responsible for any changes to these Regulations is the FIDE Presidential Board. 1. 5 At any time in the course of the application of these Regulations, any circumstances that are not covered or any unforeseen event shall be referred to the President of FIDE for final decision. 2. Qualification for the 2018 Candidates Tournament The players who qualify for the Candidates Tournament (excluding the World Champion who qualifies directly to the World Championship Match) are determined according to the following criteria, in order of priority: 2. 1 World Championship Match 2016 - The player who lost the 2016 World Championship Match qualifies. 2. 2 World Cup 2017 - The two (2) top winners of the World Cup 2017 qualify. In case any of the two top winners of the World Cup qualifies from 2.1 above or is the World Champion, then the qualification spot goes to 3rd place of the World Cup. 2. 3 FIDE Grand-Prix 2016/2017 - The two (2) top players from the FIDE Grand-Prix 2016/2017 qualify to participate. In case any of the two top winners of the FIDE Grand-Prix qualify from 2.1 or 2.2 above or is the World Champion, then the qualification spot(s) are given to the next player(s) in the final standings of the Grand-Prix. 2. 4 Average FIDE Rating List of the 12 monthly lists starting from 1st January 2017 to 1st December 2017 - Two (2) players qualify to participate by rating (excluding the players who qualify from articles 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 above). A player can qualify by rating only if he/she participates in the World Cup 2017 or the FIDE Grand Prix 2016-2017. For the purpose of deciding the 2 rated player qualifiers, the average from the following twelve FIDE rating lists will be used: the sum of all 12 monthly lists starting from 1st January 2017 to 1st December 2017 divided by 12. A minimum of thirty (30) rated games in total is required for each player in the 12 monthly rating periods. In case of equality, two decimals will be taken into consideration. If the numbers are still equal then the total number of games in all 12 rating periods shall be decisive. That means the player with the greater number of games shall qualify. 2. 5 One nominated player by the Organiser - A player, nominated by the organiser, with a rating of at least 2725 in any FIDE standard rating list of 2017. 2. 6 Replacements - If any replacement is needed due to withdrawal or refusal of participation, the first reserve player from the final standings of the FIDE Grand-Prix 2016/2017 will be invited. Any further replacement needed will be fulfilled from the average rating list described in article 2.4 above. 3. Candidates Tournament Regulations 3. 1 Tournament Format & System The 8 players shall play a double round robin tournament (14 rounds). The players who are from the same federation will play each other in rounds 1 and 8 (if only two) and if up to four players are from the same federation in rounds 1, 2, 3 and 8, 9, 10. If a player withdraws after completing 50% or more of the games, the rest of his games are lost by default. In case a player completes less than 50%, all his results are annulled. 3. 2 Schedule of the Candidates Tournament Arrivals: 1 day Opening Ceremony & Players Meeting: 1 day Round 1: 1 day Round 2: 1 day Round 3: 1 day Free day: 1 day Round 4: 1 day Round 5: 1 day Round 6: 1 day Free day: 1 day Round 7: 1 day Round 8: 1 day Round 9: 1 day Free day: 1 day Round 10: 1 day Round 11: 1 day Round 12: 1 day Free day: 1 day Round 13: 1 day Round 14: 1 day Tiebreaks / Closing ceremony: 1 day Departures: 1 day TOTAL: 22 days The playing schedule can be changed only upon the approval of the FIDE President. 3. 3 Confirmation of Participation / Conduct of Players 3. 3. 1 The list of qualified players and the reserves will be published on the FIDE website together with the player’s contract. All qualified players should sign their respective contract and send it to the FIDE Secretariat within two weeks after they receive their copy from FIDE. It is each player’s responsibility to download a copy and send it signed to the FIDE Secretariat by fax and registered mail. A player who does not submit his contract within the deadline will be replaced according to article 2.6. FIDE may accept late contracts received after the deadline, within a period of 10 days and only for serious reasons. Players not previously qualified but who qualify as replacements shall be notified through the FIDE website and will have one further week to send their signed contracts. 3. 3. 2 A player who returns his signed contract but withdraws at least one month before the event's 1st round shall be replaced by a player as described in article 2.6. 3. 3. 3 Any player who withdraws at a date when less than one month is left for the event's 1st round, shall not be replaced. 3. 3. 4 Players that fail to provide a satisfactory reason for withdrawal, after they have signed the player's contract, will be excluded from the next World Championship cycle. 3. 3. 5 For security and administrative reasons, all participants are expected to stay in the officially designated hotel(s). 3. 3. 6 Each player will receive at least two free single rooms for their hotel accommodation, including full board, for the whole duration of the event. 3. 3. 7 No postponement of any game shall be allowed. 3. 3. 8 Separate contracts between the organiser(s) and the players may also be signed. 3. 4 Pairings and draw of colours 3. 4. 1 The draw for pairings and colours will be conducted in the FIDE office in Athens, one (1) month before the start of the event. 3. 4. 2 For tie-break games, there shall be a separate drawing of lots conducted by the Chief Arbiter. 3. 5 Time control. 3. 5. 1 The time control for each game shall be: 100 minutes for the first 40 moves, 50 minutes for the next 20 moves and then 15 minutes for the rest of the game plus an additional 30 seconds per move starting from move 1. 3. 5. 2 The games shall be played using the electronic clocks and boards approved by FIDE. 3. 6 Conditions of victory 3. 6. 1 The player with the most points (1 point for each win, half a point for each draw, 0 for each loss) will be the winner of the tournament and qualifies for the World Championship Match 2018. A tie shall be broken according to article 3.7 below. 3. 7 Tie-breaks If the top two or more players score the same points, the tie will be decided by the following criteria, in order of priority: a) The results of the games between the players involved in the tie. If they are still tied: b) The total number of wins in the tournament of every player involved in the tie. If they are still tied: c) Sonneborn - Berger System. 3.7.1.a If there is no clear winner with the above 3 criteria, there will be a special competition between the players who still remain tied after using the 3rd criteria (Sonneborn - Berger): after a new drawing of colors, each tied player will play two (2) tie-break games with the other tied opponent(s). The games shall be played using the electronic clock starting with 25 minutes for each player with an increment of 10 seconds after each move. 3.7.1.b All tie-break games shall be played according to the following: 1. Play is governed by the World Championship Technical Regulations (annex 1), which apply with the exceptions mentioned below in (2), (3) and (4). 2. The players do not need to record the moves. An arbiter shall record the moves. 3. The player who has the move may stop the clocks and consult the Arbiter’s score sheet and if his next move will produce a threefold repetition of position (according to Article 9.2a of the Technical Regulations), or the 50 moves rule (according to Article 9.3a of the Technical Regulations), he himself must write the intended move on the score sheet and claim the draw if he wants.