Tournament Rules

ROLE OF TOURNAMENT SECRETARY

To be responsible for :

1. Ensuring that only active members of League teams play in these competitions.
   
2. Collection of entry fees to Rock Cup/Harold Bidgood Trophy
   
3. Ensuring a prompt start to the Rock Cup/Harold Bidgood Trophy competition, by completing entries by the end of September and having the draw sent out within one week (i.e first week in October)
   
4. Carrying out the draw for each round of competitions, except for the Preliminary Round of the Pittaway Cup competition, which will be carried out by the Records Secretary.
   
5. Informing players/clubs of the draw, and issuing details of their opponents, result forms/cards and copies of the appropriate rules.
   
6. Ensuring games/matches played in accordance with the rules.
   
7. Promptly informing Bulletin Editor of all scores and results, for prompt print in the Bulletin, to ensure swift grading.
   
8. Ensuring winners receive appropriate trophies and prizes
   
   

PITTAWAY CUP COMPETITION RULES

1. The competition shall be open to any club which is a member of the WDCL and shall be played for annually on a 'Knock Out' basis. Players in this competition must be registered members of the club.
   
2. The competition shall be under the control of the League Tournament Secretary, who shall be responsible for making the draw for each round.
   
3. Each round must be played by the date given and the result notified to the Tournament Secretary, with the score of the match on the card/form provided, by the winning club secretary within three days. Failure to do this will result in the disqualification of both teams.
   
4. The 'Home' club is responsible for contacting the visiting club, by the date given by the Tournament Secretary, suggesting at least two alternative dates for the match. If the 'Away' team's secretary is not contacted by this date he shall contact the Tournament Secretary claiming the match.
   
5. Should the clubs not be able to agree a date, Home secretary must inform the Tournament Secretary. A date and a venue will be fixed by the Tournament Secretary which will be binding on both clubs.
   
6. Any club failing to keep an appointment after the date has been mutually agreed shall forfeit the match.
   
7. The time limit shall be 30 moves in the first 75 mins, followed by a 15 minute quickplay finish. If both teams agree before the start of the match, and sufficient digital clocks are available, the time limits shall be all moves in 75 minutes with an increment of ten seconds for each move made.
   
8. A player can only play in the competition for the club for which he is registered for League play.
   
9. Handicap: If teams from different divisions play each other the team from the higher division shall give 2¼ points start per division to the lower team, i.e. a Division 1 team playing a Division 3 team gives 4½ points to the Division 3 side. [Assuming 3 Divisions only]
   
10. Teams shall be 8 to each side with no person playing for more than one club in any one season.
    
11. The draw shall be made by ballot, no team shall have two successive 'Away' matches unless their opponents also played 'Away' in their previous match.
    
12. Before commencement of play the Captains shall exchange team lists in order of playing strength and toss for colour, the winner taking White on the odd boards. If a player be absent at the end of the first hour from the agreed time of start, his opponent, if present, shall score the game as a win unless a substitute be put in before the time of forfeit. A clock, once started, shall not be stopped or put back except in compliance with the Laws of Chess.
    
13. Should the match be drawn, the result shall be decided by the Board Count method. If it is still drawn, the Elimination Rule shall apply. If it is still drawn the team with black on board 1 will win.
    
14. The neutral venue for the final shall be fixed by the Tournament Secretary.
    
15. All games shall be played in accordance with the FIDE Laws of Chess and the ECF Tournament Rules, unless provided by the rules above. Any matter affecting the conduct of a match shall be referred to the Tournament Secretary in the first instance.
    
16. No handicap shall be conferred until a club shall have been a League member for at least 3 years previously.
    
    

HUMPHREYS TROPHY COMPETITION RULES

1. The competition shall be open to any club which is a member of the WDCL. and shall be played for annually on a 'Knock Out' basis. Players in this competition must be registered members of the club.
   
2. The competition shall be under the control of the Tournament Secretary who shall be responsible for making the draw for each round.
   
3. Each round must be played by the date given and the result notified to the Tournament Secretary, with the score of the match on the card/form provided, by the winning club secretary within three days. Failure to do this will result in the disqualification of both teams.
   
4. The 'Home' club is responsible for contacting the visiting club, by the date given by the Tournament Secretary, suggesting at least two alternative dates for the match. If the 'Away' team's secretary is not contacted by this date he shall contact the Tournament Secretary claiming the match.
   
5. Should the clubs not be able to agree a date, the 'Home' secretary must inform the Tournament Secretary. A date and a venue will be fixed by the Tournament Secretary which will be binding on both clubs.
   
6. Any club failing to keep an appointment after the date has been mutually agreed shall forfeit the match.
   
7. The time limit shall be 30 moves in the first 75 mins, followed by a 15 minute quickplay finish. If both teams agree before the start of the match, and sufficient digital clocks are available, the time limits shall be all moves in 75 minutes with an increment of ten seconds for each move made.
   
8. A player can only play in the competition for the club for which he is registered for League play. He must be graded U-130. Any Ungraded players can only be played with the prior consent of the Controller. Any team failing to comply shall lose that game and one additional game point, but the game result shall stand for grading purposes.
   
9. Teams shall be 4 to each side with no person playing for more than one team in any one season.
   
10. The draw shall be made by ballot, no team shall have two successive 'Away' matches unless their opponents also played 'Away' in their previous match.
    
11. Before commencement of play the Captains shall exchange team lists in order of playing strength and toss for colour, the winner taking White on the odd boards. If a player be absent at the end of the first hour from the agreed time of start, his opponent, if present, shall score the game as a win unless a substitute be put in before the time of forfeit. A clock, once started, shall not be stopped or put back except in compliance with the Laws of Chess.
    
12. Should the match be drawn, the result shall be decided by the Board Count method. If it is still drawn, the Elimination Rule shall apply. If it is still drawn the team with black on board 1 will win.
    
13. The neutral venue for the final shall be fixed by the Tournament Secretary.
    
14. All games shall be played in accordance with the FIDE Laws of Chess and the ECF Tournament Rules, unless provided by the rules above. Any matter affecting the conduct of a match shall be referred to the Tournament Secretary in the first instance.
    
    

ROCK CUP AND HAROLD BIDGOOD TROPHY

ELIGIBILITY

The Rock Cup is an individual knock-out tournament, open to all registered members of clubs playing in the WDCL, for the individual championship. Everyone, with the exceptions listed below, plays at least two games, as Round 1 of the Rock Cup will be seeded, and first round losers are automatically entered for the Harold Bidgood Trophy. Winners will hold the Cup or Trophy for one year. In future, both winners and runners-up will also receive appropriate trophies to keep, rather than cash prizes. The entry fee is £3 per player and cheques and postal orders should be made payable to the Wolverhampton & District Chess League. Closing date for entries is the 30th September. Results will be published in the Bulletin and on the internet at WDCL. The following players will not be eligible to compete in the Harold Bidgood Trophy: A) Any player who, during the previous season, played on one of the top ten boards in a County (1st team) match B) Any player defaulting in the first round of the Rock Cup

RULES

1. Each round must be played within the stated time and the results notified by the winner to the Tournament Secretary by the last day of the month. Failure to do so will result in disqualification of BOTH players.
   
2. The HOME player is responsible for suggesting at least 3 alternate dates to his opponent within a week of receipt of the pairing notices, in default of which the AWAY player shall claim the game.
   
3. If the dates offered are unacceptable, the AWAY player must reply within a further 7 days offering at least 3 alternative dates, in default of which the HOME player shall claim the game.
   
4. If the date is still not agreed, the HOME player must notify the Tournament Secretary, who will fix a date and venue which shall be binding on both players.
   
5. Any player failing to keep an appointment after the date has been mutually agreed shall forfeit the game.
   
6. The HOME player has black. In the event of a drawn game, colours and venue shall be reversed and the game played in the same month. All results in this round (including draws) shall be notified to the Tournament Secretary.
   
7. Clocks shall be used. The HOME player is responsible for providing same.
   
8. The time limit shall be 30 moves in the first 75 mins, followed by a 15 minute quickplay finish. If both players agree before the start of the match, and a digital clock is available, the time limits shall be all moves in 75 minutes with an increment of ten seconds for each move made
   
9. The date and venue for the final will be fixed by the Tournament Secretary.
   
10. All games shall be played in accordance with the FIDE Laws of Chess and the ECF Tournament Rules, unless provided by the rules above. Any matter affecting the conduct of a match shall be referred to the Tournament Secretary in the first instance.
    
    

Link to Rock Cup and Harold Bidgood Trophy

If there are any discrepancies then Handbook version will be taken as the final arbiter. A scanned copy of which can be found here for reference.

Updated July 2016 MG