Dear All,
Firstly best wishes as always during these extraordinary times. Secondly thank you for all your help, enthusiasm and commitment for the 'trial games' which have been invaluable in learning how to proceed with this. Thirdly I should admit that whatever format/rules are set it will be tricky if not too tricky for some people, I've tried to set as much as a consensus as possible and if you don't fit into that my apologies and completely understand if it won't work for you.
Anyway here is the plan:
- All teams will be pooled into one Swiss system league, with games to be played over the next two weeks.
- These matches will be played at a set time of 7 pm on: Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings, starting this Monday 23rd March 7pm
- At the conclusion of these two weeks we will have a winner! But it won't stop there, let's say Durham win, we intend to re-set and have another in the same format to enable new teams to join and try and 'catch up' with Durham.
- The overall champion will be crowned at the conclusion of the week in which the ECF recommends that Chess gets back to normal.
- No games are graded and entry is free
- The platform: Chess.com seems the most efficient so if both captains agree they can use that, however warning at least one of your team will need a premium membership. If not Lichess is the default platform. Most people within this email have done the trial and are familiar with both of these, if not please email me will be happy to help! Also we're looking into developing a platform which will be even easier than both of these, watch this space!
- Each team needs to be in rough order of strength, don't worry not trying to catch anyone out, the golden rule is 'No GM's on the bottom board'!
- You can chop and change your team for each game, but the key is having at least four players available each match-day. If you have 3 players you forfeit one board, less than 3 you forfeit the match.
- As per previous emails and trials, the captain needs to sort out how many players will play by midday of the tournament day and transfer the information to their opposition captain (through provided email or Facebook messenger). This will enable people to plan fairly. As previously we're using the model of more participation and lower number is what's used, so if Leeds have 14 players and Durham have 10 it becomes a 10 vs. 10 match.
- Each player plays two games, one white one black and for now the time control is 10 minutes + 2 second increment . The games are played back to back from 7pm.
- If you are late by more than five minutes your opponent can claim the win. Please arrive online at least 15 minutes before your game starts.
- If you can, Facebook message if not email me where your games are taking place online so I can put them on here:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=10693&p=242174#p242174 for people to follow
- For whatever account you use please use a genuine username with strength estimate, so mine would be 'PeterHornsby1650' for example.
- Please do not use the chatroom under any circumstances or communicate with your opponent if they are a junior side. This is for safeguarding reasons, I will specify in the fixtures which teams contain juniors with a (J) after their name.
- I will announce the fixtures for the next round as soon after the all results are emailed or Facebook messaged to me by both captains. You only need to send me the team score, not individuals.
- I will presume that if you receive this email you intend on participating. If you realize this sadly won't be possible please email me by Sunday midday at the latest. After that I will announce the fixture list for this coming Monday.
- These rules are not set in stone for ever, but will be applied for this first tournament.
I hope this all makes sense and sorry for the information overload and thanks for your understanding. We have over 25 teams from Russia, Germany and right across the UK and I'm sure it will expand and be a lot of fun!
I'm sure there'll be something I've missed/mistaken or haven't thought of so please email me if you have any questions
Best wishes as always,
Peter Hornsby
Founder and Tournament Director of 2020 Chess
www.2020chess.com