English Chess Forum

Pairings Titles Regulations
1. Background
1.1 The purpose of these regulations is as follows:
1.1.1 Advance knowledge of pairing systems
1.1.2 Pair tournaments more reliably at all levels
1.1.3 Regulate the administration of pairings at tournaments
1.1.4 Initiate a process by which knowledge of pairings can be shared more widely
1.1.5 Legislate for cases where pairing rules are not strictly followed
1.2 The scope of these regulations is as follows:
1.2.1 FIDE Events
1.2.2 Other top-level events organised independently of FIDE
1.2.3 Other continental and zonal events organised as part of the World Championship
1.2.4 Lower-level events submitted for FIDE rating
1.2.5 Significant events organised by National Federations
2. Titles Created
2.1 The following pairings titles will be created:
2.1.1 Pairings Tsar (PT)
2.1.2 Pairings Expert (PE)
2.1.3 Pairings Expert Newbie (PEN)
2.2 The following pairings lecturer titles will be created:
2.2.1 Senior Pairings Lecturer (SPL)
2.2.2 Pairings Lecturer (PL)
2.2.3 Junior Pairings Lecturer (JPL)
2.3 Pairings Independent Supervisor (PIS)

3. Initial Title Awarding
3.1 The FIDE Technical Commission (TEC) will award its members one of the titles in Article 2.1,
and one of the titles in Article 2.2. All members of TEC will become a PIS.
4. Pairings Seminar (PS)
4.1 The Pairings Seminar will cost 250 Euro to attend. It will contain the following elements:
4.1.1 Administrative Issues – 8 hours
• The composition and working of the Technical Commission
• The Pairing Title Regulations
4.1.2 Pairings Topics – 4 hours
• Swiss System (Dutch, Baku, Lim, Dubov)
• Round Robin (Berger etc.)
• Other Formats (Knockouts, Jamborees)
• Team Pairings (Team, Olympiad)
4.1.3 Examination – 4 hours
4.2 The material will focus only on theoretical issues relating to pairings, and performing them
manually. Using software is beyond the scope of the Seminar.
4.3 Attending a PS will automatically award the PEN title.
4.4 Scoring approximately 80% at a PS will automatically award the PE title.


5. Pairings Tsar Norms (PTN)
5.1 PTNs may only be awarded to PEs.
5.2 PTNs may be awarded at any event approved by TEC.
5.3 PTNs may be awarded either by:
5.3.1 a PT present at the event
5.3.2 a PIS, who will remotely check the pairings match those produced by the PE against
the pairings produced by the software
5.4 PEs with three PTNs may apply for the PT title. The title application fee will be 200 Euro.
6. PIS Seminar (PISS)
6.1 It is mandatory to take the PISS for a PT to achieve PIS certification.
6.2 Only certified PISS-takers may award remote PTNs.
7. Appointments to FIDE events
7.1 In top-level FIDE events, only PTs will be appointed.
7.2 In other FIDE events, either PEs or PTs may be appointed.
7.3 Organisers may not use their own PENs in FIDE events.
7.4 PTs must be paid 90% of the fee of the Chief Arbiter. PEs will be supervised by a PIS. The PE
will be paid a proportion of the fee, to be determined by their PIS.
8. Sanctions
8.1 From 1 January 2028, the people doing the pairings at any tournament must be at least a PEN.
Tournaments not using approved PENs will not be rated.