TOURNAMENT REGULATIONS

1.   ORGANIZERS

The Trinidad and Tobago Chess Foundation under the auspices of the Trinidad and Tobago Chess Association.

Trinidad and Tobago Chess Foundation
13 Brabant Street, Woodbrook, Port of Spain, Post Office Box 1704, Port of Spain
Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
www.caribbeanchesscarnival.com

2.   VENUE, DATE, SCHEDULE

The Tournament will be held at the Queen's Park Cricket Club in the city of Port of Spain from August 4^th to August 8^th, 2013 (arrival date is August 3rd , 2013 and departure date is August 9th, 2013) .

Playing Schedule

Pairings for the first round will be announced at 10:25 on August 4^th and for all other rounds approximately 45 minutes after finishing the last game. The Chief Arbiter after consultation with the Organizers may make changes to the above tournament schedule. Such changes will be announced in good time.

3.   SYSTEM AND RATE OF PLAY

The Caribbean Chess Carnival is open to all players from all countries regardless of their title or rating. There is also no limit on the number of participants per federation.

The championship will be 7 rounds, played in the Swiss system in accordance with the Tournament Rules and FIDE Laws of Chess. The playing time will be 90 minutes with an increment of 30 seconds per move, starting from move one.

Format: Four (4) separate 7 round Swiss events for players under 20 years, under 14 years, Under 12 years and under 10 years. (Each player plays 7 games.) To qualify for an age category, a player must have been under the age limit at January 1^st 2013.

4.   RANKING AND TIE-BREAK SYSTEM

Tie-breaks are organized only to establish the trophy winners and the money prizes will be shared equally. The order of players that finish with the same number of points shall be determined by application of the following tie-breaking procedures in sequence, proceeding from (a) to (b) to (c) to (d) to (e) to the extent required:

a) Direct Encounter between Tied Players;
b) Greater Number of Wins;
c) Greater Number of Wins with Black;
d) Buchholz System;
e) Sonneborn-Berger System

5.   ARBITERS

The Chief Arbiter is IA Trevor Griffith

Deputy Chief Arbiter is FA Rawlson Paul

Assistant Arbiters:

Note: All references to the Chief Arbiter shall mean the Chief Arbiter and his Assistants.

6.   APPEALS COMMITTEE

Chairman: Mr. Carlyle Singh
Members:  Mr Cesar Ramos, Mr Edison Raphael
 

Protests against decisions of the Chief Arbiter or his assistants, or the Tournament Director, must be submitted in written form to the Chairman of the appeals committee within one hour after completion of the playing session. The protest must be accompanied with the sum of US$100 or the equivalent in local currency, as a deposit from the signatory. The deposit must be handed to the Chairman of the appeals committee. If the appeal is successful, the sum shall be returned immediately. If the appeal is unsuccesful, the deposit is forfeited to the Organising Committee. The appeal has to be lodged by the player. The decisions of the Appeals Committee are final.

7.   Prizes

Cash Prize fund is $4,000 (All Prizes stated in United States Dollars) 

Cash prizes as advertised will be awarded to the first five (5) places in each category. Trophies will be awarded to the first ten (10) places in each category. Entry fee for the Junior sections is $60.00. Entry fees are non-refundable. For payment of entry fee, rate of exchange: USD$1.00 = TT$6.45.

8.   ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS

•  The FIDE Laws of Chess will govern the tournament and any modifications or clarifications to these rules are noted below.
   
•  According to the decision of FIDE Presidential Board taken in June 2007, any player who doesn’t shake hands with his/her opponent before the game starts (and doesn’t do it after being asked to do so by the arbiter) or deliberately insults his/her opponent or the officials of the event, will immediately and finally lose the relevant game.
   
• Players are not allowed to leave the playing venue (Playing area, Refreshment area, Players restrooms, Smoking area) without permission of the arbiter. Violation of this rule could be punished up to declaring the game to be lost.
   
• Players/spectators are not allowed to enter the closed area of the top boards if they don’t play there themselves.
   
• As long as the game is in progress a player may talk only to an arbiter or with his opponent as permitted by the Laws of Chess.
   
• In case of pre-arranged results the chief arbiter has to decide that the result of the respective game is 0-0.
   
• Where digital clocks are used, the time control will be 90 minutes with an increment of 30 seconds per move, starting from move one. Where a standard clock is used, the allotted time will be 2 hours sudden death.
   
• Where no clock is available at the start of a game, one will be provided as soon as it becomes available. The arbiter will set the clock based on the time elapsed so far.
   
• The default time is 30 minutes after the scheduled start time. Players, parents, coaches and managers are kindly asked to note that if a player defaults 2 games without notifying the Chief Arbiter by telephone and without an appropriate excuse, the player in question will not be paired for the next round and runs the risk of being withdrawn from the tournament.
   
• All games shall be recorded on the official scoresheet provided by the organizers. Upon completion of the game, both original scoresheets shall be submitted to the Chief Arbiter or his assistants, while the copies shall be retained by the players.
   
• Use of cellular phones and other electronic devices during play is strictly prohibited. The penalty for an infraction against this rule is the immediate forfeiture of the game. While a game is in progress, each competitor’s cellular phone shall be switched off. Should a player’s cellular phone ring while his/her game is in progress, this will also result in the immediate forfeiture of the game. The head of the player’s delegation shall also be notified of the occurrence.
   
• Players shall not be permitted to make or receive telephone calls while a game is in progress except under emergency conditions and then only with the permission of the Chief Arbiter.
   
• All players must pay the registration fee before the commencement of the first round (August 4^th 2013)

• Analysis/discussion of games is not permitted in the tournament hall.
   
• All players must start the clock promptly when each round begins. If a clock malfunctions, STOP the clock and call the Chief Arbiter.
   
• Both players of a game are responsible for reporting the result of their game.
   
• If a player has lost two games by default, the player will be withdrawn from the tournament.
   
• A player who does not wish to continue a game and leaves without resigning or notifying the Chief Arbiter is discourteous. He may be penalized at the discretion of the Chief Arbiter, for poor sportsmanship.
   
• If a player wants to withdraw from the tournament or if he does not want to play in the next round, he must notify the Chief Arbiter in writing before the pairing for the next round is made.
   
• All complaints concerning the behavior of players must be made to the Chief Arbiter. A player is not permitted to complain directly to his opponent.
   
• A player may appeal any decision made by the Chief Arbiter.
   

9.   MISCELLANEOUS

Photography: Flash photography shall be permitted only during the first 5 minutes of each round.

Spectators: Spectators, who include parents, coaches, managers, visitors and players who have completed their games, will be permitted access to the playing hall. However, to minimize noise and distractions, and to maintain an environment conducive to a high standard of chess, the organizers reserve the right to exclude spectators from the hall.

Spectators are requested to be silent or maintain their voices very low when talking(whisper). They must stand a reasonable distance (1 metre) from any game that is in progress.

Parents who function as members of the tournament organizing committee shall not be subject to this provision. However, they will be expected to maintain the highest ethical standards during the tournament.

Parents/Guardians are responsible for the supervision of their children outside of the playing hall. In the case where this is clearly specified, only food and beverages purchased from within the playing venue are allowed in the lounge/dining area provided.

Contact Persons: The organizers may be reached by calling the following telephone numbers -

Edison Raphael – President, T&T Chess Foundation (C) 678–0132
Carlyle Singh – Director, T&T Chess Foundation (H) 622-8111

Disclaimer: The Trinidad and Tobago Chess Foundation will not be held responsible for any loss, damage or theft of your personal property, or that of your guests, on the premises.

We assume that all the players have read the Tournament Regulations and are obliged to obey them.