DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES
No entries will be accepted after this date - Friday 17 October 2025. Only ONE child can enter in ONE Category.
PRIZE CALCULATIONS
The place prizes in all tournaments will be awarded to the player scoring the most points and so on and so forth.
POINTS
1 = WIN 0.5 = DRAW / STALEMATE 0 = LOSS
TIE-BREAK
In the event of a tie-break; the two players respectively will play a 10 minute blitz playoff.
RATINGS
This Chess Tournament is not ECF or FIDE rated.
BYES
Half Point Byes may be requested (or a request may be cancelled) either: - At the time of entry, or - At any point before the conclusion of the previous round in the tournament being played. (ie for a bye in round 3 the request must be made by the time the last game of round 2 is completed). - Such requests are made by informing the Organiser at the event, or by sending a text message to: 07786 032 617.
Bye requests missed by the organisers that have not been sent to the correct contact details will not have their request granted, and will instead score a 0 point bye in that round if the player chooses or is unable to play this game. A player will score 0 if a Half Point Bye is requested in the last round. If a tournament permits two Half Point Byes, then a player will score 0 if the second Half Point Bye request is in the last round, or if both the Half Point Byes are requested in the last two rounds. Players who miss more rounds than the number of Half Point Byes permitted in each tournament will be withdrawn from the tournament unless the Head Organiser decides otherwise.
DEFAULTS
A player who defaults a game will not be included in the pairings for the next round of the tournament, or any subsequent round, unless the Head Organiser decides otherwise. Should this be decided, the Head Organiser reserves the right to apply a bond of £50, which will be returned at the end of the tournament if the player takes part in all remaining rounds. A player who defaults a second game in the tournament will be expelled from it, and shall not have the bond returned to him.
LATE PAIRINGS
The Organisers may permit players to enter after the pairings have been published for Round 1 of a tournament. In general, these players will score 0 points in the rounds they have missed. However, the player may be paired against another player in this category, who has entered the same tournament, and that game shall be played as though part of the tournament. Should any players remain after this process, then they will be considered available for any of the pairing procedures below.
RE-PAIRINGS
A player whose opponent does not arrive before the default time will be offered a re-pairing against someone in the same tournament as them. The player will have the following choices: (1) Accept the re-pairing (2) Decline the re-pairing, and have a 1 point bye. If the player decides to accept the re-pairing, then the game will be played as though part of the tournament. The time limit for the game shall be decided on a case-by-case basis.
CROSS-PAIRINGS
Should a re-pairing against someone in the same tournament not be possible, then a player may be offered a cross-pairing against a player who has entered a different section running concurrently. The player will have the following choices: (1) Accept the cross-pairing (2) Decline the cross-pairing Games involved in cross pairings will only count towards rating and each player will get 1 point bye in their tournament. The time limit for the game shall be decided on a case-by-case basis.
FILLER PAIRINGS
Filler pairings Should neither a re-pairing nor a cross-pairing be possible, then the player may be offered a game against a filler. This will be a player who is not playing in any tournament going on at the time, but is nevertheless able to play a game at that time. The player will have the following choices: (1) Accept the filler pairing (2) Decline the filler pairing, and have a 1 point bye. If the player decides to accept the filler pairing, then the game will count as part of the tournament only if the filler is eligible to play in the tournament. If the player is not eligible, then the player will get 1 point bye in their tournament. The time limit for the game shall be decided on a case-by-case basis.
APPEALS PROCEDURE
Process Decisions of an arbiter may be appealed to the Appeals Committee provided that - Such appeal is received in writing within 30 minutes of the arbiter’s decision or within 30 minutes of the end of the game, whichever is later, and - Such appeal is accompanied by an appeal fee of £50 which will be returned if the appeal is successful or if the Appeals Committee accepts that there were significant grounds for the appeal.
MOBILE PHONES
Mobile Phones are Banned. Any spectator will be asked to leave the playing area if during play any such device either (a) makes any sound; or (b) is found to be switched on; or (c) is found to be about their person or being carried by them.
EXPELLING SPECTATORS
The Head Organiser is empowered to ask spectators to leave the playing area immediately should they be in breach of these regulations and may not be appealed against.
ANTI-CHEATING
During a game, a player is forbidden to have any electronic device not specifically approved by the Organisers in the playing venue. United Knights Tournaments will permit such devices to be stored in a player’s bag, provided the device is completely switched off. This bag must be placed as agreed with the Head Organiser. Both players are forbidden to use this bag without permission of the Head Organiser. Alternatively, the device may be placed in a pieces bag or clock box closed and placed within the sight of both players. (in this context, devices shall include but not be limited to :- mobile phones, smart watches, fitbits etc.) The only exception to these exclusions are for medical devices. All medical devices must be identified to the Head Organisers, and cleared by them, before each competition starts. If in doubt about any device that you are wearing, get the device cleared by the Head Organiser controlling your section. If it is evident that a player has such a device on their person in the playing venue, the player shall lose the game. The opponent shall win.
Any concerns about cheating should be brought to the attention of the Head Organiser and nobody else. The Head Organiser will handle the situation. Please do not raise concerns with anyone else. Players are reminded they must not talk about a game in progress with anyone.
PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY / SAFEGUARDING
While outside the playing hall, parents or guardians are responsible for their children during the tournament. The organisers and helpers are not able to act “in loco parentis” and are not able to take responsibility for any child’s actions, or for the actions of anyone that may affect your child.
LIABILITY
The organisers accept no responsibility for any loss, theft or accident during the tournament. Right to Refuse Entry and Transfer The tournament controller reserves the right to refuse entry without being required to state a reason. The tournament controller also reserves the right to transfer players between tournaments at any time.
ZERO TOLERANCE TO ABUSE
The Head Organiser is empowered to expel a player from all tournaments entered, either for a number or rounds, a number of days, or in their entirety, who shows dissent by word or action towards a member of staff and players.
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