Tournament Regulations
1. VENUE: Protea Hotel, Thuringerhof, Independence Avenue, Windhoek.
2. EVENT DATE: 25, 26, 28 March 2016
3. Registration Period and Method:
Period: Starts 23rd March – ends 24th March 2016 at 21h00 sharp.
Method: SMS the following;
“National Champs Registration + YOUR FULL NAME and the SECTION you want to play in”
e.g. “National Champs Registration, Bobby Fischer, Open Section” to 0814006467
4. REGISTRATION
4.1. REGISTRATION FEE FOR MEMBERS:
N$ 100.00 + N$ 50 Deposit – Adults
N$ 50.00 + N$ 50 Deposit – Under 20
4.2. REGISTRATION FEE FOR NON-MEMBERS:
N$ 150.00 + N$ 50.00 Deposit - Adults
N$ 100.00 + N$ 50.00 Deposit – Under 20
DEPOSITS ARE REFUNDABLE AT PRIZE GIVING ON CONDITION THAT A PLAYER HAS COMLEPETED THE TOURNAMENT.
NB: NCF MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION:
N$ 120 – Adults
N$ 60 – Under 20
5. EVENT SCHEDULE:
5.1. OPENING CEREMONY: 07h30
Welcoming and Opening Speech: Chief Organizer – Mr Charles Eichab
Announcements by Tournament Director - Mr McLean Handjaba
5.2. OPEN SECTION:
Round 1 : Friday 25 March 2016 08h00 - 11h00
Round 2 : Friday 25 March 2016 12h00 - 16h00
Round 3 : Friday 25 March 2016 18h00 - 22h00
Round 4 : Saturday 26 March 2016 09h00 - 13h00
Round 5 : Saturday 26 March 2016 16h00 - 20h00
Round 6 : Monday 28 March 2016 09h00 - 13h00
Round 7 : Monday 28 March 2016 16h00 - 20h00
5.3. WOMEN’S SECTION:
Round 1 : Friday 25 March 2016 08h00 - 11h00
Round 2 : Friday 25 March 2016 12h00 - 16h00
Round 3 : Friday 25 March 2016 18h00 - 22h00
Round 4 : Saturday 26 March 2016 09h00 - 13h00
Round 5 : Saturday 26 March 2016 16h00 - 20h00
Round 6 : Monday 28 March 2016 09h00 - 13h00
Round 7 : Monday 28 March 2016 16h00 - 20h00
5.4. B- SECTION:
Round 1 : Friday 25 March 2016 08h00 - 11h00
Round 2 : Friday 25 March 2016 12h00 - 16h00
Round 3 : Friday 25 March 2016 18h00 - 22h00
Round 4 : Saturday 26 March 2016 09h00 - 13h00
Round 5 : Saturday 26 March 2016 16h00 - 20h00
Round 6 : Monday 28 March 2016 09h00 - 13h00
Round 7 : Monday 28 March 2016 16h00 - 20h00
5.5. CLOSING CEREMONY: MONDAY, 28 March 2016, 20h30
Chess League Information: Mr. Otto Nakapunda
National Championships Prize Giving: LOC
Vote of thanks: Ms. Jolly Nepando
6. Tournament Sections:
The tournament will consist of three sections: the Open Section, Women’s Section and B- Section.
6.1. Open Section:
6.1.1. The winner of the Open Section will be declared Namibia’s National Chess Champion and will be bestowed with a National Mater Title.
6.1.2. Only players above the age of 16 or players that have finished in the top 20 at any official NCF tournament in the past 3 years may partake in the open section. Players younger than 16 that have qualified for the junior national team may participate in the open section provided they have finished top 10 at any official NCF tournament. Female players may also partake in the Open Section.
6.2. Women’s Section:
6.2.1. The winner of the Women’s Section will be declared Namibia’s Woman Champion and will receive a Women’s National Master (WNM) title.
6.2.2. Only female chess players may partake in this section.
6.3. B-Section
6.3.1. The winner of the B- section hand will not be bestowed with any national title. He or she will receive a gold medal and cash prize.
6.3.2. The B-Section is open to both male and female players that are recognized as “novice/amateur” chess players. No FIDE title players or players with official FIDE ratings of above 1700 may enter this category.
7. SYSTEM AND RATE OF PLAY:
7.1. The Open Section format will be a SWISS System tournament played over 7 (seven) Rounds. Rate of play will be 01h30 minutes plus 30 seconds increment for every move starting from move 1.
7.2. The Women’s Section format will be a Round-Robin System tournament played over 7 (Seven) Rounds. Rate of play will be 01h30 minutes plus 30 seconds increment for every move starting from move 1.
7.3. The B-Section format will be a SWISS System tournament played over 7 (seven) Rounds. Rate of play will be 01h30 minutes plus 30 seconds increment for every move starting from move 1.
7.4. For all three (3) sections, the rate of play for Round one (1) will be 60 minutes plus 30 seconds increment starting from move 1.
8. PAIRING AND TIE BREAK SYSTEM:
8.1. Swiss Manager will be used for the pairings. Tie-Breaks will be applied in the following order:
i. Direct encounter
ii. Progressive Score
iii. Medien-Bucholz
iv. Bucholz
8.2. If players are still tied then a 1 game 5 minutes Armageddon will be played.
9. POINT SYSTEM: 1 (one) Point will be awarded for a WIN,
0.5 (half a point) for a DRAW and
0 (zero) for a LOSS.
10. NATIONAL CHESS RATINGS:
A chess player who does not have a national rating will receive a rating based on his/her performance against rated players.
11. WHO MAY PARTICIPATE?
This is a closed event and therefore only Namibian citizens may participate – Please bring a Namibian Identity document along when you register as proof of Namibian Citizenship.
12. PRIZES:
12.1. OPEN SECTION PRIZES:
1st Prize = Gold medal
2nd Prize = Silver Medal
3rd Prize = Bronze Medal
12.2. WOMEN’S SECTION PRIZES:
1st Prize = Gold medal
2nd Prize = Silver Medal
3rd Prize = Bronze Medal
12.3. B-SECTION PRIZES:
1st Prize = Gold medal
2nd Prize = Silver Medal
3rd Prize = Bronze Medal
12.4. Winners will not receive any cash prizes. Should the situation change for the better, cash prizes will be announced before the final two rounds. In such a case, cash prizes will be shared equally if players are tied. Tie-breaks will be used to determine the place attained!!
13. QUALIFICATION
13.1. ZONE 4.3 INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
The first 3 players in the Open section and the first 3 players in the Women’s Section will qualify to partake at the 2016 Zone 4.3 Chess Championships to be held in Le Morne, Mauritius in April 2016. The respective winners qualify as the official representatives for Namibia. The NCF can, however, not guarantee any financial assistance.
13.2. AFRICAN INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFICATION
The first 3 players in the Open section and the first 3 players in the Women’s Section will qualify to partake at the 2016 All Africa Games in Kampala, Uganda in May 2016. The respective winners qualify as the official representatives for Namibia. The NCF can, however, not guarantee any financial assistance.
13.3. WORLD CHESS OLYMPIAD QUALIFICATION
The top 4 players in both the Open Section and the Women’s Section will qualify to represent Namibia at the World Chess Olympiad. The fifth slot will be filled following the Selection Tournament.
14. TOURNAMENT RULES AND FIDE RULES:
The tournament organizers reserve the right to use Namibian tailored Tournament Rules and Regulations for this tournament as they see fit. The current standing FIDE Laws and Rules of classical chess will be applied in all cases not prescribed specifically by this tournament regulations.
14.1. Players who are late by 15 minutes after a round has started will forfeit their games.
14.2. No player shall be allowed to enter the playing venue with their cell phones or an electronic device that may assist them during the games. Any cell phones in the playing venue permitted by the Chief Arbiter should be switched of at all times. If a players phone rings or alarm goes off such player will forfeit his or her game immediately. Players and Spectators alike will not be permitted to talk on their Cell phones within the playing venue.
14.3. Cameras with a flash may only be used for the first 15mins after the start of the round. After that only cameras without a flash may be used inside the playing venue.
14.4. Utmost Silence should prevail by all present. A player becomes a spectator after they finish their games and should be silent or will be asked to leave the playing venue.
14.5. When a player touches a piece the piece should be moved unless it will be an illegal move. The move will be regarded as finish when the player releases the piece on the destination square.
14.6. Rude behaviour or foul language towards fellow chess players and/or spectators during and or after the games will not be tolerated. Players who make them guilty of such offense/behaviour will be disqualified with immediate effect. The Chief Arbiter’s and his/her assistants’ decisions will be final.
14.7. Players should complete their score sheet after every move. If a player does not complete the score sheet a warning will be issued and the game will be lost with the third warning. Players will not be allowed to hide or destroy their score sheets at any point during the game. The score sheets are property of the organizers even after a copy is given to the chess player.
NB: Chess players are requested to please bring their own pens to record their moves. Players (especially scholars) who do not know how to record their games should ask for exemption when they register. We would however strongly recommend that they record their moves as it is part of learning and growing in chess. Score sheets will be provided by the NCF.
14.8. The Namibia Chess Federation Executive Committee reserves the right to amend and make necessary changes to the tournament regulations as it sees fit to ensure a successful tournament.
15. APPEALS COMMITTEE
15.1. If a player would like to appeal against any judgment from the arbiters he or she should do so 30 minutes after the round ends. A fee of N$100.00 is payable before an appeal can be heard. If the player is found not guilty he or she will be refunded. If guilty he or she will forfeit their N$100.00.
15.2. An appeals committee will be appointed before the start of Round 1.
16. LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE:
Tournament Director: McLean Handjaba +264814006467
Chief Arbiter: Charles Eichab +264816238160
1st Assistant Arbiter: Otto Nakapunda +264812116463
2nd Assistant Arbiter: Brian Jaftha +264812298082
Treasurer: Jolly Nepando +264818594954
Logistics: Richman Tjiriange +264812061439
__________________________________
By order,
Chief Arbiter
Mr. Charles Eichab
