Rules

Welsh Chess Union

 WCPL and Under 1850 League

 

Tournament Rules 2024-25

 

1. Introduction

The information contained in the pages sets out the Constitution, Rules, and Guidelines for the Welsh Chess Union (WCU) League competitions (WCPL and U1850). This document is the only source of such information; any changes or updates to the rules will be circulated to all interested parties by the tournament controller, as an updated version of this document.

Any team entering the leagues is agreeing to be bound by the stipulations within this document.

It is advised that Captains and interested parties should read and familiarise themselves with these rules, prior to competing in the Welsh Chess Union Leagues.

In these Rules the words “he”, “him” and “his” include “she” and “her”.

 

2. Participation

The WCPL consists of teams of 6 players

The Welsh U1850 League consists of teams of 4 players all of whom must be rated Under 1850 on the FIDE Standard play list, September 2024. Should a player not have a FIDE rating then they must have a National Rating of under 1850 on 1st September 2024. To avoid confusion where a player has both a FIDE and National Rating, then the FIDE rating takes precedence for qualification.

 

The Sept 2024 ratings will be used for eligibility and board order for the whole of the league. However, if a player's rating drops below 1850, they cannot subsequently, become eligible for the U1850 league.

 

3. Laws of Chess

3.1. Except where stated below, the FIDE laws apply to these competitions.

3.2. In the event of a contradiction between FIDE rules and Welsh Chess Union League rules, then Welsh Chess Union League rules shall apply.

 

4. Rate of Play

4.1. The rate of play is as follows:

40 moves in 90 minutes, followed by 30 minutes to finish the game, with an increment of 30 seconds per move from move one.

 

5. Start Time

All matches will begin at 2.00 pm

 

6. Default time

The default time is 1 hour after the start of the match.

No substitutions can be made once the pairings have been published.

 

7. Team Lists

For each fixture, captains are asked to submit team lists before 1pm on the day of the match. This can be by email, text or online submission form. Board orders can be changed at any time before the publication of the pairings which will take place as soon as possible after 1 pm. Submitted board orders can be changed at any time until this time.

 

8. Scoring

8.1. The board scores in a match is referred to as game points.

8.2. The game score in each match is 1 for a win, ½ for a draw and 0 for a loss.

8.3. The team that scores more game points in a match than its opponents receives two match points; the opponents receive no match points. Each team receives one match point for a drawn match.

 8.3.1. The rankings will be determined according to match points. The team obtaining the highest number of match points is declared the winner of the competition. In case of a tie, 8.3.2. shall be applied.

 8.3.2. The order of teams that finish with the same number of match points shall be determined by the application of the following tie-breaking procedures in sequence, proceeding from (a) to (b) to (c) to (d) the extent required.

 a) By the sum of the game points in head-to-head results between the two teams (or a head-to-head mini league of 3 or more teams).

 b) By the number of game points, the highest number wins;

 If game points remain tied then c, d, e and f are applied in order:

 c) Board count between the teams - The boards on which wins are scored are added for each team and the lowest total wins.

 d) Bottom Board Elimination between the teams

 e) By the sum of the game points of all the team's opponents, excluding the opponent who scored the highest number of game points and the opponents who scored the lowest number of game points, the highest number wins;

 f) Play-off between the teams – either single head to head or mini league if 3 or more still tied after the application of a, b, and c above. The rate of play for the play off will be all moves in 15minutes plus 10 second increment. If teams are still tied then c and d (above) are applied. If still tied then a blitz match of 3 minutes plus 2 seconds will decide the outcome. If still tied then c and d above are applied again.

 

The play off will take place after the final round or, in the case or 3 or more teams it may be scheduled for a later date of the Controller’s choosing.

 

8.4. In all cases where penalties are applied, the integrity of the match will be retained. Board points will continue to total 6 points (WCPL) or 4 points (U1850 League) in all cases, whereby default points are transferred to the non-offending team.

8.5. Contrary to Rule 8.4; Matches in which there are double-defaults occurring on the same boards, will result in the overall board point total dropping below 6 points (WCPL) or 4 points (U1850 League).

 

9. Clubs & Teams

9.1. Clubs may assemble teams from a collection of players provided all players registered members of the WCU at the time of registration. Players must be registered with WCU prior to playing their first game.

 

9.2 The teams shall be composed of 6 players in the WCPL or 4 players in the U1850 League.

 

9.3. A player may only play for one Welsh Chess League club in a season.

 

9.4. Each club should appoint a “Club Nominee”, to act as a representative for that club or a nominee for each team should a club enter teams in both WCPL and U1850 League. As the main point of contact, the Club Nominee MUST have access to email facilities, and communication with the WCPL controller and other club nominees. Clubs are responsible for their own internal communications.

 

10. Squad List

10.1. This is a list of eligible players for a club. This list is to be provided on the online form by 31st August 2024

10.2. If a club enters a team in ONLY the WCPL or Under 1850 League at the start of the season the number of players in the squad must not exceed 15 players, (WCPL) or 10 players (U1850).

 

Clubs who have entered teams in BOTH WCPL and Under 1850 may provide either a squad for each section based on the numbers stated in 10.2 or a combined squad list which shall not exceed 20 players at the start of the season. These players are allowed to play in either team, subject to the rating restriction for the Under 1850 league.

 

Where a club submits one joint squad it is a requirement that should there be any defaults, then these must occur in the Under 1850 league team first.

 

10.3. There will be one opportunity to add or delete players from a squad. The dates of this window will be published once the fixture list is finalised. Only players who have not played in the WCPL during the 2024-25 season are free to join a squad, or transfer from one squad to another. At this point each team may increase their squad to 17 players (WCPL); 12 players (U1850) or 22 players (combined squad, both leagues).

10.4. Any club, playing in the current WCPL, must lodge any objections or queries on a player’s eligibility, prior to the next round of matches.

10.5. The squad list shall include all information requested.

10.6. A player may not play until clearance has been given by the WCPL Controller (or appointed nominee).

10.7. It is the responsibility of the club to provide the evidence of qualification credentials of its players.

10.8. All players must be registered with FIDE before he/she plays their first match.

 

11. Ratings & Board Order

11.1. All games played in the WCPL are subject to rating. Games will be rated by both FIDE and the WCU.

11.2. The ratings used for board order in both leagues will be assigned in the following order:

 

BOTH LEAGUES

- Latest available FIDE list (eg for a match in November 2024, the November 2024 FIDE list will be used; for a match in February 2025, the February 2025 FIDE list will be used).

- Latest available WCU Rating

- Latest available National Rating

- Nominated Rating (estimated by the WCPL Controller)

11.3. The team for a match shall be arranged in rating order. However, a player may play above another player who has a higher rating provided the rating difference is not greater than 80 ELO points, based on the rating lists in operation at the time of the match.

 

12. Fixtures

12.1. A league schedule for the WCPL season will be issued by the WCPL Controller as soon as practically possible.

12.2. All matches will be played on Sundays selected by the WCPL Controller.

12.3. Should there be an exceptional reason why a match needs to be cancelled, a request must be made to the Tournament Controller at least 21 days before the date the match UNLESS THE REASON IS WEATHER DEPENDENT. The tournament director will decide whether to approve this request.

12.4. The first named team in each fixture shall have white on odd boards

12.5 All matches must be fulfilled.

 

13. Postponements

13.1. In exceptional circumstances (e.g. extremely bad weather) the match may be postponed with the agreement of the Controller.

 

14. Penalties

14.1. Defaulting a Match: Should a team default a match then the opposing team will be awarded 2 match points and full game points (ie 6 for Premier League and 4 for Under 1850 League).

14.2. If a team defaults 2 matches they are withdrawn from the competition and all their results are discounted for the competition. However games played will still be rated.

14.3. If a club is unable to raise a team of 6 (WCPL) or 4 (U1850 League) to fulfil a fixture, then the available players must play on the highest boards

i.e. defaults shall start from board 6 (WCPL) and 4 (U1850 League) upwards. Each board thus defaulted shall be scored as a loss (0-1).

14.4.  If a player fails to arrive for a match an appropriate substitute can be used up to the default time provided the rating of this player is within the 80 point limit shown in 11.3. Should the default loss occur higher than the bottom board with other team members playing below, then all winning boards below the offending board, will be declared as a drawn game. The original result in these games will stand for rating purposes.

14.5. If a team plays an ineligible player, the opposing Captain has the right to protest prior to the start of the match. A subsequent written complaint must be sent to the WCPL Controller within three days of the match being played. If the complaint is upheld by the Controller, the team infringing the rules will be penalised by forfeiture of all points scored in the match concerned with effect from the highest offending board downwards.

14.6. If a team plays a player on a board which violates the point difference rule he/she will be treated as an ineligible player. See rule 14.5.

14.7. If a team violates the team composition rules; then starting at board 1 and working to board 6, the player on the first board on which the violation occurs, shall be treated as ineligible.. See rule 12.5.

 

15. WCPL Controller

15.1. The League Controller is Kevin Staveley.

15.2. The Deputy League Controller is Nathan Trickey.

15.3. The WCPL Controller and Deputy League Controller should not play, or should not seek to play, in the WCPL. This will ensure that both will remain impartial.

15.4. The WCPL Controller may seek advice from other members of the WCU Management Board, Welsh Arbiters and Rating Officers. He may also seek external help regarding rule infringements and similar league enquires from such bodies as the ECF, ECU and FIDE.

15.5. The WCPL Controller’s decisions are final.