How the tournament works


.There are 3 divisions:
  • Primary (Prep-Y6)
  • Middle Years (Y5-9)
  • Open Secondary (Y7-12)

In addition there are Primary and Secondary Girls-only categories, which depending on entries will most likely be incorporated into the above tournaments.  It is expected that all Secondary Girls teams will play in the main Middle Years Division.

The “Swiss Format” ensures that all students will play against players of an appropriate standard; our goal for the Championships is that players of varying experience levels will come together, enjoy a fun, educational and social experience, immerse themselves in Chess for 2 or 3 days, and go home inspired and feeling a stronger player and chessboard thinker.

All players play 7 games, regardless if they win or lose.
  • If a player wins a game, they score 1 point. In the subsequent game they will generally play against a harder opponent.
  • If a player draws a game, they score 0.5 points. In the subsequent game they will generally play against a similar opponent.
  • If a player loses a game, they score 0 points. In the subsequent game they will generally play against an easier opponent.

Students from the same school will not compete against each other.

Time on the clocks
Each game will be timed. Each player will have, per game, 25 minutes on the clock, plus 10 seconds added they make a move and press their clock.  These time limits allow each player plenty of time to record the moves of their game.  Recording moves is compulsory.  A player whose remaining time on the clock falls below 5 minutes may stop recording their moves if they so wish.

A few rules
  • Touch move and touch take apply
  • Illegal moves do not lose the game.  Illegal moves will be corrected.  If the players are in doubt the arbiter should be called to assist with this.  If an illegal move is played by one player and completed by pressing their clock, the other player should immediately press their own clock and point out the illegality, in order that the illegal move can be retracted and replaced with a legal move on the time of the player who infringed.
  • A game is drawn by the 50 move rule if one player is able to demonstrate either by their scorebook or by counting, audibly and to their opponent's satisfaction, that they have made 50 consecutive moves with their King left, the counting commencing the move after their last piece was captured.

Chess Clocks

Picture
All games will use chess clocks to limit the duration of each game.

Games are played with 25 minutes per player, plus a bonus 10 seconds per move.

We will primarily be using the DGT Easy+ clocks - These and other equipment are available for purchase from Chess World or at our stall during the event.

Prizes

At the end of the event the final team placing is determined by the SUM of the top 4 players from one school.
In the case of a tie the countback for teams is score for Top 5 players, then Top 6 players etc

There will be individual as well as school awards presented.  Individual ties are broken by means of the Bucholtz Countback method. This is calculated as the SUM of Opponent's scores.

The following prizes will be presented in each Division
  • Perpetual trophy for the winning school
  • Fine individual trophies for the leading 5 players from each of the top 3 teams and also for the top 3 individuals 
  • Named Certificates for all, showing score and individual placing, printed after the event and mailed to schools