Norfolk County Individual Championship Rules

Last Amended 5th June 2009

1  The competition shall be known as the Norfolk County Individual Championship and the trophy shall be competed for annually. The Trophy remains the property of the Norfolk County Chess Association (NCCA).

2  The competition shall be open to any player who can satisfy at least one of the following criteria :

   (a) They were born in the county of Norfolk.
   
   or
    
   (b) They have been resident in the county of Norfolk for at least six months.

   or
 
   (c) They are a member of a club registered with the NCCA.

3  The competition will be governed by the NCCA who may invite member clubs to organise the event.

4  The competition shall be run as a five round swiss tournament. At the Organiser's discretion it may be a two or three day event.

5  (a) The competition shall normally be limited to a maximum of 24 players.

   (b)  In  the  event  of  more  than  24  entrants,  a Challengers Competition may be run concurrently under the same rules as the Individual Championship at the discretion of the Controller.

   (c) It is  a  condition  of  entry  that  the  top  24  graded  entrants will  compete  in  the  Individual Championship subject to entry. In exceptional circumstances (less than 30 total entries) there may only be one section.

6  (a) The FIDE Laws of Chess as adopted by the British Chess Federation shall apply to this competition unless amended by any of  Norfolk Individual Championship rules which will then take precedence.

   (b) The rate of moves will be 40 moves in 1 hour and 40 minutes. After black's 40th move has been completed, the clocks shall be retarded 20 minutes for a quickplay finish.

7  (a) Players arriving more than 30 minutes late may be deemed to have lost  by  default.

   (b) Players present whose opponent has not arrived must expect to be re-paired 30 minutes  after  the  start  of  the  round.

   (c) Any player defaulting a game shall be excluded from taking any further part unless they are at  the  venue  and report to the Controller 30 minutes prior to the following round.

8  In the event of a tie for first place in the Individual Championship the following rules shall apply:

   (a) Any prize money the NCCA may award shall be shared equally between those tying for first place.

   (b) The Norfolk Champion will be decided on the sum of opponent's scores and if still tied on the Sonneborn-Berger system and if still tied on the sum of progressive scores.

9  The winner of the competition shall:

   (a) Hold the title 'Norfolk County Chess Champion' for one year.

   (b) Hold the trophy for one year and return it to the NCCA one month before the following year's competition.

   (c) Receive any such prize money as the NCCA may award.

10 The winner of the Challengers Competition, if one is held, is entitled by right to play in the Individual Championship of the following year at his discretion unless they qualify by grade in which case entry shall be automatic.

11 In all matters relating to the conduct of the competition the Controller's decision shall be final.