English Schools Chess Championship

Competition Rules
1. Each team will play every other team once or twice in the zonal. This may vary at the organisers discretion to ensure the event neither finishes too early or too late.
2. Each team of 6 should play in strength order with the strongest player as judged by the team captain playing on board 1.
3. For each game in the match, a player who wins will score 1 gamepoint, a player who draws will score ½
gamepoint, and a player who loses will score 0 gamepoints. The team that scores the most gamepoints will win the match. A team winning a match scores 1 matchpoint, a team drawing a match scores ½ a matchpoint, and a team losing a match scores 0 matchpoints
4. The final ranking of the tournament is determined by:
a. Matchpoints (descending)
b. Gamepoints (descending)
c. Matchpoints in the match(es) between the tied teams (descending)
d. Gamepoints in the match(es) between the tied teams (descending)
e. If exactly two teams remain tied, board count in the match between the tied teams; add up the board
number of the games that each team wins; the team whose total is lower is ranked higher
f. If exactly two teams remain tied, board elimination in the match between the tied teams; remove the
board 4 result, and if the team with the most Gamepoints remaining shall be ranked higher
g. If exactly two teams remain tied, repeat f. with board 3, and then if necessary board 2, until the
Gamepoint totals first become unequal.
h. Drawing of lots
5. All games will be played with chess clocks. The time control will be dependant on the number of rounds.
6. The arbiter will strictly enforce the rules of touch move and touch take. That means if a player touches a piece they must move that piece. If they touch an opponents piece they must take if able. This will be explained clearly before the tournament.
7. All games will be submitted to the ECF for rating. Players will be able to view their rating on the ECF rating database.
8. The top 50% of schools in the qualifier will advance to the regional knockout stage.
9. It is required that every team will have a responsible adult who will be present throughout the event.