2018 Interclub Grade Match Rules


1. Teams

  1. Teams consist of 4 players for each match. Reserves are allowed in all divisions.
  2. Players (including reserves) are only eligible for a team if their rating in the March 2018 rating list is below the rating limit for their division. Otherwise, players must be placed in board order according to rating; a discrepancy of up to 50 points is allowable. No dispensations beyond this will be granted.
  3. A team may include only one player rated above the limit for their division (up to 50 points), and this player must play on board one. (For example, a player rated 1749 may play on board one for an Under 1700 team; a player rated 1750 may not play in the Under 1700 division). An unrated player can play on any board. If an unrated player plays on board one then no player can exceed the division limit.
  4. No player may play for more than one team in the same division.
  5. A player must be a permanent resident of NSW. Interstate or overseas players who are planning on becoming permanent residents can play only with the prior permission of the NSWCA council.

2. Ratings

  1. The March 2018 ACF rating list published on the ACF web site will be used for all players rated at that time. (Note that inactive players remain on the ACF master file rating list – available on the ACF web site http://www.auschess.org.au) If you have any queries about a player’s rating, contact the NSWCA ratings officer. A player is only “unrated” if never rated (here or overseas). New arrivals to Australia with overseas ratings must declare them.
    Ratings Enquiries: e-mail ratings@nswca.org.au
  2. The team captain must indicate using ‘unr’ unrated player in the reported results. Only official ACF ratings should be listed in the reported results. Unless, only an overseas rating is available.
  3. There is a limit of at most one unrated players per team. The only exception is in the Under 1500 Division, or with prior approval from the NSWCA Council (before the start of the competition). Unrated players can play on any board.

3. Players

All players must be or become full financial members of the NSWCA for 2018. Being just a Registered Player is not sufficient. Juniors can play provided they are members of the NSWJCL. The only exception to this rule is that non-NSWCA members may play up to 2 games each without subsequently joining the NSWCA; clubs will be charged $10 per game for such players. Each club is also liable for the membership fees of any player representing them in more than 2 games who subsequently fails to join the NSWCA.
Membership Enquiries: NSWCA Registrar – e-mail registrar@nswca.org.au

4. Time controls

  1. Digital clocks must be used
  2. Rate of play: all divisions: 90 minutes + 10 seconds a move for all moves.
  3. Session duration: finish the game on the appointed day. No adjournments.
  4. Should the venue close before 11:00pm (5:30pm for U2100) (the scheduled finishing time as expected from these rules) then the home team will forfeit the equivalent time in 15 minute increments, to allow the games to be completed on the scheduled night. Team Captains to adjust the home players' clocks accordingly at the start of the game.

5. Starting time and forfeits

  1. The clocks must start at 7:30pm sharp except for the U2100 that will start at 2:00pm sharp.
  2.  If the home team has not set up the equipment and started the clocks at the designated start time, then the time lost will be deducted from only the home team. e.g. The start time is 7:30pm but the equipment and clocks are not available till 7.50. These 20 mins will be deducted from the home team's clocks, such that the home team must make all moves in 70 minutes plus 10 seconds per move. The visiting team retains its time control of all moves in 90 minutes plus 10 seconds per move
  3. A game is lost by a player arriving at the board more than one hour late. Such forfeits are unethical and to be avoided as much as possible, as opponents expect to play a game of chess. If it becomes clear that a forfeit is inevitable, team captains must notify the opponents in advance. NSWCA will take action against repeated offences.
  4. Whole team forfeits are very serious offences, and will be referred to the NSWCA for disciplinary action.

6. Colours

The home team (the first-named team) has White on boards 2 and 4.

7. Adjournments and postponements

  1. No adjournments or postponements are permitted.
  2. Games may be played up to 14 days in advance, but only provided that both team captains and both players agree.

8. Equipment

The home team provides standard sets, boards, digital clocks and scoresheets.

9. Duties of captains

  1. Be conversant with the current (January 2018) FIDE Laws of Chess. In particular, nobody is allowed to point out a flagfall except the two players playing the game. Team captains must not point out flagfalls in any games but their own.
  2. Supervise the sensible and ethical conduct of their teams. There should be no talking, analysing or distracting the opponents in any way whatsoever.
  3. Ensure that clocks are started promptly and are set correctly, If the clocks have been set up incorrectly adjust the clocks where necessary. See also rules 4.4 & 5.2
  4. Record teams and results as follows:

    Win:                 1              Loss:              0
    Forfeit Win:      1F            Forfeit loss:    0F
    Draw:               ½

  5. Each captain must email the result promptly to the grade match results coordinator graderesults@nswca.org.au within 24 hours of the match being played.

10. Juniors

  1. Teams with juniors must tell the home captain in advance when visiting a licensed club.
  2. Home team captains at licensed clubs must ensure that juniors are catered for.

11. Mobile phones

  1. If a player’s mobile phone rings in the playing venue during play, that player shall lose the game. This includes but is not restricted to phone alarms or sounds when waking up or shutting down.

12. Disputes and appeals

  1. Report any disputes that captains cannot settle to the director of play (grade match arbiter) in writing within 10 days.
  2. Appeals against the director’s decision may then be made concerning:
    1. The laws of chess – to the appeals committee, via the NSWCA or the DOP.
    2. The competition rules – to the NSWCA.

13. Tie-break procedures

  1. If two or more teams finish equal first in their division, there will be no tie-break procedure applied. The teams will be declared joint champions and will receive prizes of equal value.
  2. In divisions split into zones, the top finishing team in each zone will meet in a two match final series.
  3. In single divisions consisting of preliminary and final sections, the home-and-away aspect of the matches in the final section will be the opposite to that of the preliminary matches. The order of finals rounds will be:

Week 1: 1 v 4, 2 v 3
Week 2: 1 v 3, 2 v 4
Week 3: 1 v 2, 3 v 4

  1. In determining who qualifies for the finals from in (2) & (3) the tie-break procedure will be in the following order:
    1. Total match points – 2 for a win, 1 for a draw, 0 for a loss.
    2. Team points scored in matches between the tied teams – e.g. if 3 teams in a tie, each team would have a score out of 8.
    3. As in (b) but with board 4 results ignored.
    4. As in (c) but also with board 3 results ignored
    5. As in (d) but also with board 2 results ignored
    6. Shall be determined by lot.

14. Disabled players

  1. Disabled players are most welcome to play in this competition.
  2. Teams with disabled players must tell the home captain in advance when visiting a club.
  3. Home team captains at clubs must ensure that disabled players are catered for.

15. Dispensations
These may be granted in rare and special cases only, but never retrospectively.


16. Prizes
Prizes will be awarded to the winning teams in the individual rating divisions. There will also be performance prizes awarded to the top performing players where they have played 70% or more of the possible games and scored 70% or more.


17. Director of play
Address all disputes and appeals to:    

Grade Match arbiter at tournaments@nswca.org.au