Norfolk Individual Championship Rules

Last Amended 27th July 2005

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
    a the 67th FIDE Congress at Yerevan September-October 1996, coming into
    force on 1st July 1997 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 progressive
    scores and if still tied on the sum of opponents scores and if still
    tied on the Sonneborn-Berger system.


9   The winner of the competition shall:

    (a) Hold the title 'Norfolk 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.