2024 US Championship Event Regulations

Event Regulations

Conduct: Participants are required to maintain a professional demeanor throughout this competition and adhere to the US Chess Code of Ethics, US Chess Safe Play Policy, and FIDE Laws and Regulations. Any violations will prompt the Saint Louis Chess Club to take necessary actions, which may involve reporting the incident to FIDE and US Chess.

1. Format: The Event shall be a 12-player tournament paired as a Round Robin.
 

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2. Prompt Arrival: Players must arrive promptly for their games. A fine of $1,000 will be deducted for each occurrence of being late. Players more than 10 minutes late for a round shall forfeit that round.
 

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3. No Personal Items: Unauthorized devices or personal items are not permitted in the tournament area. Violation results in a forfeit of the round and possible expulsion.
 

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4. No Draws: A "no draw" rule will be in effect. No player may offer or accept a draw. For claims under the FIDE Laws of Chess, one of the Event Arbiters must verify the claim.
 

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5. Schedule of Events: Each round shall begin at the start times listed in the Schedule of Events attached hereto.
 

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6.   Pairings & Scoring: 
   • Round Robin: Players will be randomly seeded and paired according to the standard FIDE Berger Tables.
    
   • Games shall be worth one point for a win, half a point for a draw, and zero points for a loss.
    

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7. Time Control: The time control shall be 40 moves in 90 minutes, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30-second increment from move one (40/90; G/30; +30).
 

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8. Prizes: The total prize fund shall be $250,000, distributed according to the table below.
 

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Playoff Regulations

1. Playoffs: In the event of a tie for first place in the Event, there shall be a playoff amongst all the players involved in the tie. The playoff shall determine the winner of the Event.
 

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2. The playoff shall take place on the day immediately following the end of the last scheduled round.
 

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3. If at any stage there are only two players in a remaining tie, they shall contest a Double Rapid Round Robin (a mini-match consisting of two games) at the relevant time limit specified below.
 

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4. The players in the tie(s) shall initially contest a Rapid Round Robin, with the pairing numbers determined in the following tie-break order, with player 1 having the best tie-breaks: most wins, most blacks, direct encounter, drawing of lots. The time limit shall be game in 15 minutes with a 10-second increment per move from move 1 (G/15+10).
 

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5. If there is still a tie or ties after the Rapid Round Robin is complete, the players in the remaining tie(s) shall contest a further Rapid Round Robin at the above time limit.
 

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6. If all the players in the second Round Robin are the same as in the first Round Robin, then the second Round Robin shall take place with colors reversed. Otherwise, new pairing numbers determined by lot will be used.
 

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7. If there is still a tie or ties after the second Round Robin is complete, the players in the remaining tie(s) shall contest a Blitz Round Robin, with the pairing numbers determined by lot. The time limit shall be game in 5 minutes with a 2-second increment per move from move 1.
 

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8. If there is still a tie after the Blitz Round Robin is complete, further Blitz Round Robins shall take place with the players still in the remaining tie(s), until every tie has been resolved, subject to the provisions below.
 

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9. If all the players in the subsequent Round Robin are the same as in the previous Round Robin, then that Round Robin shall take place with colors reversed. Otherwise, new pairing numbers determined by lot will be used.
 

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10. If any tie remains unresolved after four Round Robins have been held (two Rapid and two Blitz), the Chief Arbiter shall be empowered, after consulting with the players, to direct that the tie be resolved by other means.
 

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Schedule of Events