Regulations

Tournament Regulations

The 2016 U.S. Junior Closed Championship shall be a 10-player tournament paired as a Round Robin.

• Prompt Arrival: Players are expected to arrive promptly for their games. Players not at their board at the beginning of each round may receive a fine of $500 to be deducted from their prize for each occurrence. Players more than 30 (thirty) minutes late for a round shall forfeit that round. Players who withdraw or forfeit a game may not receive any prize money.
• No Draws: A 30-move draw rule will be in effect throughout the Event, including any playoff games. Player may not mutually agree to a draw in less than 30 moves.
• No Cell Phones: No cell phones or other electronic devices shall be allowed in the tournament area. Any violation of this policy will result in a fine of $500.00 to be deducted from their prize for each occurrence. In addition to the fine, a violation involving a cell phone or other electronic device that emits any noise during a game shall result in forfeiture of that game. If a violation occurs in subsequent games, the same penalties shall apply.
• Time Control: 90 minutes for the first 40 moves followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game with an addition of 30 seconds (increment) per move starting from move one.
• Notation: Due to the 30-second increment, Players are required to maintain an accurate and legible score sheet at all times during all games, and are required to keep their notation up-to-date.
• Chief Arbiter Discretion: In the event of an unexpected occurrence, the Chief Arbiter reserves the right to make all decisions in conjunction with or on behalf of the CHESS CLUB.
• Playoff Procedures: If two or more Players are tied for 1st, a playoff will be held to determine final standings among all tied players. When necessary, the following mathematical tie-breaks will be used:  1. Direct Encounter, 2. Most Blacks, 3. Koya System, 4. Sonneborn-Berger, 5. Won Games. If there is no need for a playoff, then these tie-breaks will also be used for the purposes of the crosstable and any special prizes or trophies.
  
  After no less than 30 minutes from the conclusion of any game involving a tied player in Round 9, a Playoff shall commence to determine first place. Lots shall be drawn at random, and tied Players shall contest a Blitz Double Round Robin with a time control of game in three minutes plus a two-second increment.
  
  If a clear winner is not produced, all remaining tied players shall face each other in an Armageddon Game. If more than two players remain involved in a tie, math tiebreaks will be used to determine the order in which tied players face each other in an Armageddon Game. An Armageddon Game is defined as a game where white begins with 6 minutes and black with 4 minutes. Black will have draw odds.
  
  The results of the Playoff shall determine standings for all players involved, followed by math tiebreaks if necessary.