Regulations

1. Format: The Saint Louis Rapid and Blitz (“the Event”) is a rapid round robin and blitz double round robin tournament.
2. Venue: The Event is an online event. Players will compete from their homes under the supervision of a Chief Arbiter. The Chief Arbiter shall be Chris Bird, IA.
   
3. Schedule of Events: Each round shall begin at the start times listed in the Schedule of Events attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Schedule of Events”).
   
4. Pairings & Scoring:
   • Players will draw lots during the players meeting to determine their pairing number.
   • Players will be paired based on the standard FIDE Berger tables.
   • Players will reverse colors for the first blitz round robin.
   • Players will be paired with the same color and pairing number in the second blitz round robin as in the rapid round robin.
5. Scoring:
   • In each rapid game, a win is worth 2 points, a draw is worth 1 point and a loss is worth 0 points.
   • In each blitz game, a win is worth 1 point, a draw is worth ½ point and a loss is worth 0 points.
   • Games will not be rated.
6. Time Control:
   • The rapid time control shall be twenty five (25) minutes per game, with a five (5)-second increment from move one (G/25+5).
   • The blitz time control shall be five (5) minutes per game, with a three (3)-second increment from move one (G/5+3).
     
7. Prizes: The total prize fund shall be $250,000 (Two Hundred Fifty Thousand U.S. Dollars).
   
8. Tiebreak: In the event of a tie for any place in the tournament, there shall be no tiebreak. Prize money shall be divided equally among all tied players.
   
9. Arbitration:
   • The tournament shall be played according to the rules set by lichess.org. Players shall use lichess accounts provided by the organizer.
   • The tournament shall be supervised by the Chief Arbiter (the “CA”).
     
     • The CA shall be responsible for ensuring fair play and implementing any anti-cheating measures.
     • If a player wishes to appeal a decision of the CA, they must do so immediately after the game by notifying the CA.
     • The Chief Organizer (the “CO”) shall appoint a three (3)-person appeals committee consisting of at least two (2) arbiters (the “Appeals Committee”). The CO shall be Tony Rich, IA, IO.
     • Decisions of the Appeals Committee are final.
   • Players are required to sign into Skype on their playing computer one hour before the start of play and enable both video and audio. Skype camera feeds shall be used throughout the event as part of the live commentary show. The CA shall also monitor players via Skype.
   • If a player disconnects from lichess.org, that player shall lose all time for which they are disconnected.
   • In the event of an unexpected occurrence, the CA reserves the right to make all decisions in conjunction with or on behalf of the CO.
10. Anti-Cheating Measures:
    • Players are required to allow the CA to inspect the playing area and computer on which the player will compete at any time throughout the competition upon request.
    • Players are not allowed to leave the computer while their game is in progress.
    • Zoom shall be used by the Arbiters to ensure fair play. In addition to 9.3 above, Players must connect to a Zoom conference room from their playing computer and enable screen sharing with the CA.
    • Player must also connect to a Zoom conference room on a separate computer, tablet, phone or other device. Player must enable both video and audio in the Zoom conference. Placement of the Zoom camera should ensure that the playing screen, the Player and the room are visible.
    • Players shall not run any software other than a web browser with one tab open to lichess.org, Zoom and Skype unless expressly allowed by the CA and CO.
    • Players shall not use any other electronic devices while playing, including headphones, mobile phones, etc.
    • Games may be submitted for anti-cheating analysis.