SCCA Tournaments

General Information

How to Enter a Tournament

The normal method is to complete a membership application or renewal form, available from the Membership Secretary. The SCCA year runs from January-December and renewal forms are normally distributed in September. If you are already a member and wish to enter an event during the year, please get in touch with the Secretary.

Rules of Play

Events organised by the SCCA are run under its Rules of Play, which also provides references to international events organised by ICCF. Events are controlled by Tournament Directors (TDs) who may be assisted by Team Captains (TCs) in team tournaments.

Playing Modes

Our general philosophy is to allow players to agree the playing mode in all events (including the Championship) by mutual consent. In theory, this could result in games within a single event being played by a combination of postal, email and webserver methods. In the event of no agreement being reached, or the unavailability of technical facilities to support games and/or events, the TD’s discretion will operate. To assist with prompt pairings and start dates, it would be appreciated if players stated their willingness to play under some or all of the available modes when completing their membership or renewal forms.

Recording of Moves

Examples of the media used and how moves are recorded in each of the playing modes can be found in How to Play CC, which also provides tips on etiquette and how to resolve problems.

Cost of Play

Players are encouraged to use webserver or email playing modes wherever possible, as there is generally no cost incurred beyond basic internet connection fees. Postal players should note that first class postage is mandatory for tournaments classed as 1-year events. Second class postage may be used for longer events.

Championship Tournaments

General

This cycle of events is the main method of playing competitive chess in the SCCA domestic programme. All patron, life and annual members are eligible to enter the cycle, though their entry level is determined by rating strength and results, and by the discretion of the TDs.

Championship

This is a two-year event with a guideline rating strength of 2000+. Previous finalists and players promoted from the Premier are eligible, and highly ranked new entrants may receive direct entry at the discretion of the TD. The winner is designated SCCA champion, and receives a trophy (held for one year), and a miniature (held permanently).

Premier

This is a one-year event with a guideline rating strength of 1750+. Previous entrants and players promoted from the Open are eligible, and appropriately ranked new entrants may receive direct entry at the discretion of the TD. Section winners receive a medal and are eligible to compete in the Championship.

Open

This is a one-year event with no rating restriction. All players are eligible, subject to the discretion of the TD. Section winners receive a medal and are eligible to compete in the Premier.

Summary	Start Date	Duration (years)	Number of Sections	Games per Opponent	Time Controls (moves/days)
					Postal	Email/Web
Championship	January	2	1	1	10/30	10/60
Premier	January	1	1+	1	10/20	10/40
Open	January/any	1	1+	2	10/20	10/40

Non-Championship Tournaments

General

This group of events covers Team Leagues, Challengers (social and development chess), and International Friendly Matches. All members (including associates) may participate in Team Leagues, but associates are not allowed to enter the other events.

Team Leagues

A team consists of 5 players, with the highest rated playing board 1 and so on. A league usually consists of 6 teams, though other numbers can be catered for. In a 6-team league, each player is paired against a single opponent from one of the other teams with the same board number, and plays 2 games (one White, one Black). In a league with other than 6 teams, the pairing rules may result in a player being matched with one or two opponents from different teams, but with the same board number. 2 games are played with an equal colour split for each player and each team in total.

The TD issues pairings and contact addresses to each TC. The TC is responsible for distributing this information to each team member, for advising players on rules and other issues during play, and for resolving disputes between players via the opposing TC [or the TD, in extremis]. TCs should report results to the TD as they become known, and should organise claims from players within 12 days of the adjudication date.

Challengers

This event operates on a rolling format to allow players to arrange games as flexibly as possible (e.g. to cater for new joiners during a year, or periods of low activity in other events). Entrants are broadly classified as beginner, intermediate or advanced strength to assist with like pairings, but developing players are encouraged to challenge above their level to gain experience. Certificates are awarded for best playing performance(s) during a season.

Players may enter via the TD at any time. The TD classifies players by strength and tries to organise games according to player strengths and preferences. There is no theoretical limit to the number of games a player may request or play in a year, though in practice this will be governed by the numbers of entrants and the gap in playing strengths between challengers. Unfinished games at the end of a season may be adjudicated or carried forward as agreed by the players. Players who withdraw during the year may have unfinished games scored as losses or voided at the discretion of the TD. A points scoring system will operate, with bonus points added/deducted for wins/losses/draws against opponents from different grading strength bands.

International Friendly Matches

From time to time, the SCCA takes on teams from other national associations in the spirit of amici sumus. Matches are arranged over a wide range of boards, playing modes and playing strengths, and teams are selected in order of rating strength. Each board plays 2 games (one White, one Black) against their opponent, and players may elect to play more than one board for their team. This format is a great way to develop your chess and to make many overseas friendships.

Summary	Start Date	Duration (years)	Number of Sections	Games per Opponent	Time Controls (moves/days)
					Postal	Email/Web
Team Leagues	January	1	1	2	10/20	10/40
Challengers	January	1 (rolling)	3 bands	any	10/30	10/30
International Friendly Matches	any	any	n/a	2	10/30	10/60