Tournament Regulations

2025 Oceania Youth Chess Zonal Tournament Regulations

1. Technical Regulations

Australasian Chess Enterprises (ACE) and the Oceania Chess Confederation (OCC) invite all young chess players from Oceania to participate in the 2025 Oceania Youth Chess Zonal Tournament.

1.1 Play System

Each tournament will be a Swiss System with 9 rounds.

There shall be 7 categories with separate events for Open and Girls (in total 14 championships):

  • UNDER 8 OPEN & GIRLS
  • UNDER 10 OPEN & GIRLS
  • UNDER 12 OPEN & GIRLS
  • UNDER 14 OPEN & GIRLS
  • UNDER 16 OPEN & GIRLS
  • UNDER 18 OPEN & GIRLS
  • UNDER 20 OPEN & GIRLS

In case there are fewer than eight players and three Federations in an age group category, that group shall be merged with another group.

Every Oceania Federation or associated member can register one official player in each category (under 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 & 20 years old, Open and Girls) totaling a maximum of 14 invited players. No replacement from other categories can be made in case there is no official player in one category.

1.2 Participation Eligibility

Entitled to participate are Chess players from Oceania Federations (Zone 3.6 federations) or associated members. Players must not have reached his/her respective age group birthday before 1st January 2025

AGE GROUP REQUIREMENTS
  • UNDER 8 Born on or after 1st January 2017
  • UNDER 10 Born on or after 1st January 2015
  • UNDER 12 Born on or after 1st January 2013
  • UNDER 14 Born on or after 1st January 2011
  • UNDER 16 Born on or after 1st January 2009
  • UNDER 18 Born on or after 1st January 2007
  • UNDER 20 Born on or after 1st January 2005

Each Federation or associated member country may register any number of players to participate in the age group categories.

1.3 Rate of Play

90 minutes per player with an increment of 30 seconds per move from move one.

1.4 Default Time

A player forfeits the game if he/she hasn't appeared at his/her board within 30 minutes after the start of the game.

1.5 Tiebreaks

Final ranking order of players is determined by the number of points scored. If two or more players are tied, the tie shall be broken by tiebreak systems in the following order:

  1. Direct Encounter,
  2. The greater number of wins
  3. Buchholz,
  4. Buchholz Cut 1, Cut 2,
  5. Sonnenborn Berger

1.6 Appeals Committee and Appeals Procedure

The Continental President for Asia (His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan) has, after consultation with the organizing federation, appointed IA David Esmonde as the Technical Delegate, and IA Dr Peter Tsai as the Chief Arbiter. The Chief Arbiter may, in consultation with the Technical Delegate, issue additional written regulations on other details not covered by these regulations.

The Technical Delegate (or nominee) shall chair the Appeals Committee. The Appeals Committee shall be composed of three members and two reserves, all from different federations. No member of the Appeals Committee shall take part in a decision affecting a player belonging to the same federation unless both players are from the same federation.

Appeals including appeals against the decisions of the Chief Arbiter or his assistants must be submitted in writing to the Chairman of the Appeals Committee within fifteen minutes of the completion of the relevant playing session alongside a $100 AUD bond.

The decision of the Appeals Committee is final, binding and takes effect immediately. Should the appeal be successful, the bond will be returned to the appealer.

1.7 Prizes

The Organiser shall award gold, silver and bronze trophies to the top three positions, after application of tiebreaks where required, in each age group category.

Certificates of Participation shall be given to all players, Fide accredited trainers, Managers and Officials.

1.8 Direct Titles

FIDE rules state that for a direct title to be awarded immediately an applicant has to have achieved at some time or other a minimum rating as follows:
IM 2200, WIM 2000, FM 2100, WFM 1900, CM 2000, and WCM 1800.

If groups are combined to make a bigger group, then the requirements (at least 8 participants from at least 4 federations) shall apply to this merged group.
Titles can be awarded to the best player(s) of the subgroups, provided the subgroup has at least 6 participants from at least 3 federations and the player scores a minimum of 50% in a minimum of 9 games.

The Chief Organizer and Oceanic Chess President reserve the right to change divisions to support the awarding of direct titles.

In the U20 category, the gold medal winner shall be awarded the Grandmaster (GM)/Woman Grandmaster (WGM) norm (9 games). 1st equal (up to 3 players) shall get the IM/WIM title. The silver and bronze medal winners shall be awarded the IM/WIM norm and FIDE Master (FM)/Woman FIDE Master (WFM).

In the U18 categories, the gold medal winner shall be awarded the title of International Master (IM) / Woman International Master (WIM). 1st equal players (up to 3 players) shall get IM/WIM norm (9 games). The Silver & Bronze Medal winners shall be awarded the FIDE Master (FM) / Woman FIDE Master (WFM) title.

In the U16 category, the gold medal winner shall be awarded IM/WIM norm (9 games). 1st equal player (up to 3 players) shall get FM/WFM title. The Silver & Bronze Medal winners shall be awarded the Candidate Master (CM) / Woman Candidate Master (WCM) title.

In the U12 & U14 categories, the gold medal winner shall be awarded the title of FM / WFM. The Silver & Bronze Medal winners shall be awarded the CM / WCM title.

Gold, Silver & Bronze Medal (after tiebreak up to 3 players) winners of the U8 & U10 categories shall be awarded the CM/WCM title.

1.9 If you Require a Visa

Invitational Letters will only be given for Visas once the Entry Fee is paid. If you are then unable to obtain an Australian Visa, your entry/registration fee will be refunded.

Please contact oceanicyouthchesschamps2025@gmail.com after you have paid your entry fee, and we will send you an invitational letter for a Visa.

1.10 Accommodation for Invited Players

To receive free accommodation as an invited player (excluding Australia) a member of your federation must email oceanicyouthchesschamps2025@gmail.com to claim your free accommodation by the 23rd of October at 11:59pm

2. Code of Conduct for Spectator & Analysis Rooms

Classrooms will be opened for spectators and parents for analysis however users must comply with the following strict rules otherwise these rooms will be closed for everyone. We will need someone to be responsible for each analysis room we open.

  • No Eating (there will be a designated eating zone or you can eat outside)
  • No Rubbish
  • No moving furniture, tampering with displays or equipment
  • No transfer chess
  • Children must always be supervised when in the analysis room
  • Parents are not allowed into the player hall or lingering around the playing hall when games are being played. Only players in games, arbiters, the organizing committee and VIPs will be allowed in

Important Notice:

Any damage or mess to the rooms will result in analysis room closures and the associated damage costs being billed to you. Severe cases of damage may result in withdrawal of you and the participant under your care from the tournament and criminal proceedings.