League Rules

1. Fixtures - On receipt of fixture lists, club secretaries shall examine them in order that possible errors can be corrected as soon as possible.

 

2. Postponements

 

a) In giving notice of postponement, a team shall give 7 days prior notification to the captain of the non-offending team. On receipt of this notice, the non-offending team shall offer 2 alternative dates.

 

b) Notwithstanding the above, all league and k/o matches should be played by mid-May.

 

c) The League Secretary must also be informed of postponements by a representative of the offending club within 7 days.

 

d) Failure to give 7 day notice shall entitle the non-offending team to claim the match by default, but this claim is open to appeal to the League Committee. The Committee is entitled to deal with possible disputes over dates and interpretation of the Constitution and its decision shall be final.

 

3. Teams shall play each of their league opponents over 5 boards once at home and once away. The away team shall have white on 3 boards, the colours being drawn by lot immediately prior to the match. In the U1500 Cup and the 7 Board KO the visiting team shall have white on odd numbered boards.

 

4. Clocks

 

a) Use of clocks is compulsory. A visiting team may bring clocks when necessary.

 

b) The rate of play for league matches shall be 75 minutes for all moves. For the U1500 Cup and the 7 Board KO the rate of play is 60 minutes plus an increment of 15 seconds per move.

 

5. Where a club has enough players to enter more than one team in the league, the following rules shall apply;-

 

a) Nominated players - Personnel for teams other than a club's lowest must be so designated before the commencement of the season. A nominated player can never play for a lower team once his name has been submitted. However on 1 occasion only per season a club is permitted to re-nominate 1 player for each team, notice of such being made in writing to the League Secretary. Only a nominated player from a higher team can be re-nominated. Clubs are required to send a list of their nominated A/B teams to the League Secretary before their 1st match. Otherwise teams in their opening fixture may be regarded as their nominations

 

b) A club having more than 1 team in the league may promote a player from a lower to any higher team up to four times in a season, but if that player makes a 5th appearance for one or more higher teams, he or she will no longer be eligible for the lower team. The penalty for infringement of this rule shall be the loss of that particular board by default and the deduction of 1 board point from that team's total in the match. A defaulted game does not count toward the total of
games played for a higher teams.

 

c) Clubs can also enter teams to participate in the U1500 Cup and the 7 Board KO. The U1500 Cup is limited to players rated 1500 or less including ungraded players of equivalent playing strength and is played over 5 boards. The 7 Board KO can include any 7 players without rating restrictions. Fixtures will be drawn at random and players will be tied to a specific team once they have played 1 match.

 

6. All teams shall play in board order of strength and it shall be the duty of the team captain to submit his team list before commencement of the match. A player's last published grade is a legitimate criterion for board order. No player may play on a higher board than a player 100 or more points higher graded.

 

7. All games shall be played as per the FIDE Laws of Chess with the following caveats:

 

a) If there is no increment and a player has less than 2 minutes on the clock they can claim a draw. The claim will be successful if they can demonstrate that they are at least equal in the position. Just to give examples:

 

i) If player making the claim has an extra piece and 5 seconds remaining with all other factors being equal claim would be successful.

 

ii) If player making the claim can demonstrate that resulting position is a drawn endgame then claim is successful even if they have less material (e.g. K vs K+P).

 

iii) If player making the claim is equal in material with a position that is tactically complex then player making the claim would be asked to demonstrate it. In that case other player can try various variations (within reason) and if he can reach a winning position from one of them then claim fails. If all positions are at least drawn then claim succeeds.

 

iv) If opposing player accepts the claim it's same as a game mutually agreed as drawn

 

b) In the event of any disputes the captains of both teams should act as arbiters. Captains should act impartially and apply FIDE/league rules as per the situation to resolve the situation to the satisfaction of both players.

 

c) Should captains be unable to mediate an amicable resolution the matter can be sent to the committee who will adjudicate over the issue. The committee's decision is final. Should you feel that the committee has acted improperly and wish to take it further we fall under the jurisdiction of Chess Scotland that can review decision under the Standards Committee.

 

8. In games between individual players the scoring will be 1 point for a win, half a point for a draw and no points for a loss. 2 league points shall be awarded for each match won and 1 point for each match drawn.

 

9. The division winner shall be the team with the most match points over the season. In the event of a tie on match points, the winning team shall be that with the superior board difference. In the event of 2 or more teams finishing equal on both match and board points the results of the teams' individual match encounters will decide the champions. There is no automatic promotion or relegation as teams are submitted on the basis of playing strength with Division 2 teams expected to have the majority of their team rated under 1600.

 

10. For the U1500 Cup and the 7 Board KO in the event of a match being drawn the winners shall be the team with the lower board count on boards they have won. If this is level the boards shall be eliminated from the bottom up until a winner is determined. Should all games be drawn the captains can either agree to a replay with home and away teams switched or agree to a coin toss to decide the outcome.

 

11. Notification of results: it shall be the duty of the secretary or team captain of both teams to inform the League Secretary of match details within 7 days of the date of the match.

 

12. A match game between 2 players shall not be combined with a club knock-out competition tie.

 

13. Transfers: if a player should leave their club to join another in the league they will be eligible to play for their new club provided :-

 

a) They have not played more than 3 match games against Central League teams for their previous club during the current season

 

b) They joined their new club before January 31st of the current season and are a full member thereof at that date

 

c) They have not played for more than 1 previous Central league club that season. Otherwise their eligibility will only operate from the commencement of the next new season.

 

Exemption: if a player has previously played for their old club only the Richardson or Spens cup competitions that season they will be immediately available for League play with their new club and 13a and 13b will not apply. They could still be barred under 13c

 

All notifications of transfer must be addressed to the League Secretary.

 

14. Match dates; - Club meeting times shall, if possible, be made known at the May AGM. In the event of a disagreement over fixture dates the League Committee's decision shall be final.

 

15. Match Duration and Playing Times: Matches shall commence at 7p.m. unless previously agreed by the clubs. If any player is absent at the official starting time his opponent will start the clock at that time.

 

16. Defaulting Player: When a team commences a match with fewer than 5 players the opposing team shall after 1 hour from the start of play claim such games by default.

 

17. Substitution: Substitutions after the exchange of team lists by the captains and the clocks have been started can only be made with the agreement of the opposing captain.

 

18. General : Administrative information

 

a) Clubs should send name, address (e-mail is preferred) and phone number of their secretary and club captains to the League Secretary, preferably before 6th September, to update the League Directory. They should also confirm if they're happy for the details to be hosted on the website.

 

b) League fees should be paid by 24th October.