Running a chess tournament
Before
Sets/boards and clocks – organise > ask schools to bring gear
Venue – check it out: venue, suitable tables and chairs – number, space, height
Sound system; projector and screen; whiteboard, duster, pens
Spectators – where? Roped area for players
Allocate jobs: toilets (toilet paper, brush and cleaner), crowd control, “base camp”, social room, players area, computer admin
Media especially a photo
Guest to open event
Stationery: board numbers, registration sheets, round results slips
Refreshments: tea, coffee, milk, sugar, biscuits OR canteen (PTA)
- for team
- for adults
Entries and info out – max number of teams per school (2? > have playoffs at school); if multiple teams from a school they need a clearly identified their number 1 team
Players meeting
Welcome – thank hosts, welcome new teams
Introduce host – anything specific they want to say
Introduce myself and my team (key organisers and their roles)
Venue:
- No eating in the playing room
- Toilets: for players, for adults
- Social games – none in playing venue – location of “base” area; social games
Tournament:
- The purpose of the event > get a team to represent the Manawatu at nationals; any teams present not eligible for the national spot
- Timetable – where is it posted (multiple locations); will try and get ahead > stay on site; lunch break
- Number of rounds (games)
- Length of games
- Type of event: swiss or round robin (explain); key = you cannot/will not play the same team twice
- Scoring system (match or board) > Explain scoring system if Match Point system applies e.g. 2.5, 3 or 4 individual points will count as a Team Match point worth 2 points; 2/2 = 1 match point; less than 2 = 0 match points.
- Prize giving – when, where
Your team:
- Best player on board 1, second best on board 2 ...
- Do NOT change order; STAY IN THE SAME ORDER
- If you have a reserve – plays on board 4; others move up
How it happens:
- Tables are numbered (1 - ?)
- The draw is done
- Round slips are put out – the team on the left on the slip has white on boards 1 and 3
- The draw is announced; the team mentioned first has white on boards 1 and 3
- Board 1 of each team goes to their table and sits down > start to fill in team list
- When we are sure everything is right we will call for the rest of you to join your board 1
- End of game > key = results slip
Adults
- Two things to help – at start and end; at start make sure teams are sitting in right place according to the slip that is placed by board 1 and what is announced; at the end check the round slip is accurate; agree the score and sign
- During the game – stay away, no advice; if you have a complaint or a question then ask me – not one of my helpers
During the game:
- Don’t start until I tell you to (the words will be “shake hands, black start white’s clock”
- What is my opponent is not present? Start their clock
- Silence during play; do not talk to your opponent/put them off; say check but do not shout it > you can’t take the King!
- Touch move and if you touch one of your opponent’s pieces; penalties from rule book
- SLOW DOWN/THINK > sit on your hands!
- Adjusting pieces
- Etiquette > BE NICE; not everyone knows the rules
- Any problems? Pause clock/put your hand up; WE CAN’T DO ANYTHING AFTER THE GAME
- This is the only reason you can pause the clock; if you need to go to the toilet the clock keeps running
- When you are finished – show one of my helpers the position, make sure you and your opponent agree the result (we can’t do anything later on), BOTH fill in the result slip, set up the pieces (queen on its own colour; watch B and Ns) and walk away from the playing area; if you win give yourself 1, if you lose you get a 0, if you draw you both get a ½ > THEN LEAVE
- If you are watching (you really shouldn’t be) SAY NOTHING – no talking, no interference
- Unfinished games (if no clocks) > adjudication; [special primary rules]
- Cell phones; music players etc – nothing in ears
The clock:
- As well as players agreeing a result and checkmate the clock can decide – how
- The hand that moves the pieces turns the clocks off
- So you can win or lose two ways – by checkmate or on time – only the opponent can claim the win; watchers say nothing
- How to pause the clock
- At the end of the game leave the clock – we will reset; do NOT touch any buttons on the clock apart from the pause/reset
Watching a game:
- You really shouldn’t be
- SAY NOTHING – if you see an illegal move or a clock runs out of time SAY NOTHING – the game is between the two players; SAY NOTHING – NO INTERFERENCE IN OTHER GAMES
ANY QUESTIONS?
A lot of info/rules but the main point is HAVE FUN!