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Regulations for the 2008 - 2009 FIDE Grand-Prix
1. Introduction 1.1.
Following the approval of the Presidential Board in Tallinn 2007,
Global Chess BV and FIDE have worked on the Regulations for the World
Championship Cycle for 2008/2009. A principle of stability and
consolidation has been maintained throughout the various meetings and
discussions held to draw up these Regulations.
The first
important principle is the commercial approach to the organisation and
management of these events and Global Chess will be responsible for
locating one or several title sponsors for the six tournaments and for
the Challenge match at the end of the Series. The host city may seek
alternative sponsorship from business industries not in conflict with
the main business activity carried out by the title sponsor.
The
second principle is one of co-ordination. Together with FIDE, Global
Chess will work and assist in the search and selection process of the
host cities. The offer of each respective host city will be evaluated
in terms of location, accessibility, and quality of conditions.
The
third principle is communication. An open and transparent discussion
has been held and will continue to be held with all stakeholders to
seek continuous improvements in the standards that are offered, in
making the tournaments more available to the world chess and non-chess
media.
1.2. Governing Body: the World Chess Federation (FIDE).
For the purpose of creating the regulations, communicating with the
players and negotiating with the organisers, the President has
nominated a committee, hereby called the World Chess Championship
Committee (WCCC) who will co-operate with Global Chess BV.
1.3. FIDE retains all commercial and media rights of the Grand-Prix, including internet rights.
1.4. The body responsible for any changes to these Regulations is the FIDE Presidential Board.
2. Format of the Grand Prix 2008-2009
The
Grand Prix will be a series of six tournaments held over two years
(2008-2009) in leading world cities. The bidding process for the final
selection of cities will commence in the second part of November 2007
and be finalized by January 2008.
In the interest of chess
development, all continents should be represented, as far as possible,
and depending on the interest generated in the series, FIDE will aim at
organizing at least one event in each continent.
The timing of
evaluating and contracting host city offers will be very important
particularly at the start of the series. Offers to host and contract
three tournaments over the next six years (i.e. three cycles - for
2008/9, 2010/1 and 2012/3) will be given preference.
21 top
world players will be selected to compete in these tournaments. Each
player agrees and will contract to participate in exactly 4 of these
tournaments. Players must rank their preference of tournaments once the
final list of host cities is announced and the dates are allocated to
each host city.
FIDE reserves the right to assign players to
tournaments according to the organizational needs and the players for
each tournament will be announced before the cycle begins.
Each
tournament will have 14 players playing over a schedule of seventeen
days. The months allocated for the organisation of the Grand Prix
tournaments are April, August and December of each respective year.
These months have been selected to ensure there is no conflict with any
other major event.
In view of an objective of harmonisation of
the FIDE chess calendar, the months for the Grand Prix for 2009 are
fixed as above, and the World Cup will be scheduled to meet the timing
of the World Championship match in 2009 and the Grand Prix series.
The
winner of the Grand Prix series at the end of 2009 will play the winner
of the World Cup held in 2009 in an eight game match to become the
challenger to the World Champion in a match to be held in the third
quarter of 2010. Should the overall winner of the Grand Prix also be
the World Champion at the end of the Grand Prix series in 2009, then
the Challenger rights will go to the second placed overall in the Grand
Prix. Should the second placed player in the Grand Prix also be the
winner of the World Cup 2009, then the Challenger rights emanating from
the Grand Prix will go to the third placed overall in the Grand Prix
series.
3. Qualifiers for the Grand Prix 2008-2009
The players who qualify for selection to play in the Grand Prix will be chosen on the following prioritized basis :
3.1 MATCHES.
For the first cycle of 2008/9, all players in the World Championship
(ie. Kramnik or Anand) and Challenger matches (Topalov or the World Cup
2007 winner) will be invited to participate in the Grand Prix from the
outset.
Given the organisation of both these matches in the
third quarter of 2008, all these players will all be asked to commit
their participation in the Grand Prix series by not later than 31st
January 2008. Should any of these players decline to participate in the
Grand Prix series, the President may nominate one player to replace and
this player must be rated among the top 40 players in the World.
3.2 QUALIFICATION.
The FIDE World Cup in Khanty Mansiysk 2007 will be used to determine
three qualifiers for the 2008/9 Grand Prix Series. Excluding the
winner, these will be the players who have qualified to the semi final
stages of the World Cup.
3.3 RATING. Based on
an average calculation to two decimal places, of the January 2007
rating list and the October 2007 rating list in the year prior to start
of the cycle, seven qualifiers will be selected
(excluding the four players who will be playing the matches as defined
in Article 2.1). If players have the same average rating, the number of
games played between January 2007 and September 2007 (rating period)
will be used to determine ranking.
To ensure active
participation in the future, a minimum of twenty five (25) games is
being recommended in the four rating lists including and prior to the
October rating list in the year of qualification i.e. 2009, 2011 etc..
Given the short notice in the first edition of the Grand Prix, this
regulation will not be applicable in the 2008-2009 series.
If
any player does not accept to play in the Grand Prix series, then the
selection process using the average rating plus number of games played
in the rating period will be adopted, until the number of qualifiers
required for the Grand Prix is completed.
3.4 PRESIDENT NOMINEES.
The FIDE President may nominate one player and he / she must be rated
among the top 40 players in the world as per the October 2007 rating
list. Players nominated by the President should be from different
countries.
3.5 HOST CITY NOMINEES. One
players may be nominated by each host city and must be rated not less
than 2550 in the last rating list prior to the final nomination or
selection of players. If the host city does not have a player rated at
least 2550 then the highest rated player from the Federation of the
host city will be invited to play, subject to his rating not being
lower than 2500.
The WCCC will coordinate with Global Chess and
with all the host cities, in the allocation of players, should there be
a conflict in the number of players in their ranking of preference of
host cites. FIDE is not obliged, but will do its utmost to respect the
players' preferences, and will balance the player allocation to a host
city according to predetermined criteria such as average tournament
rating, piece colour, continental representation, etc.
4. Tournament Format
4.1 In each tournament the 14 players shall play a round robin tournament of 13 rounds.
4.2
If a player withdraws after completing 50% or more of the games, the
rest of his games are lost by default. In case a player completes less
than 50%, all his results are annulled.
- Time control: 120
minutes for the first forty moves, 60 minutes for the next twenty moves
and then each player will be allotted 15 minutes after the second time
control and an increment of 30 seconds per move will be allowed from
move 61 onwards.
4.4 The players are not permitted to
speak to their opponents during the games. Appropriate sporting
behaviour is expected from all participants and FIDE rules of conduct
are to be strictly followed at all times.
Players will not be
allowed to offer draws directly to their opponents. Any draw claim will
be permitted only through the Chief Arbiter in the following cases:
- a triple-repetition of the position,
- a perpetual check,
- in theoretically drawn position and
- Applying
the rule of 50 moves (he writes his move on his scoresheet, and
declares to the arbiter his intention to make this move which shall
result in the last 50 moves having been made by each player without the
movement of any pawn and without any capture, or the last 50
consecutive moves have been made by each player without the movement of
any pawn and without any capture).
The Chief
Arbiter may consult with the Technical Adviser before accepting any
claim by players for a draw. The Chief Arbiter is the only authority
who can acknowledge the final result of the game in these cases.
4.5
The Technical Adviser must be a Grandmaster, rated at least 2500, who
has held the title of Grandmaster for at least ten years and is an
active player as defined by the rating system.
4.6 Tie breaks for each tournament:
As
prizes and GP ranking points are shared equally, in cases of any tied
position/s. No tie break system will be utilised for the individual GP
tournaments. The process of determining the overall winner of the
series, in the case of a tie, is defined in Article 7.2
5. Tournament Schedule
5.1 Schedule of each tournament:
| Schedule of each tournament |
| 1st day: |
Arrivals & Opening Ceremony |
| 2nd day: |
Round 1 |
| 3rd day: |
Round 2 |
| 4th day: |
Round 3 |
| 5th day: |
Round 4 |
| 6th day: |
Round 5 |
| 7th day: |
Free day |
| 8th day: |
Round 6 |
| 9th day: |
Round 7 |
| 10th day: |
Round 8 |
| 11th day: |
Round 9 |
| 12th day: |
Free day |
| 13th day |
Round 10 |
| 14th day: |
Round 11 |
| 15th day: |
Round 12 |
| 16th day: |
Round 13 & Closing Ceremony |
| 17th day: |
Departure |
5.2
Upon reasonable request of the organisers, or the WCCC after
consultation with Global Chess, the FIDE President may vary the
schedule.
6. Confirmation of Participation
6.1
When FIDE has confirmed the name of organiser, venue and dates, the
participants will be able to download the copy of the Player's
Undertaking (which contains the player's obligations) from the FIDE web
site and shall send their signed Undertaking to FIDE within one week.
This is the player's responsibility. All participants have to sign and
send the Player's Undertaking to the FIDE Secretariat, by the deadline,
which will be announced by FIDE, on the FIDE website, after the
official announcement of the Grand Prix series.
6.2 Players that
fail to provide a satisfactory reason for withdrawal from the Grand
Prix during or even before the series, after they have signed the
player`s undertaking, may be excluded from the next World Championship
cycle, apart from any other action that FIDE may reserve the right to
take.
6.3 In the case of any withdrawal prior to two weeks
before the commencement of the series, FIDE will replace the player who
has withdrawn with the next highest rated player in the rating list as
calculated in Article 3.3. This player will accept the withdrawn
player's GP tournament schedule in its entirety.
6.4 If a player
withdraws from the GP for any reason whatsoever, less than two weeks
prior to the commencement of the GP series or even during the series,
then FIDE reserves the right to select one or more players, as may be
required, to compete ‘hors concours' in the withdrawn player's GP
tournament schedule. The replacement players selected will be from the
top 40 players and will only compete for the prize money within the
specific tournament. They will not earn ranking points and their
results will be used for any potential tie-break as specified under
Article 7.2.2. The players selected will be varied from tournament to
tournament and no replacement player will participate in more than one
event.
7. Prize Money & Grand Prix Points
7.1
The recommended prize money which will be offered by host city
organisers for each tournament is 212,000 Euros and is split 162,000
Euros as direct prize money for the tournament and 50,000 Euros towards
an accumulated prize fund for the players at the end of the series:
|
Place
|
Euros
|
GP Points
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1st
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30,000
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140 points + 40 bonus
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2nd
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22,500
|
130 points + 20
|
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3rd
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20,000
|
120 points + 10
|
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4th
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15,000
|
110 points
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5th
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12,500
|
100 points
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|
6th
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11,000
|
90 points
|
|
7th
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10,000
|
80 points
|
|
8th
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8,500
|
70 points
|
|
9th
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7,500
|
60 points
|
|
10th
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6,000
|
50 points
|
|
11th
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5,500
|
40 points
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|
12th
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5,000
|
30 points
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13th
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4,500
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20 points
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14th
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4,000
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10 points
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Total
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162,000
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In
the case of any tie in any tournament, the Grand Prix ranking points
and prize money will be split equally. The overall winner of the Grand
Prix will be the one who will score the most number of cumulative
points. The cumulative score will be calculated from the best three results
for each player. The winner of the Grand prix agrees to play a match
against the winner of the World Cup as per FIDE regulations in Octo ber
2010. (See Appendix 1 for the World Championship Cycle)
7.2 Tie Break for Overall Winner :
With
the objective of determining a clear, single winner to play in the
Challenger Match and in the case that two or more players have equal
cumulative points at the top, the following criteria will be utilized
to decide the overall G.P winner:
1. 4th result not already taken in the top three results;
2. No. of actual game result points scored in the four tournaments;
3. No. of 1st places [in case of a tie - points given accordingly];
4. No. of 2nd places [in case of a tie - points given accordingly];
5. No. of wins;
6. Drawing of lots
7.3 Accumulated Prize Fund
10 prizes will be awarded from the minimum accumulated prize fund of 300,000 (Euros) as follows :
| Overall Place |
Accumulated Prize (Euros) |
| 1st |
75,000 |
| 2nd |
50,000 |
| 3rd |
40,000 |
| 4th |
30,000 |
| 5th |
25,000 |
| 6th |
20,000 |
| 7th |
18,000 |
| 8th |
16,000 |
| 9th |
14,000 |
| 10th |
12,000 |
| |
300,000 (total) |
In the case of any joint overall ranking, the respective accumulated prizes will also be split equally.
7.4 FIDE Contributions
The
organiser will pay FIDE an additional sum of 20% (42,400 Euros), over
and above, the above total host city prize fund (212,000 Euros).
8. Financial details
8.1
FIDE or its appointed commercial agency has exclusive financial rights
to the event and is free to exploit them commercially. This includes
entering into advertisement agreements, either with the Organizers or
Sponsors, requiring players to wear clothes with the branding of
sponsors if this has been requested from the players before they sign
their undertakings.
8.2 The television and Internet Web
transmission rights, including video and film rights, shall belong to
FIDE or its appointed commercial agency and the income divided on the
basis of an agreement between FIDE or its appointed Commercial Agency
and the Organizers.
8.3 FIDE or its appointed commercial agency shall have the exclusive rights for live games on Internet.
8.4
All costs related to the anti-doping test procedure, if FIDE decides it
is required, including the medical facilities and doctors, will be
covered by the local Organising Committee.
8.5 Organisers would need to guarantee the following minimum organizational costs which are:
(i)
Travelling expenses for 14 players + 4 officials up to a maximum of
1,100 Euros per person for economy class tickets i.e. 19,800 Euros.
(ii)
Full Board and lodging costs for 18 people, at 140 Euros per day, for
17 days / nights (i.e. 2,380 Euros per person) in hotels classified not
less than 4 Star, i.e. 42,800 Euros.
(iii) Stipends for the 4
FIDE Principals (Chief Arbiter x 4,000 Euros, Deputy Arbiter x 3,000
Euros, Technical Adviser x 3,000 Euros, Press Officer x 3,000 Euros).
Estimated cost of this is 12,500 Euros.
8.6 The organisers must also provide a budget for the provision of adequate facilities for :
(i)
Server and design costs for the tournament website and games
transmission. All games will be transmitted under a sub domain
http://hostcity.fide.com where hostcity will change according to the
host city where the tournament will be held;
(ii) Tournament
hall and organisations rooms in the venue with appropriate lighting and
standards expected for world class tournaments;
(iii) Press centre and facilities;
(iv) Transfer of players to / from venue and to / from Airport;
(v) Drug testing, if required;
The
budget organizational cost for this is estimated at around 50,000 Euros
and organisers will be expected to submit detailed budgets of proposed
expenditure in their bid offers.
8.7 Any additional financial
contributions, that any host city may wish to offer, in their bids,
over and above, the prize fund, FIDE contribution and organisational
costs, will be allocated between the accumulated prize fund, FIDE and
Global Chess, respectively, in the ration 50% - 30%-20%.
9. Arrangements for the Playing Hall.
9.1.
The WCCC shall ensure the playing hall and its environs meet the
requirements of the FIDE Regulations for the Organization of Top Level
Tournaments (FIDE Handbook C.01).
9.2 The playing venue shall
be decorated with the FIDE flag, IOC flag, the flags of the host nation
and the participating players' Federations and the sponsors` brandings.
9.3.
After the WCCC agrees with the Organisers on the arrangements in
respect of the tournament hall, facilities, accommodation and meals,
transportation, telecommunication, ceremonies, no objections from the
participants shall be acceptable.
10. Interviews, functions and mode of dressing.
10.1. Interviews with people other than players can be arranged directly.
10.2.
The players are expected to cooperate reasonably with the media.
General interviews with them can be arranged through the Press Officer.
10.3. The players are required to make themselves available for
short interviews immediately after each game. In general, both players
shall be available for the daily press conference.
10.4.
Players are required to be present at all official functions approved
by FIDE President or his representative during the Tournament including
official receptions and the opening and closing ceremonies.
10.5.
Players are specifically requested to note the requirements of FIDE
Regulations C.01 (Article 8.1) in respect of their dignified appearance
at all times during the event.
11. Photography and Television.
11.1. Only photographers and camera crews expressly authorized by the Organising Committee may work in the playing venue.
12. Principals
12.1 The Principals are:
- FIDE President and a FIDE Representative;
- Chief Arbiter and his Deputy.;
- Technical Adviser;
- Press Officer; and
- FIDE Medical Commission nominee.
12.2 The FIDE President and the FIDE representative will be hosted by the organisers for the duration of their stay.
13. Tournament and Playing Conditions
13.1.
Apart from the players and arbiters, no other person shall be allowed
in the actual playing area during the games, except with the express
permission of the Chief Arbiter.
13.2. During the playing
session (lasting from 10 minutes before the start of the round until
the departure of players), the following additional regulations shall
be in force:
13.3. The players are not permitted to bring into
the playing venue technical and other equipment extraneous to play,
which may in any way disturb or upset the opponent. The Chief Arbiter
shall decide what constitutes extraneous equipment liable to offend the
opponent.
13.4 The players shall shake hands (or shall greet
each other in a normal social manner in accordance with the
conventional rules of their society) before the start and after the end
of each game. If a player fails to meet these requirements and after
being asked to do so by the Chief Arbiter, then he will lose the game
immediately.
13.5 During the game, a player may talk only to an arbiter or communicate with a steward.
13.6
Organizers shall provide in sufficiency, free of charge, coffee, tea
and soft drinks for the players and principals. It is advisable that
the same offer shall apply for the press members.
13.7 The
Organisers shall provide score sheets according to the specifications
provided by the WCCC. At the end of each game the players` original
score sheets shall be given to the Arbiter, who shall hand them over to
FIDE in due course. Refusal of either player to sign the score sheets
shall be penalized according to Article 13.4 of the Laws of Chess.
After the players have signed the score sheets, the Arbiter shall
countersign to confirm the results.
13.8 All players are
required to attend a Players' meeting at a date and time to be decided
by the Chief Arbiter. If he deems it necessary, the Chief Arbiter may
call other Players` Meetings. The drawing of lots will take place
during the first Players' meeting or in the Opening Ceremony.
13.9 Appointment of Principals
The
FIDE President after consultation with the WCCC shall appoint the FIDE
Representative, the Chief Arbiter, the Deputy Chief Arbiter, the
Technical Adviser and the Press Officer.
13.10 During play either the Chief Arbiter or the Deputy Chief Arbiter must be present in the playing area.
13.11
The Chief Arbiter may, in consultation with the WCCC, the players and
after the approval of the FIDE President, issue additional written
regulations to lay down the exact playing hours and take care of other
details not covered by these regulations.
13.12 Immediately
after the end of the event, the Chief Arbiter shall draw up a report in
the English language and send it without delay to the FIDE Secretariat.
The report shall be supplemented by adding two copies of the bulletins
of the event. The report shall contain the result of each individual
game as well as the final standings of the event. In addition, the
report shall contain a general description of the course of the event.
14. Appeals Committee.
14.1 Three players and two reserves will be chosen during the Players' meeting to constitute the Appeals Committee.
14.2
No member of the Appeals Committee shall sit in judgement in a dispute
involving a player or party from his Federation except where the
dispute is between two players or two parties from his Federation.
14.3
All protests must be submitted in writing to the Appeals Committee not
more than two hours after the relevant playing session, or the
particular infringement complained against.
14.4 The Committee may decide on the following matters:
a) an appeal against a decision by an arbiter,
b) a protest against a player`s behaviour,
c) a complaint alleging false interpretation of the regulations,
d) a request for the interpretation of specific regulations,
e) a protest or complaint against any participant, or
f) all other matters which the Committee considers important.
14.5
If possible, the Committee shall reach a decision not more than two
hours after the submission of a protest. The appeals process shall
include written representations and a written decision. The Committee
shall endeavour to find binding solutions that are within the true
spirit of the FIDE motto, Gens Una Sumus.
14.6 Each protest
must be accompanied by a deposit fee of 1,000 (one thousand Euros) or
a written statement that this fee can be deducted from the prize fund
if the protest is rejected. If the protest is accepted, the fee shall
be returned. If the protest is rejected, then in this case, FIDE
reserves the right to withhold the deposit fee.
14.7 The decision of the Appeals Committee arising from any dispute in respect of these regulations shall be final.
15. Opening Ceremony for each tournament
A short Opening Ceremony shall take place and all participants are required to take part.
16. Closing Ceremony of each tournament
The
Closing Ceremony shall take place according to schedule. The Organizer
shall provide three trophies to the first three placed players. The
FIDE Anthem, the anthem of the winner's country and the anthem of the
host country shall be played.
17. Payment of Prize Money and Stipends
17.1. The prize fund and stipends shall be paid by direct bank transfer in US Dollars from FIDE's bankers UBS, Lausanne.
17.2.
FIDE shall not be responsible if any national tax has to be deducted
from the prize money or for any tax obligation of the participants in
their respective countries.
17.3. At any time in the course of
the application of these regulations, any grounds that are not covered
or any unforeseen event shall be referred to the President of FIDE for
final decision.
18. Penalties
18.1
Should a player be in breach of conduct of any of these regulations he
may be subject to a maximum penalty of 2,000 for any instance of
breach.
18.2 Should a player be in repeated breach of any of
these regulations, FIDE reserves the right to expel the player from the
tournament and subject the player to a maximum fine of 5,000. In this
case, the expelled player will not have any right to any prize money,
irrespective of his standing at the time of expulsion.
18.3
Should a player withdraw from a tournament or the GP series without
proper justification to the WCCC, then a penalty of 10,000 will be
imposed on the player and the player may be excluded from the next
World Championship cycle
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