ICCF Champions League

FAQ for Season 3 (2007-2009)

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FAQ -- Frequently Asked Questions

ICCF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Season 3

1. ABOUT THE ICCF Champions League
    1.1 What is the ICCF Champions League?
1.2 Who is in charge of the ICCF-CL?
1.3 Who can enter in the ICCF-CL?
1.4 What if I have never played in ICCF before?
1.5 How are the games in the tournament rated?
2. MANAGING YOUR TEAM
    2.1 Does every team has to have a name?
2.2 Does every team needs a Team Captain?
2.3 Who is the owner of the team and team name?
2.4 I did not have a team in any previous season - can I nevertheless play?
2.5 What is the team ID number and how do we get one?
2.6 Can the team name be changed at anytime?
2.7 Can players be replaced in a team?
2.8 Can players transfer from one team to another?
3. REGISTERING FOR 2007-2009 SEASON
    3.1 When can team entries be sent in?
3.2 What is an inactive team?
3.3 Can inactive teams re-enter the ICCF-CL?
3.4 Our team has played in the ICCF-CL before - do we have to pay the entry fee again?
3.5 How can I enter a team?
3.6 How much is the entry fee for team entries through a national federation?
3.7 How can I enter a team through a national federation?
3.8 Entry form
3.9 How much is the entry fee for team entries through the Direct Entry facility?
3.10 How can I make a team entry through the Direct Entry facility?
3.11 What is the Fast Track system?
3.12 What will the Fast Track system look like?
3.13 What are the teams accepted for the Fast Track system playing for?
3.14 What is the method of play for the 2007-2009 season?
3.15 Will there be live replay of any server games?
3.16 When is the start date of the tournament?
3.17 What are the Playing Rules for this tournament?
3.18 Where can I find further information about the tournament?
3.19 Who do I talk with regarding any issues related to CL?
4. SCORES AND PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
    4.1 What method is used to calculate the team performance?
4.2 What modus is used for tied teams?
4.3 What happens in case a place in a higher division becomes vacant due to an unused qualification?
5. FINISHING THE SEASON/ ADJUDICATIONS
    5.1 What happens with the unfinished games of any current season?
5.2 What happens with the stopped games?
5.3 How do I know if any of my games must be adjudicated?
5.4 Games of mine have to be adjudicated - what do I have to do?
5.5 Who is going to adjudicate the games?
5.6 When will the results of any adjudication be known?
5.7 Can I appeal against the adjudication result?

1. ABOUT THE ICCF Champions League

1.1 What is the ICCF Champions League?

The ICCF Champions League (ICCF-CL) is a correspondence chess Team Tournament event played in 2-3 years cycle seasons. All registered teams play in several groups part of the 5 existing divisions: A, B, C, D and Fast Track. At the end of each season teams can promote/ relegate as explained by these present rules. All games played in ICCF-CL are rated.

1.2 Who is in charge of the ICCF-CL?

The league falls under the jurisdiction of Non-Title Tournaments Commission. An ICCF-CL Support team consisting of tournament directors (TDs), webmasters, administrators and consultants are in charge of running the daily activities in the league. The current composition of the ICCF-CL Support team is presented HERE.

1.3 Who can enter in the ICCF-CL?

The league is open only to teams of 4 players, who do not necessarily have to come from the same country; mixed teams (mixed nationalities and/ or gender) are possible. All players must have internet access and a working email address. A player can play for more than one team in a season, if those teams do not play in the same division (see also FAQ 2.2). The responsibility to find or form a team rests with every player himself.

1.4 What if I have never played in ICCF before?

The tournament is available to anyone, as long as they are members of a complete team. New players will be allocated an ICCF number. Only national federations are members of ICCF; single players can only be members of a national federation and not of ICCF. It is not necessary to be a member of a national federation to play in the ICCF-CL, though this gives a player some financial advantages.

1.5 How are the games in the tournament rated?

All new ICCF players will be allocated a "temporary" rating, but these ratings will only be used for the calculation of the opponents' updated ratings. Only after a player has completed 12 ICCF games, his name will appear with an official rating on the following ICCF rating list (calculated and published twice a year in April and October). If a player has no official ICCF rating at the start of the tournament, his "temporary" rating will be set according to the division where he/she starts*:

  • Division A = (2400)
  • Division B = (2300) - previously 2200
  • Fast Track = (2200)
  • Division C = (2200) - previously 2000
  • Division D = (2100) - previously 1800
* - ratings shown in red are the new values as revised on 14.06.2007

2. MANAGING YOUR TEAM

2.1 Does every team has to have a name?

Every team must have a name, preferably related to CC or chess in general. The team name might be of any language including numbers, but no signs - except !$%&=?

2.2 Does every team needs a Team Captain?

Each team must designate a Team Captain (TC), who can be a member of the team. It is possible for a person to be TC for more than one team. Furthermore a TC could also play for another team where he is not TC, if those teams do not play in the same division.

2.3 Who is the owner of the team and team name?

If the main organizer behind a team in the ICCF-CL is a chess club (OTB or CC), a magazine or organisation, then this institution owns the team name and has the overall power to decide what happens with the team name and which players are members of the team. If there is no institution behind a team, the Team Captain is the owner of the team name. This also means the Team Captain is the only responsible person for the line-up of a team and he may exclude players and invite new players to the team according to these rules.

2.4 I did not have a team in any previous season - can I nevertheless play?

New teams can enter the CL at the beginning of any new season. For the season 2007-2009, teams that have not played in the ICCF-CL before could start either in division D, or in the Fast Track system as explained by these rules (see also FAQ 3.11, 3.12 and 3.13). A "new team" is by definition a team:

A "new team" is by definition a team:

  • which has not previously competed in CL.
  • where at least 2 players have not previously played in ICCF-CL
  • where at least 2 players have not played together with the other 2 players in a previous ICCF-CL team.

2.5 What is the team ID number and how do we get one?

The team ID is a unique number assigned to every team to ever participate in the ICCF-CL.

  • Returning teams can find their team ID number listed HERE
  • New teams will be assigned their designated team ID number as their registration is processed and accepted

2.6 Can the team name be changed at anytime?

A team is allowed to change its name between separate seasons. The information of the old and the new name, including the unique team ID number, must be given at anytime when entering the team.

2.7 Can players be replaced in a team?

A team is allowed to replace players during and between the seasons. The number of replaced players is limited only to the following rule: If all the 4 players in a team are changed within 2 seasons, then the team will normally be relegated to a lower division. Exceptions of this rule are possible where the tournament organiser sees a clear need for this.

2.8 Can players transfer from one team to another?

Players can transfer from one team to another only at the beginning of each season during an official transfer period. If all 4 players from a team wish to transfer, that team dissolves automatically. A player does not need the approval of the TC whose team he leaves, but naturally the acceptance of his new team and TC. If a TC transfers, he must pass the captaincy to a remaining player unless the team accepts him to continue acting as their TC.

3. REGISTERING FOR 2007-2009 SEASON

3.1 When can team entries be sent in?

The registration period runs between: 01/05/2007 - 01/08/2007 and it is open to active and new teams, as well as inactive teams wishing to re-enter ICCF-CL.

3.2 What is an inactive team?

It is a team which has not played in the previous season 2004-2007.

3.3 Can inactive teams re-enter the ICCF-CL?

Inactive teams can be re-instated as per the present set of rules. They would compete either in division D, or using the Fast Track system as applicable.

3.4 Our team has played in the ICCF-CL before - do we have to pay the entry fee again?

The team entry fee is per season and therefore has to be paid for every new season.

3.5 How can I enter a team?

ICCF offers 2 different ways of entering a team:

  • Team entries via a national federation
  • Team entries via the Direct Entry facility

3.6 How much is the entry fee for team entries through a national federation?

The ICCF fee is 60 Swiss Francs per each team. The national federation might charge some small extra processing fee.

3.7 How can I enter a team through a national federation?

In order to enter it through a national federation you have to send the information about your team to the national federation. If your entry is accepted by the national federation, then it must be forwarded to Valer Eugen Demian by your federation using the entry form from FAQ 3.8. Of course, team entries sent via one federation may consist of players from different countries. A National Federation can also accept entries of teams in which there are only players from other countries/federations. It is up to a national federation to accept or not entries from any team. You will find information on how to contact your national federation on the ICCF website at www.iccf.com. The responsibility for payment of the team entry fee will belong to the Team Captain and should be paid in full to the federation submitting the entry. It is not possible to split the payment of the entry fee.

3.8 Entry form:
(Click Here to open a new browser window with this form)
(Click Here to download the form in text format)

+-------------------------------------------------+
| ICCF-CL REGISTRATION FORM - 3rd season, 2007-09 |
+-------------------------------------------------+
|                  TEAM GENERAL INFO              |
|                                                 |
| CURRENT TEAM NAME: ?                            |
|                                                 |
| OLD TEAM NAME    : ?                            |
| (IF DIFFERENT)                                  |
|                                                 |
| TEAM ID          : ?                            |
| (ENTER "NEW"                                    |
| IF NEW TEAM)                                    |
|                                                 |
| TEAM DIVISION                                   |
| FOR THIS SEASON  : ?                            |
|                                                 |
| PLAY ON THE                                     |
| ICCF SERVER                                     |
| OR BY EMAIL                                     |
| (WRITE OPTION)   : ?                            |
|                                                 |
+-------------------------------------------------+
|                  PLAYER BOARD 1                 |
|                                                 |
| FIRST NAME       : ?                            |
| FAMILY NAME      : ?                            |
| COUNTRY          : ?                            |
| ICCF NUMBER      : ?                            |
| EMAIL ADDRESS    : ?                            |
+-------------------------------------------------+
|                  PLAYER BOARD 2                 |
|                                                 |
| FIRST NAME       : ?                            |
| FAMILY NAME      : ?                            |
| COUNTRY          : ?                            |
| ICCF NUMBER      : ?                            |
| EMAIL ADDRESS    : ?                            |
+-------------------------------------------------+
|                  PLAYER BOARD 3                 |
|                                                 |
| FIRST NAME       : ?                            |
| FAMILY NAME      : ?                            |
| COUNTRY          : ?                            |
| ICCF NUMBER      : ?                            |
| EMAIL ADDRESS    : ?                            |
+-------------------------------------------------+
|                  PLAYER BOARD 4                 |
|                                                 |
| FIRST NAME       : ?                            |
| FAMILY NAME      : ?                            |
| COUNTRY          : ?                            |
| ICCF NUMBER      : ?                            |
| EMAIL ADDRESS    : ?                            |
+-------------------------------------------------+
|                  TEAM CAPTAIN                   |
|                                                 |
| FIRST NAME       : ?                            |
| FAMILY NAME      : ?                            |
| COUNTRY          : ?                            |
| ICCF NUMBER      : ?                            |
| EMAIL ADDRESS    : ?                            |
+-------------------------------------------------+

3.9 How much is the entry fee for team entries through the Direct Entry facility?

Complete the application on-line and you will be presented with the current rate (subject to currency fluctuations). The person submitting the entry (team captain, or at least a team member) is responsible for the payment of the total entry fee.

3.10 How can I make a team entry through the Direct Entry facility?

A team can be entered by completing the online direct entry form located at www.iccf.com. This form is not permanently available on the website, but only during the announced registration period of time. Payment is made by Paypal.

3.11 What is the Fast Track system?

It is a system open to any team (active, new, inactive but wishing to re-enter) ready to register. Any team cannot play more than 1 season using this option. The maximum number of Fast Track teams accepted for the 2007-2009 season is 44. If there are more than 44 team entries, the first 44 teams with the highest average ratings will be included in the Fast Track. The rest of the teams will be included as follows:

  • returning teams will play in the divisions they qualified for.
  • new teams will play in League D.

3.12 What will the Fast Track system look like?

The FT teams will be divided into groups consisting of no more than 11 teams. The final number of teams in each group will depend on the final number of entries received.

3.13 What are the teams accepted for the Fast Track system playing for?

Teams in the FT-groups play for the following qualifications:

  • 1st place will qualify for division B (total of 4 groups in 2007-2009 season)
  • 2nd-4th places will qualify for division C (total of 8 groups in 2007-2009 season)
  • 5th-11th places will go directly in division D

3.14 What is the method of play for the 2007-2009 season?

The preferred method of play is on the ICCF server. Email play would be available on demand if requested at the time of registration (see CL Entry Form). There is no postal play in this competition.

3.15 Will there be live replay of any server games?

Initially there will be no live replay. This issue will be reconsidered later on based on policies/ guidelines set by Congress.

3.16 When is the start date of the tournament?

This season will start on 01/09/2007.

3.17 What are the Playing Rules for this tournament?

The playing rules in effect are the ICCF Playing Rules for Server and Email Team Tournaments as applicable.

3.18 Where can I find further information about the tournament?

The webpages of the ICCF-CL located HERE are providing all necessary information.

3.19 Who do I talk with regarding any issues related to CL?

Contact can be made only via your team captain. He is responsible for maintaining continuous contact with the ICCF-CL Support Team throughout the season. All inquiries will be followed up promptly. General suggestions should be sent directly to any current administrator.

4. SCORES AND PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

4.1 What method is used to calculate the team performance?

The final result of each team will be decided by adding full individual results of all 4 boards. The result of a team match is taken into consideration only if there's a need for tie-breaks as explained below.

4.2 What modus is used for tied teams?

If two teams end up with exactly the same total number of points, then ties are split according to the ICCF tournament rules:

  1. tie breaking on the basis of team results (2 additional points for a won match, 1 additional point for a drawn match),
  2. the results of the tied teams against each other.
  3. better individual result on bd. 1, followed by bd. 2, 3 or 4 if necessary

4.3 What happens in case a place in a higher division becomes vacant due to an unused qualification?

If there's a vacancy at any time in any division (due to an unused qualification, team withdrawal, etc.), those free places will be made available for tied or best scoring next placed teams from any group of a lower division, according to the following method:

  1. First priority to best scoring tied teams (who are not winners)
  2. Second priority to best scoring next placed teams
  3. Third priority, based on "match points" achieved by equal teams
  4. Drawing of lots

5. FINISHING THE SEASON/ ADJUDICATIONS

5.1 What happens with the unfinished games of any current season?

Play in all deciding games that directly determine promotion/ relegation for the following season will stop at the announced end date of the season, or at a later date decided by the organizers. A valid reason for extending the end date of a season could be the high number of unfinished deciding games. All other games will continue until their normal finish.

5.2 What happens with the stopped games?

All stopped games will be adjudicated in order to decide the final team results and the promotion/ relegation places. This will enable the organizers to draw all groups for the next season.

5.3 How do I know if any of my games must be adjudicated?

The tournament director (TD) for your group will advise your team captains which games must be adjudicated.

5.4 Games of mine have to be adjudicated - what do I have to do?

Players are responsible to prepare and submit pertinent analysis for the stopped unfinished games to their TC in accordance with the ICCF Playing rules. It is the duty of their TCs to forward the games and analysis to the TDs in charge. A deadline for submission of all pertinent information/ analysis is normally given as the organizers see fit.

5.5 Who is going to adjudicate the games?

The names of any adjudicators involved will not be revealed to the public. They are experienced ICCF players, preferably holding at least the ICCF Senior International Master title and a fixed rating of minimum 2500 on the last published ICCF rating list. Certain exceptions will be decided by the ICCF-CL Support team on a case by case basis.

5.6 When will the results of any adjudication be known?

Adjudicators are given a reasonable time to come to a decision in all their adjudication cases. Once they reach their decision, all results will be communicated to the players and public.

5.7 Can I appeal against the adjudication result?

Any appeal against the adjudicator's decision must be sent to the TD, through the Team Captain, within 14 days of receiving the notification/ adjudicator's decision. For an appeal both players may submit additional analysis. The game(s) in question will then be sent to a different adjudicator whose ruling is final; no further appeal will be accepted from either player.

-- ICCF-CL Support team

FAQ last revised on June 17, 2007 by Valer Eugen Demian


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