ICCF CL structure 2002-2004

Qualification round

Promotions/relegations in the first regular season 

Ultimate structure for the ICCF Champions League:

Promotions/relegations:

Champions League A  (1 league):

• top 6 teams retain places
  

• bottom 5 teams relegated to CL B

	1.Place	A
	2.Place	A
	3.Place	A
	4.Place	A
	5.Place	A
	6.Place	A
	7.Place	B
	8.Place	B
	9.Place	B
	10.Place	B
	11.Place	B

Champions League B  (4 leagues):

• top team in each group promoted to CL A
  

• best team on 2nd place promoted to CL A = 5 teams at all promoted to CL A
  

• bottom 4 teams relegated to CL C = 16 teams at all relegated to CL C
  

	1.Place			A
.		2.Place		A/B
.	3.Place			B
.	4.Place			B
.	5.Place			B
.	6.Place			B
.	7.Place			B
	8.Place			C
	9.Place			C
	10.Place			C
	11.Place			C

Champions League C  (8 leagues):

• top 2 teams in each group promoted to CL B = 16 teams at all promoted to CL B
  

• bottom 3 teams relegated to CL D = 24 teams at all relegated to CL D
  

	1.Place	B
	2.Place	B
5	3.Place	C
5	4.Place	C
5	5.Place	C
5	6.Place	C
.	7.Place	C
.	8.Place	C
	9.Place	D
	10.Place	D
	11.Place	D

Champions League D  (x leagues):

• we need to fill up the places in the CL C "somehow"
  

• on the whole 24 teams will be promoted to the CL C in the end (in case of any team
  fall outs in CL C, the number of promoted teams will simply increase)
  

• example: assuming 6 groups (with 11 teams each) the top 4 teams in each league
  will promote to the CL C.
  

Where there are still vacancies in any league for the next season after guaranteed promotion and relegation rules have applied, tie-breaking proposals will be used.

If at any time a vacancy in any league appears (due to non entry of any team in a promotion place, team withdrawels, etc.), those free places will be made available for tied or best scoring next placed teams, 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 in sections
   
3. Third priority, based on "match points" achieved by equal teams
   
4. Drawing of lots.
   

Qualification round

22 groups consisting of either 10 or 11 teams (currently 230 entries are in, which would result in groups of 9x11 and 13x10 teams).

After the qualification round teams will be allocated to the 4 different regular leagues according to the following concept:

This modus was worked out by the ICCF Presidium and the ICCF Email Tournament Office.
To avoid any queries and complaints from the very beginning: We see nothing wrong with 10-team groups (several Olympiads were played with even numbers of teams per group), because if there is an even number of boards then whites and blacks are equal for every team whatever the number of teams is. We regarded 13 teams groups as unacceptable, for the simple reason that our initial publicity indicated that each player would have approximately 6 or 8 games.
One big advantage of a higher number of teams per group is surely the possibility for norms on some of the boards...

The way to the final structure (11 teams in the top league) leads to 2 top leagues in the first cycle.
The first regular season of the Champions League will be exceptionally played with 2 top leagues, CL A1 and CL A2, which will be reduced to only one top CL A in the second.

Promotions/relegations in the first regular season

(after the qualification round/2 top leagues):

Champions League A (11):
- top 3 teams from each of the two groups retain places
  = 6 teams (5 free places)
- bottom 8 in each group relegated

	1.Place	A
	2.Place	A
	3.Place	A
	4.Place	B
	5.Place	B
	6.Place	B
	7.Place	B
	8.Place	B
	9.Place	B
	10.Place	B
	11.Place	B

Champions League B (44):
- top teams and best team on 2nd place promoted and
  bottom 5 teams relegated = 25 free places
- 16 teams coming from CL A, 9 teams from CL C = 25 new teams

	1.Place			A
.		2.Place		A/B
.	3.Place			B
.	4.Place			B
.	5.Place			B
.	6.Place			B
	7.Place			C
	8.Place			C
	9.Place			C
	10.Place			C
	11.Place			C

Champions League C (88):
- top teams and best on 2nd place promoted = 9 teams
- bottom 3 teams relegated

	1.Place			B
		2.Place		B/C
5	3.Place			C
5	4.Place			C
5	5.Place			C
5	6.Place			C
.	7.Place			C
.	8.Place			C
	9.Place			D
	10.Place			D
	11.Place			D

Champions League D (x):
- top 2 teams promoted (?)

	1.Place	C
	2.Place	C
5	3.Place	D
5	4.Place	D
5	5.Place	D
5	6.Place	D
.	7.Place	D
.	8.Place	D
	9.Place	D
	10.Place	D
	11.Place	D

In case of any team fall outs the same tie breaking rules will apply as in the regular season (see rules above).

The intention is to allow flexibility through all seasons and leagues ie guaranteed promotions and maximum numbers of the number of teams to be relegated.

It is hoped that the rather high number of promoted / relegated teams in most leagues will lead to a healthy shuffle of teams.
Teams which start their CL career only after the qualification round (in CL D then) should have a realistic chance to reach higher levels (on a minimum 3 seasons to reach the top league).
Once again: We still hope for more teams to enter (up to 242 teams; see above).