Winter Classic

2023 Winter Classic

FIDE and ACF rated

9 rounds on Tuesdays from 30 May  to 8 August 2023

(Tuesday 8 August is set aside as a spare week in case of venue unavailability)

Tournament Information and Rules 

Location: Norths (formerly North Sydney Leagues Club), cnr Abbott & Palmer Streets, Cammeray.

There will be two tournaments, with players allocated by rating:

Winter Classic Major - at least 1400 - with a time control of 90 minutes plus 30 seconds a move.

Winter Classic Minor - under 1400 - with a time control of 60 minutes plus 30 seconds a move.

Players under 1400 may choose to enter the Major  if in the 2023 Club Championship if they scored
  -  at least 50% in Tournament 4
  -  at least 66% in Tournament 5
* from played games. Minimum 50% of possible games played. 

Format: 9 rounds (Dutch) Swiss, with pairings by Vega. 

Start Time: Games start at 7:30 pm.

Schedule: Tuesdays from 6 June to 8 August 2023 (rounds may be reduced in case of venue unavailability).

Eligibility: Open. Players who are not Australian residents must have a FIDE ID.

Entry Fees: $20 for Norths Chess Club members; $30 for non-members. GM, WGM, IM and WIM free.

Draw: The provisional draw will be published on the Sunday evening prior to each round.

Prizes in each tournament: 1st: $200 2nd: $150 3rd: $100; Rating Group A: $50 Rating Group B: $50. Prizes will be shared equally among players on the same score but each player may only receive one prize.

Ratings: Results will be submitted for inclusion in the ACF Classic and FIDE Standard rating lists. A player's tournament rating will be determined using the following hierarchy:
- ACF Classic
= FIDE Standard
Players without any of these ratings will be considered to be unrated. 

Byes and forfets: 

• Postponements are not permitted. However, up to two half-point byes may be requested for rounds 1-7. Notice to the arbiter must be received by midday on the Sunday prior to the round. 
• Forfeiture time is 30 minutes after the commencement of the round (at the Arbiter’s discretion). 
• If you won't make it to a round, you must inform the organisers. Your opponents make an effort to come to the club expecting to play a game, some travelling a long way and by public transport. Making them wait for you to not arrive is impolite and against our club ethos.  The club email and 0414 793 791 are monitored up to the start of play. 
• Requests for a half-point bye must be submitted (by emailing northsydneychess@gmail.com or message/call 0414 793 791 no later than midday on the Sunday immediately preceding the round. 
• Players who cause clock forfeits will be excluded from the following round. Players doing so twice in a tournament will be removed from the remaining rounds and entry to other events may be refused.

Tiebreaks: In the event of ties, prize monies will be shared. The rank order will be determined by applying the following tiebreaks in descending order:

Winter Classic Major:
Direct Encounter
Bucholtz Cut 1
Average Rating of opponents Cut 1

Winter Classic Minor:
Direct Encounter
Bucholtz Cut 1
Bucholtz Total

Rules: The FIDE Laws of Chess apply. 

Arbiter: Robert Watson 

Appeals panel:  TBA

Notes: 

Players may win one prize only. 

Rating prizes are awarded based on a player's tournament rating. Players without a tournament rating are considered to be unrated and are ineligible for rating prizes. 

Rating Group A and B are the players in the 2nd and 3rd thirds of the rated players (e.g. if there are 30 rated players, Rating Groups A and B include the 11th-20th and 21st-30th rated players).

Entries close: Entries must be received by 28 May. Late entries will be accepted at the arbiter's discretion..

Entry: To enter CLICK HERE to complete THE ON LINE FORM. If not paid online, cheques and money orders make payable to Norths Chess Club. Entry payment is accepted at club meetings or make a bank transfer to Norths Chess Club, BSB 062 181, Account number 1044 1917 (use your name and Winter in the reference).

Enquiries: northsydneychess@gmail.com.

CLICK HERE for previous years' results.