To be universally understood without spending too many words, the chief arbiter and the chief deputy arbiter will keep available a yellow card and a red card. Getting a yellow card means that the actual player better be very careful from now on. Getting a red card means that the player has lost his/her game if it is not already finished!
Players getting a red card can also be expelled from the playing venue for the rest of the round and/or tournament. In case of a red card the chief arbiter will consider whether it is necessary to expel the player from the tournament and/or send a written report to FIDE and the national federation of the player.
Examples of offences which can result in a yellow card:
- Deliberately trying to cheat with touched/released piece.
- Deliberately trying to disturb the opponents or other players.
- Deliberately stop writing to exploit the opponent’s time trouble.
Examples of offences which can result in a red card without a yellow card given first:
- Deliberately kicking, hitting or threatening the opponent, arbiters or others.
- Being drunk, screaming in the playing room, or deliberately consulting computers, chess books etc during play.
Neither players nor spectators are allowed to bring mobile phones, computers or other electronic devices into the playing venue without permission in advance from the arbiters. Possession of such electronic devices in the playing venue after the start of the game, will result in a red card and the loss of the game for a player.
Use of mobile phones or other electronic devices outside the playing venue during a game also will result in a red card and the loss of the game. Use of mobile phones or computers inside the playing area surrounding the playing venue is not allowed for players or spectators as long as any tournament game continues, without permission in advance from the arbiters.
Players arriving before the start of the round with a mobile phone can hand this in to the arbiters. The mobile phone then will be switched off completely and kept in a sealed envelope outside the playing venue, and the player will get back the mobile phone only when leaving the playing area after having completed the game. Players are recommended instead to leave mobile phones in their hotel rooms (or alternative accommodation places) before arriving at the playing area.
Note also that alcohol is not allowed in the playing venue during the playing sessions. Taking photos with any kind of blitz or sound will be allowed only for the first ten minutes of each round (or five minutes after the arrival of both players).
Unnecessary walk over losses are very unfortunate during a title qualifying tournament.
To avoid this the walk over deadline will be 60 minutes, and the arbiter might extend this deadline in case of extraordinary situations.
Regarding conduct all players are obliged to sign both scoresheets after the game, and to replace the pieces in their initial position after the game. We will use scoresheets with a copy, but after the game players are allowed to keep the original part of their scoresheet. The copies are to be left next to the board after the game.
Deliberate or accidental violations of the FIDE rules like for example the rules of touched/released pieces, disturbing behaviour or illegal moves, will as far as they are noted be pointed out by the arbiters - even if the opponent does not react.
Players are allowed to walk and/or to sit in the area surrounding the playing venue during the game. The playing area includes the toilets, the hotel reception area and the smoking area just outside the hotel. Players however will have to ask an arbiter before visiting their hotel room or before leaving the hotel while playing, and before leaving the playing venue if they are at move.
In case of a dispute between the players, please stop the clock and call the arbiters – and do so immediately if you are in doubt about whether anything irregular has taken place. If a player observes something “possibly irregular” in another game, she/he is expected immediately to inform the arbiters - but of course in no way to interfere directly in the game.
“Prearranged games” are neither socially or legally accepted in this tournament! Short friendly draws, theory duels leading to perpetual check etc of course are normal parts of a chess tournament at this level, and unless it is done in some very demonstrative way the arbiters will not react against any such draw. Any discovered lost, won or drawn game connected to money transactions, promises for future meetings etc, however will face strong reactions - possibly including exclusion from the tournament as well as reports to FIDE and/or the player’s national federation.
If the white player is present and the black player is not present at the start of the game, the white player can inform the arbiter about his first move, then start black's clock, and then make the first move on the board when the black player arrives.
