Event Officials
Tournament Officials
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Chief Organiser | Winston Zhao Chen |
| Deputy Chief Organiser | Celina Wu |
| Chief Arbiter | IA Dr Peter Tsai |
| Deputy Chief Arbiter | IA Dr Charles Zworestine |
| Arbiter | FA Winston Zhao Chen |
| Arbiter | FA Nicholas Kordahi |
| Arbiter | NA Bevan Clouston |
| Arbiter | NA Celina Wu |
| For All Enquiries and Questions: auschamps@usydchessclub.org |
Assistant Organisers
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| USYD Chess Club Webmaster | Tanisha Kothari |
| USYD Chess Club Secretary | Marcus Leung |
| USYD Chess Club Treasurer | Nathan Lai |
Time Controls
| Tournament | Time Control | Rounds |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Championship | 40 moves in 90 minutes + 30 minutes to finish the game, with an increment of 30 seconds from Move 1. | 11 |
| Australian Reserves | 40 moves in 90 minutes + 30 minutes to finish the game, with an increment of 30 seconds from Move 1. | 11 |
| USYD Major | 60 minutes for the game, with an increment of 30 seconds from Move 1. | 7 |
| USYD Minor | 60 minutes for the game, with an increment of 30 seconds from Move 1. | 7 |
| USYD Rapid | 10 minutes for the game, with an increment of 1 second from Move 1. | 7 |
| Australian Blitz Championship | 3 minutes for the game, with an increment of 2 seconds from Move 1. | 11 |
Tournament Rules
Eligibility Criteria
| Division | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Championships | ACF ≥ 2150 Normal Other restrictions apply. See additional details below. |
| Reserves | ACF < 2150 Normal, including unrated. |
| USYD Major | Under 2000 ACF/FIDE, including unrated. |
| USYD Minor | ACF < 1600 Normal, including unrated. FIDE < 1750 Standard |
| Blitz | Open to All |
| USYD Rapid | Open to All |
| FIDE Arbiters Course | Currently Licensed National Arbiter |
Additional Eligibility Criteria for the Championships include, but are not limited to:
- A person, not being an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident, who has a rating of at least 2250 on the most recent FIDE rating list and who has played at least 20 ACF-rated games in the two years before entries close for the Australian Championships
- Current Australian Champion
- Current or immediately previous Australian Junior Champion
- Current or immediately previous Australian Women’s Champion
- Winner of the previous Australian Major
- Current State Champion
- A junior who is improving and is deemed by the ACF council to be of sufficient standard.
Please email auschamps@usydchessclub.org for more information regarding selection into the Australian Championships.
Byes
Australian Championship
Only one half-point bye is permitted in the Australian Championships. No half-point byes are permitted in Rounds 10 and 11.
Australian Reserves
Only two half-point byes are permitted in the Australian Reserves. No half-point byes are permitted in Rounds 10 and 11.
USYD Major and USYD Minor
Only two half-point byes are permitted in the Major and Minor. No half-point byes are permitted in Rounds 6 and 7.
Half-point byes must be requested before the start of the previous round. (e.g. For a half-point bye in Round 4, it must be requested at the latest before the start of Round 3)
Forfeits
- The forfeit time for all Classical tournaments – where players start with one (1) or more hours – is thirty (30) minutes from the commencement of play.
- There is no forfeit time for all Rapid and Blitz tournaments – where players start with less than one (1) hour – instead, a player forfeits if the time on their clock elapses without them arriving at the board.
Players who are forfeited will be withdrawn from the tournament automatically unless a valid reason is provided for the absence at the Chief Arbiter and Chief Organiser’s discretion. Players without a valid reason for the absence must pay a $50 fee to re-enter the tournament. The fee is $20 for the Blitz.
Rules for Players
All games are played under the guise of the 2026 Australian Chess Championships Code of Ethics and the FIDE Laws of Chess.
Play in the Classical divisions of the event is governed under the Competitive Rules of Play.
Play in the USYD Rapid is governed under Article A.5 of the FIDE Laws of Chess.
Play in the Australian Blitz Championships is governed under Article B.3 of the FIDE Laws of Chess.
Players are not permitted to have any electronic devices on their person if their game is in progress, unless prior approval was given to them by a tournament official. This is not limited to only mobile phones, but any device that can receive external transmissions. If a player is found to have such a device on their person whilst in a game, they may be issued a penalty, which could include, but not be limited to, deduction of their remaining thinking time, additional thinking time for their opponent, or forfeiture of their game.
Analogue watches are permitted at the event, provided they have been given approval by a tournament official.
Any players caught with a phone or other digital device in their possession (regardless if it is on or off) will immediately lose the game.
Players who have completed their games are considered to be spectators. Spectators are not to disturb the players in the playing area. Spectators or players who disturb the playing environment will receive only one warning. The second violation will result in expulsion from the event.
Players are not permitted to leave for a smoke break during their game.
Players may be chosen at random for a metal detector scan during or at the end of their game.
Players are encouraged to stay for the Prize Giving and Closing Ceremony on the 15th of January at 3:30 pm. Prize winners who do not attend the Closing Ceremony will have 30% of the prize money deducted as an administrative fee. Players will be required to acknowledge this on the registration form. If “No” is selected on the registration form, players are not eligible to receive prize money.
Pairing Rules
All tournaments will follow FIDE Dutch Swiss System. This means no players are knocked out of the tournament, and everyone will get a game!
Pairings in the Championships will be sorted using FIDE Rating, followed by ACF if FIDE is zero.
Pairings in all other divisions will be sorted using ACF ratings, followed by FIDE is zero.
The January FIDE rating lists and December ACF rating lists will be used.
The results must be written down on the result slip and signed by both players. Even if the result entered on the slip is incorrect, once submitted, it shall stand unless the Chief Arbiter decides otherwise. The correct result will be entered for rating purposes only.
Appeals
An appeal of a decision must be submitted to the Chief Arbiter of the tournament before the pairings of the next round. Players must state the grounds of their appeal of the decision. The Chief Arbiter will investigate the appeal and decide on a ruling.
If the player is not satisfied with the ruling of the Chief Arbiter, they have the option of submitting a written appeal to the Tournament Appeals Panel.
Such an appeal will only be heard once the player has made a deposit of $100 AUD to the Chief Organiser, which will be refunded if the appeal is found to be justified, not necessarily successful.
Rules for Spectators
Players who have completed their games are considered to be spectators. Spectators are not to disturb the players in the playing area. Spectators or players who disrupt the playing environment will receive only one warning. The second violation will result in expulsion from the event.
There is to be no analysis in the playing area after the conclusion of a game. Please make your way to an analysis room instead.
Non-players must also register as spectators to attend the event through the registration form. This is so the organising committee can keep a record of everyone who is attending the event. Registration for spectators is free. There will be additional free mini-events set up throughout the whole tournament for spectators to participate in.
Photography and Videography
Spectators are permitted to take photos and videos of the playing area following the first 10 minutes after the start of the round. Afterwards, only photographers and videographers authorised by the event’s Chief Organiser and Chief Arbiter are allowed to use cameras within the playing area. No flash photography is permitted under any circumstances.
Cameras must have their shutter sound disabled or set to silent shutter to prevent disturbing the players. Flash photography is not permitted.
Smoking
There is to be no smoking at the tournament. If you need to smoke, you must head to the designated smoking area outdoors that is located a short walk towards the Camperdown Campus of the University. Smoking is not permitted directly outside the building.