League Rules

 

1. The League shall be open to all bona fide Civil Service Clubs and to those Municipal and other Clubs who were affiliated to the Civil Service Chess Association as at 31 December 1993.

2. Only past or present bona fide members of their Clubs shall be eligible to play in League matches, and no player shall be eligible to represent more than one Club in the League during the same season. The words 'bona fide' in this rule are intended to convey that the members shall be serving or have served in the Department or Departments represented by their Clubs, and includes those former officers transferred direct to an organization providing services within any Civil Service Department; it also includes those who have been members of an affiliated club continuously for a period of at least two calendar years from the date of notification to the Senior Recorder.

3. The League shall be governed by a Council composed of a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and Senior Recorder, all of whom shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting which shall be held in May, together with one representative nominated by each affiliated Club. Eight members shall form a quorum.

4. Any member of an affiliated Club may attend a General Meeting but only one representative of each affiliated Club present and the Secretary, Treasurer and Senior Recorder, and no other member of the Council, may vote. Each person entitled to vote shall only have one vote.

5. The Council may elect a President of the League and such Vice-Presidents as they think fit.

6. The Council shall appoint an Executive Committee consisting of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Senior Recorder, Grader, Tournament Controllers, Web Manager, and up to five members of the League to be appointed at the Annual General Meeting. Members of the Executive Committee shall be ex-officio members of the Council. Four members of the Executive Committee which must include at least two of Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, shall form a quorum. An auditor shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting, and will not be a member of the Executive Committee.

7. The Clubs which intend to enter the competition shall signify their intention to do so at or before the Annual General Meeting. The settlement of the number of teams to play in each Division of the League and their identity shall be decided by the Senior Recorder.

8. Each Club shall pay a League Fixture Fee calculated on the basis of £0.65 for each Player-Fixture scheduled to be played by any of its players in a League match. Fees for Player-Fixtures are payable irrespective of defaults on either side.

9. The League Fixture Fee and all other sums chargeable under the League Rules, e.g. fines, adjudication and competition entry fees are due for payment before 1 October. Any Club failing to make payment by 1 November in the current season shall have the said fees increased by 20 per cent, and incur further penalties at the rate of 10 per cent of the original debt for each completed month payment is delayed after 1 November. These fees relate to the last completed season. If any active Club has not paid the amount owing by 31 March at the end of the season, the Executive Committee may recommend to the next Annual General Meeting that the Club be expelled. Any Club which has withdrawn from the League is still liable to pay all outstanding fees.

10. In each Division, other than the lowest, each competing team shall play two matches with each other team competing therein. In the lowest Division, each competing team will play either one or two matches with each other competing team, at the discretion of the Senior Recorder. In Division 1 the teams shall consist of 8 players, in Division 2 the teams shall consist of 6 players, and in all other Divisions of 5 players. No Division shall contain fewer than 5 teams or greater than 9 teams.

11. All matches in the League shall be played within 6 miles of Charing Cross.

12. When a Club enters more than one team, the Secretary of the Club shall notify the Senior Recorder before 10 September of the names of the players nominated to play in each team other than in the lowest team. The nominations shall be as nearly as possible in order of playing strength and the top board nominee of each team other than the first shall be the player next ranked in order of playing strength after the lowest board nominee of the next highest team. All teams nominated should not include a nomination for the respective bottom board.

13. A nominated player may not play for a team lower than that for which he was nominated.

14. If a nominated player does not play for a Club in the season following his nomination for a team in that Club, he may not be nominated for the next season and he may not play for a lower team, unless authorised by the Executive Committee.

15. When a new member joins a Club after nominations have been submitted, the Secretary of the Club shall inform the Senior Recorder of the name and playing strength of the new member. The Senior Recorder shall signify for which team the new member should be nominated. The Secretary of the Club may then, in agreement with the Senior Recorder, amend the Club's list(s) of nominations. Rule 16 will still apply and may debar a player renominated for a lower team.

16. For the remainder of the season a player may not play for a team after having played five times in League matches for a higher team or teams, and shall be barred from the date of his 5th such appearance. A win by default is considered as an appearance in a team.

17. The declared playing order at the start of the match shall as nearly as possible be in order of playing strength. If a captain knows in advance of the match that he will need to default a board, he shall inform the opposing Captain accordingly. The player winning by default under such circumstances will not be required to turn up at the venue but his name must be reported to the Senior Recorder in accordance with League Rule 27.

18. If a team defaults four or more boards in a season when lower boards in League matches were contested, a half match point will be deducted for every four such defaults. This Rule will not apply if the defaulting player turns up at the chessboard while the match is in progress.

19. If a team plays an ineligible player, that team will lose the match by default though the original games played will count for grading purposes.

20. Matches shall commence at 6.30 pm at which time white's clock shall be started on each board. The board shall be forfeited by any player not having arrived at the chessboard by 7.15 pm. Any delay in starting the match shall be indicated on the clocks of the home team at the outset. The duration of each match shall be three hours, except as provided by League Rule 24.

21. During the course of the match, all mobile telephones must be switched off except in the case of a player where there is a special need as agreed by the Captains before the match. If an unauthorised player makes or receives a call, he shall be told by either Captain to terminate the call immediately. If the same player makes or receives a further call in the same match, he shall lose the game. The game shall be won by the opponent providing he has mating material, otherwise he shall score a ½ point. Any such outcome shall be reported with the score of the match.

22. Should a team captain or his deputy not be present 5 minutes before the match is due to begin, the opposing captain will be deemed to have won the toss and play will begin accordingly at the proper time.

23. All games shall be played with a clock.

24. The time limit for games shall be 42 moves in the first 90 minutes timed by players own clock, 7 moves in each subsequent 15 minutes, and the game is lost if this time limit is exceeded. If both players complete 42 moves more than 15 minutes before the end of the session is reached, both clocks shall be turned back 15 minutes. This procedure shall be repeated after each set of 7 moves by each player, until either the game is concluded or the end of the session is reached. No game shall be adjourned for adjudication until at least 42 moves have been made by each player.

25. Rather than adjudicate, players by mutual agreement may play the game on and both team captains must be informed accordingly. The venue should be at the visiting team's premises unless otherwise agreed. The play-off must take place within three weeks of the match being played. Rate of play to be a further 42 moves in 1½ hours and 7 moves every 15 minutes thereafter. The length of the second session shall be 3 hours. Adjudication shall take place at the end of the second session.

26. Alternatively, before play commences players may agree to conclude the game with a Quickplay finish rather than adjudication, and both captains must be informed accordingly. The rate of play shall be 30 moves in 75 minutes each. When both players have completed 30 moves, each clock shall be turned back 15 minutes. Each player must make all remaining moves in the time remaining on the clock. The FIDE laws for Quickplay Finishes shall apply.

27. Each Club competing shall send the names of the players and the result at each board to the Senior Recorder so as to reach him within 10 days of the match by either email or first class post. Internal Departmental post should not be used. Non-compliance with this rule shall render the defaulting Club liable to a fine of £3.50 for each non-compliance. Persistent offenders will be reported to the Executive Committee who will consider imposing a further penalty.

28. When the result of an unfinished game cannot be agreed by the captains, each Club shall send a diagram of the final position with a definite claim to the Senior Recorder so as to reach him within 10 days of the match by either email or first class post. Internal Departmental post should not be used.

29. If only one Club has made a claim within this limit, the claim made by that Club shall be accepted without adjudication. All diagrams must be sent with the score of the match. If any information (other than the claim) regarding a position for adjudication differs, the correct position only shall be adjudicated but the Club(s) submitting the incorrect information shall be fined £3.00.

30. A fee of £7.50 per game adjudicated shall be paid by the Club whose claim is not substantiated. Should the adjudicator declare a claim to be frivolous, the fee shall be doubled. A Club whose adjudication claim is declared to be frivolous may appeal against the declaration even if it does not wish to appeal against the adjudication decision itself. Where the declaration is made on original consideration of the claim (League Rule 30) the Club may send to the Senior Recorder within 10 days of receipt of the adjudicator's decision analysis and comment supporting the appeal. The position and all analysis and comment will be sent to the original adjudicator for comment. The position together with all analysis and comment from the adjudicator will then be sent to two further adjudicators. The majority decision shall decide the result. A Club whose claim is not an original adjudication declared frivolous but is declared frivolous on appeal (League Rule 31) may also appeal against that declaration by sending to the Senior Recorder within 10 days of receipt of the adjudicators' decision any further comment and analysis relevant to the declaration of frivolity but not to the adjudication result itself. The position and all comment and analysis will be sent to those adjudicators who declared the claim to be frivolous for comment. The position together with all analysis and comment from the adjudicators will then be sent to a further adjudicator whose decision shall be final. Where an appeal is not upheld the doubled fee for making a claim declared to be frivolous shall be redoubled.

31. The Club whose claim is not substantiated may appeal against the adjudicator's decision by sending, within 10 days of receipt of the adjudicator's decision, analysis supporting the appeal to the Senior Recorder who must then invite the other Club also, if it wishes, to submit analysis within 10 days of notification of the appeal. The position and all analysis will be sent to the original adjudicator for comment. The position together with all analysis and comment from the adjudicator will then be sent to two further adjudicators. The majority decision shall decide the result. If three different results are given, the position and all analysis and comments will be sent to a further adjudicator whose decision shall be final. Should the appeal not be upheld, the appellant Club shall pay a further £7.50. Should the appeal be upheld, the original fee shall be charged to the non-appellant Club. Should the majority of adjudicators on appeal declare a claim to be frivolous, the fee shall be doubled.

32. If a match is postponed, and neither team informs the Senior Recorder within 10 days of the date specified for the match, the match shall be regarded as a double default and scored accordingly.

33. The team finishing top of a division other than the first shall be promoted and the team finishing at the bottom of a division other than the lowest shall be relegated.

34. When two or more teams finish with an equal number of points, their relative positions shall be determined by the total board score from all League matches. Should the total board score also be equal, their relative positions shall be determined by the total board score from League matches played between these teams. If still equal, a play-off match shall be arranged by the Senior Recorder if a promotion or relegation place is at stake. Otherwise the teams will finish equal. The rate of play in this match shall be 30 moves in 75 minutes each. When both players have completed 30 moves, each clock shall be turned back 15 minutes. Each player must make all remaining moves in the time remaining on the clock. The FIDE laws for Quickplay Finishes shall apply. If this match is drawn, tie-break in accordance with Bonar Law Trophy Rule 7 shall apply.

35. If a dispute arises under League Rules 24, 25, 26 or 34 which cannot be settled by the players involved or by the captains, full details of the incident should be sent to the Senior Recorder by both Clubs. A fine of £5.00 will be levied against a Club making an unsuccessful claim.

36. If a team fails to complete half of its League fixtures, results of matches played shall be void but the original games will count for grading purposes.

37. Except as otherwise provided in the Rules of the League, the FIDE laws of chess shall be the Rules of play governing matches played in the League, and it shall be the duty of the home Club to provide a copy of these laws for reference.

38. The home Club shall also make available for reference at each match a copy of the Rules of the London Civil Service, Post Office and Municipal Chess League.

39. The Executive Committee shall have the power to resolve any dispute as to the correct interpretation of these Rules and to determine any points which may not be adequately covered by the Rules.

40. No addition to or alteration in these Rules shall be made except by at least two-thirds support of the members of the Council present and voting at a General Meeting.

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