Regulations Ghent Open (FIDE rated and unrated)
1. The 2023 FIDE Laws of Chess apply, unless otherwise stated in the following rules.
2. The tournament will be played over 9 rounds according to the Swiss system. To determine the pairings, we first take into account the FIDE rating of the player, followed by his national rating.
3. Participants in the FIDE-rated tournament must have a FIDE ID or an active affiliation with the KBSB.
4. The rate of play is fixed at 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move 1 onwards for the whole game.
5. It is permitted to arrive up to 1 hour late. This default time starts from the scheduled starting time according to the chief arbiter’s clock.
6. Any unannounced absence will result in immediate exclusion from the tournament, unless the player personally reports to the chief arbiter within the time frame of the current round.
7. If you wish to be excluded from the pairings for a particular round, fill in a form obtainable at the tournament direction. It is possible to receive half a point (0.5) twice for an announced absence up to and including round 5.
8. Mobile phones and other electronic devices must be switched off. The observation that a device has not been switched off will be penalised as follows:
• first offense: a warning.
• the second time (within the same game): loss of the game. If the opponent cannot possibly win the game, he will receive half a point.
9. If a player walks around bearing an electronic communication device on him during the game, he will immediately lose the game. If the opponent cannot possibly win the game, he will receive half a point.
10. A player may not wear a watch during the game. If a player is found to be wearing a watch during a game, this will be punished in the same way as provided for in rule 8. If it concerns a watch with communication features (smartwatch), this will be punished according to rule 9.
11. If a player enters the playing hall after the start of the round, he may comply with rules 8-10 without any penalty before making the first move.
12. The score sheets must be filled in correctly and signed by both players. The winner or, in the event of a draw, the white player, deposits the score sheet in the tray provided for this purpose in the tournament hall.
13. The original score sheets remain the property of the organization and must be deposited by both players in the tray provided for this purpose in the tournament hall. Players may keep the carbon copy form.
14. Incorrectly communicated results can be corrected if they are communicated to the tournament direction at the latest 30 minutes after the start of the next game.
15. Games played with the wrong colour have no influence on the subsequent pairings.
16. Tie-break rules: 1. Direct Encounter 2. Progressive scores 3. Average Elo rating of the opponents. The prizes are shared in case of an equal number of points and cannot be cumulated. A player always receives the highest prize to which he is entitled.
17. Prizes that were not collected can be paid out by bank transfer if the player requests this before 01-09-2025 by sending an email to open2025@kgsrl.be.
18. Complaints against a final decision of the chief arbiter, at the latest 30 minutes after the end of the game, will be irrevocably settled by the appeals committee, consisting of 3 chess arbiters after hearing the parties involved. The decision taken has no influence on any pairings already performed.
19. As far as possible, players from the same club will not be paired against each other during the first three rounds.
20. After the start of round 1, it is no longer possible to change the club number used for registration.
21. After the start of round 1, it is no longer possible to switch from one tournament to another.
22. The chief arbiter may, after a playing time of 4h30, decide to award a provisional result to a game that has not yet been completed in view of the pairings for the next round. This provisional result will of course be adjusted if the outcome of the game deviates.
23. Smoking is only allowed in the designated area. Compliance with this rule will be strictly monitored.
• The first time, you will receive a warning.
• The second time is equal to losing the game + immediate departure from the Sint-Barbaracollege.
• The third time, you will be excluded and must leave the Sint-Barbaracollege.
24. The organization reserves the right to refuse registrations without any further justification.
Regulations Ghent Open (55+)
1. The 2023 FIDE Laws of Chess apply, unless otherwise provided in the following rules.
2. The tournament will be played over 5 rounds according to the Swiss system. For the pairings, we take into account the highest Elo rating of the player.
3. If more than 64 players participate in the tournament, the Swiss system with accelerated pairings will be used.
4. Participants should be born before 01-01-1971.
5. The rate of play is fixed at 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move 1 onwards for the whole game.
6. It is permitted to arrive up to 1 hour late. This default time starts from the scheduled starting time according to the chief arbiter’s clock.
7. Any unannounced absence will result in immediate exclusion from the tournament, unless the player reports personally to the chief arbiter within the time frame of the current round.
8. If you wish to be excluded from the pairings for a particular round, fill in a form obtainable at the tournament direction. No points will be awarded for this.
9. Mobile phones and other electronic devices must be switched off. The following penalties will be imposed if a device is not switched off:
• the first time: a warning.
• the second time (within the same game): loss of the game. If the opponent cannot possibly win the game, the game will be drawn.
10. If a player walks around bearing an electronic communication device on him during the game, he immediately loses the game. If the opponent cannot possibly win the game, the game will be drawn.
11. A player may not wear a watch during the game. If a player is found to be wearing a watch during a game, this will be penalised in the same way as provided for in rule 9. If it concerns a watch with communication features (smartwatch), this will be penalised according to rule 10.
12. If a player enters the playing hall after the start of the round, he may comply with rules 9-11 without any penalty before making the first move.
13. The score sheets must be filled in correctly and signed by both players. The winner or, in the event of a draw, the white player, deposits the score sheet in the tray provided for this purpose in the tournament hall.
14. Score sheets remain the property of the organisation.
15. Incorrectly communicated results can be corrected if they are communicated to the tournament direction at the latest 30 minutes after the start of the next game.
16. Games played with the wrong colour have no influence on subsequent pairings.
17. Tie-break rules: 1. Direct Encounter 2. Progressive scores 3. Average Elo rating of the opponents. The prizes are shared in case of an equal number of points and cannot be cumulated. A player always receives the highest prize to which he is entitled.
18. Prizes that were not collected can be paid out by bank transfer if the player requests this before 01-09-2025 by sending an email to open2025@kgsrl.be.
19. Complaints against a final decision of the chief arbiter, at the latest 30 minutes after the end of the game, will be irrevocably settled by the appeals committee, consisting of 3 chess arbiters, after hearing the parties involved. The decision taken will in no case affect any pairings that may already have been made.
20. As far as possible, players from the same club will not be paired against each other during the first two rounds.
21. Smoking is only permitted in the designated area. Compliance with this rule will be strictly monitored.
• The first time, you will receive a warning.
• The second time is equal to losing the game + immediate departure from the Sint-Barbaracollege.
• The third time, you will be excluded and must leave the Sint-Barbaracollege.
22. The organization reserves the right to refuse registrations without giving any reason.
