Correspondence Chess
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The Campbell Report
Correspondence Chess |
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| Arbiter Committee Manual for Tournament Directors (2005) | ||
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Back to Server Guidelines for Tournament Directors and Organizers |
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Arbiter Committee Manual for Tournament Directors Contents 1. Organisation of the ICCF Arbiter sector 2. Tournament Director 3. Mentor TD 5. Arbiter Committee 1. Organisation of the ICCF Arbiter sector ICCF divides the Arbiter sector into the area of Tournament Directors (TD), Tournament Directors with the International Arbiter title (IA), and the "Arbiter Committee" (ACO) that supervises the work of all TDs and IAs. 2. Tournament Director Every ICCF tournament group must have a Tournament Director (TD). The TD is responsible for the smooth running of the tournament group. Clear details of a TDs obligations and work are given in this section. The following tournaments may be controlled by a TD without an Arbiter title: Thematic Tournaments, World Cup Preliminaries and Semifinals, Webserver Open Tournament Preliminaries and Semifinals, Champions League (B, C and D), Promotion Classes (Open Class, Higher Class, Master Class), Invitational tournaments (Category I-VI), Zonal events (Class events; Championship Preliminaries and Semifinals; Team events Preliminaries; etc). The following tournaments must be controlled by a TD with the IA title: World Cup Final, Master Norm tournaments, Grandmaster Norm, World Championship Semifinals, World Championship Candidates, World Championship Final, Champions League A, Webserver Open Tournament Final, Olympiad Preliminaries, Olympiad Final, Invitational tournaments (Category VII and higher), Zonal events (Championship Finals, Team event Finals). 2.0.1 International correspondence chess clubs affiliated to ICCF Every group run by International correspondence chess club affiliated to ICCF must also have a TD. TDs from those clubs report to those clubs and not to the ACO. The TDs from those clubs need to be trained in usage of the Webserver. Other parts of this manual may apply to them or not, as applicable. 2.0.2 Exceptions The ACO may make exceptions to these Rules. 2.1. Requirements for an ICCF TD ICCF TDs must be/have:
2.2. Start of a TD career Interested players should apply to the ACO by email and state their preferences and abilities. The ACO then matches the interested player to the tournament organizer or tournament office that needs a new TD. TDs are then appointed by a tournament organizer. No TD shall work in tournaments organized directly by the ICCF without the confirmation of the ACO. 2.3. Start of a tournament At least one week before the official tournament start, the start list, the valid Playing Rules, and the Rules Guidelines are to be sent out to the players by the tournament organizer. The TD receives a copy of these, a copy of the Tournament Rules, and further additional information if necessary.
2.4. Tasks during the progress of the Tournament section TDs are responsible for all tournament data and must perform regular file backups. In general, TDs must make sure that the tournament runs smoothly. He must deal with any disputes and complaints in an impartial manner and timely fashion, requesting advice as required. The TD must respond to the players promptly, especially on these points, to prevent players from being frustrated or withdrawing: General duties and problem solving:
Organization of the tournament group:
Contact with the tournament organizer:
Every TD must know and have permanent access to the following ICCF documents:
It is recommended that every TD download and learn how to use Eloquery. Please notice that some of these activities are unnecessary when dealing with Webserver sections (e.g. informing changes of address). 2.4.1. Contact with the players During the tournament, players will send you not only their results, but also requests for result reports, claims, requests for rule clarifications, and other questions. If a TD is not able to answer a player's email within 3 days, he must acknowledge the receipt of the email and give an estimate when he will work on the matter. Every case should be processed as soon as possible. In any email, plain text is preferred. If the TD must take a leave of more than 4 days, he must inform his players and the tournament organizer. The motto of the ICCF is "Amici sumus" meaning "We are friends." Regardless of circumstances, the TD should always be polite to the players. The TD may find it necessary to reprimand players who are persistently rude or who refuse to obey the Rules or the TDs directions. Under Post and Email Playing Rule 13 and Webserver Playing Rule 10, the TD may penalise or disqualify players who ignore the Playing Rules and Guidelines.
2.4.1.1. Player's claims When a player makes a formal claim, the TD must confirm the receipt of this claim, then collect all necessary information from all players involved, and make a decision according to the "ICCF Playing Rules" and the "ICCF Playing Rules Guidelines." If a TD is unsure how to decide a case, he should contact his mentor TD. It is much better to ask for help than to sort out problems resulting from hasty or ill-considered decisions. This will help avoid further problems and appeals. The decision must be sent to every player involved with clear statement of the reasons for the decision with reference to the ICCF Rules or Guidelines, if possible. If a TD becomes aware of a problem, he may act on it without waiting for a player to first make a claim. 2.4.1.2. Reports to the players When a tournament has progressed to the point where results begin to be reported then the TD should inform the players of the new results once a month. Every ICCF tournament appears online as a webtable. The report will keep the players informed in case of delays in updating these webtables. The result report should be of a simple style including the tournament identification code, the result number, the player's names, and the result itself as described in the following: EM/H/150: The report should include any other information that the players need,
for example, player and TD leaves: 2.4.1.3. Confirmation of player's title qualifications Title norms are only available in events that comply with certain requirements. The title norms of an event will be stated in the start list that is sent out at the beginning of a tournament group. These title norms may change only when a player is replaced or when one player withdraws from the tournament. See "Ratings and Titles" at the ICCF website or ask for information from the ICCF tournament office.
2.4.1.4. The running of a tournament A nearly completed tournament group should not be left unattended for more than 2 months. A TD should ask for a report status of the remaining games after two months without news.
2.4.1.5. Problems in certain games - TD copies If any game is not running smoothly and regardless of the type(s) of problem(s), a TD has the authority to request that both players send him a copy of every move so that he can closely follow the game. In this case the TD must inform the players that no move can be regarded as legal if the TD did not receive his copy of it. 2.4.1.6. Publishing of games Games may be disclosed to the public according to certain criteria. See Tournament Rule 11, Live display of games. The organiser has the final word on when and how games will be disclosed. In any tournament in which the organiser has not approved live display, it is important that the organiser be the first person to have access to the gamescores! Thereafter, they are to be distributed to the players and then to ICCF Games Archive & ICCF Telechess. In distributing games to the participating players, it is important that they are not prematurely disclosed (a player might have prepared a certain variation for all his games, and publishing one too early might indicate his line of play to the opponents he is still playing). If the organiser has not provided other guidelines, no game should be distributed until 80 games have already finished (in events with 13-or fewer players, the games may only be distributed once the last game has ended; in bigger events, games may be distributed before the last game has ended). 2.4.2. Monthly reports to ICCF The ICCF Webtables team needs the new results of every section once a month to update the online crosstables. The tournament organizer shall provide you with a crosstable file that should make the update for the website crosstables easier. Please follow the instructions given for this crosstable, update your file accordingly and send the updated file to the ICCF webtables team on the 30th of each month. If you are not provided with a crosstable, you should prepare a report similar to the one you sent to the players. The same report may be used for both the Webtables team and the players. Your report should be sent in plain text (best is as a simple text file) to Webtables team. The Tournament Organizer will inform you of the exact date and the correct email address. The report should have the following simple format: EM/M/078: 35. Longlife = Anonymous, 36. Karpov 1 Topalov, 37. Nobody
= Leko, 38. Ivanchuk = Anand
Please send in your report on time or early if are planning a vacation. This will keep both the players and the Tournament Organiser from filling your mailbox with requests. 2.4.3. Games As TD you must collect all games being played in the tournament group and provide the tournament organizer, the players, and the ICCF with the games at the end of the tournament. Send a game report regardless of number of moves or quality of the game. 2.4.3.1. How to report and save games For rating purposes a game can only have one result, for example, it cannot have a win for one player and a cancellation for the other. Pursuant to the Playing Rules, it is possible to record a loss for both players, 0:0, for example, if both withdraw silently or if no game result is sent to you. In other situations, games may be cancelled, C-C. Normally, it is not possible to change the result of a completed game. Only the TD can report or change a result. Twice a year, the TD will be required to submit an updated report of all finished games to the Ratings Commissioner. The RC will contact you, make sure you comply with this! Players are asked to send games results either as PGN file or in the following format ( see sample report below). Please acknowledge receipt of the result promptly. If you receive a result without a game report, or if the game report is not in one of the two mentioned formats, or if the game report is in any way incorrect (wrong moves, illegal moves, etc.), then you must reject the result and request that the player send you the game report in a proper format. Do not accept results that you cannot turn into a PGN file. At least every 6 months, send the collected games in a PGN file to the ICCF Online Archive: gamesarchive@iccf.com. [Event "EM/M/100"] = your tournament number 1. e4 d6 2. d4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. Be2 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nbd7 6. e5 Ng4 7. e6 Ndf6 8.exf7+ Kf8 9. Bf4 Nh6 10. Qd2 Nxf7 11. O-O-O c6 12. h4 Qa5 13. Ng5 b5 14. a3 Bd7 15. h5 Nxg5 16. Bxg5 h6 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. hxg6 Kg7 19. Rh5 Kxg6 20. Bd3+ Kf7 21. Qf4 Rag8 22. Rdh1 Ke8 23. Kb1 Bg5 24. Qe4 Qc7 25. d5 Rf8 26. dxc6 Bf5 27.Nxb5 1-0 This format can easily be transferred by you to a PGN file. When you receive a result please check and correct the PGN report if needed. If you have received a poorly formatted result, then send it back to the player and require a clean report before you record the result. It is the TD's decision to accept a result report or not. In general, it is faster to correct the game report yourself than ask for a clean report from the player. The header of the PGN file is not as important; you should always use the method of transferring the PGN moves only in a tournament template (see below) of Chess Base, which ensures uniform game headers / player's names / tournament data. A TD should save games in an electronic format (preferably Chess Base (CB) or Chess Base Light, downloadable at "http://www.chessbase.com/download/index.asp"). Once the TD has received the final pairings, he should create a "Tournament Template" in CB, where all the games from that same event will be saved. Chess Base can automatically transfer a list of results to a tournament crosstable. You should check that the number of games in the tournament crosstable is the same that the one in the PGN file. If you have inserted games as described above (with uniform headers) these numbers will always be identical. When the number of games matches in both files, you can check for bad PGN reports by searching for games listed with a 'c' or 'C' to the right. Open the individual games, each time Chess Base finds a wrong move; it will show the string as a comment. You must locate the first wrong move with Chess Base, correct the PGN file with a text editor, and then reload the database under Chess Base. This process can be repeated until no game is displayed with a C to the right (except for regular comments on the games). 2.4.3.2. Crosstables A TD should work with the crosstables that he receives from the tournament organizer for the result report. A TD should always have an overview of the standings. If he does not receive a file, it is recommended that the TD create one. Crosstables that include useful features such as automatic arrangement of players according to total points, or SB tiebreak, etc. can be ordered as Excel files from any ICCF tournament office or from the WTD. The players may download Eloquery to obtain similar information. 2.4.3.3. Adjudications Adjudications should be avoided unless necessary. Few tournaments have a set date for close of play. Unless the start of the next round of a tournament is being delayed by an unfinished game, it is recommended that the game be allowed to continue. Otherwise, games that determine a promotion, title norm, or team placing must be adjudicated. If there is a date set for close of play, then any unfinished games at that date can either be continued or called in for adjudication. The Tournament Organizer should make these decisions. The TD may give notice that he will give the players a specific amount of time before requiring adjudication, especially in situations in which he is aware that the players may not finish in time for the next round. Games that are not relevant for player or team promotion may continue as long as neither player is complaining about intentional delays or poor sportsmanship. Let the players enjoy the game. The TD should send the relevant Adjudication Guidelines to all concerned players when Adjudications are needed. Make certain that you apply the current Adjudication Guidelines. The Tournament Organiser should choose the Adjudicator. The Adjudicator's playing strength should be in line with the tournament category or higher, or of the strength of the players in an Open or Cup tournament. The TD must collect the game score and the analysis, if any, from the players according to the Playing Rules. The TD must then forward only the following information to the adjudicator:
An adjudicator should not be given more games than he can decide within approximately 30 days. The Tournament Director shall promptly notify the players of the adjudicator's decision. The TD shall inform them whether an Appeal will be allowed, and if so, the date for filing an Appeal. If the players appeal, the information must be sent to a different adjudicator, preferably one of a higher level of playing strength. The Tournament Organizer, the ICCF TO, or the National Federation may request that an ICCF commissioner choose the appeal adjudicator. 2.4.4. Leave for the TD A TD shall notify all players in his sections and the Tournament Office or Organiser of his planned dates for leave. The Tournament Office or Organiser may appoint a temporary TD if the TD has to take a leave of more than 3 weeks unless the TD expects to have internet access while he is away. 2.4.5. Replacement of a TD A TD may be replaced if he is overwhelmed by the work or otherwise unable to continue or to take on new sections. The TD shall contact the Tournament Office or Organiser with details in these situations.
The silent withdrawal of a TD creates enormous problems for the Tournament Office or Organiser and for the players. Please ask for help before you become too far behind with the work. Be sure to let the Tournament Office or Organizer know when you are ready to volunteer as TD again. 2.4.6. End of a tournament group When the last result comes in, you must produce a normal result report with the additional note saying "group finished". Please send a friendly final note to the players with the final crosstable and the collected games to the players (in a PGN file or as a text file in the form of 2.4.3.1.) (preferably as an Excel file), for example:
2.5. After the end of a tournament A TDs work for a tournament group is finished when the TD has sent:
All TDs, whether for Open Class sections or for the World Championship Final, are equally important to ICCF. It is hoped that you will find the TD work fulfilling and continue either in the same level section or let the ACO know that you are hoping to take on different types of sections. 3. Mentor TD A mentor TD shall be assigned to every TD by the ACO. This mentor TD will remain available to the TD on an ongoing basis and not just for a TDs first tournament. A mentor TD may be replaced by the ACO as needed. Every Mentor TD should have the IA title. 3.1. Work of a mentor TD The mentor TD is a teacher or advisor rather than a supervisor. The mentor TD shall be a contact point for a TD when problems arise. He shall help with difficult claims from players, rule questions, and interaction with ICCF officials and national federation officials. The mentor TD should be able to provide an assessment of the TDs capabilities at the point when the TD has met the minimum requirements for the IA title or when requested by the ACO. 3.2. Nomination of mentor TDs Every IA is a potential mentor TD. It is hoped that IAs will offer to help on their own. The ACO shall maintain list of all IAs indicating the number and names of TDs that each IA mentor is mentoring. 4. International Arbiters See Tournament Rule 8.9. An IA is one who has proven his or her ability as ICCF Tournament Director and has met the minimum requirements of the Rule. Titles are awarded at the ICCF Congress. 5. Arbiter Committee The Arbiter Commission (ACO) is the highest level in the ICCF arbiter sector. The ACO oversees all aspects of TD and arbiter work, training, development, and maintains a record of the TDs experience. The ACO recommends candidates for the IA title to the national federations and aides them in submitting applications to the QC. 5.1. Members of the ACO The number of individual members of the ACO is not specified. Necessary members of the ACO are: - World Tournament Director - Chairman of the Appeals Commission (Playing Rules) - two International Arbiters - one Tournament Director without an arbiter title The ACO must have a Chairman that is appointed by Congress. The ICCF Executive Board supervises the ACO between Congresses. Additional members of the ACO could be a member of the ICCF Executive Board, an ICCF Commissioners, or another arbiter. 5.2. Work of the ACO 5.2.1. New TDs The ACO must check player applications. Points h) and i) of the TD requirements (see 2.1.) are especially important. The ACO may return as incomplete any application that does not cover all points. The ACO then adds the TD candidate to a list, which is offered online on the ICCF website. Tournament organizers should contact the ACO when they need a TD to direct new tournament groups. The ACO also can directly offer the TD candidates to suitable tournament organizers. The ACO will assign a mentor TD to new TDs when the new TD is assigned his first tournament. 5.2.2. TD title requirements Normally the tournament organizer chooses TDs. The tournament organizer must be certain that the TD meets the experience level required or has the IA title per paragraph 2.. A tournament organizer must contact the ACO to make an exception if the TO picks a TD who does not fulfil the title requirement. 5.2.3. TD databases The ACO must keep these records:
Every tournament organizer must inform the ACO of new assignments to each TD stating the tournament code, the number of participants, and the start date. Tournament Office Controllers who start new tournaments regularly may send the ACO the TDs assignments every 6 months. 5.2.4. Arbiter title applications National federations are encouraged to contact the chairman of the ACO before making the official application to the Qualifications Commissioner for an arbiter title. The ACO will check the time served and number of games against the TD progress list (see 5.2.3 c)) and may also request comments from the mentor TD. 5.2.5. Arbiter Committee Manual for Tournament Directors The ACO is responsible for the ICCF Arbiter Committee Manual for Tournament Directors. The ACO submits changes and additions to this manual to the Congress for approval. The ICCF Rules Commission is responsible for the ICCF Playing Rules and the Playing Rules Guidelines. |
© 2005 J. Franklin Campbell. All rights reserved.