Fair Play Policy

All players must play their chess matches in accordance with the CFC, FIDE, and Fractal Chess Club rules, regulations, and fair play policies. 

Ties at the end of a tournament will be decided as follows:

1. Sonneborn-Berger Score

2. Buchholz System

3. Direct Match

4. Most Wins

Tiebreaks that are still tied after points and the Sonneborn-Berger score shall split the prize, unless otherwise stated.

Late joiners will receive a 1/2-point bye once, and all other subsequent games count as 0-point byes.

Please Note: Due to Lichess' system, the ranking as shown straight after the tournament ends may not be correct/finalized. Everything will be double checked to be in accordance with our system, and the finalized results will be emailed to participants.

Prizes will be held for at least one day to allow for Fair Play reports and investigations.

As per FIDE's Online Chess Regulations, Part III; 6.1, our tournaments are classified as "Online Chess With Supervision”, where players are remotely supervised by an arbiter.

As per FIDE's Online Chess Regulations, Part IIIa; 8.1, the player must stay in their playing zone while in a match, which is the room in which they play and restrooms. If a player needs to go to another room while playing, they must ask the arbiter for approval. If a player has finished their match and is waiting on the next round, they are free to move wherever, as long as they are prepared and on time for the next round.

As per FIDE's Online Chess Regulations, Part IIIa; 8.3, the designated time control for any said tournament shall be mentioned numerous times, throughout registration, on the website, and on the tournament platform. As we primarily use Lichess, players are to make their first move within 30 seconds, until their timer starts as well.

Our tournaments will often be in the following format: Swiss Pairing, Quick Time Control, Hosted on Lichess

Rulebook - Specific Regulations

Section 0

0.1: All players must play their chess matches in accordance to the CFC and FIDE Rules and Regulations, which includes but not limited to all rules in our rulebook

Section I - Fair Play

• 1.1: All players must play fairly

  • 1.1.1: The player acknowledges they must play fairly and conduct themselves properly when registering for a tournament

• 1.2: Fair play is met under the following circumstances:

  • 1.2.1: The player has no communication with anyone who may provide assistance, excluding the arbiter and those who may provide technical assistance

  • 1.2.2: The player has no online chess assistance, including, but not limited to: Chess Engines (i.e. Stockfish), Chess Courses, Chess Videos, Chess Blogs

  • 1.2.3: The player does not play with an alternate account

  • 1.2.4: The player plays honestly, without external assistance to provide an unfair and unjustly advantage, and only uses their knowledge and chess skills to participate

  • 1.2.5: The player who registered is the sole player playing in the tournament

  • 1.2.6: The only tabs and windows allowed to be open during play of any given tournament is the game and a method of communication to arbiter (i.e. Lichess direct messages)

• 1.3: Unfair play is found when a player does not follow all regulations of Rule 1.2

• 1.4: If a player is found to be playing unfairly, the following may occur:

  • 1.4.1: A ban from the Chess Federation of Canada (CFC), temporary or permanently to be decided by the CFC

  • 1.4.2: A ban from the medium of the chess tournament, namely "Lichess", temporary or permanently to be decided by the platform used

  • 1.4.3: A withdrawal from the current tournament, if any, or the tournament in which unfair play occurred

  • 1.4.4: An immediate loss of the current game, if any, or the match(es) in which unfair play occurred

  • 1.4.5: Restriction to play in any tournaments hosted by the Fractal Chess Club, to be decided by the Fractal Chess Club

• 1.5: Unfair play may be investigated in the following cases:

  • 1.5.1: A report has been submitted to the Fractal Chess Club

  • 1.5.2: A much lower rated player defeats or draws a much higher rated player, depending on the ELO difference

  • 1.5.3: A player has been deemed of unfair play or cheating in other games throughout the CFC, FIDE, or platform of tournament

  • 1.5.4: A constant playing accuracy much greater than estimated at your ELO throughout multiple games

Section 2 - Conduct

• 2.1: All players must play honestly, play to the best of their ability, and follow all rules

• 2.2: All players must show respect and display orderly etiquette to the arbiter and other players

• 2.3: The player must stay in their playing zone while in a match, which is the room in which they play and restrooms

  • 2.3.1: . If a player needs to go to another room while playing, they must ask the arbiter for approval

  • 2.3.2: If a player has finished their match and is waiting on the next round, they are free to move wherever, as long as they are prepared and on time for the next round.

• 2.4: A player must be on time for the tournament and any given round

  • 2.4.1: If a player arrives late and loses on time, or withdraws from the tournament without reporting to the arbiter, the match ends in a loss

    • 2.4.2: If a player loses on time due to unforeseen and uncontrollable circumstances, they may get a half-point bye at the arbiters discretion

Section 3: Registration and Pre-Tournament 

• 3.1: Before a tournament, the player must familiarize themself with the platform of play (usually Lichess)

• 3.2: You agree to follow all rules in the rulebook and as provided by CFC and FIDE when registering

• 3.3: You must fill out all necessary information while registering. This includes:

  • 3.3.1: Name (Required for pairings, rating updates, identification, anti-cheating measures)

  • 3.3.2: CFC ID (Required for pairings, rating updates, identification, anti-cheating measures)

  • 3.3.3: Rating in designated time control (Required for pairings, rating updates, identification, anti-cheating measures)

  • 3.3.4: Lichess or platform of play Username (Required to access tournament)

  • 3.3.5: Email or other contact information (Required for contacting you)

• 3.4: By registering, you agree that we may use your name on the Fractal Chess Club's website for an archive of tournaments

• 3.5: Refunds may be given if the player informs us at least two days in advance

  • 3.5.1: If a player does not show up without notice, the Fractal Chess Club holds the right to refuse a refund (though we normally give refunds in any case when the player is absent)

• 3.6: Refunds will be given in the case of a tournament cancellation

• 3.7: Players must have a valid CFC membership at the time of play

  • 3.7.1: Proof of a valid CFC membership or one time CFC tournament membership may be required

  • 3.7.2: Membership must be purchased by the player; we will not sell any

• 3.8: Players must pay the tournament fee

  • 3.8.1: If a player signs up but doesn't pay, the Fractal Chess Clubs holds the right to refuse participation

Here are some helpful links regarding the rules of chess and fair play, especially regarding online play.

FIDE Laws of Chess, Jan 2023 

FIDE Online Chess Regulations 

FIDE General Competition Rules 

CFC Handbook 

FIDE Handbook