Regulations

• Each tournament will be a Swiss System with 9 rounds.

• There shall be 7 categories with separate events for Open and Girls (in total 14 championships)

• UNDER 8 OPEN & GIRLS

• UNDER 10 OPEN & GIRLS

• UNDER 12 OPEN & GIRLS

• UNDER 14 OPEN & GIRLS

• UNDER 16 OPEN & GIRLS

• UNDER 18 OPEN & GIRLS

• UNDER 20 OPEN & GIRLS

• In case there are fewer than eight players and three Federations in an age group category, that group shall be merged with another group.

• Every Oceania Federation or associated member can register one official player in each category (under 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 & 20 years old, Open and Girls) totaling a maximum of 14 invited players. No replacement from other categories can be made in case there is no official player in one category.

Entitled to participate are Chess players from Oceania Federations (Zone 3.6 federations) or associated members. Players must not have reached his/her respective age group birthday before 1st January 2025

AGE GROUP REQUIREMENTS

• UNDER 8 Born on or after 1st January 2017

• UNDER 10 Born on or after 1st January 2015

• UNDER 12 Born on or after 1st January 2013

• UNDER 14 Born on or after 1st January 2011

• UNDER 16 Born on or after 1st January 2009

• UNDER 18 Born on or after 1st January 2007

• UNDER 20 Born on or after 1st January 2005

Each Federation or associated member country may register any number of players to participate in the age group categories.

90 minutes per player with an increment of 30 seconds per move from move one.

A player forfeits the game if he/she hasn't appeared at his/her board within 30 minutes after the start of the game.

Final ranking order of players is determined by the number of points scored. If two or more players are tied, the tie shall be broken by tiebreak systems in the following order:

• I. Direct Encounter,

• II. The greater number of wins

• III. Buchholz,

• IV. Buchholz Cut 1, Cut 2,

• V. Sonnenborn Berger

The Continental President for Asia (Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan)  will, after consultation with the organizing federation, nominate the Technical Delegate and Chief Arbiter, as well as the necessary assistant arbiters and other officials. The Chief Arbiter may, in consultation with the Technical Delegate, issue additional written regulations on other details not covered by these regulations.

The Technical Delegate (or nominee) shall chair the Appeals Committee. The Appeals Committee shall be composed of three members and two reserves, all from different federations. No member of the Appeals Committee shall take part in a decision affecting a player belonging to the same federation unless both players are from the same federation.

Appeals including appeals against the decisions of the Chief Arbiter or his assistants must be submitted in writing to the Chairman of the Appeals Committee within fifteen minutes of the completion of the relevant playing session alongside a $100 AUD bond.

The decision of the Appeals Committee is final, binding and takes effect immediately. Should the appeal be successful, the bond will be returned to the appealer

The Organiser shall award gold, silver and bronze trophies to the top three positions, after application of tiebreaks where required, in each age group category.

Certificates of Participation shall be given to all players, Fide accredited trainers, Managers and Officials.

FIDE rules state that for a direct title to be awarded immediately an applicant has to have achieved at some time or other a minimum rating as follows:
IM 2200, WIM 2000, FM 2100, WFM 1900, CM 2000, and WCM 1800.
If groups are combined to make a bigger group, then the requirements (at least 8 participants from at least 4 federations) shall apply to this merged group.
Titles can be awarded to the best player(s) of the subgroups, provided the subgroup has at least 6 participants from at least 3 federations and the player scores a minimum of 50% in a minimum of 9 games.

The Chief Organizer and Oceanic Chess President reserve the right to change divisions to support the awarding of direct titles.

• In the U20 category, the gold medal winner shall be awarded the Grandmaster (GM)/Woman Grandmaster (WGM) norm (9 games). 1st equal (up to 3 players) shall get the IM/WIM title. The silver and bronze medal winners shall be awarded the IM/WIM norm and FIDE Master (FM)/Woman FIDE Master (WFM).

• In the U18 categories, the gold medal winner shall be awarded the title of International Master (IM) / Woman International Master (WIM). 1st equal players (up to 3 players) shall get IM/WIM norm (9 games). The Silver & Bronze Medal winners shall be awarded the FIDE Master (FM) / Woman FIDE Master (WFM) title.

• In the U16 category, the gold medal winner shall be awarded IM/WIM norm (9 games). 1st equal player (up to 3 players) shall get FM/WFM title. The Silver & Bronze Medal winners shall be awarded the Candidate Master (CM) / Woman Candidate Master (WCM) title.

• In the U12 & U14 categories, the gold medal winner shall be awarded the title of FM / WFM. The Silver & Bronze Medal winners shall be awarded the CM / WCM title.

• Gold, Silver & Bronze Medal (after tiebreak up to 3 players) winners of the U8 & U10 categories shall be awarded the CM/WCM title.

Invitational Letters will only be given for Visas once the Entry Fee is paid. If you are then unable to obtain an Australian Visa, your entry/registration fee will be refunded.

Please contact oceanicyouthchesschamps2025@gmail.com after you have paid your entry fee, and we will send you an invitational letter for a Visa.

To receive free accommodation as an invited player (excluding Australia) a member of your federation must email oceanicyouthchesschamps2025@gmail.com to claim your free accommodation by the 23rd of October at 11:59pm