South Staffordshire Summer Rapidplay League

Wolverhampton B are the Winners

Steve Whatmore

Thanks to Steve for organizing and everyone that competed, making this a thoroughly enjoyable event. First of many!

Phil Bull

Summary of key rules:

Normal rules of chess will apply.

Each match night involves 2 games with 2 points for the winner of each game + a bonus point for the overall cumulative winner of each 2 game match. A drawn game gives 1 point each. A total of 4-4 over the 2 games in each match means neither team receives a bonus point.

Time limit of all moves in 25+5.

Teams are welcome to choose different players for the 2 games on each match night if they wish, so that up to 8 players can play for each team on any match night.

Use May 1st 2025 Rapid Play ratings. Players must have a valid ECF Membership for their game results to count & be rated.

6600 ECF maximum team rating for 4 board teams.

No player can play for more than 1 team.

Any player without a May 1st Rapid Play rating - please let Steve Whatmore know & we can agree a local rating based on their blitz/standard rating or local knowledge.

Home team plays with Black pieces on odd boards in game 1. Reverse colours for game 2.

Game 1 games to start at 7.30pm.

Game 2 games to start around 10 minutes after the last game of Game 1 has finished. This will allow for team substitutions. All Game 2 games must start at the same time.

Illegal moves - 1st one = 1 minute added to opponent’s clock. 2nd one = loses the game.

Up to 75-point ECF rating variance to apply for board orders.

Tie-breakers:

• match & bonus points

• head-to-head result(s)

• overall game points difference over the season

• lowest rating of players in matches between tied teams

Semi Finals & Final/3rd place playoff - 

To be held at Wolverhampton CC starting at 7.30pm on 14/7/25.

Each team will play 2 separate games on the night.

In each game, after declaring their team line-ups, Captains will toss to choose colours with White on odd or even boards the options.

Semi Final games will be seeded 1st v 4th & 2nd v 3rd in the standings. The 5th place team will not participate unless another team withdraws.

The higher seed will win the game in the event of a 2-2 draw. 

The Final will then be played after a 10 minute break between the 2 semi final winners, with the 3rd place playoff between the 2 semi final losers playing at the same time. 

Only players who have played in the league stage will be eligible to play in the playoffs. 

The Final winners will be declared the champions.