Folkestone Sunday Chess Championships.

[03/05/2024] Prospectus and Procedure

Before you go any further - you can download these (3) pages as a pdf - see above - for convenience, it might be easier to read. As a prospectus this is subject to change, depending on the level of interest, improvements and what is possible.

Sponsored by Chaos Cards.

The aim: ‘To offer shorter, more intense, and frequent competitive chess tournaments, and still leave families enough time to enjoy their weekend. To give young chess players the opportunity to regularly test their chess skills in a bespoke competitive environment, maximising their challenge and time at the board, and so allow them to measure their ability, try out new openings and ideas, meet fellow chess players, enjoy a tournament atmosphere for the first time – and prepare for official tournaments, and also have time left over to enjoy other things on the day …like sunny Folkestone.’

 

Sponsor: Chaos Cards: 100 Sandgate Rd, Folkestone CT20 2BW, https://www.chaoscards.co.uk/ (Opening hours Sundays: 10am-4pm)

Discount: Chaos Cards is offering a discount to all competitors. The code is provided to competitors with the schedule and comes with a time limit. The code can also be redeemed at their shop on the day, which will be informed of the names of competitors. Details: TBC in time for first event.

 

Cost: The current fee is £15, and covers organising the event, both prior to and on the day, and afterwards. A place in the tournament is only confirmed with payment which is taken online through internet banking, and required when you receive the email confirming your place. The event is organised days before so payment must be made within 48 hours. Once payment has been received, which is 3 days before the event, no refund can be considered.

 

The Event:

A tournament from 10-1, or 2-5 offering 3 hours of chess, of between 5-7 rounds against opposition of the same age or ability. Therefore a better chess experience and a more bespoke challenge.

No Prizes – but a reward for everyone taking part: As each event is bespoke to the number of competitors there are no prizes or time for prize-giving – the prize is to maximise the chess played. There is a discount offered by the sponsor which is for all competitors, and not just the winners.

The Venue: - Folkestone Sports Centre - Radnor Park Avenue, CT19 5HX. (Opening hours for a Sunday 7am-6pm) With the support of the Sports Centre the FJCC is now over 10 years old and with more than 40 members and keeps growing. https://folkestonejnrchess.wixsite.com/juniors

This is a family and disability friendly environment. There is a reasonably priced cafeteria right next to the playing room, with seating for 40+, a foyer also next door with seating for up to 20 and toilets. Also a garden with a giant outdoor chess board and set and benches to seat 30-40. So it is easy to relax, have a snack, a coffee, or lunch even, whilst your child is right next door. Or enjoy the sunshine in the garden right outside. All the Sport Centre facilities are available on a Sunday - so why not take one child for a swim, play badminton, go skiing, whilst the other child plays chess?

Parking: The Sports Centre has plenty of free parking so on a Sunday there is ample opportunity to park, and plenty of parking in the neighbouring streets. [folkestonesportscentre.co.uk] [01303 850 222]

No smoking/Vaping: The venue is a no-smoking, vaping venue. Fire Exits: All the fire exits in the building are clearly labelled. In the event of a fire, everyone will be directed by staff how to use them.

First Aid: Please note the organiser is not a trained first aider, but on site the Duty Manager is. Any incidents requiring first aid, the staff should be informed. Medical matters: At no point are medical matters an issue for the organiser. Those attending with any specific condition need to ensure their health is fit for taking part. The room is occupied by chess players so should any incident arise, it should be spotted at the earliest opportunity.

Folkestone: The family can enjoy a day at the beach, the Harbour Arm, the coastal park, and the shops, especially Chaos Cards for the kids. And of course the Sports Centre. So a great day out for the whole family and if coming from afar a chance to make the most of the day. Fingers crossed the sun shines.

Travel: Please re-check all travel arrangements for accuracy with your circumstances as these examples are indicative only.

By train: - Folkestone Central Station is 3 minutes away for being on the other side of the park. Note from Maidstone East to Folkestone is just 1 hour. Canterbury West to Folkestone can be as little as 40 minutes or 1 hour. It is similar or longer from Canterbury East. Margate to Folkestone is 1 hour 10 to 1 hour 35. From Ramsgate 50 to 1 hour 10 minutes or longer. From Ashford it is 20 minutes. From Dover 12 minutes.

By bus: from Canterbury the journey is 30 minutes and then a 10-15 minute walk to the Sports Centre from Folkestone Bus Station.

By car: Come off the M20 at junction 12 (B2064, Cheriton Road) and follow it all the way to the park or railway station and turn left. Or come off at junction 13 and take Cherry Garden Avenue (A2034) to join Cheriton Road by turning left at the traffic lights. [Do not turn into Three Hills Sports Centre – it is the wrong sports centre! Go past it.] Go past Morrisons – you are almost there. Turn left at Julian Road or at the park. So easy to find and easy to park! See website to download the MAP.

Capacity: The room is able to accommodate up to 32 places, and is to host tournaments in the morning and the afternoon.

Food and drink: No food and drink can be brought into the playing room and food and drink in the cafeteria should be bought there – it is all reasonably priced. With a quick turnaround between rounds so please snack when you can. Eg come and have breakfast or lunch before your tournaments starts. Grab a drink between rounds.

Frequency– last Sunday in the month: The aim is to offer a tournament on the last Sunday of every month, with the exception of major holidays such as Xmas. TBC: The frequency is dependent on the level of interest, and the event will evolve from there.

For the future: As the format becomes settled and popular it might be possible to add grading games, prizes, and even more bespoke tournaments.

 

The Process:

1 register your interest: by providing an email which is added to a group email as tournament members and at the same time provide player information to assist in organising events. (CUT AND PASTE THE PARAGRAPH BELOW AND FILL OUT IN EMAIL) This only needs to be done once, is stored, with preferences updated at any time. Or ‘unsubscribe’ at any time. Note: This event relies upon participants agreeing to receive and respond to emails. Please check your ‘SPAM’ in case it is sent there. In the event, there is no co-operation/interest, the email will be removed in time. Register your interest at….  fjccchesschampionships@gmail.com [This email address is not part of this website -do not use the email for Folkestone Juniors - it will be ignored.]

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Please answer the following questions. Simply replace the example in the brackets with the actual info. You only need to do this once, and can update your preferences as you see fit.

Player Name: (FIRST/SECOND NAME)
Parent name: (ALWAYS BETTER TO KNOW THIS FOR POLITENESS)
Date of Birth: (MM/DD/YEAR)
Age: (SAVES ME HAVING TO WORK IT OUT)
Email to be used: (EASIER TO CUT & PASTE LIKE THIS)
Nationality: (FOR PUTTING INTERNATIONAL MATCHES ON)
School/Home town: (USEFUL TO KNOW IF DIFFERENT, AND FOR KNOWING DISTANCE OF JOURNEY)
Telephone number: (OF THE PARENT, NOT THE CHILD, TO USE ON THE DAY FOR COMMUNICATING EMERGENCY INFO.)
Chess club: (OR NONE)
Grade: (THE LATEST RATING)
Opposition: (HIGHER/LOWER - for players who want to stretch themselves)
How did you hear about this event: (VERY USEFUL)
Seeking/offering a lift: (JUST TO HELP PEOPLE WITH SHARING JOURNEYS IF POSSIBLE)
Morning/Afternoon: (BLANK = NO PREFERENCE)
Preference: (TOUCH MOVE or CLOCK MOVE or LEAVE BLANK FOR NONE)
How often do you want to play: (MONTHLY, QUARTLEY, or 'X' PER YEAR)
Length of games: (SHORTER/LONGER, BLANK = no preference)
Colours - more of...: (BLACK/WHITE, BLANK = no preference)

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Member Info: This covers things like name, d.o.b, age, grade, and which session, (morning or afternoon) you would like to play in, and so on. For full list ‘Championships’ page: folkestonejnrchess.wixsite.com/juniors – it takes 2 minutes to fill out.

GPDR: The email provided is held for the purposes of promoting the tournaments offered by FJCC and other tournaments staged in Kent that may be of interest to competitors. There are currently 2-3 official chess tournaments held in the area, which is East Kent. No information provided to the organiser is shared with third parties. The data asked for is to help with organising events in order to maximise the players enjoyment and time. The emails will also invite feedback, communicate the results, and ask competitors to consider new ideas and give their preferences as the event evolves.

2 the invite – 2 weeks prior to the event date: Once a tournament date is fixed (ideally the last Sunday in the month, save for major holidays) an email is sent out inviting members to apply for a place.

3 the application – members have 1 week to register their desire to play: Members reply confirming if they would like to play. There are 32 places in each morning and afternoon session.

Policy - prioritising play: Not everyone will want to play every month, and in the event the tournaments are oversubscribed, then play will be spread out amongst the members. So a player who misses out on one tournament, will be prioritised in the next – but must confirm their interest once again. Eventually everyone should be able to take part on a regular basis, or playing every 2-3 months at least (or more tournaments will be hosted!).

Policy - travelling: Members travelling a distance to Folkestone will be prioritised in the summer months, so they can enjoy the beach and nice weather.

4 closure email: Once an event is fully subscribed an email is sent out to confirm this. The situation may change though in the event someone pulls out during the week. This email can be sent at any time or not at all depending on the situation. This to save members wasting their time.

5 confirmation and payment email – 48 hours: Those who will be taking part are informed. They have 48 hours to make payment. Payment is by internet banking – the player’s name is added as a reference to indicate who has been paid for. No payments can be taken on the day. The day is to focus on the chess. Anyone who fails to make payment on time for whatever reason is removed from the group email.

Policy - prioritising play: The sections are organised into the best for those people taking part based on the information they have provided. Members are required to make good on their commitment to play as their invite will be based on their information provided.

Policy - refund:

Once payment is made a refund is not possible as the groupings are sorted by the number participants. Payments cannot be carried over to a later tournament to prevent people creating havoc. They can though pass their place onto another member with the same grading level.

Policy – the format – bespoke tournaments: The aim of the event is to be flexible and to meet the needs of the competitors taking part. Once the number of entrants is known the format is determined for each section, sections are set up according to age, but also grade, with a maximum difference of XXX points between all competitors at most. Unrated players will be put into their age category. The organisers preference is for even numbers in a section as these are always easier to arrange and means everyone should be playing meaningful chess all of the time – eg no byes. But, odd numbers can allow players to grab a short break, eg for a snack etc… or play a casual game and so on. The aim is also to ensure a proper challenge, so no games which are too easy or impossible to win – a proper challenge in each game. With the schedule known and sent out, a player knows when they must be in the playing room. With various groups running simultaneously the playing room will always have matches taking place.

Policy - Organisers Discretion and challenge: The aim is to provide bespoke chess tournaments and allow young players to maximise their day. It relies upon the co-operation of those wishing to be tournament members, and anything deemed to be proving contrary to the successful conduct of the events will count against those members. Similarly it will not be possible to accommodate every member every time in all their preferences and members are required to flexible and not dogmatic about their own wishes. The organiser reserves the right to organise the events within the constraints of who is taking part where competitors themselves might be the cause of the problem - non-attendance, illness, delayed, and so on.

 

Examples of play for even number sections:

8 players - 7 rounds                   20 minutes in total, 10 minute each.                                            All play all.

6 players - 5 rounds                   30 minute total, 15 minutes each.                                                All play all.

4 players - 3 rounds                   56 minutes in total, 28 minutes each.                                           All play all as black and white.

4 players - 6 rounds                   24 minutes in total, 12 minutes each.                                           All play all as black and white.

4 player teams – 4 rounds          40 minutes in total, 20 minutes each.                                           Each team member plays all other opponents.

 

Examples of play for odd number sections:

5 players - 8 rounds                   20 minutes in total, 10 minutes each.                                           All play all as black and white. 1 player rests.

7 players  - 6 rounds                 24 minutes in total, 12 minutes each.                                           3 whites – 3 blacks. 1 player rests.

 

8 Schedule email: Once all payments have been received the schedule is sent out the day before.

 

Policy The schedule: Because there is a schedule time is not lost to waiting for the next pairings, and more time is spent at the board. The aim is to provide tournament chess for 3 hours, with a little leeway for unseen events, running from 10am-1pm and 2-5pm. Matches do not always go to the last minute, so players will often find they have time between rounds, but even with a quick result, the longest a player should have to wait for the next game is approximately 30 minutes and very often a lot less. Constant play can be hard on some but a single match is 3 hours and players will need to manage their time – eg grab a snack, a drink, visit the toilet when they can. Because the start times of rounds are staggered for each section there should be ample time to order drinks and snacks as not everyone doing so at the same time. Please do not make appointments before or after your tournament, it will simply result in undue stress!

A second and even third schedule is kept in reserve and may have to be implemented on the day.

Policy – travelling: If a player is coming by train or a long distance by car, and might struggle to make the start time and they are in a group with odd numbers, their ‘missed’ round will be their first round, so once again they do not have time wasted sitting around without meaningful chess – this will be used in the morning only. Where there 2 such players coming in this way, they will have to be drawn together so share the bye as they cannot both sit out.

9 Results email: The results are put into an email and sent out. This takes place during the course of the week and goes out to the competitors. It is also an opportunity for people to give feedback.

X ADMIN email: 1 email is sent out per year and invites people to renew their membership, meaning remain on the group email or be removed. This is to make sure the group is a true reflection of its size and does not include unused email addresses. Members are required to reply to confirm their continued participation and a non-reply within a certain time period will mean that email address is deleted.

EXTRAS:

Colours: In uneven number of player groups (this is not the organisers first choice) a player can indicate if they prefer more white than black or vice versa. This will allow them to practise a new opening or their defensive skills can have the chance to try it out more often and again maximise their day.

ECF and GRADING: Because the format can vary the games are not graded but players do not need to be a member of the ECF, or a chess club to play.

Recording a game: Whilst players can record their games in the traditional way on paper, I would like to allow players so inclined to record their games using their phones by video – or similar device. This requires that the phone is put on silent and mounted on an appropriate stand, (not lent on any old thing) – and should have a protective casing just in case. The tournament director is never responsible for the phone and it is for the player to mount and use the phone correctly and safely and know how to operate it. They have done this before and are not trying to learn how to do this on the day. (Note phones can be set to low resolution to reduce memory usage.) If they are unable to demonstrate proper handling, they will not be able to use their phone for this purpose. Once placed the phone should be left alone - and not touched for any reason until picked up after the game. This is so that players can learn from their games and even have a record of brilliant play (or blunders) rather than a vague recollection of how they won or lost. Alternatively players can simply photograph important positions, or checkmates. This is only done on their turn – and if it becomes a problem again they will be refused to use them.

Clock move rule: A small innovation is the clock-move rule. Whilst all the usual rules of chess apply and players should learn the touch move rule, at Folkestone moves are only confirmed by pushing the clock – the touch piece move rule does not apply. This is especially directed at younger players. This is to prevent games descending into arguments over who touched what, or being decided by a technical issue rather than an actual chess move. A player’s move is only decided when they push the clock and can only move when their clock is ticking. This rule can be varied if enough players in the group wish to play touch move and are sufficiently comfortable with doing so.

Half point penalty: Usually infringements can result in losing a game, which is a waste of attending a tournament. Hence this rule is to ensure there is still chess to be played. A game is only forfeited completely where there is outright poor conduct. Thus for infringements I use only a ‘half-point penalty,’ so (for example) if a phone does go off the game is not lost but a player only forfeits ½ point, and these means if they win the game, it is still drawn, (½-½), if they draw the result is 1-0, and a loss is irrelevant. This is to ensure that games are not decided by non-chess issues and there is still some chess to be played. For example a phone goes off, the player is forfeit half a point, but might still gain ½ instead of losing a full point for a non-chess issue.

Teams: Those seeking a different challenge can form themselves into teams and a match can be organised against another team. Thus, for example a team of four players can play another four opponents, in which the format would be 4 games over three hours, so 20 minutes each, 40 minutes in total, and each team member plays each of the other opposing team players.

NOTE: due to this format a TEAM must be reliable in all things, payment, turning up, and any failure will be bad for all those in the team – in other words make sure those chosen can be relied upon, as problems will mean those players will not be accepted in a team again. Thus a team should have more than 4 players, so people can be a called upon should someone drop out of the match at the last minute!

Conduct: Note families and players who fail to confirm payment, turn up, treat the event properly or anything deemed contrary to the success of the event will be removed. Anyone can have their email address withdrawn when they wish.

 

Match day  procedure:

Travel: Families who are travelling a long distance or by train may check that nothing has occurred with the venue to prevent play by sending a text message. It may not be possible to inform of problems before boarding a train eg - so please do check before doing so to avoid unnecessary inconvenience. If there are problems competitors will be informed by text to their mobile phone number, with those journeying the furthest being informed first.

Registration: On the day players register 9:30-50 which simply means they confirm they have arrived. In the afternoon the registration time is 1:30-1:50.

Non-registration: Those people who sense they might be late or will not be able to attend MUST inform the organiser by text message ASAP. Failure to do so will mean their player(s) being removed as a tournament member.

Round 1: All sections start at the same time – thereafter sections will continue at a different schedule. Results are reported to the tournament director.

Play: It will be assumed competitors will know the essential ideas of chess as no instruction can be given on the day, for example knowing the moves and so on. Players who attend and do not know how to play the game will not be invited back until they do. Whilst some leeway will be given for very young players in their first tournament the day cannot be given over to instruction.

Round 2: Players are to attend the playing room at the correct time. Schedules will be advertised and wherever possible play will continue to the schedule.

Devices: Only mobile phones used for recording are allowed in the playing room. All other phones are left with parents outside, or turned off and put away – they must be put in a pocket. Phones or devices going off will result in a ½ point penalty. No ear phones are to be worn during play and no other devices, books, puzzles, objects (lucky or otherwise) taken into the playing room other than to record the game, eg phone or pen/paper. Parents and guardians can visit the playing room prior to commencement but afterwards should remain outside. No one else is to enter the room.

Result: At the end of a game players reset the board and clock correctly. Also players should check these before their next game. The director is informed of the result. The players are not permitted to remain in the playing area and must retire to the next room, (the cafeteria) and do so quietly.

Discipline and conduct:  All competitors are expected to compete and conduct themselves in a way conducive to making the tournament a success. Any behaviour not deemed satisfactory will mean that that player might be ejected from the tournament and will not be invited back. The equipment is to be respected at all times: clocks are to be pressed not smacked, chess pieces are to be handled not thrown. Any acts of temper, whatever the age of the competitor, are unwelcome. The same expectations of conduct are required of the family in attendance, and any misconduct will result in the same exclusion.

Quiet please: Whilst every effort is made to provide a proper competitive environment as a Sunday morning as the Sports Centre there may be incidental noise – but all competitors when playing and when waiting in the adjacent rooms are required to maintain the minimum amount of noise. No handheld or computer devices are to be used with volume and if in use must be done with headphones to mute the noise made – the Wi-Fi connectivity on site is not considered good. Also general conversations and chit chat is to be done at the minimum volume so as not to distract players and carried out in the cafeteria.

 

Terms and Conditions:

Damage etc: The organiser accepts no responsibility for any damage, theft or accident to the person or property of any competitor, or other visitor at this event. Nor are they responsible for the effects of actions of anyone else attending this event or the Sports Centre. Those using phones to video do so at their own risk, and whilst every effort will be made to ensure those doing so can use tables away from other competitors, again the organiser accepts no liability for damage or loss.

No loco parentis: At no point is the tournament director responsible anyone’s children – of any age or at any time. No child under the age of 11 is allowed to attend the tournament unaccompanied by an adult or guardian. But they can remain on site by using the Sports Centre facilities, or garden whilst the event is taking place. The Sports Centre remains the loco parentis. Children aged 12+ can attend so long as they have a mobile phone and will supply a contact number so parents can be contacted in an emergency by the Sports Centre. As the parent is allowing the child to attend in this way the child is deemed to be sufficiently self-reliant and aware of their own needs; medication, to eat properly, how to behave, and what is expected of them. If at any time a parent leaves an underage child at the tournament and goes missing, they will not be invited back and neither will their child. The police will be informed by the Sports Centre of missing children/adults.

Cancellation of event: In the event that something prevents an event taking place everyone’s places will be carried over to the next event, or accommodated accordingly. This is because it is easier than providing refunds.

Emails and communication: In becoming a tournament member the family of the player accept that they will be receiving emails and required to act on the contents in order to take part. They also accept that they will be required to provide some personal information which is necessary for the event to take place. They also accept their obligation to inform the organiser of their situation with regard to attendance, non-attendance on the day in order to facilitate the smooth running of the event for all the participants. Failure to do this will result in being removed from the group email.

 

Rules: Available on request and sent out with the confirmation email.