ICCF Grandmaster Norm Tournament Announcement
Sunday, October 19, 2008: Grandmaster Norm Tournament Announcement Update
Introduction - The ICCF Grandmaster Norm Tournament is a regular tournament offered by the ICCF to be played by webserver. All sections of this tournament type offer title norms which are specially stated in the start list of the respective tournament section. Each section of the ICCF Grandmaster Norm tournament consists of 13 players (12 games for each player, 6 white and 6 black).
Qualifications – Only those players that meet one of the following qualifications will be permitted to enter an ICCF Master Norm tournament.
- Fixed (based on more than 29 games) rating of at least 2450 on the latest ICCF rating list, or
- Unfixed (based on 12-29 games) rating of at least 2500 on the latest ICCF rating list, or
- FIDE rating of at least 2500 on the latest FIDE rating list.
Registration - The Master Norm Tournament falls under the responsibility of the ICCF Title Tournament Commissioner, Mr. Gian Maria Tani ( gianmaria.tani@gmail.com ). Entries may be made via two separate ways:
a) National Federations may make entries on behalf of their players directly to Mr. Gian Maria via e-mail, or
b) Qualified players may register via Direct Entry at http://www.iccf-webchess.com/EventsAnnouncements.aspx and clicking on the Enter button at the far right. Note: Only those players who meet the qualifications below and their Member Federation have selected to participate in the Direct Entry programme may apply through Direct Entry. Players may verify their National Federation DE selection at http://www.iccf.com/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=95&Itemid=69
National Federations submitting applications or players registering via Direct Entry should indicate on their application which qualification they are claiming.
Special Rule - Any player (even without official qualification as listed above) may be allocated to a Grandmaster Norm section by the tournament organizer if he/she just does not lower the category! As a result, such a rule can only be used for the players entering the group as player No. 12 or 13. Normally such outstanding entries will require a longer waiting time for the player as a suitable tournament group will have to be found. The tournament organizer may reject any entry falling under this rule if the player´s rating number is considered as too low.
Special Notice to Existing Grandmasters and Player with an ICCF Fixed Rating of 2600 and above. As decided by the 2008 Congress in Pleven, if you have been awarded an ICCF Grandmaster Title or have an ICCF Fixed rating of 2600 or above in the latest rating list, then you may play in ICCF Grandmaster Norm Tournaments Free of Charge! Simply apply through the special link available at http://www.iccf-webchess.com/EventsAnnouncements.aspx and clicking on Enter in the appropriate Free Grandmaster tournament line.
Entry Fees – Entry fees may be paid two ways depending on method of application:
(a) If via National Federation (NF) – each NF will set their own rates for its members
(b) If via Direct Entry (DE) – As part of the DE process, rates for this tournament will be presented in multiple currencies prior to application.
Restrictions – Each player may only enter one (1) webserver norm tournament in each 6-month cycle. Each player may only enter one (1) postal norm tournament in each 1-year cycle.
In conclusion a player could enter at a maximum three (3) Norm tournaments per year: two (2) Webserver Norm Tournaments and one (1) Postal Norm Tournament.
Note: The term "norm tournament" includes the Master Norm Tournament and the Grandmaster Norm Tournament.