129th New Zealand Chess Congress
Incorporating the New Zealand Championship, Major Open, New Zealand Rapid Championship, New Zealand Lightning Championship, New Zealand Junior and Age Group Championships and Canterbury Open.
Organised by the Canterbury Chess Club in association with the New Zealand Chess Federation.
Proudly sponsored by Respectrum Insurance Brokers, Bo. Systems New Zealand, Chessventures, Racecourse Hotel and Motor Lodge and Kiwi Gaming Foundation.
Sunday, January 2 - Wednesday, January 12, 2022
Venue
The venue is Riccarton Park at Riccarton Racecourse, 165 Racecourse Road, Sockburn, Christchurch.
Organiser and Chief Arbiter
For enquiries, please contact IA Craig Hall:
E-mail: canterbury@chess.org.nz
Mobile: (021) 1289-543
Entry Form
Link to printable entry form - updated 10 December with Covid Regulations.
In the event of any discrepancy between the printable entry form and this webpage, the information on the printable entry form shall take precedence.
Tournament Information
The New Zealand Championship, Major Open, New Zealand Rapid Championship, New Zealand Junior and Age Group Championships and Canterbury Open will be NZCF-rated. The New Zealand Championship, Major Open, Rapid, Lightning and New Zealand Junior and Age Group Championships will be FIDE-rated. Official New Zealand titles will be awarded. All tournaments will be paired with Vega.
Live Games
NZ Championship - all boards or follow on Lichess.
NZ Junior and Age Group Championships - top 12 boards or follow on Lichess.
NZ Rapid Championships - top 12 boards or follow on Lichess.
Follow on Vega
Championship,
Major Open,
Rapid,
Lightning,
NZ Junior,
Canterbury Open
Time Controls
- New Zealand Championship and Major Open: 40 moves in 90 minutes and an additional 30 minutes to finish the game for each player, with a 30 second increment from move 1
- New Zealand Junior and Age Group Championships and Canterbury Open: 60 minutes for each player with a 30 second increment from move 1
- New Zealand Lightning Championship: 3 minutes for each player with a 2 second increment from move 1
- New Zealand Rapid Championship: 25 minutes for each player with a 5 second increment from move 1
Tournament Timetable
- NZ Championship and Major Open (2-10 January): Players' meeting at 1:30pm on 2 January, all rounds including round 1 start at 2pm. Prizegiving will be at 8:00pm on 10 January.
- NZ Junior and Age Group Championships and Canterbury Open (3-9 January): Players' meeting at 8:30am on 3 January, all rounds including round 1 start at 9:00am. Prizegiving will be at approx. 12:30pm on 9 January.
- NZ Lightning (11 January): Players' meeting at 8:45am on 11 January, first round at 9am and subsequent rounds paired after the last game has finished. Prizegiving will be at approx. 11:30am.
- NZ Rapid (11-12 January): Players' meeting at 1:00pm on 11 January, first round at 1:30pm, subsequent rounds start at 2:45pm, 4pm and 5:15pm. Round 5 starts at 9:00am on 12 January, subsequent rounds start at 10:15am, 11:30am, 1:30pm, 2:45pm. Prizegiving will be at approx. 4:30pm.
Players and Accompanying Persons Banquet
$40 per person, 6:30pm at the venue. Prizegiving for the NZ Championship and Major Open will follow at 8:00pm.
Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Workshops
The AGM will be held at 9pm on 11 January. There will be two workshops prior to AGM. The first will start at 7pm and be on the topic of the strategic plan. The second will start at 8pm and be on the topic of the Tournament Regulations and related issues. Workshops are open to NZCF Councillors and AGM delegates, and are free to attend – please register with the Congress organiser or NZCF. AGM is open to all, but only delegates from affiliate members may vote. These will be held in the Phar Lap Room.
Prizes
There is a guaranteed total prize fund of $10,000 (full breakdown is in the entry form).
Entry Fees
| Tournament |
Before 20 Dec |
20 Dec or after |
| NZ Championship |
$200 |
$250 |
| NZ Major Open |
$120 |
$200 |
| NZ Junior Championship |
$70 |
$100 |
| Canterbury Open |
$50 |
$75 |
| NZ Rapid |
$60 |
$60 |
| NZ Lightning |
$35 |
$35 |
Additional $100 for entries to the NZ Championship with both NZCF and FIDE ratings under 2000 or $150 for unrated players (does not apply to the 2021 Major Open, North or South Island or NZ Junior Champions). Late entry fees apply as above but note that there are no late fees for the NZ Rapid or Lightning Championships.
GMs, WGMs, IMs and WIMs may enter free, subject to entry fees being deducted from any prizes.
Entry Details
Please note that NZ players who play two or more NZCF-rated tournaments in a calendar year must be members of an affiliate or associate member club of the New Zealand Chess Federation. To enter, please e-mail the organiser, IA Craig Hall: canterbury@chess.org.nz
Please include name, email, contact phone number, NZCF rating and ID, and FIDE rating and ID. FIDE ID is required - a FIDE ID will automatically be assigned to any NZL player who does not have one (eligibility requires NZ citizenship, a resident visa or permanent resident visa), and non-NZL players must have or obtain FIDE ID from their national federation. Payment can be made by using internet banking 03 0802 0093915 00 - please include your name and Congress as the reference. Entries will be confirmed by email reply to the entry email.
Entries with credit card payments may be made via Trybooking - please note that credit card and booking fees (3% + $0.30 per tournament) will be added to the total.
Entries are not confirmed until paid.
Tournament Regulations
- NZCF and FIDE Rating: Tournaments will be NZCF-rated and FIDE-rated where possible except that the Canterbury Open will not be FIDE-rated.
- BPairings and Rating-Based Prizes: NZCF ratings will be used for pairings and rating-based prizes except for the NZ Lightning Championship which will use FIDE blitz ratings. Players without ratings may be assigned a rating by the Chief Arbiter. The most recently-published rating lists will be used (November for NZCF, January for FIDE).
- NZ Player: Per NZCF regulations, NZ citizen or a player who is normally resident in New Zealand and has been resident in New Zealand for at least one year prior to Congress.
- Multiple Prizes and Tiebreaks: Players may not win more than one cash prize in a tournament – the highest cash prize will be paid and other prizes will be passed down to the next highest-placed player. Per NZCF regulations, titles and cash prizes will be shared by eligible players on the same score and ties will not be broken.
- Defaults: The default time is 30 minutes after the start of the round, per NZCF Regulations.
- Appeals: A player may appeal against a decision of the Arbiter. Appeals Committees will be appointed by the Organiser from players in each tournament except the NZ Lightning Championship where there will be no appeals (Chief Arbiter's decision is final). Appeals must be lodged in writing within 30 minutes of the end of the game (10 minutes for the Rapid Championship). A fee of $50 will apply which will be refunded if the appeal is successful or otherwise at the discretion of the Appeals Committee.
- Mobile Phones / Electronic Devices: During a game, players are forbidden to have a mobile phone, electronic means of communication or any device capable of suggesting chess moves on their person in the playing venue. Such devices may be stored in a player's bag or jacket, which is to be left under their table or the back of their chair during the game unless permission is given by the Arbiter. Such devices are to be switched off and are not to make any noise. Breaches of this rule will result in loss of game unless the Arbiter decides otherwise. This includes smart watches but not standard analogue or digital watches.
- Photos: Spectators may take photos during the first 5 minutes of a round.
- Small Entry: If fewer than 40 total entries are received in the NZ Championship and Major Open, the events will be combined with a combined prize fund as follows: 1st $1400, 2nd $900, 3rd $700, 4th $500, 5th $300, Under 2100 $300, Under 1900 $300, Under 1700 $300, Under 1400 $300. The Major Open Champion will be the highest-placed NZ player with either NZCF or FIDE rating below 2100.
- Small Entry to NZ Championship: Per NZCF Regulations, if fewer than 20 players enter the NZ Championship, players will be asked to move up from the Major Open.
- Covid-19: Congress will only go ahead if Christchurch is at Orange or Green in the Covid-19 Protection Framework but will be completed if play commences as scheduled.
- Refunds: If a player withdraws prior to 2 January, their entry fee will be refunded. If a player is removed from a tournament or otherwise unable to play or continue on or after 2 January, no refund will be paid. NZCF, Canterbury Chess Club or any organiser or arbiter will not be liable for any consequential loss if the tournament is cancelled or a player withdraws or is subject to any action or penalty under NZ Law, the Laws of Chess, NZCF or FIDE Rules or Regulations, or these tournament regulations.
- Cancellation: If any tournament is cancelled after 50% of the scheduled rounds have been completed, prizes and titles will be awarded based on the standings up to that point and entry fees will not be refunded. If the tournament is cancelled before that, entry fees will be refunded to the maximum extent possible after covering costs and no prizes awarded. Completed games will be submitted for rating in either case.
- Unwell Players and Spectators: Players should not enter or attend if they are or become unwell and should inform an Arbiter of non-attendance as soon as practical. Players who are disturbing other players e.g. with repeated sniffling, coughing, sneezing may be subject to the penalties outlined in the Laws of Chess. Spectators may be expelled and/or banned from the venue.
- Covid Precautions: Players should not enter or attend if they are awaiting the results of a Covid test, have been asked to isolate, have one or more Covid symptoms, have Covid, or are not willing to follow requirements of Covid legislation e.g. vaccine passes and QR scanning. Where the Chief Arbiter believes that any of these apply, the Chief Arbiter may declare the game lost or exclude the player from one or more rounds. If a player is excluded pending a Covid test, one half-point bye may apply at the discretion of the Chief Arbiter. If a player refuses to follow arbiter direction on these, they may be expelled from Congress. Spectators may be expelled and/or banned from the venue.
- Covid Hygiene:
- Hand sanitiser will be provided – clean hands frequently using hand sanitiser if hands are not visibly soiled, or soap and water when hands are visibly soiled
- If coughing or sneezing, cover nose and mouth with flexed elbow or paper tissue, dispose of tissue immediately after use and cleanse your hands. Refrain from touching your face until you have thoroughly washed your hands.
- Masks are recommended but not required to be worn
- Handshakes before and/or after the game are not required
- Equipment will be sanitised between rounds
- If necessary, restrictions may be placed on numbers of spectators in the playing venue and numbers of people in particular areas within the playing venue
- CVC Compliance: In line with current NZCF and venue policy, the banquet and all tournaments at Congress are CVC-compliant. This means all attendees including players, arbiters and spectators must provide a valid vaccine pass, exemption from the Ministry of Health, or be under the age of 12 years 3 months.
NZCF Rules and Regulations are available on the NZCF website in the Resources section and FIDE Laws of Chess and Regulations are available on the FIDE website in the Handbook section.
Accommodation
Racecourse Hotel and Motor Lodge is the closest hotel to the venue (across the road, around the corner from the main entrance) and is offering players a special rate of $120 per night for twin share rooms. To book, please contact them directly (contact details are on their website) and mention that you are playing in the chess tournament to get the special rate.
Other options in walking distance: