31st December 2010.
Below are the rules for the 2011 NZCF Chess Grand Prix, which starts with the 118th NZ Congress
in Auckland on 2nd January 2011.
There are a few changes this year which I should highlight:
Firstly, due to the current lack of a sponsor the Grand Prix prizes have had to be reduced –
but are still a fairly healthy total of over $4000.
All Grand Prix rating divisions have been raised by 100 points to offset the rating “inflation”
of last year.
The U14 and U1400 division has been replaced by an U12 and U1200 division. This is to encourage
younger players who are less likely to win prizes in divisions such as Junior and U1500.
The “special” prizes for non-prize-winning players outside Auckland and Wellington have been
increased, to encourage players and organisers in other areas to support the Grand Prix.
Two more “special” prizes have been added – for non-prize-winning juniors outside Auckland and
Wellington.
To be eligible for one of the four “special” prizes players must now gain GP points in at least
three events. This is to ensure that these prizes go to those who support the Grand Prix and
the various tournaments organised for everyone’s benefit.
Good luck everyone! Of course all players now start on zero points for the new season. We can
all look forward to another exciting year of chess.
Bob Smith
Grand Prix Administrator
NZCF President Paul Spiller
Photo by Stan Yee
Grand Prix Season
The NZCF Chess Grand Prix for 2011 officially begins on January 1, 2011 and will end
with the final Grand Prix event held before December 31, 2011.
Tournament Categories
There are four tournament categories, based on the total prize-fund offered.
Super Class – prize-fund $4,000 or more
Class 1 - prize fund $1,400 to less than $4,000
Class 2 - prize fund $700 to less than $1,400
Class 3 - prize fund $300 to less than $700
Grand Prix Points
Grand Prix points are awarded as follows:
Super Class: 1st 25, 2nd 20, 3rd 15, 4th 12, 5th 9.
Class 1: 1st 20, 2nd 15, 3rd 12, 4th 9, 5th 6.
Class 2: 1st 15, 2nd 12, 3rd 9, 4th 6, 5th 4.
Class 3: 1st 12, 2nd 9, 3rd 6, 4th 4, 5th 3.
In the case of ties, Grand Prix points will be shared and rounded to two decimal places.
Grand Prix Prizes
Open: 1st $600 2nd $450 3rd $300 4th $200
Under 2100: 1st $200 2nd $100 3rd $50
Under 1800: 1st $200 2nd $100 3rd $50
Under 1500: 1st $200 2nd $100 3rd $50
Junior: 1st $200 2nd $100 3rd $50
Female: 1st $200 2nd $100 3rd $50
Senior: 1st $200 2nd $100 3rd $50
Under 12 & U1200 1st $70 in chess books 2nd $50 in chess books 3rd $30 in chess
books
Special prizes:
Best non-prize-winning North Islander outside Auckland and Wellington $70
Best non-prize-winning South Islander $70
Best non-prize-winning North Island Junior outside Auckland and Wellington $50 in chess
books
Best non-prize-winning South Island Junior $50 in chess books
Eligibility
Only New Zealand citizens and residents can win Grand Prix points.
A player can win only one prize, but may compete in any number of divisions for which
he/she is eligible.
He/she will be allocated the largest prize won at the end of the season or, in the case
of prizes of equal value, the prize for the division where he/she finished in the higher
placing. If the eligible prize and placing are equal, the player shall be awarded the
prize from the division contested by the most players.
To be eligible for one of the four “special” prizes, a player must have been awarded
Grand Prix points in at least three events.
Rating Regulations
Ratings for grade divisions are based on players’ standard ratings in the most recently
published official NZCF list prior to the start of the Grand Prix i.e. November 2010.
Grand Prix points will be awarded in qualifying rating divisions, regardless of whether
players win prizes at an individual tournament.
A player’s best five events are counted towards his/her totals; these cannot include
more than three class 3 tournaments or more than 3 rapid events.
There is no differentiation between points offered at standard and rapid events.
Juniors are under 20 on 1 January, 2011.
Seniors are 60 or over on 1 January, 2011, or in the case of females, 50 or over.
Tournaments where entry is restricted by factors other than rating are not eligible
for grand prix points, except where there is a specified Grand Prix category e.g.
female, junior, senior.
In divisions where fewer than five qualifying events are held during the year, no
prizes will be paid out.
Where players choose to compete in a tournament with a rating category above their
level, they are not eligible for any Grand Prix points in their division.
An internal club tournament may earn Grand Prix points under the following conditions:
it is open to anyone in the country and publicised to all clubs, it can only be a
class 3 event, and the appropriate Grand Prix levy must be paid. N.B. A club may hold
a maximum of two internal Grand Prix events during the year.
Grand Prix Levies:
Tournaments included in the Grand Prix pay the following levies to NZCF
Auckland or Wellington:
Super Class: $200
Class 1: $150
Class 2: $100
Class 3: $ 50
All other areas:
Super Class: $180
Class 1: $130
Class 2: $ 80
Class 3: $ 30
These discounts recognise that Auckland and Wellington can claim a significant preponderance
of New Zealand’s chess population. They aim to encourage maximum participation in the Grand
Prix.
Multi-tier Events
Where tournaments are effectively several different restricted events, only one levy is payable,
based on the total prize-fund e.g. the New Zealand Championship and Major Open attract only one
levy, as they run concurrently and cater for different rating groups. They are both regarded as
being in the same category, based on the combined prize-fund. However the New Zealand Rapid
Championship is regarded as a separate tournament, as it is run at a different time and is open
to all players. It attracts a separate levy, as do the North and South Island Rapid
Championships.
Official NZCF Tournaments
All official NZCF Tournaments held before 31 December 2011 are automatically included
in the 2011 Grand Prix. These are:
The New Zealand Championship
The New Zealand Major Open
The New Zealand Rapid Championship
The North Island Championship
The North Island Rapid Championship
The South Island Championship
The South Island Rapid Championship
The New Zealand Junior Championship
The New Zealand Junior Rapid Championship
The New Zealand Women’s Championship
The New Zealand Seniors’ Championship
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Tournament Organisers’ Responsibilities
To advise the Grand Prix Administrator at least one month before a tournament that it
will be a Grand Prix event, pay the relevant NZCF levy and provide the name and contact
details of a person responsible for ensuring a tournament report and games are
forwarded to the “NZ Chess” magazine within a fortnight of the completion of the event.
To ensure the Grand Prix and Grand Prix is mentioned on tournament entry forms.
To endeavour to publicise the Grand Prix in any media coverage.
To make the most recent Grand Prix standings available to tournament participants
at the start of the event.
To advise the Grand Prix Administrator of the complete results within a fortnight
of the completion of the tournament (the sooner the better).
Grand Prix Administrator
The Grand Prix administrator for 2011 is FM Bob Smith. He will be responsible for:
Updating the Grand Prix standings as soon as possible after each tournament.
Making the current Grand Prix standings available to organisers prior to the start
of their tournaments.
Ensuring the current standings are publicised in NZCF bulletins, in “NZ Chess”, and on
www.nzchess.co.nz website of the New Zealand Chess Federation.
Bob Smith can be contacted by
Phone: (07) 575 5845 or 0274 786 282
Email: Caissa@xtra.co.nz
Postal: For postal enquiries or information - 3 Acacia Court, Mt Maunganui, Tauranga 3116
