World Correspondence Chess Championship 2020 Cycle:
Saturday, March 7, 2020: semi-finals of the 44th WCCC
Following the decisions of the ICCF Congress 2011, all Semi-Final Sections of the World Correspondence Chess Championship shall start on the same day and only once per year.
The start date of the Semi-Finals of the 44th WCCC is June 20, 2020.
All entries will be accepted according with ICCF Tournament Rules valid as from January 1st, 2020, to be received not later than May 10, 2020.
Member Federations Nominations (MFN) for the Semi-Finals should also be submitted not later than May 10, 2020.
Rating numbers will be taken from the ICCF Rating List as at April 1, 2020 and/or from the current FIDE Rating List.
Semi-Finals Sections normally have 13 players with the possibility for the TTC to extend them to 15 or 17 players if appropriate in special situations.
Players entering more than one section will be accepted only to fill vacancies.
If the number of the entries won’t be a multiple of 13 or 15, sections will be fullfilled with the players who ask to enter the Semi-Finals according Rule 1.2.1.2.3; if it would again impossible to fullfill a section, the players who have been entered according to points (i), (j), (k) and (l) and who have the lowest ICCF ELO rating in list 2020/2 won’t be admitted to the Semi-Finals.
Entries have to be sent through the „New events“ page of www.iccf.com. The entry fee can be paid via Direct Entry or via the player’s National Federation. Entries of „reserve players“ have to be sent by e-mail to the TTC via the player’s National Federation.
It is mandatory that the qualification right under ICCF Rule 1.2.1.2 should be specified for each entry.
The ICCF Executive Board asks that all ICCF Delegates ensure that this important information is made available in all national CC magazines and websites. It is the responsibilty of Delegates to ensure that all players are made aware of these arrangements.
Any questions and/or requests for clarification should be directed to the ICCF Title Tournaments Commissioner, Gian-Maria Tani ttc@iccf.com.
Torino, March 7, 2020
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Appendix. Section 1 of the ICCF Rules
1.2.1.2 Semi-Finals of the World CC Championship
1. The following will be entitled to enter a WCCC Semi-Final:
(a) the participants in one of the previous or running Finals if they have not earned a higher qualification.
(b) the participants in one of the previous or running Candidates' Tournaments who have scored at least 50% of the possible points if they have not earned a higher qualification.
(c) the participants in one of the previous or running Semi-Finals who finished in place 3 or 4 or scored at least 60% of the possible points but did not qualify for the Candidates' Tournament.
(d) the first and second placed players from a Preliminary section.
(e) the participants in a Final of the ICCF World Cup Tournament who finished in place 3 or 4 or scored at least 60% of the possible points (This does not include the ICCF Veterans World Cup or Chess 960 World Cup Tournaments).
(f) the participants in one of the previous or running acknowledged Zonal Championships of tournament average rating at 2451 or higher who finished in place 3 or 4 or scored at least 60% of the possible points.
(g) the two top finishers from the acknowledged Zonal Championships of the tournament average rating at 2450 or below.
(h) those players, who, at the time of nomination have ratings of 2400 and higher, are entered through their own national organisation.
(i) the holders of the Correspondence Chess International Master title with fixed ratings above 2500. (*)
(j) the holders of the Correspondence Chess Senior International Master title with fixed ratings above 2450. (*)
(k) the holders of the Grandmaster Title with ratings above 2400. (*)
(l) those players who have a fixed rating above 2550. (*)
(*) ELO ratings used in these Rules refer to any of those rating lists published in the preceding 12 months when submitting the entry to the TTC.
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3. Any player with a fixed rating of 2450 or above can ask to enter a WCCC Semi-Final section. The highest rated players will be accepted only to fulfill a section if the number of the entries won’t be a muliple or 13 or 15.