🏆National Blitz 2025

Registration for the National Blitz 2025 is now open! Form Below ⬇️⬇️⬇️

The National Blitz will be a FIDE Rated 9 Round Swiss Tournament

🗓️ Date: Saturday 25^th October 2025

⏲️Time Control: 3 mins + 2 sec increment from move 1

📍Location: Cascadia Hotel: Chicki Chong Room

⌚Roll Call Time 1:15pm, if not present by 1:45pm will not be paired in Round 1.

💰Registration Fee: $120.00

Payments can be made directly to the TTCA’s  First Citizen’s Account:
Account number: 2016302
Bank: First Citizens Bank
Address: 1 Woodbrook Place

National Blitz Championship 2025 – Tournament Regulations

Trinidad and Tobago Chess Association

Venue

Cascadia Hotel – Chicki Chong Room
(Or as determined by the Trinidad and Tobago Chess Association)

PLAYING SESSIONS AND TIME CONTROL

1. This tournament shall be conducted as a 9-round Swiss System event.
2. The rules of FIDE Blitz Regulations (Appendix B) and FIDE Tournament Regulations shall be enforced at all times. The Chief Arbiter may advise of additional rules before the start of Round 1.
3. The control and management of the tournament, including pairings and schedule adjustments, shall be the responsibility of the Chief Arbiter (CA), in consultation with the Chief Organizer (CO) and Tournament Director (TD).
4. The Arbiter shall resolve all disputes during the course of play.
5. All games shall be played at the venue and at the times indicated unless stated otherwise by the Arbiter.
6. The default time shall be three (3) minutes after the start of the round. A player who arrives at the board after this time shall lose the game by default, unless the Chief Arbiter decides otherwise due to unforeseen circumstances.
7. Each player shall have three (3) minutes for the entire game, with an increment of two (2) seconds per move, starting from move one (1).
8. Recording of moves is not required.

CONDUCT OF PLAYERS & SPECTATORS

9. All participants are bound by the Laws of Chess and should behave in accordance with FIDE statutes and the highest principles of sportsmanship. Players who flaunt the established rules or norms of conduct may be penalized by the Arbiter.
10. Cell phones and other electronic devices must be turned off and left at the designated station during play. A player found in possession of such a device during a game shall lose the game.
11. No player may leave the playing area during a round without the Arbiter’s permission.
12. A player who fails to appear for two (2) rounds shall be considered to have withdrawn from the tournament, unless otherwise determined by the Chief Arbiter.
13. It is unsportsmanlike to prearrange game results. The Arbiter may impose penalties in such cases.
14. Players who abandon a game without resigning or notifying the Arbiter may be penalized for poor sportsmanship.
15. Players must observe proper dress code and maintain behavior consistent with the dignity of a national championship.
16. No smoking or consumption of alcoholic beverages will be permitted in the playing area for the duration of the tournament.
17. Spectators shall be unobtrusive and remain in designated areas. Persistent noise, gestures, or interference shall not be tolerated and may result in expulsion.
18. Spectators must also observe proper decorum and dress code.
19. Photography will be permitted only during the first five (5) minutes of Round 1 and the first two (2) minutes of subsequent rounds, unless the Chief Arbiter decides otherwise.

FAIR PLAY

Fair Play measures will be applied in accordance with FIDE Anti-Cheating Regulations.
During play, no electronic device shall be in the possession of any player, except with explicit approval of the Arbiter. Devices must be switched off and stored as instructed.
Spectators and companions are also prohibited from using electronic devices in the playing area unless authorized.

PENALTIES

20. When disputes arise, the Arbiter shall first seek resolution by reconciliation. If this fails, and where penalties are not specifically defined by FIDE Laws, the Arbiter may impose penalties including:
    a. Formal warning.
    b. Time adjustment on a player’s clock.
    c. Declaration of a game as lost or drawn.
    d. Expulsion of a player or spectator from the venue.
    e. Any other penalty deemed appropriate by the Arbiter.

SCORING OF GAMES

21. Results shall be recorded by the Arbiter and pairing software. Players must report the result immediately after the game concludes.
22. Scoring shall be as follows:

• Win: 1 point
• Draw: ½ point
• Loss: 0 points

DETERMINATION OF WINNER AND TIE-BREAKS

23. Final ranking shall be determined by the total number of points scored.
    In case of a tie, the following tie-breaks shall be applied in order:
    • Direct Encounter
    • Buchholz Cut 1
    • Buchholz
    • Sonneborn-Berger
    • Greater number of wins

If still tied Tie-break Games shall be played as described below for determining the top three (3) players only. For other tied places the players shall be declared as tied. If a group of players tie for a number of prizes, the money will be divided equally.

Should players still require additional tie break, then Tie-break Games would be required for determining the top three players of the following nature: after drawing of colors, two (2) tie-break games shall be played to determine the winner with a time control of 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move.

Initial colours shall be determined by lot in all cases below.

a.           If two players have to play a tie-break match:

They play a two-game mini-match at the rate of all the moves in 3 minutes with 2 seconds added on for each move from move 1. If this match is tied:

b.           A new drawing of lots for colours shall take place. The winner shall be the first winner of a game. After each odd-numbered game the colours shall be reversed.

c.           If three players have to take part in a play-off:

They play a one-game round robin at the rate as in a. If all three players again tie:

d.           A new one-game round robin is played until there is a winner or a two-player tie.

e.           If there is a two-player tie the procedure is then as in (a) for the two tied players.

f.            If four players have to take part in a play-off:

They play a knockout. The pairings shall be determined by lot. There shall be two-game elimination matches at the rate as in (a).

24. The Chief Arbiter reserves the right to make adjustments to the tie-break criteria as necessary.

APPEALS

25. An Appeals Committee of three members and two reserves shall be appointed by Round 1.
26. A player may appeal any ruling of the Arbiter by submitting a written appeal within four (4) minutes after the end of the round, accompanied by a TT$100 deposit to the Chief Arbiter or Tournament Director. The deposit will be refunded if the appeal is upheld or considered reasonable.
27. The decision of the Appeals Committee shall be final.

PRIZES

Place	Prize
1st	$1,500
2nd	$1,000
3rd	$700.00

Additional category prizes (Best Female, Junior) may be awarded at the discretion of the organizers.