Golden Knights Regulations 2017-2020

  1. The US Chess Correspondence Chess Championship/Golden Knights Championship is open to all US Chess members who reside on the North American continent and islands, Hawaii, and to US Chess member with an APO/FPO address. US Chess membership must remain current throughout your participation in the tournament. Entry fees are to be paid in U.S. Dollars.
  2. The tournament will consist of three rounds (preliminaries, semifinals, and finals), each of which will probably last 2½ years. Sections for each round will consist of seven players, usually of varying strengths; unrated players are welcome as this is an Open event. Each player will be assigned six games in each round of play, three with White and three with Black.
  3. Those who score four and a half (4½) or more points (not weighted-point totals) will advance to the next round. If no one scores four and a half or more, those who scored four (4) will advance. If necessary, the last semi-final and finals sections may be filled out with players who scored four (4) points. The selection of these players will be based on the highest rated at that time.
  4. Players who do not qualify for the semifinals will receive a gift certificate valued at $7.00. Those semifinalists who do not qualify for the finals will receive a certificate suitable for framing. Those who complete all three rounds with no forfeit losses will receive a Golden Knights pin and can possibly win prize money depending on their weighted-point score.
  5. Cash prizes will be distributed as follows based on weighted-point scores (see Rule 6):
    • First Place: $800.00, plus title of Golden Knights Champion and a plaque
    • Second Place: $500.00
    • Third Place: $300.00
    • Fourth-Tenth: $100.00 each.
    • Note: Prize fund based on 200 entries and will be increased or decreased proportionately per number of entries assigned.
  6. For computing weighted-points scores (used for distribution of prizes only not for advancing), each game won in the preliminary round will count as 1.0. Each game won in the semi-final round will count as 2.2. Each game won in the final round will count as 4.5. Draws count as half the weighted-value of a win. Forfeit wins are recognized as a regular win. A perfect score (winning all 18 games) would total 46.20. If two or more contestants tie for money places, they will share equally the sum total of all prizes involved.
  7. Upon entering, each contestant agrees that the decision of the US Chess Correspondence Chess Director (CCD) shall be final in all matters regarding the conduct of the tournament, including acceptance and classification of entries, the adjudication of games, the distribution of prizes, and all interpretations of the rules and regulations.
  8. The entry fee is $25.00, which covers all three rounds should that player keep advancing. A player may enter up to 10 times, paying $25.00 for each, provided he applies early enough to allow placement. (See Rule 9.)
  9. Single entries must be processed online or postmarked by December 31; two entries by September 30, three to four entries by August 31, five to seven entries by July 31, and eight to ten entries by June 30. US Chess will not be obligated to pair entries postmarked after December 31 for the current year Golden Knights Championship. We will move your entry forward to the next year at no additional cost should the entry fee for next year be increased. US Chess will begin receiving entries for the Golden Knights Championship after December 1 of the previous year, but pairings will not begin for the current Golden Knights Championship until January 1.
  10. Except as provided in the foregoing rules, this tournament will be conducted under the most recent version of the US Chess Correspondence Chess Rules, including any amendments or additions thereto. Late reports, assignments, forfeits, and other important information will be announced by email whenever possible.
  11. A forfeiture by one player to two opponents in one section may lead to further forfeits by that player.
  12. Loss on Time/Repeats/Time Complaints:
    1. In the Preliminary and Semi-Final rounds, if a player oversteps the time limit, they will receive a 5-day reflection time penalty for the first offense, and loss of game for any subsequent overstep.
    2. In the Final rounds, if a player oversteps the time limit, this will result in loss of game for that player.
    3. Repeats, time complaints and loss on time claims should follow the procedures outlined in the US Chess CC rules per Rule #15.