X. Time Limit on Moves

A.    Master Division

a.       Each match in the Master Division shall be timed by “match clocks.”  The clocks will be set according to one of the following two options.  1)  At beginning of the round, 90 minutes will be set on both players' side of the clock.  Or 2)  (this option requires digital clock with appropriate program) 80 minutes + 10-second increment will be set on both players' side of the clock.  In other words, each player earns additional 10 seconds of time with each press of the clock.  If the players cannot mutually agree on which of these time options to use, then the decision shall be decided at random (e. g., coin flip).

b.      A player whose time expires forfeits the current game, as well as the next game if not started.  The clocks shall be paused between games, but the clock times shall not be reset prior to the second game.  Whatever time shows on the clocks at the conclusion of the first game is the time the player has to play the entire second game.  The number of moves made is not relevant with respect to time control. 

c.       Each player’s clock runs independently during his/her turn to move, and each player is charged independently with the obligation to complete his/her own games within the time allotment.  .

d.      As the game starts, Red’s clock is started, Red’s first balloted move is made, Red’s clock is stopped, and White’s is automatically started, etc.  Alternatively, the three balloted moves may be played prior to starting white's clock for white's second move.  It is the responsibility of the player making a move to stop his/her own clock; the player’s move is not legally complete until the player’s clock is stopped.  The Referee may also call attention to impending time trouble (5 minutes or less prior to a time control), and spectators are never to do so.  Time requirements are still the responsibility of the individual players, and continued inattention to proper clock operation can result in forfeiture of the game.

e.       The evidence of the match clocks shall be considered conclusive if there are not evident defects in the clocks.  The player claiming any clock defective must do so when the player becomes aware of the malfunction.

f.       If the game must be interrupted through the fault of neither player, both clocks are stopped.

g.      During the game, each player is required, either to:

                                                              i.      Record the game, including all jumps (not by “X”) on the official game sheet, or

                                                            ii.      Record the count of each of his moves on the numbered sheets.  Even though time clocks that have move-counters might be used, the game record or move-count record shall govern in case of conflict if, for example, a forty-move count is requested.

h.      Any player in time shortage (5 minutes or less) is not obliged to continue recording every move made in the game during that phase, but instead may place a tick on their score sheet after every move until the game is concluded.  When a flag has fallen or game concluded, the player must update their score sheet completely using standard notation.  If both players are in time shortage, the Referee can be present to keep a record of the moves made.  .

i.        Because the Master Division is open-ended without rigid round-ending time, it is important that the Master Division matches are not subject to the One-Minute Rule because of this mandatory use of clocks.

B.     Major and Minor Divisions

a.       Either the time clocks or the ordinary five-minute rule shall apply to timing moves.  However, since it is impossible to provide a timekeeper for every board, the players must observe the five-minute rules on their own.  Any player at any time has the right to ask for the timekeeper to conduct the five-minute rule for any match that he or she finds is moving too slowly.  A clock cannot be introduced into a game that is already in progress.

b.      If players mutually agree to use match-clock, or if the Referee assigns a clock, they shall observe all the clock rules of the Master Division given in X.A.(a-i) of this Section.

c.       The Referee will make every effort to prevent slow-moving matches by assigning timekeepers or match-clocks, as required.  But there may be unavoidable instances of a game not being completed toward the end of a game.  For these cases, the “Lowder Rule” (One Minute per Move) shall apply as follows: The Referee will warn the players 30 minutes before the end of the round time.  The Referee, at a later time of his/her choosing, will require each player to make a move within one minute of each turn to move.  The Referee will. at minimum, give a 10-second warning before the expiration of the minute, and will declare the game forfeited if the player has not moved within the one-minute period.  This ONE-MINUTE RULE is for the purpose of avoiding adjudication by enabling the players to reach their own result.

d.      For last resort cases, which cannot be decided even with the ONE-MINUTE RULE, the Referee shall appoint an Adjudication Committee of three expert players to adjudicate the result of an unfinished game that occurs when reaching the end of the scheduled round.  A high-level program may be consulted, but the entered position and move should be confirmed for accuracy.  Adjudication decisions are binding and final.  There shall be no appeal of “post-mortem” analysis permitted.  An adjudication win can only be awarded by unanimous vote of the Committee.

e.       No game shall be started later than 30 minutes before a round time is scheduled to end.  Any game, not started in accordance with this rule, shall be declared drawn.

XII. Recording of Games

Each Master player in each match has an obligation to turn in a legible copy of the games before the next round begins.  That is, both copies, one from each player, are necessary to permit crosschecking for recording errors.  Each player shall be responsible for verifying that the games and score for each round are turned in to the Referee, or prize money may become forfeited. Major and Minor players are not required to record their games, but are encouraged to do so.

We appreciate the $20,000+ in prize money... the largest fund ever for a national tournament!  This money will be divided among the top players in three categories: Masters $11,560, Majors $5,480 and Minors $2,960. This event being sponsored by David Seres of Newport Beach, California, Dr. Ken Seres of Edmond, Oklahoma, and Jeannie and Joe McDaniel of Tulsa, Oklahoma. In addition to the prize fund, door prizes, lunch, airport shuttle, coffee, drinks, water, & snacks all provided by the sponsors. We should express our appreciation with word and a hardy round of applause to our Score-Keeper, Darlene Stallsworth, our tournament Director, Joe McDaniel, and others who helped organize this tournament.

2017 Tournament Dates   |   2017 Joe's 11-Man National Invitation Letter