Rules for 2025 Vidor Checkers Festival Events

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1.    The 2025 Vidor Checkers Festival will be played in Vidor, TX, USA from June 26 to July 6, 2025. It will consist of four events: 1) an International Match between USA and South Africa (June 26-28), 2) the World Checkers Blitz Tournament (June 29), 3) the 2025 ACF National 3-Move Tournament (June 30-July 3), and 4) the 11-Man Ballot National Tournament and World Qualifying Tournament (July 4-6).

2. The Referee will be Watson Franks (USA) and the Assistant Referee will be Dr. John Acker (USA). For events where Watson Franks is competing directly, John Acker will serve as Referee.

3. The Vidor Checkers Festival will be played at the Vidor, TX City Hall (1395 N Main St, Vidor, TX 77662, USA). Discounted lodging is available at the Holiday Inn Express Vidor South (20691 I-10, Vidor, Texas 77662). The hotel phone number is (409) 783-2420 and the website is https://www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/us/en/vidor/bptvi/hoteldetail

4. The WCDF “Rules of Draughts (Checkers),” posted at https://wcdf.net/rules.htm, will govern play. Specifically, all players must use time clocks to ensure fair play and timely progress in the tournament. Likewise, all players must record their moves and the game result, subject to the “Time Shortage” regulations in the WCDF rules (3.12 ff), and they must submit their scoresheets to a referee to receive points for the round.

5. For two-game rounds, players may not leave the room between the first and second games of their round. Each player will receive two points for a won game, one point for a drawn game, and zero points for a lost game. 

6. Players will be assigned to a tournament division (Masters, Majors, or Minors) based on their level and official ACF ratings. In general, players rated 1900+ should play in the Masters, players rated 1600-1899 should play in the Majors, and players rated under 1600 should play in the Minors. Requests to play up or down one division will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

7. The entry fee is $20 for the Blitz tournament (all divisions) and $30 for the 11-Man Ballot tournament (all divisions). For the 3-Move Nationals, entry fees are $50 for the Masters division and $30 for the Majors and Minors. Cash and checks will be accepted at the tournament, but please contact John Acker (acker.jt@gmail.com) if you'd like to pay electronically. A valid ACF membership is required to play in the 3-Move Nationals or the 11-Man Ballot WQT.

8. Players, spectators, and visitors must remain quiet in the tournament room, to allow other players to concentrate on their games. Cell phones should be kept off or on silent mode throughout tournament play. A separate room will be made available for socializing and game reviews.

US vs. South Africa International Match 

Venue: Vidor City Hall (1395 N Main St, Vidor, TX 77662, USA)

Format: 3-Move Checkers (156-opening deck), 2-game rounds

Pairings: Team Match (see http://bit.ly/4l8Ubxj) 

Time Control: 45 minutes per game + 20 seconds per move

Opening Ceremony: Thursday, June 26, 8:30 AM Central (3:30 PM in South Africa)

Day 1: Thursday, June 26

Round 1: 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM (4:00 PM to 7:30 PM in South Africa)

Lunch: 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM 

Round 2: 1:30 to 5:00 PM (8:30 PM to 1:00 AM in South Africa)

Dinner: 7:00 PM

Day 2: Friday, June 27

Round 3: 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM (4:00 PM to 7:30 PM in South Africa)

Lunch: 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM 

Round 4: 1:30 to 5:00 PM (8:30 PM to 1:00 AM in South Africa)

Dinner: 7:00 PM

Day 3: Saturday, June 28

Round 5: 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM (4:00 PM to 7:30 PM in South Africa)

Lunch: 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM 

Round 6: 1:30 to 5:00 PM (8:30 PM to 1:00 AM in South Africa)

Closing Award Ceremony: 6:00 PM (2:00 AM in South Africa)

Dinner: 7:00 PM

World Checkers Blitz Tournament 

Venue: Vidor City Hall (1395 N Main St, Vidor, TX 77662, USA)

Format: 3-Move Checkers (156-opening deck), 2-game rounds

Pairings: Round Robin if under 20 players; 11-round Swiss if over 20 players 

Time Control: 3 minutes per game + 2 seconds per move

Results: https://challonge.com/vidorblitz

Day 1: Sunday, June 29

Round 1: 9:00 AM

Round 2: 9:30 AM

Round 3: 10:00 AM

Round 4: 10:30 AM

Round 5: 11:00 AM

Round 6: 11:30 AM

Lunch: 12:00 to 1:00 PM

Round 7: 1:00 PM

Round 7: 1:30 PM

Round 8: 2:00 PM

Round 9: 2:30 PM

Round 10: 3:00 PM

Round 11: 3:30 PM

(Further rounds as needed for Round Robin format.)

2025 ACF National 3-Move Tournament

Venue: Vidor City Hall (1395 N Main St, Vidor, TX 77662, USA)

Format: 3-Move Checkers (156-opening deck), 2-game rounds

Pairings: Swiss, 10 rounds 

Time Control: 40 minutes per game + 10 seconds per move

Results: https://challonge.com/events/acf2025/

Day 1: Monday, June 30

Round 1: 8:30 to 11:30 AM

Lunch: 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM

Round 2: 1:00 to 4:00 PM

Dinner: 7:00 PM

Day 2: Tuesday, July 1

Round 3: 8:30 to 11:30 AM

Lunch: 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Round 4: 12:30 to 3:30 PM

Break: 3:30 to 4:30 PM

Round 5: 4:30 to 7:30 PM

Dinner: 8:00 PM

Day 3: Wednesday, July 2

Round 6: 8:30 to 11:30 AM

Lunch: 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Round 7: 12:30 to 3:30 PM

Break: 3:30 to 4:30 PM

Round 8: 4:30 to 7:30 PM

Dinner: 8:00 PM

Day 4: Thursday, July 3

Round 9: 8:30 to 11:30 AM

Lunch: 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM

Round 10: 1:00 to 4:00 PM

Closing Award Ceremony: 5:00 to 6:00 PM

Dinner: 7:00 PM
 

11-Man Ballot National Tournament and World Qualifying Tournament

Venue: Vidor City Hall (1395 N Main St, Vidor, TX 77662, USA)

Format: 11-Man Ballot Checkers, 2-game rounds

Pairings: Swiss, 7 rounds 

Time Control: 40 minutes per game + 10 seconds per move

Results: https://challonge.com/events/acf2025/

Day 1: Friday, July 4

Round 1: 8:30 to 11:30 AM

Lunch: 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM

Round 2: 1:00 to 4:00 PM

Round 3: 4:00 to 7:00 PM

Dinner: 8:00 PM

Day 2: Saturday, July 5

Round 4: 8:30 to 11:30 AM

Lunch: 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Round 5: 12:30 to 3:30 PM

Break: 3:30 to 4:30 PM

Round 6: 4:30 to 7:30 PM

Dinner: 8:00 PM

Day 3: Sunday, July 6

Round 7: 8:30 to 11:30 AM

Lunch: 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Playoff (if needed): 12:30 to 3:30 PM

Closing Award Ceremony: after final round