1998 Interplay US Chess Championship: Time Controls

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1998 Interplay US Chess Championship:

The 1998 Interplay US Chess Federation will be held in Denver, Colorado, and will determine not only the 1998 US Chess Champion, but also who will qualify for the 1998 FIDE World Championship Tournament. For more information, see the Feature Section on the event.

Time Controls for Both Events | Tiebreak for Overall Championship

Time Controls

These time controls apply to both events. Time controls for the basic games are changed from those previously announced to 40 moves in 100 minutes, followed by 20 moves in 50 minutes, followed by all moves in 10 minutes. Each player shall receive an extra 30 seconds thinking time after each move played (Fischer method), commencing from the first move.

All players are required to keep score throughout the game, including during the final minutes. As prescribed by FIDE, each player is required to record his own moves and those of his opponent, move after move, as clearly and legibly as possible. A player may reply to his opponent's move before recording it, if he so wishes. He must record his previous move before making another.

The offer of a draw must be recorded on the scoresheet (=) by both players.

During the tie-break games, players are not required to keep score.

Tiebreaks

These tiebreak rules apply only to the Overall Championship. There are no tie-breaks for the 1998 Interplay U.S. Women's Championship; all tied players are considered co-champions in that event.

The primary goal of the tie-break procedure is to determine the players who will move on to the semi-final round. The secondary goal is to determine the player order for the 1998 FIDE World Championship.

The top two finishers in each group progress to the semi-finals. The top three finishers in each group qualify for the WCT.

In each of groups I and II:

#1. If A, B and C are top scores but not tied, the top two go to the USCF semis and all three go to WCT. No play-off.

#2. If A & B are tied and C is clear third, the same result as #1.

#3. If A & B & C are tied for first place with equal scores, they play off for the two USC semi-final spots, but all three go to the WCT.

#4. If A & B are tied and C & D are tied in the next lower score group, C & D play off of the WCT spot.

#5. If A is clear first and B & C tie for second, B & C play off for the USC semis while all three go to the WCT.

#6. If A is clear first and B & C & D are tied for second, B & C & D play off for the USC semis (one place) as well as the WCT (one additional place).

This page was last updated September 28, 1998