How to run a FIDE Rated Event
10-23-98

This document is for informational use only and subject to change without
notification. For current information, please consult the USCF Technical Director.

Running an event that will be rated by FIDE is not difficult and does not add a great deal of extra work to that needed to organize, run, or report an event for USCF rating. The following information is provided for the use of an organizer who desires to run a FIDE rated event. Please note that these are the requirements for "ratings" events. Any event designed to award FIDE Title Norms must meet additional requirements. Please contact the Technical Director for additional information about running tournaments designed to award FIDE Title Norms.

The FIDE handbook, rating lists and a copy of the current FIDE rules should be reviewed by any TD who desires to run FIDE rated events, especially when FIDE rules are used. Please check the FIDE web-site or contact the Tech. Dir. for information on cost and availability of this information.

The following outlines the minimum steps necessary to run a FIDE rated event.
  1. Design the event so it meets FIDE and USCF requirements.

    2. FIDE has restrictions on both the number of rounds per day and on the time controls used for the event. Additionally, you may decide to use either USCF or FIDE rules for running the event. Please follow the steps below in designing your event.

    1. All events submitted for FIDE rating must also be USCF rated. If the event is listed in Chess Life's TLA area the event must be listed as FIDE rated event. Only the top section of a swiss system event will be FIDE rated unless special arrangements are made with the USCF's Technical Director. Only events such as the NY Open where there is a significant opportunity for several players to achieve ratable results in a lower section will be granted this permission.
    2. If the event does not have a TLA, the players must be informed that the results will be submitted for FIDE rating. This notification must appear in pre-tournament publicity and must be posted at the event. Additionally, the TD must provide the office with a written statement that the players have been informed that the event will be FIDE rated.
    3. FIDE's requirements for rounds and time controls are:
      1. Rounds - no more then three rounds a day and no more then 12 hours playing time.
      2. Time Controls - For a game to be rated each player must have a minimum of two hours in which to complete all the moves assuming that the game lasts 60 moves. An event is allowed to use more then one schedule where some games are not ratable. Contact the Technical Director if you need information on this option. Examples of various time controls permitted by FIDE are:
        1. The rate of play must not exceed 23 moves per hour in any stage
        2. All the moves in two hours
        3. 40 moves in two hours followed by SD/30
        4. All moves in 100 minutes but each time a player makes a move an additional 30 seconds is added to the clock time.
    4. If FIDE rules will be used, this must be listed in the TLA, advance publicity, and posted at the site.
      1. NOTE: Effective in July 1999, FIDE rules will be required to be used for all FIDE rated events. Some of the primary differences include:
        1. The TD can call a flag down without a claim from the players.
        2. Complete scoresheets are not required to claim a win on time.
  2. Notify the USCF's Technical Director that a FIDE rated event will be held.

    3. This is absolutely necessary, as all events are required to be registered with FIDE in advance. The USCF should be notified a minimum of 60 days in advance of the start date of the tournament.

    The following information must be provided to FIDE and should be included in the notification to the Technical Director. This can be mailed or e-mailed to the Technical Director.

      1. Organizer name, address, and phone # (email optional and appreciated).
      2. Tournament Name, City & State, Start and Stop dates.
      3. Projected # of players if invitational or qualification.
      4. # of rounds and all time controls.
      5. Level and type of tournament - normally a swiss system rating event.
      6. Manner of choice of participants - open, invitational, qualification, or other.
      7. TD name, level, and expiration date.
  3. Report the event for rating.

    4. In addition to the normal rating report that is submitted to the USCF for rating, the following information must be submitted to the Technical Director to help insure the accuracy of the rating report. This information may either be mailed directly to the Technical Director or may be included in the envelope with the rating report. If included in the envelope, please place it on a separate piece of paper and clearly mark it Attn: Technical Director - FIDE Rating Information.

    1. A list or an annotated copy of the wall chart identifying all FIDE rated players. The inclusion of their FIDE ID numbers and ratings is appreciated but not required. Please request that all players who have a FIDE rating let you know. A simple copy of the wall chart with an easy to see indicator such as highlighting the pairing number works well. Include a note letting the Tech. Dir. know how you are identifying the FIDE rated players.
    2. If the event had schedules that included time controls that are not ratable by FIDE, all the non-ratable games must be indicated. This can be accomplished by either providing a list of player numbers and rounds for the non-ratable games or by highlighting the non-ratable games on the wall chart. A simple line such as below is quite sufficient.

Rounds 1-2 were played at G/60 for players 1,3,4,6,7,399