ICCF Lockdown Open

Saturday, May 9, 2020: As over the board chess leagues around the world have closed their doors due to COVID-19 lockdown, correspondence chess continues.

In honour of all chess players who have succumbed to this terrible disease, ICCF announce a unique one-off event, the “ICCF Lockdown Open”. This is open to all chess players around the world, in particular we welcome players who are currently unable to play chess because of national lockdown.

Entry will be by Direct Entry or via the player’s member federation; the entry fee for direct entries will be €6.24 Euros. Registration will close on 20th June 2020. Multiple entries are allowed, however will be limited to the number of groups running in the first round, additional entries will be refunded if necessary.

You can enter the tournament here.

ICCF will donate 100% of the entry fees from this event to the COVID-19 Solidarity Fund for the World Health Organisation.

The time control will be Triple Block “650” with 75 days initial bank and 4 days increment for the first 50 moves; guaranteed time will be deployed after the first 50 moves.

The tournament will be split into two rounds:

Preliminary Round

Starting 30th June 2020.

Groups of 80-100 players using the Silli System. Each player will play twelve games against different opponents. Games will be rated and no title norms will be available.

Final

Starting June 2022

This will be a single group consisting each of the top ten players (taking into account tiebreaking rules) from each of the preliminary rounds, the final will also use the Silli system and consist of between 80 and 100 players depending on the size of the qualifying groups. Each player will play 12 games against different opponents. Games will be rated, and depending on the ratings of players, title norms may be available in the final.

Prizes

There will be no cash prizes as 100% of the entry fees will be donated to the COVID-19 Solidarity Fund for the World Health Organisation, however additional prizes may be available depending on sponsorship arrangements. The winner and first two runners up of the final will be presented with medals and certificates.

Frank Geider, ICCF World Tournament Director

Jörg Kracht, ICCF Non-Title Tournament Commissioner

Austin Lockwood, Tournament Organiser