Commonwealth Open Championship, Commonwealth Age-Group Championships & Challengers Tournaments

1. Organisation

The Festival is organised by Singapore Chess Federation under the auspices of the Commonwealth Chess

Association, Asian Chess Federation and Singapore Sports Council in collaboration with Asean Chess

Academy and Teck Ghee Community Club.

2. Schedule

9th December : Arrival of Players

9th December : Technical Meeting – 2000 hour (players not present shall not be paired for Round 1)

10th December : Round 1 – 0900 hour; Round 2 – 1600 hour

11th December : Round 3 – 0900 hour; Round 4 – 1600 hour

12th December : Round 5 – 0900 hour; Round 6 – 1600 hour

13th December : Round 7 – 0900 hour; Round 8 – 1600 hour

14th December : Round 9 – 0900 hour; Closing Ceremony – 1500 hour

15th December : Departure of Players

Note: For foreign players staying at the Official Hotel, the bus will depart at 1900 hour for the Technical

Meeting. Only for the 1st round, transportation will be provided from Hotel Bencoolen to the Playing

Venue – the bus will depart at 0800 hour sharp.

3. Time Control and Format

Swiss System; FIDE-rated and titled; Rate of play will be 90 minutes for the whole game with 30 seconds

increment for every move starting from the first move. Zero-Start shall be applied.

4. Prize Fund : US$14,500

4.1 Commonwealth Championship (US$10,500):

Only players from Commonwealth nations are eligible for this Event.

1st $2500; 2nd $1500; 3rd $1000; 4th $800; 5th $600; 6th $500; 7th $400; 8th $300; 9th to 15th $200 each;

Best Women $1,000; $500

4.2 Commonwealth Age-Group Championships (US$3,000): Categories (as on 1.1.2009) Under-20,

Under-16 & Under-12

1st $400; 2nd $300; 3rd $200; Best Girl $100

4.3 Challengers Group (US$1,000): For players rated below 2200

1st $300; 2nd \$200; 3rd $100; 4th to 6th $50 each; 7th to 16th $25 each

5. Entry Fees to be payable by 1st November 2009; thereafter penalty of US$ 30 is imposed.

5.1 Entry Fee for Commonwealth Open: (FIDE Rating 2200 and above)

GM, WGM, IM Rating 2500+, WIM Rating 2300+ : Free (but a deposit of US$ 50 is required)

Above 2399 - US$50; 2350 to 2399 - US$75; 2300 to 2349 - US$100; 2250 to 2299 – US$125; Below

2250 - US$150

Note: Juniors U-20 as on 1.1.2009 and Veterans above 60 as on 1.1.2009 will have a 25% discount.

Note: Each Commonwealth member-nation may nominate one player under the rating of 2200 for the

Commonwealth Open.

5.2 Entry for Commonwealth Age-Group Championships: US$75

5.3 Entry Fee for Challengers Group: (FIDE Rating below 2200)

Juniors U-20 as on 1.1.2009 and Veterans above 60 as on 1.1.2009 – US$40; Others - US$50

6. The Official Hotel is Hotel Bencoolen

20 GMs above 2500 on first-come-first-serve basis - free room on twin-sharing basis and breakfast

Each Commonwealth member-nation may nominate one player for the Commonwealth Open and who

shall receive twin-share room and breakfast. Others – Single US$72; Twin US$42 per person; Triple

US$36 per person – room and breakfast.

7. Playing Venue (and also for Technical Meeting)

Teck Ghee Community Club, 861 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10.

8. Entry Fees to be transferred, free of bank charges, to the Singapore Chess Federation:

Bank: DBS Bank Bank Address: Shenton Way, Singapore

Account Number: 001 – 043184 – 6 Swift Code: DBSSSGSG

Address of Singapore Chess Federation: 51 Bishan Street 13 #02-01A, SIGC, Singapore 579799

(source: http://marcusyeoh.blogspot.com/)