SOUTH AFRICAN OPEN CHESS

CHAMPIONSHIP

2024
29 June – 07 July
(9 Days of Chess)

Hosted by
KWAZULU NATAL CHESS ASSOCIATION
under the auspices of CHESS SOUTH AFRICA
 Contents
PAGE

1. INVITATION 2

2. TOURNAMENT SECTIONS 2

3. ENTRY FEES AND REGISTRATION 3

4. VENUE AND ACCOMMODATION 3-4

5. LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE (LOC) 4

6. COMMUNICATION 4

7. PRIZE FUND & AWARDS 5

8. TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE 6

9. GENERAL REGULATIONS 7–8

10. SAFEGUARDING POLICY STATEMENT 9

11. PHOTOSHOOTS AND MEDIA 10

12. BANKING DETAILS 10

13. STAKEHOLDERS AND SPONSORS 10

Version 1 – 31 March 2024

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 1. INVITATION
Under the auspices of the Chess South Africa, KZN Chess Association is honored to
invite all chess players to participate in the 2024 SA Open Chess Championships that
will be held from 29 June to 07 July (9 days of Chess) in Durban at the T.B.C

The event will consist of the South African Open Chess Championships and the South
African Blitz Chess Championships.

2. TOURNAMENT SECTIONS
2.1 Championship A Section (150 Players)
 Rating : This section will be FIDE & Chess SA Rated
 Format : 11 Round Swiss over 9 days
 Time control : 90:90 + 30 sec increments from move 1
 Criteria : Players with a FIDE/Chess SA rating of 1600 and higher

2.2 B Section (300 Players)

 Rating : This section will be FIDE & Chess SA Rated
 Format : 11 Round Swiss over 9 days
 Time control : 90:90 + 30 sec increments from move 1
 Criteria : All players with a FIDE/Chess SA rating of 1100 to 1599
: Players over the age of 20 years with a rating below 1000 will be
allowed to enter this section.

2.3 Junior C Section (400 Players)

 Rating : This section will be FIDE & Chess SA Rated
 Format : 6 Round Swiss over 3 days
 Time control : 60:60 + 30 sec increments from move 1
 Criteria : Under 12: Players born 2013 and later
Under 16: Players born 2009 - 2012
Under 20: Players born 2005 to 2008

2.4 Blitz Tournament (300 Players)

 Rating : This section will be FIDE & Chess SA Rated
 Format : 11 Round Swiss
 Time control : 3 + 2 sec increments from move 1
 Criteria : Open to all players



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3. ENTRY FEES AND REGISTRATION
3.1 Entry fees
 Championship Section : R800 per player
 B Section : R500 per player
 Junior Section : R350 per player
 Blitz Tournament : R150 per player

3.2 Titled players (GM, IM, WGM and WIM) qualify for free entry to the event

3.3 Registration for the event must be done via: [email protected]

3.4 Online registration link: T.B.C

3.5 Registrations for all sections open on Friday 14 June 2024. Registrations for
Championship, B Section and Junior Sections will close on Friday, 14 June 2024.

3.6 Late registrations for Championship, B Section and Junior Sections may be accepted
after the closing date subject to payment of an additional R150 late registration fee.

3.7 Registrations for the Blitz tournament closes 24 hours before the start of the Blitz
tournament.

4. VENUE AND ACCOMMODATION

4.1 Venue
The venue for the tournament is: T.B.C

4.2 Accommodation
Participants are required to make their own accommodation arrangements.

Participants can use: https://www.booking.com > Durban or other sites

4.3 Accommodation Suggestions:

 Royal Hotel

 Riverside Hotel

 Coastlands Musgrave

 Coastlands Point Road

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4.4 Security
The playing venue will have security, to secure premises with controlled access. KZN
Chess Association will also add 24 Volunteers to be present on the premises during the
event.

4.5 Medical and Other Facilities

The playing venue is near T.B.C

5. LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE (LOC)

5.1. Tournament Director : Mr Lindokuhle Ngubane Cell: 084 828 2885
5.2. Finance Officer : Ms Londiwe Khumalo Cell: 079 043 8286
5.3. Logistics : Mr Ayanda Gumede Cell: 076 285 0020
5.4. Admin Support : Mrs Liezel Ahjum Cell: 082 308 8089
5.5. Technical Officer : Mr Ricardo Minnaar Cell: 081 546 2221
5.6. Chess SA Representative : Mr Carol Lefyedi Cell: 082 411 7646
5.7. SASCA Representative : Mr Welcome Gwamanda
5.8. KZNCA Representative : Mr Keith Rust
5.9. Fundraising Manager : T.B.A
5.10. Chief Arbiter : T.B.A
5.11. Safeguarding Officer : T.B.A

All correspondence should be emailed to [email protected]

6. COMMUNICATION
The LOC invites you to join the tournament WhatsApp groups where additional information
relating to the event logistics will be shared for time to time. Please only join one of the
following WhatsApp groups as the same information will be posted on all relevant groups as per
your registration:
 SA Open A Section Group:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/FD4DUPTTW042fyCMdB1Ja9
 SA Open B Section Group:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/ERX50oaUYzZ0YV5Rj6OUML
 SA Open C Section Group:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/KVERo3nKIN13CO68Ik5URk
 SA Open Blitz Group:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/Kj23KCBW1v98INsOyYxMe

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7. PRIZE FUND & AWARDS
7.1. The total prize fund for the event is R130 000.00.
7.2. Players must attend the award ceremony to be eligible to receive their prizes.
7.3. Players will only be eligible for one cash prize per section. If a player qualifies for morethan
one cash prize, he/she will be awarded the cash prize with the highest monetary value.
This excluded any special prizes.
7.4. All prizes will be paid in the South African currency via EFT to a designated South African
bank account within 48 hours after the conclusion of the event.
7.5. Cash prizes will be split if points scored are the same.
7.6. Trophies / Medals awarded in accordance with the final player rankings as determined
by the applicable tie-breaks.
7.7 Breakdown of prize fund:

A Section Championship R 92 000.00

Position Open Ladies Seniors Juniors
1st R 20 000.00 R 8 000.00 R 3 000.00 R 3 000.00
2nd R 15 000.00 R 6 000.00 R 2 500.00 R 2 500.00
3rd R 10 000.00 R 4 000.00 R 2 000.00 R 2 000.00
4th R 7 000.00 Best Junior Female R 2 000.00
5th R 5 000.00

B Section R 20 000.00
Position Open Ladies
1st R 5 000.00 R 2 000.00
2nd R 4 000.00 R 1 500.00
3rd R 3 000.00 R 1 000.00
4th R 2 000.00
5th R 1 500.00

C Section R 13 800.00
Position U12 U16 U20
1st R 1 400.00 R 1 400.00 R 1 400.00
2nd R 1 200.00 R 1 200.00 R 1 200.00
3rd R 1 000.00 R 1 000.00 R 1 000.00
Best Female R 1 000.00 R 1 000.00 R 1 000.00

Blitz Tournament R 4 200.00

Position Open
1st R 1 500.00
2nd R 1 200.00
3rd R 1 000.00
Best Female R 500.00

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8. TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
8.1 Pairings for first round of the Championship, B Section and Junior Sections will be
published at least 24 hours prior to the start of the round.

Championship Junior Sections

Blitz
& (U12, U16 & U20)
DATE
B Section
FIDE & Chess SA Rated FIDE & Chess SA Rated FIDE & Chess SA Rated
90/90 + 30spm 60/60 + 30spm 3/3 + 2spm

Sat, 29 June 08h30: Opening Ceremony

09h00: Round 1

16h00: Round 2
Sun, 30 June 09h00: Round 3

16h00: Round 4
Mon, 1 July 17h00: Round 5 09h00: Announcements

09h30: Round 1

13h00: Round 2

Tue, 2 July 09h00: Round 3

13h00: Round 4
17h00: Round 6
Wed, 3 July 17h00: Round 7 09h00: Round 5

13h00: Round 6

16h30: Award Ceremony

Thu, 4 July
Blitz and Rest Day 10:00 Rounds 1 to 11

14:00 Award ceremony

Fri, 5 July 10h00: Round 8

Sat, 6 July 09h00: Round 9

16h00: Round 10

10h00: Round 11
Sun, 7 July

15h00: Award ceremony

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9. GENERAL REGULATIONS
9.1 The FIDE Laws of Chess (01 January 2023) will apply to this event.

9.2 The “default time” for all rounds other than for the Blitz Tournament will be 30 minutes.
Any player who arrives more than 30 minutes late after the actual start of the round
will immediately be forfeited unless the Chief Arbiter decides otherwise.

9.3 All electronic equipment (e.g. mobile phones, tablets, smart watches, etc. but excluding
those items used exclusively for the running of the Event) must be switched off when
brought into the playing hall. Any player who is found to have such a device in his/her
possession which is not switched off will immediately be forfeited (loss of game).

9.4 If a player withdraws during the event, rating penalties will be applied as per Chess SA
Rating Regulations if no valid and acceptable reason(s) are provided by the player.

9.5 The following tie-break systems, in the order given below, will be used to rank the
players (who finish the tournament on the same scores) to determine the final
standings:
 Direct encounter
 Bucholz
 Sonneborn – Berger
 Rating average of opponents
 Number of victories
9.6 A player wishing to lodge an appeal against a ruling made by an Arbiter, must do so
within 30 minutes after the game has ended. Appeals must in writing and must be
lodged with the Tournament Director and must be accompanied by R300 cash fee that
will be refunded if the appeal is successful.

9.7 Players within 50 rating points of a higher section may “play-up” into the higher section.

9.8 Junior players will not be allowed to play in a higher age group for the Junior Section of
the event.

9.9 Junior players are allowed to play in both the Junior Section and the Championship or
B Section if they meet the minimum rating criteria of the Championship or B Section.

9.10 For the Championship and B Section, the highest rating between the player’s Chess SA
and FIDE rating will be used to determine in which section the player will participate.

9.11 The winners will be awarded the title of “2024 SA Open Champion”

9.12 Players must always be dressed neatly and look presentable. Casual wear/clothing will
be allowed. Players must wear shoes or sandals.

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9.13 Photographs and streaming/broadcasting will be taken during the event and the
award ceremony. All players are deemed to allow publication of photographs,
streaming/broadcasting taken at the event by the organizers for publicity purposes
unless they inform the organizers otherwise.

9.14 KZN Chess Association reserves the right to change any aspect of the tournament
including but not limited tosections, format, time control, dates, number of players
participating and prize funds. KZN Chess Province will, where possible, communicate
this to the players as quickly as possible.

9.15 Each participant is responsible for his/her own transport & accommodation
arrangements and the costs thereof.

9.16 No refunds of entry fees paid will be made for players that withdraw from the
tournament after the closing date for entries has passed.
9.17. Only publications by the Tournament Director will be regarded as official;
9.18. Pairings and results: www.chess-results.com;
9.19. The Arbiters will be appointed by the AOB

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10. SAFEGUARDING POLICY STATEMENT
10.1. Chess South Africa (Elect) is deeply committed to creating and maintaining a safe,
inclusive, and respectful environment for all its members, players, coaches, officials, and
stakeholders.

10.2. Everyone associated with Chess South Africa has the right to participate in an
environment free from any form of discrimination, harassment, abuse, or misconduct.

10.3. As such Chess South Africa adopts a zero-tolerance stance towards all forms of abuse,
including but not limited to physical, sexual, emotional, and bullying.

10.4. Any allegations of misconduct will be taken seriously, thoroughly investigated, and dealt
with swiftly and appropriately.

10.5. For this reason, it will be compulsory for all administrators and arbiters involved in the
2024 SA Open to have a Level 1 or Level 2 safe guarding certificate to be involved in the
tournament.

10.6. These certificates must be submitted to the LOC as required.

 These are some of the examples of online safe guarding courses include:
 FIFA Level 1 or 2;
https://safeguardinginsport.fifa.com/

 Gymnastics SA Level 1 or 2;

 The Guardian BSA (Level 1)

 The Guardian –DSO (Level 2).

 WCPSC Safeguarding awareness;

https://wcpsc.thinkific.com/courses/SafeguardingAwarenessCertificate

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11. Photoshoots and Media
KZN Chess Association will organise a designated area for photoshoots and

media outside the playing venue.

12. Banking Details

Tournament and Registration Fees payments shall be paid to the account of the
KZN Chess Association as listed below, proof of payment should be emailed to:
[email protected]
Bank Name : First National Bank (FNB)
Account Name : KZN CHESS ASSOCIATION
Account Number : 62476169456
Branch Code : 220226

Reference : The player/s first three letters of surname & initial and
section.
Must appear on the deposit slip as the reference

NOTE: NO CASH will be Accepted on the day.

13. Stakeholders and Sponsors

 KZN Department of Sports, Arts and Culture
 KZN Sport Confederation
 KZN EDTEA
 Ethekwini Metro
 Lona Benya Sports
 Sportzone Group
 Hollywood Bet

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