GENERAL REGULATIONS

1. Invitation

International Educational and Cultural Services, Inc. (the organizer of the Chess for Peace program), the United States Chess Federation (USCF), the Illinois Chess Association (ICA) and International School Chess Union have the honor of inviting School Teams from all FIDE affiliated National Chess Federation, to participate in the INTERCONTINENTAL SCHOOL CHESS TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP organized in Skokie, IL, the United States of America March 25 – 29, 2010.

2. Participation

2.1. Each National Federation may enter an unlimited number of School Teams.

2.2. Team composition shall consist of four students from the same school and in the same age group; any combination of boys and girls is allowed. The tournament will be organized in 5 categories according to section 2.4. It will be played in 1 – 5 groups according to the number of teams. The organizing Committee will decide upon the group division. Each category will be awarded separately.

2.3. Each team shall have one Head of Delegation (teacher or coach).

2.4. Entitled to participate are players (Boys & Girls) who shall not have reached the age:
– Of 10, (date of Birth – January 1, 2000 and after) – School Tournament Under 10;
– Of 12, (date of Birth – January 1, 1998 and after) – School Tournament Under 12;
– Of 14, (date of Birth – January 1, 1996 and after) – School Tournament Under 14;
– Of 16, (date of Birth – January 1, 1994 and after) – School Tournament Under 16.
– Of 18, (date of Birth – January 1, 1992 and after) – School Tournament Under 18.

2.5. Each team must provide a document of representation. Each participant’s names and birthday should be provided by the school officials.

2.6. Accommodation and travel expenses for teams will be covered from national chess federations, schools, municipal area administration, and the parents of participants or sponsors.

2.7. USCF membership is required for all US participants.

3. Entry – Registration fees & FIDE fees

3.1. Each team must pay before February 1, 2010 $150 to the Organizing Committee as a registration fee. Late fee ($175) will be charged after February 1, 2010 and $200 after March 1, 2010. Last day of receiving the late fee in March 20, 2010. There will be NO on-site registration and payments.

3.2 In accordance with FIDE regulations an entry fee of $50 is required for each team. Their National Federations must send this amount directly to FIDE.

3.3 For teams which registered directly in the Organizing Committee, the FIDE entry fee must be paid before March 20, 2010 to their National Federation (proved by a receipt document) or to the Organizing Committee.

4. Registration and Travel conditions

4.1 Entry forms must be filled from the National Federations or School Teams and returned to the Organizing Committee not later than February 25, 2010. If the registration form is not filled by the Federation a copy must be sent to the National Federation. There will be NO on-site registrations!

4.2 The complete registration form must include the surname/s, first name/s, FIDE or National Federation ID number, FIDE or National Federation rating and title, date of birth and passport numbers (for non-US participants only!) of each player and each accompanying person. It must also include the name and telephone/e-mail/fax number of the Delegation chief.

4.3 Each foreign (non-US) participant must pay to the organizing committee the amount of $40 at the time of registration to cover the expenses of shuttle transportation from Chicago O’hare International Airport (ORD) and the hotel for the dates of March 25 (arrival) and March 30 (departure). **Normal cost of transportation by taxi is approximately $45 USD one-way.

4.4 The Organizing Committee is offering assistance for non-US teams to make hotel reservations. For those teams, at the moment of registration (until February 1, 2010) the amount of $150 (tournament entrée fee) + 30% of the total accommodation cost must be pre-paid with credit cards (Visa or Master Card) using PayPal, or transferred, free of bank charges, to the Organizing Committee’s bank account.

4.5. Once the transfer has been confirmed, the Organizing Committee will confirm the assigned booking confirmation for all the room reservations.

5. Accommodations – Playing hall

5.1. Accommodation will be provided in the following hotels:

Holiday Inn & Conference Center
5300 West Touhy Ave
Skokie, IL 60077
Phone: 847-763-3011
Fax: 847-763-3096

Room rate: $99 + 10% tax, including hot breakfast buffet

Participants will get double-bed rooms (WC and shower on each room). Breakfasts will be served at the hotels; lunches and dinners – at the local restaurants.

Playing halls are located in the Holiday Inn hotel.

5.2. Every team obliged to lodge at the official hotel. Every accompanying person that requests a visa from the Organizing Committee is obliged to lodge at the official hotels.

5.3. Hotel payments for all players and accompanying persons must be made on arrival or in advance. Hotel payments must be paid in USD only! No late payments of hotel bills will be accepted.

5.4. Organizing Committee can arrange accommodation and boarding in a hotel on request.

6. Event schedule

Thursday March 25 – Arrival of the delegations

Friday March 26 – 17:30pm Opening Ceremony

18:00 – Round 1

Saturday March 27 – 9:00 – Round 2

12:30 – Round 3

16:00 – Round 4

Sunday March 28 – 9:00 – Round 5

12:30 – Round 6

16:00 – Round 7

Monday March 29 – Departure of the delegations

7. Rules and regulations

The tournament will be played according to the Swiss System in 7 rounds. National ratings will be taken into consideration for the parings. Rate of play will be according to FIDE regulations. The time limit will be 90 minutes for all game with a 5 second delay per move starting from move 1.

8. Prizes – Awards

8.1. The first place team in each age category of the World School Team Championships will be crowned the FIDE Intercontinental School Team Champion for 2010.

8.2. Team-winners of the First, Second and Third places in each age category and the members of the teams will be awarded Gold, Silver and Bronze medals, Diplomas and Special Trophies. Team trophies will be awarded also teams finished on 4 – 20 places on each age category.

8.3. The results will be sent to FIDE and USCF for rating.

9. Tournament bulletin

Tournament bulletins will be free of charge for each federation delegation and school team. Additional bulletins will be available for purchase.

10. Parallel & Culture Program

· Simultaneous exhibition with US Champions GMs Yury Shulman and Alex Onischuk.
· Seminars for Arbiters (Regulations & Pairings)
· Seminar for Teachers and Parents – Chess in Education – hosted by the Illinois Institute of Technology

11. Contact the Organizing Committee

TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR
Mikhail Korenman, President, IntECS, Inc., FIDE International Organizer
63 75th Street, Willowbrook, IL 60527 USA
Tel.- Fax.: +1 630 789 2951; cell: +1 785 906 0402
E-mail: mikhail@worldchesschamps.com

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL CHESS UNION
Alexander Kostyev, ISCU President
Tel-Fax: +7 095 425 61 96
E-mail: iscu@mail.ru

12. Visa information

Teams or players needing visas are requested to contact the Organizing Committee before January 31st 2010. The Organizing Committee will provide invitations for visas only after the registrations for the tournament and necessary payments. The registration fee will be returned if visas are not granted.

13. Honorary Committee

World Champion Anatoly Karpov
Uvencio Blanco, Chairman FIDE Committee “Chess in Schools”

For any other matter not mentioned in the General Regulations, the Organizing Committee may decide after consultation with FIDE.