Stirling Chess Club
Tournament Rules September 2026
- Richardson Cup
1.
The
Richardson Cup decides the winner of the Stirling Chess Club Championship and
is played annually during the Club season between September and the following
May.
2.
The
Cup is an all-play-all competition contested by seven players.
3.
Eligibility:
The
previous season’s club champion
The
next four highest graded players as of the Scottish Chess grading list at the 1st
of September.
The
winner of the previous season’s Lindsay Cup
The
winner of a knock-out qualifying competition between the next four highest
graded players.
If
any game in the qualifying competition is drawn, the game shall be replayed
using opposite colours. If the second game is drawn, the third and if necessary
subsequent games shall be played using the allegro time control.
If either the Club Champion or Lindsay cup winner is not available the next 5 players by grading will be eligible (or 6 if both are unavailable).
4.
Time
control
36
moves in 72 minutes with an additional 15 minutes for the remainder of the game.
5.
Games
should be played on the nights scheduled by the Competitions Secretary. If a
player cannot play that night they should inform the Competitions Secretary in
advance and the game can be re-scheduled on a date convenient for both players
6. In the event of a tie for first place there will be a play-off to determine the Club Champion, initially with one game at the usual time limit, followed by games at the allegro time limit if the first game is drawn.
- Lindsay Cup
1.
Eligibility
The
Lindsay Cup is contested by those players who are not eligible for the
Richardson Cup and wish to play in it.
2.
The
Competitions Secretary will arrange players into four groups of no more than 6
on an all-play-all basis.
3.
In
the event of there being more than 24 players able and willing to play, the
Competitions Secretary may arrange a knock-out competition for the lowest
graded players.
4.
Groups
will be arranged so that gradings are fairly distributed between groups; for
example, if there are four groups, the top four highest graded players will
play in separate groups, as will the next four highest and so on.
5.
Group
games should be completed no later than the end of February to allow enough
time for the next phase of the competition.
6.
Once
groups are completed, the top two in each will play in the quarter-final of a
knock-out competition. The winner of Group 1 will play the runner-up in Group 2
and vice versa, as will the winner of Group 3 play the runner-up in Group 4
etc.
7.
If
any game in the knock-out competition is drawn, the game will be replayed with
opposite colours. If the second game is drawn, the third and if necessary
subsequent games shall be played using the allegro time control.
8.
The
Competitions Secretary will arrange pairings for the Lindsay Cup on a regular
basis depending on players’ other commitments in league games etc.
9.
Pairings
will be circulated every Friday in the weekly club newsletter.
10.
The
winner of the Lindsay Cup will be eligible to play in next season’s Richardson
Cup.
11. Time control
36 moves in 72 minutes with an additional 15 minutes for the remainder of the game.
- Thornton Cup
1.
Eligibility
The
Thornton Cup is open to any Club member who has a grading of less than 1400 on
1st September.
However,
depending on numbers of entrants, the Competitions Secretary has the discretion
either to amend the grading limit or to decide the entry dependant on the
number of entrants in the Lindsay Cup.
2.
The
Cup is a knock-out competition and rounds will be organised by the Competitions
Secretary according to the number of competitors. Byes may be required in the
event of an uneven number of entrants.
3.
Time
control
1 hour for the whole game with a 15 second per move increment.
- General
1.
Time
Limits
Players
must endeavour to play games at the time and date scheduled by the Competitions
Secretary.
2.
If
a player is unable to play on the scheduled date they should inform the
Competitions Secretary and/or their opponent in advance.
3.
Any
player who does not turn up for their scheduled game and does not inform the
Competitions Secretary and/or their opponent in advance on two separate
occasions will forfeit the game. Repeat offences will result in
disqualification.
4.
The
Competitions Secretary will draw up a schedule for competitions which ensures
that all are completed by the end of the season.
5.
An
arbiter, who is not an entrant in the competition, will be appointed for each
tournament. Normally this will be the Competitions Secretary but if they are
playing in the tournament the arbiter must be another Club member.
