ТOURNAMENT REGULATIONS

1. ORGANIZERS

The Montenegro Chess Federation under the auspices of the City of Budva and the European Chess Union.

2. VENUE, DATE, SCHEDULE

The Championship will be held in Budva, Montenegro from March 5th  (day of arrival) until March 19th  (day of departure) 2009. The tournament  hall is Congress hall in "Splendid spa & resort hotel".

Thursday	05.03.2008.		Arrival of participants
Thursday	05.03.2008.	20.00	Opening ceremony
Thursday	05.03.2008.	22.30	Technical Meeting
Friday	06.03.2008.	15.00	1st round
Saturday	07.03.2008.	15.00	2nd round
Sunday	08.03.2008.	15.00	3rd round
Monday	09.03.2008.	15.00	4th round
Tuesday	10.03.2008.	15.00	5th round
Wednesday	11.03.2008.	15.00	6th round
Thursday	12.03.2008.	15.00	7th round
Friday	13.03.2008.		Rest day
Saturday	14.03.2008.	15.00	8th round
Sunday	15.03.2008.	15.00	9th round
Monday	16.03.2008.	15.00	10th round
Tuesday	17.03.2008.	15.00	11th round
Tuesday	17.03.2008.	22.30	Technical meeting for tie-breaks
Wednesday	18.03.2008.	10.00	Tie-breaks
Wednesday	18.03.2008.	20.00	Closing Ceremony
Thursday	19.03.2008.		Departures

Pairings for the first round will be announced at 10 o’clock a.m. on 6th of March and for all other rounds approximately 90 minutes after finishing the last game.
The Chief Arbiter after consultations with ECU and the Organizers may make changes to the above tournament schedule. Such changes will be announced in due time.

3. PARTICIPATION

The European Championship is open to all players representing the Chess Federations which comprise the European Chess Union (FIDE zones 1.1 to 1.9) regardless of their title or rating. There is also no limit of participants per federation.

4. SYSTEM AND RATE OF PLAY

The championship will be 11 rounds, played in the Swiss system in accordance with the ECU Tournament Rules and FIDE Laws of Chess.
The playing time will be 90 minutes for 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game with an increment of 30 seconds per move, starting from move one.

5. RANKING AND TIE-BREAK SYSTEM

The order of players that finish with the same number of points shall be determined by application of the following tie-breaking procedures in sequence, proceeding from (a) to (b) to (c) to (d) to the extent required:
a) Median-Buchholz 1, the highest number wins;
b) Buchholz, the highest number wins;
c) Number of wins, the highest number wins;
d) Progressive Score, the highest number wins.
In the case of unplayed games for the calculation of (a) and (b) the current FIDE tournament rules shall be applied: „Independently of the result of an unplayed game (win by Bye, win or loss by forfeit, no game because the player has withdrawn or was absent for some round(s)) for reasons of tie-break the result shall be counted as a Draw against the player himself.“ Annex to FIDE Tournament Rules, pt.1.

Tie-break Matches
In the European Individual Chess Championship and European Individual Women’s Chess Championship tie-breaks are organized only in the following cases:
a) to establish the Champion;
b) to establish the medal winners;
c) to establish qualifiers, for the World Chess Championship.
In the case of a) and b) the relevant tie-break matches will decide the final ranking and the money prizes connected with these places.
In the case of c), the relevant tie-break matches will not influence the final ranking and the money prizes will be shared equally.
System of the Tie-break matches:
Additional matches of two games will be played with 15 minutes on the clock and addition of 10 seconds before each move.
If this match is drawn again, then two games will be played with five minutes plus two seconds per move.
If this match is again drawn, then the sudden-death game will be played with white having 5 minutes on the clock and black having 4 minutes, without any addition. White has to win the sudden-death game in order to win the match.
In case that more than three tie-break rounds have to be played, the Chief-Arbiter – after confirmation by the ECU President or his representative  – may change the playing schedule in such a way that the tie-break matches can be finished within one day.
Detailed Tournament Regulations for the tie-break matches and the time schedule will be announced on Friday, 17 March at 22.30 at the Technical  Meeting for tie breaks.

6. QUALIFIERS

The Individual Open European Championship 2009 is qualification event for the next World Cup. According to FIDE regulations and the decision of the ECU Board, 22 players will qualify.

7. ARBITERS AND APPEALS COMMITTEE

Chief arbiter will be Mr Panagiotis Nikolopoulos (GRE), and his deputies Mrs Jasna Sakotic (MNE) and Mr Werner Stubenvoll (AUT).
Names of the members of the Appeal Committee will be announced not later than February 5, 2009.

8. APPEALS PROCEDURE

Protests against decisions of the Chief Arbiter must be submitted in written form to the Chairman of the appeals committee within one hour after completion of the playing session.
The protest must be accompanied with the sum of 100 €, as a deposit from the signatory. The deposit must be handed to the Chairman of the appeals committee. If the appeal is granted, the sum shall be returned immediately. If the appeal is refused, the deposit is forfeited to the European Chess Union.
The appeal has to be lodged by the player.
The decisions of the Appeals Committee are final.

9. PRIZES: 120 000 EUR

Main Prizes
Rank
1          15 000         
2          12 000       
3          10 000         
4            8 000       
5            6 500       
6            6 000     
7            5 500      
8            5 000    
9            4 500    
10          4 000       
11          3 500    
12          3 000  
13          2 500    
14          2 200      
15          2 000     
16          1 900
17          1 800
18          1 700  
19          1 600
20          1 500   
21          1 400
22          1 300    
23          1 200    
24          1 100    
25          1 000

Special prizes (Performance minus Rating) – 8 350 Euro
Rank
1          1000         
2            850   
3            800         
4            750    
5            700  
6            650
7            600
8            550
9            500
10          450
11          400
12          350
13          300
14          250
15          200

Special prizes (By categories)

I category: players with ELO under 1800 (2 100 Euro)
Rank
1                                   700
2                                   500
3                                   400
4                                   300
5                                   200
II category: players with ELO 1801 – 2000 (2 100 Euro)
Rank
1                                   700
2                                   500
3                                   400
4                                   300
5                                   200
III category: players with ELO 2001 – 2200 (2 100 Euro)
Rank
1                                   700
2                                   500
3                                   400
4                                   300
5                                   200

According to Montenegro law all prizes are taxable (maximum 10%).
No double prize award will be carried out.
If a prize-winner is absent during the closing ceremony, then the money prize will be reduced by 20% with a min of 100 EUR.
The first 3 places will be awarded cups and medals.

10. APPLICATIONS, REGISTRATION

The national federations are kindly requested to fill in and return the Application Form not later than February 5, 2009.
Late registrations have to be confirmed by the ECU.

11. ECU FEES

11.1. In accordance with ECU regulations, an entry fee is required for each player:
- GM/IM 65 Euro
- Others 130 Euro
11.2. According to the ECU regulations (Art. B.9.5.1), the entry fee shall be paid by the federations to ECU before or at the start of the competition. If the entry fee is not paid until end of round 2 these participants will not be paired in subsequent rounds.

12. ORGANISATION FEE

The organisation fee is 70 Euro and must be paid by all participants.
The organisation fee includes:
- Transfer from airports Podgorica or Tivat, and Port/Railway station Bar to hotel or city Budva and back.
- Bus transfers from city Budva to the playing hall and back for the participants who are not accommodated in the official hotels.
- Drinks (coffee or tea) and water for all participants during the round.
On request the organizer provides transfer from airport Dubrovnik (Croatia), which is 75 km far away from Budva, with surcharge of 20-50 Euro per participant for round trip, depending on transfer time and number of persons.

13. ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation and meals for players and accompanying persons, will be at the
Hotel "Splendid" Budva, Becici ***** (75 rooms)
Single room with half board:                          114 Euro
Double room with half board:                         96 Euro per person
Hotel "Montenegro" Budva, Becici **** (150 rooms)
Single room with half board:                          69 Euro
Double room with half board:                         59 Euro per person

Hotel “Montenegro” is situated 400 meters from hotel “Splendid”, 5 minutes walking distance.
Surcharge for full board will be possible (10 – 14 Euro).
Players who will use half board may choose between having lunch or dinner.

Here is the photo of "Splendid" Hotel:

14. PAYMENT

14.1. At the time of registration all costs should be transferred to the following account:

INTERMEDIARY BANK:	COBA DE FF COMMERZBANK AG FRANKFURT/MAIN, GERMANY
ACC.WITH ISTITUTION:	Acc.no. 400876851700 (Eur) Swift code: CKBC CS 22 CRNOGORSKA KOMERCIJALNA BANKA A.D. MOSKOVSKA BB, 81000 PODGORICA MONTENEGRO
BENEFICIARY:	IBAN ME25510000000000828711 SAHOVSKI SAVEZ CRNE GORE 8. MARTA BB, 81000 PODGORICA, CRNA GORA

14.2. The foreign bank commissions must be paid by sender. If it is not paid, the organizers will charge the respective participants by an invoice, which must be solved before the end of the second round.

15. ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS

15.1. Analyzing is not allowed in the playing hall.
15.2. During the game the players are not allowed to go to the analyzing room or to the press room.
15.3. Flashes may be used only in the first ten minutes of each round, and the first three minutes of the tie-break games. During sudden death games they may be used only in the first minute.
15.4. Only the players and arbiters shall be allowed in the actual playing area, except with the express permission of the Chief Arbiter.
15.5. Players are not allowed to enter the closed area of the top boards, if they don’t play there themselves.
15.6. As long as the game is in progress a player may talk only to an arbiter or with his opponent as permitted by the Laws of Chess.
15.7. In case of pre-arranged results the chief arbiter can decide that the result of the respective game is 0 - 0.
15.8. We assume that all the players have read the Tournament Regulations and are obliged to obey them.
15.9. The English text of these Tournament Regulations is the authentic version.

16. MEDICAL CARE

During the Tournament there will be Medical Services according to the FIDE Tournament Regulations.

17. ELECTRICITY

The voltage in Montenegro is 220 Volts.

18. CURRENCY & EXCHANGE

The local currency is the Euro.

19. VISAS

Participants who have passport of Georgia, Moldova, Azerbaijan and Armenia are in a need of entry visa for Montenegro. Also, entry visa is necessary for the citizens of some non European country who are the members of European Chess Federations.
Organiser will give full support to assist participants to receive entry visas due to speed up procedure in Embassies and Consulates of Montenegro or at the border upon their arrival in Montenegro.
Visa’s costs will depend of the valid laws at that moment.

20. TOURNAMENT OFFICE

All necessary information’s participants can get by official tournament web-site  http://www.eurobudva2009.com
or by mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

MCF Office:
Tel/Fax: +382 20 662 164
Podgorica 81000, Montenegro
8. marta str. bb

Tournament director: Mr. Srdja Dragasevic
Associate: Ms. Sonja Dimic

Contact persons:

Mr. Vladimir Sakotic, mobile phone: +381 64 111 31 17
private mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Ms. Sava Kizova, mobile phone: +381 64 333 33 16
private mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Please download Regulations of the Championship in PDF format.