DCU Open 2025 Conditions

Henry Williams


✦The DCU Open✦

The FIDE and ICU rated classical tournament returns!

Information here is more up to date than the flyer, and has more detail regarding prizes.

Friday 21st February- Sunday 23rd February

The Auditorium, the U Building, DCU St. Patrick's Campus, Drumcondra, Dublin

See:
dcu_chess on Instagram

Sponsors

Larkhill Credit Union.
Chess.ie.
DCU Clubs & Societies.

Prize Fund

€3000 prize fund
Breakdown of prizes: TBD

Time Control By Section

DCU Open Championship: 90 mins + 30 sec/move
The Majors: 90 mins + 30 sec/move
The Challengers: 60 mins + 30 sec/move

Round Times

Fri 21st February Announcements: 6:45 pm
R1: 7:00pm (All sections)

Sat 22nd February R2: 10:00am (All sections)
R3: 2:00pm (Challengers), 3:00pm (Open & Majors)

Sun 23rd February R4: 10:00am (All sections)
R5: 2:00pm (Challengers), 3:00pm (Open & Majors)
Prize giving about 20 mins after the last game finishes, around 7.15pm

Please note that the Challengers start an hour earlier each afternoon, and players in the Open & Majors will have a silent start so as not to disturb them.

Default time is 30 mins.

Playing Sections

Sections are determined by a player's higher rating, where they have two.

The DCU Open Championship - Open to all ICU members including unrated players.

The Majors - Open to all ICU members with an ICU and/or FIDE rating between 1650-1900

The Challengers - Open to all ICU members with a rating below 1650 including unrated players.

Live Boards

Top boards in both sections transmitted live, linked from the event page.

Entry fees

€25 for students and U18s, before 19th February.
€35 for all other entries, before 19th February
Free entry for titled players (GM, WGM, WIM, IM, FM) who contact the organizer as below, before 14th February, full fee after that. €15 late entry surcharge for entries on 19th February or later, if accepted.

Entries

All entries on the ICU event page. You must be registered with the ICU.

Pairings

Pairings for round 1 will be published on the event page before 11pm on the 20th February. Late entries will be paired with each other or with anyone who gets an unrequested bye.

Contact

Organiser: David Murphy. @dcu_chess on Instagram
Chief Arbiter: Henry Williams

Breakdown of Prize money

Current prizes are listed above based on the current prizefund of €3000, subject to entry. There will be grading prizes (GP) in all sections, for the player within each of the following rating bands with the best scores, who do not win another prize, decided on tiebreak if necessary. Prize money for 1st, 2nd and 3rd will be shared, except for when 3 or more players tie on points, then tiebreaks may be used to determine prizes at the organisers' discretion. Direct Encounter first, then Sonneborn-Berger, then Median-Bucholz.

Playing Conditions

Rules

General

Overall we hope to provide a pleasant atmosphere in which to enjoy your chess. Players will be asked to contribute to this. Speak to the arbiter if in doubt.

While quiet is expected in the playing hall, players will be allowed to spectate quietly after they finish playing.

FIDE rules apply but we would like to explain some of them here. If you need something explained or feel your opponent may be breaking a rule please do not hesitate to stop your clock and raise your hand to call an arbiter.

Electronic devices are not permitted in the playing hall, corridor, toilets or outdoor smoking area. An exception is if they are left near the controller's desk, switched off, not on silent. Players (after their game) and parents may use them only outside the playing area. Electronic devices include anything that may make a noise or vibrate including watches, alarms.

The organisers have the right to refuse any entry without giving a reason.

Byes

A player may receive up to two half point byes, except in the last round, provided a request is made before pairings are done. Players should ensure that a bye request was written down and may check that one has been registered on chess-results by choosing the "unpaired" link after the latest round.

A player who receives a 1 point bye due to an odd number should still turn up as they may be offered a game against a late entrant or another player whose opponent failed to show within 30 mins. They may refuse, but if they wish to play they should turn up as they are likely to be offered a game. These games will count and will be rated unless agreed otherwise.

Before games

Before each game, be seated early to hear any important announcements.

During games

With a 30 second increment players are required to record their moves to the end of their game, and keep their scoresheet up to date.

After games

At the end of your game please reset the pieces and place the two kings in the centre of the board. If white won, place both on white squares. If black one place both on black squares. If the game was drawn, place them on e4 and e5. On electronic boards place the kings in the centre immediately, before moving other pieces, so that the result is registered. Do not analyse at the board, but in the analysis areas, where sets are provided. Please set these sets up after use.

In every case please write the result on the pairings sheet on the wall or noticeboard. If your opponent fails to show 30 mins after the round starts, call the arbiter to claim a win by default (a walkover), then mark in + - or - + on the pairings sheet rather than 1-0 or 0-1.

Accommodation

Hotels

DCU Rooms Glasnevin 01 7005736
Bonnington Dublin 01 8373544
Skylon Hotel 01 8843900
Crowne Plaza Hotel 01 8628888
And many others that are serviced by bus.

B&Bs

Almanii B&B – 01 8574902
Annandale House B&B – 01 8040822
And many others that are serviced by bus.

Other suggestions:

Airbnb, Booking.com, Trivago...

Travel times for Commuters

Acnowledgements

Organizers

Chief Organiser: David Murphy, DCU Chess Society Organising Commmitee. Chief Arbiter: Henry Williams


Created 2025-01-25 ◦ Last updated 2025-02-04 ◦ Editor HTW


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