Event Officials
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| IA Winston Zhao Chen | Chief Organiser & Chief Arbiter |
| FA Celina Wu | Deputy Chief Organiser & Arbiter |
| NA Richard Tam | Arbiter |
| NA Edward Rust | Arbiter |
IA: International Arbiter | FA: FIDE Arbiter | NA: National Arbiter
Event Formats
| Division | Time Control | Rounds | Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW Championship | 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move | Nine (9) | FIDE & ACF Rated |
| NSW Reserves | 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move | Nine (9) | FIDE & ACF Rated |
| NSW Minor | 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move | Nine (9) | FIDE & ACF Rated |
| USYD Classic | 60 minutes + 30 seconds per move | Six (6) | FIDE & ACF Rated |
| USYD Mini | 30 minutes + 30 seconds per move | Six (6) | ACF Rated Only |
Eligibility Criteria
| Division | Rating Requirements |
|---|---|
| NSW Championship | Over 1950 ACF Normal or Over 2000 FIDE Standard |
| NSW Reserves | Under 2000 and Over 1550 ACF Normal or Under 2000 and Over 1750 FIDE Standard. |
| NSW Minor | Under 1600 ACF Normal (Including Unrated) and Under 1750 FIDE Standard |
| USYD Classic | Open to All |
| USYD Mini | Under 1400 ACF Standard (Including Unrated) |
ACF: Australian Chess Federation Ratings
See: https://auschess.org.au/rating-lists/
Additional Eligibility Criteria for the Championships
- Current NSW State Junior Champion (Open and Girls)
- Current NSW State Champion
No exemptions will be granted if a player does not meet the rating requirements. Do not contact the organisers for an exemption.
Unrated players are welcome to participate in the NSW Minor, the USYD Classic, or the USYD Select.
The winner of the NSW Reserves gains automatic qualification to play in next year’s NSW Championship.
A player is only eligible for the NSW State Champion title provided they are an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident and have been residing in NSW for at least 6 months.
Tournament Rules
Half-Point Byes
| Division | Half-Point Bye Rules |
|---|---|
| NSW Championship | One half-point bye is only permitted for Round 1. No other half-point byes are permitted. |
| NSW Reserves | Two half-point byes are permitted, except for Rounds 8 and 9. |
| NSW Minor | Two half-point byes are permitted, except for Rounds 8 and 9. |
| USYD Classic | Two half-point byes are permitted, except for Rounds 5 and 6. |
| USYD Mini | Two half-point byes are permitted, except for Rounds 5 and 6. |
Half-point byes must be requested before the start of the previous round. (e.g., for a half-point bye in Round 4, it must be requested at the latest before the start of Round 3)
Forfeit Times
The forfeit time for all divisions is thirty (30) minutes from the commencement of play.
Players who are forfeited will be withdrawn from the tournament automatically unless a valid reason is provided for the absence at the Chief Arbiter and Chief Organiser’s discretion.
Players without a valid reason for the absence must pay a $25 fee to re-enter the tournament.
Rules for Players
All games are played under the guise of the 2026 NSW State Championships Code of Conduct and FIDE Laws of Chess.
All divisions of the event are governed by the Competitive Rules of Play.
Players are not permitted to have any electronic devices on their person during their game unless they have received prior approval from a tournament official. This includes not only mobile phones, but any device that can receive external transmissions. If a player is found to have such a device on their person whilst in a game, they may be issued a penalty, which could include, but is not limited to, deduction of their remaining thinking time, additional thinking time for their opponent, or forfeiture of their game.
Analogue watches are permitted at the event, provided they have been given approval by a tournament official.
Any players caught with a phone or other digital device in their possession (regardless if it is on or off) will immediately lose the game.
Players who have completed their games are considered to be spectators. Spectators are not to disturb the players in the playing area. Spectators or players who disturb the playing environment will receive only one warning. The second violation will result in expulsion from the event.
Players may not leave for a smoke break during their game. Smoking and vaping are only permitted in designated smoking areas at the University.
Players may be chosen at random for a metal detector scan during or at the end of their game.
Pairing Rules
All tournaments will follow the FIDE Dutch Swiss System. This means no players are knocked out of the tournament, and everyone will get a game!
The September lists for both ACF and FIDE Ratings will be used to sort each event. Unrated players are seeded with a rating of zero.
Pairings in the Championships will be sorted using FIDE Rating, followed by ACF if FIDE is zero.
Pairings in all other divisions will be sorted using ACF ratings, followed by FIDE if it is zero.
The results must be written down on the result slip and signed by both players. Even if the result entered on the slip is incorrect, once submitted, it shall stand unless the Chief Arbiter decides otherwise. The correct result will be entered for rating purposes only.
Appeals
An appeal of a decision must be submitted to the Chief Arbiter of the tournament before the pairings of the next round. Players must state the grounds of their appeal of the decision. The Chief Arbiter will investigate the appeal and decide on a ruling.
If the player is not satisfied with the Chief Arbiter’s ruling, they may submit a written appeal to the Tournament Appeals Panel.
Such an appeal will be heard only after the player has deposited $100 AUD with the Chief Organiser, which will be refunded only if the appeal is found to be justified, not necessarily successful. Otherwise, the deposit is forfeited to discourage frivolous appeals.
Rules for Spectators
Players who have completed their games are considered to be spectators. Spectators are not to disturb the players in the playing area. Spectators or players who disrupt the playing environment will receive only one warning. The second violation will result in expulsion from the event.
No analysis is allowed in the playing area after a game concludes. Please go to an analysis room instead.
Photography and Videography
Photography and videography by spectators are allowed only during the first 10 minutes of a round. After that, only authorised media may use cameras in the playing area. No flash photography, and camera shutter sounds must be turned off or set to silent.
By entering the event, you may appear in photos or video used for promotional and reporting purposes. Players will have headshots taken during the event. If you do not wish to be photographed, please let the event staff know.
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted at the tournament. If you need to smoke, you must head to the designated smoking area outdoors. Smoking is not permitted directly outside the building.