Hi there,

CHESS.COM TEAM MATCH LEAGUE

Rules of the Chess.com TM LEAGUE

1. The official name of the league is : Chess.com TM LEAGUE

2. The league is limitated to a max. Of 24 groups/teams

3. The groups to participate will be invited according to the following indications:

-Will be active team match groups

-Will have at least 120 members

-Will not participate in the World League

-Will have at least 1 win in a team match /(conditional)

4. The league will start each year the 15th of April (unless agreed otherwise)

5. The league methodology is according to the following procedures.

-The 24 teams will be divided in 4 groups of 6 teams each. (ROUND 1 -1/16 finals)

-To the next round will go the 4 first classified of each group and will compete again divided in 4 groups of 4 teams (ROUND 2 -1/8 finals) 

-To the next round will go the 2 first classified of each group and will compete again divided in 2 groups of 4 teams (ROUND 3 -1/2 finals)

-To the final, will go the first classified of each group and will compete in a single match (FINAL MATCH). Second classified of each group will fight for the 3rd/4th position (3rd PLACE MATCH)

-The winner of this final match will be declared champion of the league.

- Accordingly, a team will have a minimum of 5x3 team matches and a max. Of 12x3 (finalists)

-Each round will start according to the pairings board schedule or when all the games of the previous rounds are over. (if both teams do agree it)

-In case one match doesn't finish by the max. period given(normally 90 days), we will take the score at the moment given as the final result.

6. The initial groups chart will be created according to this procedure:

-Once all teams are registered, a preliminary classification system will be stablished

-We will take the number of members(a) and the average team rating(b)

-We will calculate the team potential according to: ((a)-50)+(b) 

- The team with higher potential will be ranked in firsts positions

- After this, the groups chart will be fullfiled with the most powerful team going to group 1, then the second going to group 2…team 9 going to group 1, team 10 going to group 2…and so on.

7. Team matches methodology and group classification

-Each team match must be accepted before the date specified on the pairings board. There is a time of 15 days max. To register all players and start the match, otherwise the team not causing the delay, will be declared winner (10-0)

The challenging group will raise 3 challenges with the following features:
        -1st match-BEG-  0-1599 rating / 5-∞ players / 2 concurrent games / autostart off
        -2nd match-MED- 1600-1999 rating / 5-∞ players / 2 concurrent games / autostart off
        -3rd match-TOP- >2000 rating / 5-∞ players /2 concurrent games / autostart off

-In case of a team unable to get the min. Members in a 10 days period it will lose the game with a final score of 10-0.

-It'll be named as follow _"Team A vs Team B - TM LEAGUE TOP/MED/BEG ROUND#" 

-The team match challenges will be send by the team A on each case

-Each win will be awarded with 1 point, a draw 1/2 point, a lose 0 points

-The sum of the individual games result will be taken into account only as tie break system. Eg If a team match ends: BEG 10-0 MED 15-19 TOP 5-1 The final score will be 2-1 and the first team will get an accummulated tie break score of 10 points and the second one -10)

-The teams classified in the last position of each group in the first round, might be removed from the next year league and replaced by new teams willing to participate (if there were less than 4 teams willing to enter the league, the teams with more points (according to the standings list) would remain unless it were agreed otherwise by the teams involved)

8. All queries, complains, suggestions or improvement ideas, will be addressed to the "chess.com TM LEAGUE HQ forums"

9. The pairing board will be posted 10 days before the starting date (according to point 4)

-Updates on the group standings will be posted in the forums periodically during the league tournament

10. These rules apply for the 2009 league.(Changes may be introduced for next seasons champs)

NOTE 1

1 administrator of each team participate on the word league is encouraged to join the "chess.com TM LEAGUE HQ"

NOTE 2

These admin. Should check periodically the forums of this group tlooking for updates.

NOTE 3 

Teams Inscription process will be closed by the 15th of April 2009 or when the 24 first groups are registered

NOTE 4 

Any changes on the team names or any other info affecting the correct function of this championship, must be communicated inmediatly!

NOTE 5

All teams registered accept these rules.

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