Competition Rules

The ladder is a position based, ongoing tournament that is open to members of Team Australia that have a Daily Game rating of 600-1299. If Your rating exceeds 1299 at some point, you will remain on the ladder for 90 days. After 90 days, if your rating still exceeds 1299 (a nice problem to have) you will be removed, and asked to join a higher rated ladder competition. If your rating dips below 1300 during this period, the timer will start over.

To become a participant in the Ladder Competition, all you have to do is either post a request to be added in the Under 1300 Ladder Forum or send me a message through the Chess.com system. You will be sent some information and guidelines to read and agree to. Then you will be added at the bottom of the ladder.

1. Positive attitudes only on the ladder. Whining, complaining, sniping, moaning, antagonizing others and other rude treatment of members will result in a warning and then banishment from the Ladder.

2. Once you have been accepted on the ladder, you may challenge anyone within four places of your current ranking. Normally, this would be people ranked higher than you but there are a couple of situations where it might be advantageous to play against someone lower ranked.

(For example, if you are ranked at #9, you may challenge anyone ranked #5-13. You may not challenge anyone rated higher than #5 because they are ranked more than four steps higher than you).

This means that anyone in the top 5 can challenge for the title.

3. Games are to be a MAXIMUM of 3 days/move and can be either Rated or Unrated Standard matches. Shorter games can be played if both players agree. Rated or shorter matches may be declined without penalty. The player who declines, match must reply with a suitable alternative match or forfeit. A Standard Unrated 3 Day Match can not be declined without forfeit.

To issue a challenge, see following instructions.

4. If a player has a 'Ch' in their status column this means the player has already been challenged and cannot be challenged at this time.
A player with a 'C' in their status column indicates that the player has sent out a challenge and cannot be challenged at this time.
A player with an 'X' their status column, indicates that the player is already in a ladder game and cannot be challenged at this time.

5. Set up the challenge using the 'New Game' tab. Let your opponent know you are challenging them to a ladder game by DM. Immediately after you have sent a challenge to your selected opponent, you MUST post your challenge in the Ladder Challenges forum.

6. After the challenge is accepted/denied, it MUST be posted in the Ladder Challenge forum.

7. If the lower ranked player wins the match, the players’ positions on the Ladder will be swapped. If the result is a draw or a loss, the positions will remain the same.

8. If a challenge is not accepted within 3 days time OR if a match is declined, the challenger will win by forfeit (refer to RULE 3). The player issuing the challenge should post notification of the time having passed, or the match rejection, in the Ladder Discussion forum.

9. Each player may only participate in one Ladder Match at a time. No exceptions.

10. Vacations are generally not permitted during a Ladder game, however we understand that unforeseen circumstances can sometimes force a player to take time away. If this happens we allow 3 total days of vacation in any 1 game. Any part day is counted as a whole day. The remaining competitor should notify Admin by posting the move number, and the date/time of vacation in the ladder forum, as soon as they see their opposition is in vacation mode. The vacationing players days are noted, and once there are a total of 3 cumulative days, the vacationing player will forfeit the game and the competitor will be considered the victor, for the purposes of the ladder competition. Premium members, who have set 'automatic vacation', be aware that you'll go on vacation automatically just before your time out.

11. Once a game result has been posted in the Ladder Forum, the defeated player must wait 24 hours before issuing a new challenge.
"A key component of ensuring the ladder stays competitive and fun for all is to make sure that everyone has a fair opportunity to climb the ladder. If you lose a game, you may be challenged immediately. After 24 hours if you haven't been challenged, you are open to issue a new challenge".

12. There are no consecutive rematches permitted on the Ladder. In order to challenge the same player again, the lower ranked player MUST challenge another ladder participant first. No exceptions.

You can certainly play the same player again immediately, but it will not be a Ladder Competition game.

13. New players join at the bottom of the ladder.

Enjoy the competition and HAVE FUN!!!

19Andrew64 notes and stuff

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