TG64S Puzzle Battle Knockout League Rules and Guidelines

Format

There will be 128 available slots in total for this season, meaning 128 players will participate. The players will be sorted into an upper bracket and a lower bracket, depending on their 3 minute puzzle rush rating. Each bracket will have a Group A and Group B, the winners of both groups will face off in the final. One round, consisting of one game of puzzle battle, will be played each week, except during the first few rounds, where time to play might be extended. The date and the time within that week/fortnight is to be negotiated by the players in a negotiation thread (forum) which will be linked in that round's news post announcement.

Whoever wins the round (puzzle battle) will advance to the next round, while the losing individual will be eliminated from the tournament. In the case of a draw, the rating of the puzzles that were failed will be taken into account to determine the winner. In other words, the admin team will calculate each player's average rating of failed puzzles, and he who has the higher average rating of failed puzzles will win. In the rare case that they both had the same average rating of failed puzzles (almost certainly because they failed the same exact problems), they will have until the end of the round period (1 week) to settle the match by a rematch, or multiple if needed.

The players will then report the score onto a results thread (forum), where they will also have to provide links. Thus, it is of crucial importance that at least one player (preferably both) copies the link to the puzzle battle immediately after they have played it, as otherwise there is no way to find the battle.

Once the score is reported onto the results thread, the administrators will update the [TOURNAMENT BRACKET LINK], where you will be able to find your next pairing, as well as everybody else's results and their pairings for the next round.

This process will be repeated until one individual emerges victorious and all other players are "knocked out", hence the term "Knockout tournament".

Eligibility

To participate in this league, you must be part of The Golden 64 Squares and have not broken any of its rules.

Negotiating with your opponent:

For each round, there will be a negotiation thread in the forums, please check who your opponent is first and foremost.
Remember to send them a friend request so that it would be easier to create the match.
After you have been made aware of your opponent, please negotiate with them in the thread that has been set up.
Please do not to negotiate using private messages as admins will not know what time you have scheduled your game at.
The negotiation that will be taking place is to decide a date and time when you and your opponent will both be online and are available to play Puzzle Battle conveniently.
When negotiating with your opponent, it will be necessary to mention your opponent's name and the times and days that you are free (it is important to mention the time zone that you are using as well)
After negotiating, if your opponent agrees with your time, please confirm by commenting something like "See you then", "That sounds good", or whatever you preferred method of clear confirmation is.

During the puzzle battle

These guidelines should be followed at the time that you and your opponent have agreed on.

When the time agreed on has arisen for you and your opponent to play please go to your respective negotiation thread and say "It is time for my game and I am here", or a similar confirmation of your presence. This will help admins know that you have shown up for your game in the case that you need to claim a forfeit if your opponent doesn't show up
If both you and your opponent have come online please go to https://www.chess.com/puzzles/battle, Click on "challenge" and enter your opponent's name in the box.
Wait for your opponent to accept the challenge.
If your opponent does not accept, please wait until 30 minutes after the scheduled time. If they do not show up, please say so in your negotiation thread and schedule another match
If a player fails to show up on the decided time twice, their opponent can claim a forfeit win, by messaging a super admin

Results

After you have played your match please go to the results thread which will be set up for each week, and post the link of the battle with the result as instructed in the forum
The results will later be updated onto the tournament bracket.

Forfeits

Players are given a maximum delay of 30 mins to show up at their scheduled time. If a player fails to show up 30 mins within the scheduled time, a no-show is given, and the player is allowed to reschedule their match. A player no-showing twice in the same week will award their opponent a forfeit win.

Players can claim a forfeit win if able to prove that their opponent has not negotiated with them 72 hours from the start of their negotiation.

Players who haven't shown interest in scheduling their games and couldn't get their games done in time will be given a forfeit loss.

Technicalities

No mouseslips or takebacks. There will be no rulings made to allow for "mouseslips", that happen due to loss on time because of "lagging connections,"disconnections", or any other online-chess-specific glitches that may occur. The player acknowledges being comfortable with Chess.com's online board and piece play format and must guarantee his/her own stable connection.

Any game results incurred due to user error by the player with the Chess.com board, pieces, buttons, or any other part of the interface are final, including premoves, autoqueen, accidental underpromotion, any mouseslips or accidental clicks. However, the player's opponent can agree to, but doesn't have to, replay that game.

If a game gets disconnected due to chess.com server related issues and the game gets cancelled, players should replay the game at another agree upon time. However, players are responsible for maintaining their own connections to the internet and Chess.com's live server.

A player suffering a bad connection at their scheduled time or during their games can reschedule their games in the given time only if the other player accepts too.

Arbiters

if any member is having issues, please message @Magnus_Chase19 , @KingSideInvasion or @YellowSpeedingHouse . You may appeal to any decision made by the admin team in private messages. Any appeals made through forums/notes will be locked/deleted.

Awards and Prizes

Prizes will be awarded to the following, as well as the overall winner of the season:

Lower Bracket	Upper Bracket
1st place	1st place
2nd place	2nd place
3rd place	3rd place

All the awards are virtual and the winners will also be listed in the Hall of Fame. Feel free to post your trophy/award on your profile page! Here is a list of prizes [PRIZES].

TG64S Puzzle Battle Knockout Tournament

Super Admins