In a recent OTB tournament ...

In my most recent OTB tournament there was a situation in which the two players paired to play didnt have any chess equipment and so a set and clock had to be borrowed from someone else .  The TD made an announcement that players are expected to bring their chess equipment , something which seems to be common sense to me . What should be done , if anything , to prevent this in the future ? In Europe , where the organizers usually provide everything this isnt a problem . I wonder if the USA is the only country in which chess players are expected to provide the pieces,board and clock ? 

I hope there wasn't an entrance fee to pay...

Ofcourse there was an entry fee . It was an OTB tournament . 

Just seems that if you're paying to play they should provide the equipment.

You wouldn't expect football players to bring the goalposts along to play.

Chess in the US and chess in Europe is very different . The entry fees in US tournaments are where the prizes come from as there is no sponsorship for most events in the US as there is in Europe . Chess clubs are also very different here than in Europe . I found advantages and disadvantages playing in Europe as opposed to playing in the USA . 

Yeah fair enough I guess it depends how much you pay as to what you expect.

In South Africa, White is supposed to supply the pieces, Black supplies the clock. Boards are normally supplied by organisers, usually printed on cardboard by some long-forgotten sponsor.

Because of economic stuff, many players dont have equipment, especially clocks. If a tournament hits town, clubs will normally provide equipment for loan to their players.

What if the pieces provided by white arent properly sized for the board provided by organizers ?  Do the organizers typically have boards of different sizes ? 

These printed boards are all same size. There are literally thousands of them lying around in clubs all over the place.

Almost everybody uses the same plastic pieces, they are also sold at all the tournaments, and you can even buy spares. It's very rare that someone comes with a nice set.

Reb, I remember you recounting an experience or two while in Europe with equipment provided by the organizers that was pretty poor.

While I've never had any problems here at all with non-standard sets, I have heard stories of someone trying to foist their non-Staunton or badly matched pieces/board on the opponent. Usually my events have been club sponsored, and they have enough plastic pieces and vinyl boards to take up the slack--but most like to bring their own tournament sets. Clocks were more of a problem, just now and again. Once we had no clock for my board and we just played until one became available and then split the elapsed time on each side.

For me, it's a matter of respect. Bring what an experienced otb-er would be happy to use.

Of course, it's hard to please everyone. Some hate to play on wood sets and others turn their nose up on anything more "complicated" than the USCF Special design that we've had for decades here (think tonydal/omar).

Yes, as far as provided equipment is concerned some of my best , and worst , experiences have been in Europe . In the USA I actually like playing on different sets and am not one of those that always wants to use my pieces/board/clock though some players are lke that . In the USA the player assigned the black pieces has preference and I have often chosen to use my opponents stuff because they had nicer stuff than my own . Another thing I like in the USA is to walk around during the rounds and see all the different sets in use ... sometimes I find one I like so much that I buy one like it for myself later . 

It sounds ridiculous to me. It isn't very hard to get clocks and pieces. Local chess clubs here often organize serious tournaments with endorsement of the KNSB. That means the club's material is being used or the material comes from the KNSB depot. Even a little club can do that.

Rules are of course rules. If the players don't have pieces, then they don't get to play if no material can be found is my opinion. Seriously if everybody brings material then there should be a double amount? 

Most chess clubs in the USA dont provide any chess equipment and the members of the clubs bring their own stuff and even so most clubs require every member to pay annual dues to be a member of the club .... clubs here receive no money from the state/govt or local power like they do in Europe . Basically a US chess club only provides a time and place for the members to get together , usually once or twice a week ...  it is ridiculous to European chess players , I reckon . I was members of chess clubs in Germany and Portugal and never had to pay to be a member and those clubs did provide chess equipment as well ... but they also received state support as well as local support ... 

It isn't quite like that here. You'd be looking at membership costs to pay for the KNSB contribution, rent, material/maintenance and prizes. 

For that you do get the KNSB magazine and possibly prizes. It's relatively cheap compared to other sports, but still 100 bucks/euros or so.

Why don't the tournament directors display a bit of enterprise in future and have equipment to rent to supplement their kitty?

I won a chess set in a tourney a couple of years ago (a door prize) and I bring that to every event I run as a spare. I haven't had a problem yet with not enough sets, as most people bring on so there are usually sets available. I also bring my set to so if I don't end up playing as a house player, I'll have another extra set.

Clocks, on the other hand, are sometimes an issue. We have always had enough, just not all of them are digital so not all games end up with delay (in some cases).

From the club standpoint, I don't think we would get many players in my area if we required a club membership. Few enough people play as it is when it's free.

I'll bet the main problem is location and lack of support. Material is one phone call away for me. Give me a month or two and a few volunteers and I can personally throw you a tournament... I've done it and people I know have done it. 

In Japan, players are usually asked to bring their own equipment, but there are exceptions to the rule. The monthly quads at the Tokyo Chess Center come to mind; they provide you with everything you need.

Also, boards are sometimes provided, mostly because vinyl mats are dirt cheap and easy to store. At some of the larger tournaments, equipment is available for rent from the TD in case there's not enough to go around.

I don't know whether there are any rules as to what side has to provide what.

Our club has sufficient equipment for those who do not bring their own for one reason: we sponsored and ran the largest state tournament (only nationals is larger) in 2009. For that event, we purchased 650 sets and commemorative boards, most of which were then donated to area schools, but some of which were saved for club use. Prior to this event, the club lacked the funds to provide equipment at tournaments.

I am sure here in Australia and NZ the clubs and the organisers provide the equipments.