Chess South Africa Affiliate of F.I.D.E. and SASCOC Secretariat: Mrs Bridgette Burger : Address: 3 Miller Road, Claremont, Cape Town. 7708 Telephone: (h) 021 683 0047 : (c) 071 840 3401 : (f) 086 212 7434 Email: secretary@chessa.co.za : Website: www.chessa.co.za SELECTION POLICY FOR THE SELECTION OF YOUTH PLAYERS FOR INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION (2014) 1. TERMINOLOGY: 1.1. Chess South Africa [CHESSA] 1.2. CHESSA Youth Commission [YC] 1.3. Youth Selections Committee [YSC] 2. AGREEMENT: The selection of players will take place in terms of the CHESSA Constitution and policies as agreed to by the General Council of CHESSA. This policy document is valid for the selection of players as pertaining to the circumstances laid out below. 3. NATIONAL and INTERNATIONAL CHESS TOURNAMENTS: 3.1. South African Junior Chess Championships (SAJCC) 3.2. South African Junior Closed Chess Championships (SAJCCC) 3.3. South African Top Schools Chess Championships (SATSCC) 3.4. World Youth Chess Championships (WYCC) 3.5. World Youth Olympiad Chess Championships U/16 (WYOCC) 3.6. World Junior Chess Championships (WJCC) 3.7. World Schools Chess Championships (WSCC) 3.8. African Junior Chess Championships (AJCC) 3.9. African Youth Chess Championships (AYCC) 3.10. Commonwealth Games (CWG) President: Emelia Ellappen Executive Director: Mike Pon Vice President: Vacant Director of Finance: Ewan Oberholzer Secretary: Bridgette Burger Director of Development: Dina van der Walt Director of Public Relations: Geraldine Engelman Director of Youth Chess: Andrew Fisher Director of Women s Chess: Marcelle Agulhas Director of Adult Chess: Eldo Smart Director of Physically Challenged: Raymond Auckett Director of ATM: Cristina Crismann Director of Rating: Gϋnther van den Bergh Additional Member: Vicky Magu
4. SOUTH AFRICAN JUNIOR CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2013: 4.1. All players who wish to be considered for international participation must compete in the SAJCC 2013 Team Event as per CHESSA Council Meeting decision in June 2012. 4.2. A written excuse with a reason / doctors certificate (for extreme situations) must be provided for not participating in the team event within 2 weeks after the end of the tournament. This must be sent to the Youth Director: youth@chessa.co.za 4.3. Players that are involved in International tournaments as described in Section 6, where the International tournament ends 2 weeks or less before the start of the team event or starts less than 2 weeks before the end of the team event are exempt from participating in the team event. 5. SOUTH AFRICAN JUNIOR CLOSED CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2014: All players wishing to be considered for selection to an International Event must participate in the SAJCCC. Participation means playing the entire tournament and not just a few rounds. 5.1. Selections for the SAJCCC 2014: 5.1.1. The SAJCCC 2014 will comprise of 30 plus players for boys and 18 plus players for girls per age group. Exact numbers will be determined by the number of players that qualify at the SAJCC 2013 wild card tournament. 5.1.2. Top 10 boys and top 6 girls as per Grand Prix list that is determined by 1 October 2013. 5.1.3. Top 10 boys and top 6 girls as per CHESSA Rating list that is determined by 1 October 2013. 5.1.4. Top 10 boys and top 6 girls as determined by the individual wild card event directly after the SAJCC 2013 Team Event. The tournament format will be seven (7) rounds of 60 / 60. Four (4) rounds on day one and three (3) rounds on day two. 5.1.5. If there are tied positions (equal on points) in the top 10 for boys and top 6 for girls then all the players tied on points will be selected for the SAJCCC 2014. 5.1.6. To qualify for SAJCCC 2014 (if the player has not automatically qualified by Grand Prix or Rating) a player must have played at least 30 rated games (60 / 60 or more) between 1 January 2013 and 31 Dec 2013. (Calendar year) 5.1.7. Grand Prix list for this selection will run from 1 October to 30 September with minimum of 30 rated games required to be included on list. 5.1.8. No replacements will be considered in place of players who withdraw. 5.1.9. Selection will be as follows: Top 10 from Grand Prix, then the next 10 from the Rating list, excluding the top Grand Prix players. 5.1.10. Tournaments must be submitted for rating / Grand Prix by 25 September 2013 to be processed in time. Tournaments submitted after that date will not be taken into consideration.
5.2. Format of SAJCCC 2014: 5.2.1. Pairing: An eleven (11) round Swiss for Open category will be played. A eleven (11) round Swiss for Girls category will be played. 5.2.2. Categories: 5.2.2.1. There will be an Open and Girls section in each age group category U8, U10, U12, U14, U16, U18 and U20. 5.2.2.2. Open category request: 5.2.2.2.1. A girl player may request to be considered as a wild card in the Open section. 5.2.2.2.2. She must be ranked within the top 10 players on the Grand Prix or Rating list of the requested age group and must apply in writing via her Region/Province by 21 September 2013 to qualify for acceptance to participate in the Open section. 5.2.2.2.3. The YSC will use their discretion according to the selection criteria in considering these requests. 5.2.2.2.4. The player will be added into the requested group as an additional player and will not affect top 20 players. 5.2.2.2.5. If player does not automatically qualify (by GP or rating), then she must play in wild card tournament in the requested section to qualify for the SAJCCC and cannot revert back to original age group or section. 5.2.3. Older age group category request: 5.2.3.1. A younger player may request to be considered as a wild card in a higher age category. The player must be ranked within the top 10 players in the Grand Prix or Rating list for the age group where they have requested to play. 5.2.3.2. The player must apply, in writing via his/her Region/Province, by 21 September 2013 in order to be accepted. 5.2.3.3. The YC will strongly discourage these types of requests as the players need to play in their age groups at the international tournaments where the competition will be adequate and where South Africa can win medals in accordance with the mandate of SASCOC and CHESSA. 5.2.3.4. The player will be added into the requested group as an additional player and will not affect top 20 players. 5.2.3.5. If player does not automatically qualify (by GP or rating), then the player must play in wild card tournament in the requested section to qualify for the SAJCCC and cannot revert back to original age group or section. 5.2.4. The LOC with the Chief Arbiter reserves the right to combine sections if they deem it necessary. 5.2.5. Tie Break: Where there is a tie in positions, the same playoff criteria for tied 1 st place will apply to all other tied places. Head to head encounter should take precedence before playoffs, e.g. player 3 and 4 have the same number of
5.2.6. LOC: points playoff rules will apply. (The Chief Arbiter of the SAJCCC will provide play off rules to determine clear positions) 5.2.6.1. The CHESSA Events committee together with the YC will appoint the LOC for the SAJCCC 2014. 5.2.6.2. The YC will determine the dates and programme for the SAJCCC 2014. 5.2.7. The Youth Director will send out the formal invitation letter to the players a minimum of two (2) months prior to the start of the event. 5.3. Calculation of Grand Prix points for the Wild Card event: Only tournaments where a player scores the following minimum tournament performance will count towards the player s Grand Prix points. U8: Boys=900 Girls=700 U10: Boys=1100 Girls=900 U12: Boys=1200 Girls=1000 U14: Boys=1300 Girls=1100 U16: Boys=1400 Girls=1200 U18: Boys=1500 Girls=1300 U20: Boys=1600 Girls=1400 A players top 5 Grand Prix tournaments will count for 2013.. Only tournaments of 60 / 60 or longer will be included. 6. INTERNATIONAL EVENTS FOR INDIVIDUAL YOUTH PLAYERS IN 2014: 6.1. World Youth Chess Championships: 6.1.1. Ages - Under 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18. 6.1.2. Three (3) players per age and gender category. 6.1.3. The winners of the SAJCCC 2014 in each age and gender category will qualify as the first place player; the second place player will also qualify for selection. 6.1.4. The top junior players per age and gender on the Grand Prix ranking list as at start of SAJCCC 2014 will qualify as the third player for World Youth provided the player finishes in the top five (5) of their section at the SAJCCC 2014. If this player is already in the top two placed players, then the next placed player in the Closed will be selected. If the top player on the Grand Prix lists at the start of the SAJCCC 2014 did not participate in SAJCCC 2014, then the next player on the grand prix list will be selected if he was placed 3 rd, 4th or 5 th at the SAJCCC 6.1.5. Should a player that obtained Personal Rights qualify on the above criteria, the following will apply: Next placed player at the SAJCCC 2014 will be selected. 6.1.6 The start of SAJCCC 2014 Grand Prix list will run from 1 May 2013 to the start of the SAJCCC 2104. 30 games will be minimum required. 6.1.7. The FIDE fees of the champions will be covered by CHESSA.
6.2. World Junior and Girls U/20 Chess Championship: 6.2.1. The top two highest Rated players as at 1 May 2014 will be selected. 6.2.2. The highest player on the Grand Prix list as at 1 May 2014 will be selected as the third player. If this player is also one of the top two highest rated players, then the next highest player on the Grand Prix list will be selected. 6.2.3. Players must attain a CHESSA rating of 1900 plus for boys and 1800 plus for girls as at the start of the SJCCC 2014. 6.2.4. The top junior player on the Grand Prix ranking list as at the start of the SAJCCC 2014. 6.2.5. The start of SAJCCC 2014 Grand Prix list will run from 1 May 2013 to the start of the SAJCCC 2014. 30 games will be minimum required. 6.2.6. The player s top 5 Grand Prix tournaments will be used to calculate Grand Prix points. 6.3. World Youth U16 Olympiad 2014: 6.3.1. Three teams of five (5) players each will be selected. Two open teams and one all girls team. 6.3.2. All three (3) teams will receive National Colours. 6.3.3. The open teams will comprise of the top ten (8) players from the U16 Open section from the SAJCCC 2014 as well as the winner and second place player of the U14 Open section of the SAJCCC 2014. 6.3.4. The all girls team will comprise of the top three (3) players from the U16 Girls section from the SAJCCC 2014 as well as the winner and second place player of the U14 Girls section of the SAJCCC 2014 6.3.5. Reserves for Open section / Girls Section will be based on head to head (direct encounter) and then tie-break. This applies to the next position at the SAJCCC 2014. Replacements will come from the U16 age groups. 6.4. African Youth Chess Championship 2014: 6.4.1. Ages - Under 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18. 6.4.2. One player per age and gender category. 6.4.3. The winners of the SAJCCC 2014 in each age and gender category qualify for this event and will be considered the 1st place player. 6.4.4. If a second player is allowed by the hosting federation, the highest placed PDI player in that age group will be selected, provided the player finished in the top eight (8) at the SAJCCC 2014 and if no PDI qualifies under this criteria, then the second placed player will be selected. 6.5. African Junior Chess Championship 2014: 6.5.1. Four (4) boys and girls (U18 and U20). 6.5.2. The winners of the U20 age and gender group at the SAJCCC 2014 qualify for the African Junior Chess Championships and will be considered the 1st place players. The second place players also qualify for this event provided the players rating is 1800 plus for the open section and 1700 plus for the girls at the time of selection.
6.5.3. The winners of the U18 age and gender group at the SAJCCC 2014 also qualify for the African Juniors, provided that their rating is 1800 plus for the open and 1700 plus for the girls. 6.5.4. The highest Rated player who finishes in the top five (5) of the U18 U20 age groups (combined) will qualify as the fourth player provided the rating is 1800 plus for the open and 1700 for the girls. 6.6. Commonwealth 2014: 6.6.1. The winners of SAJCCC 2014 in the specific age and gender groups will be the official representatives for this event and will be the 1 st place players. 6.6.2. The second place player also qualifies. 6.6.3. The following age and gender groups qualify for selection: 6.6.3.1. U14 to U20 only. 6.7. World Schools Chess Championships: Players will be awarded CHESSA colours for this event, the YC in conjunction with CHESSA Development Director and the national Schools Chess Committee will select players from various school and CHESSA events. 7. PLAYERS RESIDING OUTSIDE THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA: If a player holding a South African passport, residing outside of South Africa, wishes to represent South Africa internationally, then such player must participate in the Team event. If the player does not also qualify automatically via the Grand Prix and Rating then such player must play in the individual wild card event in order to qualify for the SAJCCC 2014 as well. If a player has played more than 30 games in South Africa in a calendar year prior to SAJCC he will be seen as a local player. International players can apply to play in an All stars team. 8. CONDITIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION: 8.1. Participation in the SAJCC 2013 Team Event is compulsory for any player who wishes to be considered for qualification for the SAJCCC 2014 as well as selection for International participation. Players who cannot play for a union can apply to play in an All stars team. 8.2. All players must participate in the SAJCCC in order to be considered for selection for International Participation. 8.3. CHESSA reserves the right to send no players, or less than what is defined in the Criteria, to any International event. 8.4. Players who have earned a personal right will receive national colours and be part of the South African delegation. If these players are the winners of their age group, then they will receive the CHESSA subsidy. 8.5. CHESSA expects that all players selected for international competition stay active. 8.6. As soon as a player is selected, the manager will indicate the minimum number of rated games (60 /60 or more) that will be expected for that player to compete in.
8.7. Failure to complete the required number of games may lead to the disqualification from the international events qualified for. 8.8. The YC reserves the right to further lay down guidelines for players that are selected to play for South Africa. 8.9. Failure to adhere to these guidelines may result in a player being withdrawn from the National team or event and the CHESSA sponsorship being cancelled. 8.10. Players must pay a non-refundable deposit of R2000.00 within 30 days of acceptance of selection. 8.11. If a player withdraws from an International event less than 90 days before the start of an event such player will forfeit the deposit paid. 8.12. No player will be allowed, once selected for a particular event, to request to swop out for another event, such requests will not be considered. 9. TIE BREAK AND REPLACEMENT PLAYERS: 9.1. Where there is a tie in positions, the same playoff criteria for tied 1 st place will apply to all other tied places. Head to head encounter should take precedence before playoffs, e.g. player 3 and 4 have the same number of points playoff rules will apply. (The Chief Arbiter of the SAJCCC will provide play off rules to determine clear positions) 9.2. Replacement players, due to other players having withdrawn, will be based on points gained at the SAJCCC 2014 and then on the pre-defined tie break system that was used at the SAJCCC 2014 tournament. Should this be equal then the following will be applicable. 9.2.1. Activity 9.2.2. Rating 9.2.3. Participation in the 2013 Team Event as well as the SAJCCC 2014. 9.2.4. Position on Grand Prix list. 9.2.5. Transformation status/pdi 9.3. If a player withdraws after he/she was selected for an event, the YC will select the replacement for the player. No player will be re-instated once officially withdrawn. 9.4. The selection of a replacement player needs to be ratified by the Executive Board of CHESSA 9.5. CHESSA may elect not to replace a player if the other players are not deemed strong enough. 10. SELECTION AND VERIFICATION OF SELECTIONS: 10.1. The Selection of players will take place in accordance with the Constitution of CHESSA. 10.2. All Selection committees and players shall be bound by the stipulations in this document. 10.3. Any selector who has a child in a specific age group must recuse themselves from that age group and may not be involved in any discussions in that same age group.
11. CHESSA COLOURS The YC will identify tournaments whereby players will be selected for development purposes through talent identification; these players will receive CHESSA (Federation) colours. 12. GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE: 12.1. Any correspondence/grievance/complaints relating to youth matters should first be addressed to the relevant Union, Club or Province. If the relevant Union, Club or Province cannot resolve it at that level, only then must it be referred to the YC for consideration as per SASCOC. 12.2. Any correspondence related to Youth Selection procedures should be addressed to the Youth Director: youth@chessa.co.za in writing by the relevant Union/Province/Club for consideration and copied to the CHESSA General Secretary: secretary@chessa.co.za as well. 12.3. The Youth Director will, if the grievance cannot by resolved by the YC, refer this to the President of CHESSA. 12.4. No player, parent, coach, manager or member of CHESSA will liaise, approach or send correspondence directly to SASCOC as directed by SASCOC. 13. OFFICIALS: 13.1. The ATM Commission will appoint the various coaches and managers for each delegation. 13.2. The YC will make proposals to the ATM with regard to the appointment of managers and coaches for youth events. 13.3. The appointment of coaches and managers must be ratified by the CHESSA Executive Board. 13.4. All processes and administration for applying and for the appointment of persons for the positions of Team Coach, Head Coach or Team Manager for International Groups as in this document are subject to the criteria as laid down by the CHESSA Constitution, the Executive Board as well as the Commissions involved in the administration of International Youth participants. 13.5. All players will be expected to travel with the official manager appointed by CHESSA as well as stay with their team in the official accommodation provided for the specific event, unless exceptional reasons preclude this.