ICCF 2015-013: Tournament Proof of Acceptance
Leonardo Ljubičić, Delegate Croatia
Invitation tournament’s start lists should include only players for which there is a written/e-mail proof of acceptance.
Proposal
Once an application for an invitational tournament has been granted by the WTD, and before the start of the tournament, the Tournament Organiser (TO) is required to demonstrate to the WTD that for each player in start list, there exists a written (e-mail) acceptance of willingness to play, either by the player in question or his or her National Federation. Failing this, the tournament shall not be allowed to start, and the tournament approval becomes void.
Rationale
Article 12.5 of the ICCF Tournament Rules states “Invitations to international invitation tournaments must be made via the member federations from whom players are being invited. No invitations should be made until after formal approval of the tournament has been received. No invitations shall be sent directly to the players.”
However, there no tool exists to monitor if the Tournament Organiser complies with article provision. The worst case (and one addressed by this proposal) of neglecting this requirement is the situation where a TO, once the tournament is approved by WTD/Congress, makes an arbitrary start list of players without consulting the players or their National Federation delegate first. Players in question are receiving the starting list of the tournaments without being previously warned. They then have a choice of playing (assuming an invitation to a tournament is considered a privilege), or claiming they do not accept to play in the tournament for which they have not been consulted before; thus, making alterations in startlist and altogether creating a delay and confusion in the tournament that has already been announced as started.
Other Comments/Considerations
Accepting this proposal creates an additional step in organizing invitational tournaments for both the organizer (who is required to demonstrate e-mails of acceptance by each player to the WTD) and the WTD (by requiring verification), but removes the unpleasant situation where players are almost forced to play the tournament he or she never planned to play.
Relevent Documentation
ICCF Tournament Rules addition to article 12.3, page 13.
Voting Summary
- A vote of Yes will mean that for approved invitational tournaments (effective immediately), before the start, the TO is required to demonstrate to the WTD that each player on the start list has accepted the invitation to play.
- A vote of No will mean that there is no controlling mechanism to prevent organisers of invitational tournaments to create an arbitrary list of players hoping they will accept to play even if they did not plan to, than to make complaints and alterations of already formed tournaments.
- A vote of ABSTAIN is not a vote but means the vote holder has no opinion and does not wish to represent the correspondence chess players of his or her federation in this matter.
Comments by Relevant Committees, Commissions, or ICCF Officers
Eric Ruch (EB)
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Eric Ruch (Rules)
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Frank Geider
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Gian-Maria Tani
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Markus Hömske
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