Tournament regulations
Official rules and regulations of the XIV International Tournament Ciudad de Pontevedra.
Regulations
General information
The XIV International Tournament Ciudad de Pontevedra will be held from July 24 to 30, 2026, in Pontevedra (Galicia, Spain).
The tournament is organized by Escola Xadrez Pontevedra, with the support of Concello de Pontevedra, Deputación de Pontevedra, and Universidade de Vigo. It will be held at the University Sports Pavilion, on the Pontevedra University Campus, just minutes from the city's historic center.
An official FIDE-rated event, it is valid for FIDE ELO, FEDA ELO, and international norms in Group A (Master), and is governed by the FIDE Laws of Chess in effect at the time of the competition.
Participation in the tournament implies full acceptance of these regulations.
Playing hall
The tournament will be held at the University Sports Pavilion of Pontevedra, on the Pontevedra University Campus.
Address: Rúa da Cruz Vermella, s/n, 36002 Pontevedra.
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Competition system
The tournament will be played using the Swiss system over 9 rounds.
The playing schedule runs from July 24 to 30, 2026, with double rounds on July 25 and 27.
Pairings for each round will be published in advance on the following official platforms: Info64 and Chess-Results.
Results will be published after the end of each round and will be official for standings and prize purposes.
Playing schedule
A maximum delay of 45 minutes from the scheduled start time will be allowed.
Closing ceremony
The closing ceremony and prize-giving will take place on Thursday, July 30 at 14:15.
Groups and categories
The tournament is structured into two competition groups:
- Group A (Master): Open to all players with a valid federation license, with no maximum FIDE rating. Categories: open, U-2300, U-2150, veterans (+60), and women.
- Group B (Amateur): Open to all players with a valid federation license and a FIDE rating below 2000 in the last two FIDE lists (June and July 2026). Categories: open, U-1800, U-1600, veterans (+60), women, and age categories (U-08, U-10, U-12, U-14, and U-16).
Players who have exceeded 2100 FIDE rating at any point between 01/07/2025 and 01/07/2026 may not play in Group B.
The organization reserves the right to reassign any player to the appropriate group in case of discrepancy or irregularity in the declared rating.
Time control
The time control is 90 minutes per player, with a 30-second increment per move from move 1.
This is an official FIDE time control, so all games will be rated for FIDE ELO and FEDA ELO. Group A games also count towards international norms, provided FIDE requirements are met.
Byes
Players may request in writing a maximum of three half-point byes.
No bye will be considered official without express confirmation from the organization.
Byes requested for rounds 7, 8, and 9 will score 0 points.
Invited players may not request byes.
Tie-breaks
In the event of a tie in the final standings, the order will be determined by the following official tie-break systems, applied in order:
- Average Buchholz of opponents (AOB).
- Buchholz Cut-1 (BH-C1).
- Total Buchholz (BH).
- Direct encounter (DE).
- Average opponent performance rating (APRO).
The tie-break systems used will be published alongside the official tournament standings.
Pontevedra special rule
As a tournament-specific rule to encourage fighting chess and competitive play:
- On the top 15 boards, games must last a minimum of 1 hour and include at least 20 moves.
- Draw offers that do not meet these requirements will not be accepted, unless expressly authorized by the arbiter.
This rule will be enforced by the arbiters' team.
Playing regulations
General regulations
The tournament will be governed by the FIDE Laws of Chess in effect at the time of the event, as well as by the specific provisions included in these regulations.
The tournament director will be supported by an official arbiters' team, whose decisions will be final in all competition matters.
Any appeal must be submitted in accordance with FIDE procedures and within the timeframes set by the arbiters' team.
Cases not expressly covered by these regulations will be resolved by the organization and the chief arbiter, in accordance with applicable federation rules.
Appeals committee
An appeals committee will be constituted during the first round of the tournament.
Any appeal must be submitted in writing to the arbiter within 30 minutes of the end of the round in which the incident occurred.
A player submitting an appeal must pay a deposit of 80€, which will be refunded if the appeal is upheld.
The decision of the appeals committee will not, under any circumstances, result in the reversal of a game result.
Anti-cheating measures
To guarantee the integrity and fairness of the tournament, the following anti-cheating measures will be in place:
- Strict ban on electronic devices: no electronic device may be brought into the playing hall. The organization will provide a secure storage area for such devices.
- Random checks: metal detector scans and random inspections may be carried out during and after games.
- Technological analysis: games may be analyzed using specialized software to detect anomalous playing patterns.
- Additional supervision: dedicated staff will monitor the playing hall for suspicious behavior.
- Consequences: any player caught cheating will be immediately disqualified and the incident reported to the relevant chess authorities.
Code of conduct
All participants must treat arbiters, the organization, and fellow players with respect.
Talking aloud during games is not allowed. Unsportsmanlike behavior may be sanctioned, up to and including expulsion from the tournament.
Electronic devices are strictly prohibited in the playing area.
Registration
Registration must be completed through the official channels provided by the organization:
- Email: escola@xadrezpontevedra.com.
- Phone: 650 645 318.
The following information is required at registration:
- Full name.
- ID/Passport.
- Date of birth.
- FIDE ID.
- Preferred group.
If no group is specified, the organization reserves the right to assign the player to the most appropriate group.
Registration is only confirmed once the entry fee has been paid.
Bank details:
- Bank: BBVA.
- Beneficiary: Escola Xadrez Pontevedra.
- IBAN: ES94 0182 5151 2702 0161 9025.
- SWIFT/BIC: BBVAESMMXXX
Entry fees
- 60€ — Open section.
- 50€ — U-16 and veterans (+60).
- 40€ — Members of Escola Xadrez Pontevedra and Universidade de Vigo community.
For players with a FIDE rating below 2000 entering Group A, the following fees apply:
Players holding the GM or IM title, or with a FIDE rating of 2300 or above, are exempt from the entry fee.
A 20% discount applies to entries submitted before 14:00 on June 25.
To claim the discount, proof of payment must be provided.
Accreditation will take place on July 24, from 10:00 to 13:00.
All players must check in in person at the playing hall, or by phone or email.
Players who have not completed accreditation will not be paired in round 1.
Data protection and image rights
Organic Law on Personal Data Protection (LOPDGDD)
Club delegates and registered players authorize the championship organization to disseminate information or use images, as well as the team name and its players in media, broadcasts, advertisements, and competition reports. This authorization is granted as long as it does not represent a detriment to their honor or reputation, nor is it contrary to their rights, and always within the legal framework established in the Civil Code, the Civil Procedure Law, and Organic Law 3/2018, of December 5, on the Protection of Personal Data and Guarantee of Digital Rights.
Assignment of image rights
Registration for this tournament implies acceptance of its rules, as well as the express and voluntary authorization to the organization to use free of charge the videos, images, and/or sound recordings in which the player participates, including those provided by the player themselves.
This authorization is granted for the purpose of:
- Publishing the materials on the official tournament website and on the organization's social media.
- Including them in any printed and/or digital publication intended to increase the visibility and reach of the organization's activity.
The authorization covers all possible uses of the videos, images, and sound recordings in which the player appears, using currently available technical means and those that may be developed in the future, except for those uses that may violate the right to honor under the terms provided in Organic Law 1/1982, of May 5, on Civil Protection of the Right to Honor, Personal and Family Privacy and Own Image.
The assignment of rights does not establish a time limit for its granting or for its exploitation, being considered valid for an unlimited period.
Final provisions
Participation in the tournament implies full acceptance of these regulations.
Any case not expressly covered by these rules will be resolved by the organization and the chief arbiter, in accordance with FIDE regulations and good competition practices.
The organization reserves the right to amend these rules, with the sole requirement of publishing the changes on the official event website.