Format

Times

Teams should plan to arrive at the venue at 9:00am in anticipation of a 9:30am start to the first game.

Some events can have modified times. Please check the Tournament Summary information on the Upcoming Auckland Tournaments page or Upcoming Regional Tournaments page for details of the particular tournament you are interested in.

If you are going to be running late, arrangements can be made – please notify the organisers.

Games

The “Swiss Format” ensures that all students will play against players of a similar standard; we expect both beginners and experts to enjoy a fun, learning, social and competitive experience.

All players play 7 games, regardless if they win or lose. Note If the tournament has an odd number of players, it is possible for a child to get a bye. A player receiving a bye doesn't play a game for that round and receives 1 point. No player will have more than one bye in a tournament.

If a player wins a game, they score 1.0 point. In the subsequent game they play against someone who has also won. If a player draws a game, they score 0.5 points. In the subsequent game they play against a similar opponent. If a player loses a game, they score 0.0 points. In the subsequent game they play against someone that has also lost.

Where possible students from the same school will not compete against each other. Please note this wholly depends on the draw and at times students from the same school are drawn against each other and this cannot be avoided.

Each game will be timed using a Chess Clock, with a maximum of 15 minutes per player, per game (see Player Rules).

Divisions

There are typically three divisions in Chess Power Interschool Tournaments. Players in a division are separated into their own tournament draw once there are 30 players in that division. Otherwise, players are not separated so any player in one division can play any player in another division.

We also have a special Rookies division for junior players (years 1 - 6) that are completely new to chess and have never played in the Chess tournament before.

The purpose of the divisions is to identify the winning school in a division for a Zone, who therefore qualifies for the National Finals. Players in the Rookies division to not contribute to qualification for the National Finals.

Generally players compete in the year level he/she is currently enrolled in at school.

The Junior division is for players from Year 1 through to Year 6 (students must be between 5 to 11 years old)
The Intermediate division is for players from Year 7 - Year 8 (students must be between 11 to 13 years old)
The Senior (Open) division is for players from Year 9 – Year 13 (students must be between 13 to 18 years old)
The Rookies division is open to junior players (year 1 - 6).

For a school to enter the Junior division, all students must be in Year 6 or less.

For a school to enter the Intermediate division, all students must be in Year 8 or less. The intermediate division can have students in a Year lower than Year 7. For example, if a participating school was a full school from Year 1 through to Year 8 they may want their more junior players to make up an Intermediate Division team.

For a school to enter the Senior division, all students must be in Year 9 - Year 13. However, a Senior division team can have students in a Year from years 7 and 8 making up the team. The majority of the team must be made up of Senior students.

For schools with accelerated learning programs a student may compete in the year level they are currently in or the year level they would have been in if not in an accelerated program.