Introduction

The Harrod Cup is an event for lower-graded players (see below) and is a five-round Swiss tournament for teams of four players.  The results of the matches and of the tournament will be decided on the basis of match points.  A match involves two rapid-play games between each pair of players.

Rules

1. The submission of an entry signifies that a club or individual accepts the charges (£7.00 per team), and undertakes to pay them on receipt of an invoice at the end of the event.  (Entry fees include the BCF game levy as necessary).
2. There is no restriction on the number of teams a club may enter, but their strength order must be indicated (see Rule 3 below).  It is permissible to enter a team made up from players from different clubs (or with no Leicestershire club affiliation).  Such a "scratch" team must have a distinctive title, and must nominate an individual who is solely responsible for its playing arrangements and for the payment of its fees.  Any team with no normal home venue available must indicate this on their entry form.  Neutral venues will be provided if necessary.
3. A player who has played for a given team is regarded as a barred player for that team, and may not play for a lower team from that club, or for another club or team.
4. Each club (or scratch team) must appoint a single contact, with home or work and mobile phone numbers and e-mail address supplied.  This person will be contacted with draw details etc.
5. Each team must have an appointed captain who is responsible for all its match arrangements.  The home captain shall contact the away club to indicate the venue for the match and to offer two dates in separate weeks for the fixture, within the time allocated for a given round.  One of these dates must be accepted.
6. Any delay or problem must be reported at once to the League Secretary: any significant delay occurring without the League Secretary's permission might result in one or both teams being defaulted for the match concerned.

Matches

7. Each match must be played between teams of [at least] FOUR players.
8. The board order of each team must be in descending order of strength (see League rule 13).  A team with less than four players available must use them on the top boards, e.g. a 3-player team must default board 4.
9. Each match involves two rapid-play games between each pair of players, each player having white once and black once.  Each player is allowed a total of 30 minutes per game for all moves (see below).  All the eight games in a given match must be played on the same evening.

Grading Restrictions

10. The total grades of all the players in a team (including last-minute substitutes) must not exceed 500.  Ungraded players should be reported, in advance if possible, to the League Secretary, and a grade of at least 80 will be assigned to them.  There are no other grading restrictions this year.
11. Grades published in the ECF's most recent lists (January 2009) must be used.  Where a player has both a rapid play grade and a standard play grade, the rapid play grade will be used.  The only exception is that if the rapid play grade is category E and the standard play grade is in categories A-D the standard play grade will be used instead (i.e. if both grades are E grades the rapid play grade will be used).  All the necessary grading information will be provided on the LRCA Web site: http://www.lrca.org.uk

Play

12. All games must start by 7.30 pm.  Any player who has not started by 8 pm will default their game, but eligible substitutes are allowed up to 8 pm.
13. Each player is allowed a total of 30 minutes per player for all moves.  All games are to be played under the FIDE Rules (Appendix B) for Rapidplay.  (See the League Handbook for 2006-7).  The principal features of these rules include the provisions that (i) the games need not be recorded; and (b) after each player has played 3 moves any mistakes made in setting up the board and the initial position cannot be changed.

Results

14. The result of the match is to be forwarded to the League Secretary and the LRCA Web site as soon as possible, and match score-sheets must be submitted within 7 days.  Any disputes will be resolved by the League Secretary: clubs will have the right of appeal, as in League Rule 7.
15. In deciding on the draws for rounds 2-4, and on the winner of the event, a tie-break system will be used, as follows.  If two teams with equal match points have played each other, the result of that match will decide the teams' position in the draw or in the final order of merit.  If two teams have not played each other, or if their match resulted in a draw, the results of their other matches, assessed in terms of games won minus games lost, will be used to break the tie.  Similar principles will be applied in the event of triple ties etc (see League Handbook, Rule 6).