I. Invitation With a number of European countries and the United States of America having brought their influences to St Croix in the past it is now time for the fellow CARIFTA countries to see what the island has to offer. St Croix is proud to be hosting the 5 th CARIFTA Chess Championship and welcomes its visitors to this beautiful part of the Caribbean. The event will be taking place between March 24 th and March 29 th, 2016 at the Divi Carina Bay Beach Resort & Casino, Christiansted.
II. General Conditions Each CARIFTA Member Country has the right to send one (1) official participant to each category and gender (under 12, under 16 and under 20 Absolute and Female), a maximum of six (6) official players. A CARFITA Member Country may be represented by a female in the Open Category. All participants must register through his National Federation or, for countries with no National Federation, through their National Olympic Committee. The event will be carried out by what has been established by this invitation, and the rules and regulations for the CARIFTA Chess Championship. Categories in Absolute and Female Under 12: Born from 1 st January 2004 Under 16: Born from 1 st January 2000 Under 20: Born from 1 st January 1996 Each CARIFTA Member Country may also register any number of additional players, subject to payment of their registration fee, board and lodging, for which they or their National Federation shall be held responsible. In the instance where a participant resides for an extended period (over a year) in a CARIFTA Member Country for which he does not have a citizenship he shall be allowed to compete for the country in which he resides. Proof of residence must be presented to the CARIFTA organizers. Other Categories of Players: Each CARIFTA member country may also register players for the following categories: Absolute and Female: Under 8: Born from 1 st January, 2008 Under 10: Born from 1 st January, 2006 Under 14: Born from 1 st January, 2002 Under 18: Born from 1 st January, 1998 The top three players in these categories will be awarded Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals. System of Play: Seven (7) round Swiss, unless there are exactly eight (8) players in the category, when the format shall be a single Round Robin. If there are less than eight (8) participants, the players shall be entered in the other category of the same age group and if both categories (total boys and girls) of the same age group have less than eight (8) participants, the players shall be entered in the next age category.
Tie Break System In a Swiss System Tournament: A) Result between the tied players if they have all played each other B) The greater number of wins C) The greater number of wins playing black (unplayed games shall be counted as played with white) D) Bucholz cut1 E) Bucholz F) Sonneborn Berger In a Round Robin Tournament: A) Result between the tied players if they have all played each other B) Koya system C) Koya system extended D) Sonneborn Berger E) Age in favour of the younger player Time Control: Using electronic clocks ninety (90) minutes for each player, plus 30 seconds increment from the first move Default time is thirty (30) minutes after the scheduled start of play III. Pairings & PGN Files The organizers will provide 3 computers, for players to digitize their games. It will be the responsibility of the winner, or in the case of a draw the player of the white pieces, to enter the moves for the game. PGN files of all entered games will also be published on the official tournament page. The Swiss Manager program will be used.
IV. Rights for Categories under 12, 16 and 20 Each CARIFTA Member Country has the right to accommodation and meals from the organizers, from dinner on the official day of arrival to breakfast on the official day of the departure, for the official player in each category and one Head of Delegation or coach. All other players and accompanying persons will have to pay for registration, accommodation and meals. Note: For the official players, the organizers will provide shared accommodation and meals in a double or triple occupancy rooms. Those who wish to have single accommodation shall pay extra as outlined in the accommodation information. Prizes Individual: Gold, Silver and Bronze medals will be awarded to the players taking the first three places in each category by age and gender. Team: First three CARIFTA Member Countries will receive trophies. Points will be accumulated based on top 5 results among all official categories, where a 5 th place finish will receive 1 point and a 1 st place finish will receive 5 points. All players will be given certificates of participation. Accommodation: Accommodation will be provided at Divi Carina Bay Beach Resort & Casino, 25 Turner Hole, Christiansted, St Croix, USVI for the official persons and all other participants. Tournament Venue: Divi Carina Bay Beach Resort & Casino, 25 Turner Hole, Christiansted, St Croix, USVI
V. Cost and Calendar Special CCA Payment: Prior to participation, all players must pay a special entry fee US$15 due to CCA. This entry must be paid to the Organizers. No participant shall be allowed to participate without payment of this special entry fee and all other fees. Registration The registration must be formalized by each CARIFTA Member Country, via email with the details of its players (FIDE ID, elo, date of birth and country of residency) before 4:30pm on Thursday, March 10, 2016. Please note that in order to be registered a player must have a FIDE ID. If a participating CARIFTA Member Country does not send an official player in an age category or gender, they may not substitute this for another player in a category where they already have an official player. All players must provide their personal email address upon registration for FIDE America records. Registration form is attached. Cost: 1. US$ 90 for official and additional players which includes the CCA entry fee, local transport between airport and hotel, and accreditation. 2. US$ 75 for Head of Delegation, Coach or accompanying person to cover local transport between airport and hotel, and accreditation 3. US$ 25 registration fee for local USVI players. Please note that these costs are offered on a first come basis, and are only guaranteed upon payment. All fees are payable to the USVICF. Accommodation The following room types and rates are applicable to the official hotel Divi Carina Bay Beach Resort & Casino, 25 Turner Hole, Christiansted, St Croix, USVI during the tournament as well as seven (7) days prior and seven (7) days after the tournament. Any participant (player/official/coach/trainer/parent of delegate) wishing to stay at another hotel other than the official hotel will be subject to an exoneration fee of US$ 100. The USVICF will be not responsible for such participants. All fees are payable to the USVICF. Double Room (2 people): Triple Room (3 people): Single Room (1 person): US$ 145 per person/per night US$ 120 per person/per night US$ 250 per person/per night These rates are inclusive of breakfast, lunch, dinner and 20% service charge on meals.
Penalty for Late Registration Registration after March 10, 2016 will be subjected to an extra penalty charge of US$ 50 per person (whether player, accompanying person, Head of Delegation or coach) after March 17, 2016 US$ 75 per person thereafter. Late payments ends March 17, 2016. All accommodation cost will be paid for (5) nights as a total package plus registration cost for whoever will be coming for March 24 th and leaving on March 29 th. If someone comes later or leaves earlier, he or she will still be required to pay the total package cost. If someone comes earlier and leaves later he or she will be required to pay all additional costs for accommodation and transportation. NOTE: Again, please note that these arrangements are offered on a first come basis, and are only guaranteed upon payment: Tournament Calendar: Arrival of delegates: Thursday March 24, 2015 Processing of registered players: Thursday March 24, 2016 Technical Meeting: Thursday March 24, 2016 at 6:00pm Opening Ceremony: Thursday March 24, 2016 at 7:30pm Round One: Friday March 25, 2016 at 9:30 am Round Two: Friday March 25, 2016 at 3:30 am Round Three: Saturday March 26, 2016 at 9:30 am Round Four: Saturday March 26, 2016 at 3:30pm Round Five: Sunday March 27, 2016 at 9:30 am Round Six: Sunday March 27, 2016 at 3:30pm Round Seven: Monday March 28, 2016 at 9:30am Awards and Closing Ceremony: Monday March 28, 2016 at 7:00 pm Departure of Delegations: Tuesday March 29, 2016 Local Transportation: The organizers will provide transportation to and from Henry Rohlsen International Airport and Divi Carina Bay Beach Resort & Casino, 25 Turner Hole, Christiansted, St Croix, USVI. Persons staying outside the official venue (Divi Carina Bay Beach Resort & Casino, 25 Turner Hole, Christiansted, St Croix, USVI) will be responsible for their own transportation and security. Payment Payment of registration fees and accommodation must be made by bank wire transfer by March 10 th or as otherwise authorized by the organizers.
Funds to be wired to: USVI Chess Federation Olympiad Account FirstBank Puerto Rico Account Number: 7241171052 Swift Code: FBPRPRSJ Routing Number: 221571473 Branch: P.O. Box 9146; 1519 Ponce De Leon Avenue, Santurce, PR 00908 On completion of wire transfer, a scanned copy of the transfer receipt should be emailed to US Virgin Islands Chess Federation s President and Treasurer at: Margaret A. Murphy (President): usvichess@hotmail.com Anthony Mongiello (Treasurer): anthonymongiello5@gmail.com As soon as the payment transfer is confirmed, the organizing committee will send the respective chess Federation the confirmation of the hotel reservations. Also all confirmed registrations will be declared on the official web site, where Federations may check their participants situation on a daily basis. Cancellations US Virgin Islands Chess Federation acts as a booking agent for Divi Carina Bay. When we make your booking you are entering into a contract with the Divi Carina Bay via US Virgin Islands Chess Federation, not with the US Virgin Island Chess Federation itself. In all cases, once your booking is confirmed, you are subject to terms and conditions of Divi Carina Bay cancellation policy. For this event, Divi Carina Bay will fully refund accommodation payments if cancellation notice is received no later than March 17 th, 2016. After that all payments are non-refundable. For Official Players whose cancellation notice is received after March 17 th, 2016 Divi Carina Bay will bill the US Virgin Islands Chess Federation the full accommodation package which will be billed to the Federation of the player. Cancellations must be made by email or phoning the President of the US Virgin Island Chess Federation as soon as possible: Margaret Murphy (President) usvichess@hotmail.com +1 340 332 6440
Other Information Media All journalists who wish to participate in the event may contact the organizers and should be accredited. Promotion and Marketing Stands Anyone who wishes to rent a promotional stand on location should contact the organizers for rental conditions. No one will be allowed any promotional space (except FIDE and CCA) or to have a stand for merchandise or other services, without approval of the Organizing Committee. For any other information please email: Contact Information: usvichess@hotmail.com Margaret A. Murphy (President): usvichess@hotmail.com Anthony Mongiello (Treasurer): anthonymongiell05@gmail.com www.diviresorts.com/divi-carina-bay-beach-resort-casino-st-croix.htm GENS UNA SUMUS