09. FIDE World Youth U16 Olympiad

Previously known as Children’s Olympiad; Approved by the 1996 General Assembly and amended by 2011 Executive Board, amended by 2022 FIDE Council.

General Regulations & Rules

1.       The Competition shall be governed by the General Regulations for FIDE Competitions and these Rules. FIDE World Youth U16 Olympiad shall be held in odd years, starting from 2023.

Participation

2.       All chess players who shall not have reached the age of 16 before January 1st of the year in which the Competition is held are eligible to participate.

3.       Each FIDE member federation shall have the right to send one team as invited team.

4.       FIDE member federations shall have the right to send unlimited number of additional teams.

5.       Each team shall comprise 4 players with both boys and girls represented.  

Schedule, System & Time Control

6.       The time control is 45 minutes for the whole game with an increment of 10 seconds per move starting from move one. The competition shall last 7 days – arrival day and 6 playing days. In case a player arrives at the chessboard with a delay of up to 20 minutes from the actual start of the game, he/she shall lose the game.

7.       There shall be 7 rounds (one day - two rounds) If the number of teams is 40 or less. There shall be 9 rounds (three days – two rounds) if the number of teams is more than 40.

8.       Each match shall be played over 4 boards. The pairings, scoring and tiebreak regulations are in accordance with the Pairing Rules for the Chess Olympiad.

Financial Regulations

9.       The Organizing Committee shall provide free board and lodging (in three rooms) for 4 players and team captain.

Prizes

10.     The best three teams shall receive Cups according to these tie-breaks, as calculated in the FIDE Tie-Break Regulations:

1. Match Points (2 for wins, 1 for draws, 0 for losses)
2. Extended Sonneborn Berger for Teams Cut-1 (EMGSB)
3. Game Points
4. Buchholz Cut 1

11.     All members, including the captain of the best three teams will receive gold, silver and bronze medals and memorable gifts.

12.     The best three players on the boards receive gold, silver and bronze medals and memorable gifts. If two or more players have equal TPRs, the tie shall be broken as follows:

1. Direct Encounter
2. Buchholz Cut 1
3. Buchholz
4. Number of Games Played with Black
5. Number of Games Won

The tie-breaks shall be calculated according to the definitions in the FIDE Tie-Break Regulations.

13.     Certificates of Participation shall be given to all players.