KEC 2022 announcement (Kingston Easter Chess)

[Aris Marghetis]

This is the KEC 2022 ANNOUNCEMENT, now updated as of Tuesday, April 12th.
Especially given changing pandemic conditions, this will be updated as applicable.

KEC 2022 sections - all sections rated both FIDE & CFC (and FQE for FQE#s):
- Zonals/Closed championships: Canada Zonal, Canada Women Zonal
- Easter Sectionals: U2200, U1900, U1600

WHEN
Wednesday, April 13th: Welcome @ 630pm, Round 1 @ 7pm
Thursday, April 14th: Round 2 @ 10am, Round 3 @ 5pm
Friday, April 15th: Round 4 @ 10am, Round 5 @ 5pm
Saturday, April 16th: TBD activities, Round 6 @ 5pm
Sunday: April 17th: Round 7 @ 10am, Round 8 @ 5pm
Monday: April 18th: Round 9 @ 10am

WHERE
Four Points by Sheraton Kingston (the same great location as in 2019!)
[downtown near waterfront, indoor heated swimming pool, fitness centre]
NEW for 2022: book directly with hotel, their KEC rate of only $100 includes:
free parking, free breakfasts, free Wi-Fi, up to $50 in restaurant coupons
https://www.marriott.com/event-reser...P&app=resvlink
IMPORTANT RE BREAKFASTS:
- the KEC room rate is the SAME for 1-4 people
(GUARANTEED: ignore any "Extra Person Fee", it's an old software bug)
- enter number of people correctly, so the hotel can plan our breakfasts!
FREE PARKING:
- anyone can use the hotel underground parking garage
- by staying at hotel, your bill will change by checkout from $20 to $0
- anyone not staying at the hotel will be charged parking
ONTARIO RESIDENTS:
- keep hotel receipt for the 2022 Ontario Tax Staycation deduction!!

PANDEMIC CONDITIONS (subject to change):
"old restaurant rules":
- a player seated at their board (game or skittles) may remove their mask
- everyone else on the 2nd floor must always properly wear their mask
- players submit pandemic vaccine documentation with their registration
- any exceptions may be appealed on a case-by-case basis (early please!)
- the event and/or the hotel reserve the right to ban anyone deemed ill
- please note anyone may be subject to non-contact temperature testing

MONEY PRIZES
- as of March 9th, over $14K based on only 100 players (2019 numbers)
- all money prizes to be paid out AFTER April 18th!

PRIZES for Zonal/Closed sections
[Zonal/Closed sections currently open only to Canadians (FIDE flag = CAN)]
[generally NO splitting of these prizes, see TIEBREAKS below]

CANADA ZONAL
1st place = next Open Olympiad team + next Open World Cup + $2000
[tied for 1st place = IM title]
2nd place = very likely next Open World Cup + FM title + IM norm + $1500
3rd place = FM title + IM norm + $1000
4th place = $500
65% in 9 games (6/9) = FM title
50% in 9 games (4.5/9) = CM title
Bryon Nickoloff Memorial Prize for Top Open Junior = $500
(splitable, for the top Open Canadian born in 2002 or later)

CANADA WOMEN ZONAL
1st place = next Women Olympiad team + next Women World Cup + $1500
[tied for 1st place = WIM title]
2nd place = likely next Women World Cup + WFM title + WIM norm + $1000
3rd place = WFM title + WIM norm + $500
65% in 9 games (6/9) = WFM title
50% in 9 games (4.5/9) = WCM title
Bryon Nickoloff Memorial Prize for Top Women Junior = $500
(splitable, for the top Women Canadian born in 2002 or later)

TIEBREAKS (for Zonal/Closed sections)
1) Buchholz Cut 1 (Buchholz less lowest opponent score)
2) Buchholz System (sum of scores of all opponents)
3) Sonneborn-Berger (scores of defeated + half-scores of drawn)
4) drawing of lots (virtually impossible scenario!)

PRIZES FOR U2200/U1900/U1600 SECTIONALS
[these prizes ARE splitable, Zonal/Closed TIEBREAKS above DON'T apply]
each 1st place = $1000
each 2nd place = $500
each 3rd place = $250 (UNRated players can only win U1600 3rd place $)

REGISTRATIONS
1) ensure CFC membership (FQE from Quebec) expires after April 18th
2) email to arismarghetis@rogers.com :
- CFC(FQE) & FIDE IDs, mobile phone, pandemic vaccine documentation (PDF)
- female players should confirm exactly which section they are registering for
- see below regarding SECTION ELIGIBILITY
3) please wait for confirming reply before actually paying for registration!
4) e-transfer registration payment (or arrange alternative payment method)
REGISTRATIONS CLOSE SUNDAY, APRIL 10th
THERE WILL BE NO ONSITE REGISTRATIONS
NO ONSITE SMOKING, VAPING, ETC. PERMITTED
ALL PLAYERS MUST USE SCORESHEETS PROVIDE BY EVENT

HOW MUCH
GM who registers before April 1st = free half-occupancy + free entry
IM/WGM who registers before April 1st = free entry
all other Zonal/Closed players who register before April 1st = $240
all other Zonal/Closed players who register after March 31st = $270
all Easter Sectional players who register before April 1st = $140
all Easter Sectional players who register after March 31st = $170

BYES in Zonal/Closed sections: no half-point byes
BYES in U2200/U1900/U1600: up to 3 half-point byes
(IF requested with registration, ONLY for Rounds 1-6)
any other requested byes (including refused pairing) will be 0-point

SECTION ELIGIBILITY
- higher of FIDE Standard & CFC Regular (FQE “cote lente”) ratings
- minimum rating of 2200 for Canada Zonal section (NO PLAYING UP)
- there's no minimum rating yet for the Canada Women Zonal section
- Sectional players deemed UNRated will play in U1600 Sectional
- initial ratings considered/floored as of Monday, March 7th
- final ratings review planned for after Wednesday, April 6th
- Chief Organizer reserves right to adjust ratings/sections

RATINGS for PAIRINGS
- Zonal/Closed sections: FIDE rating [if none exists, then UNR (CFC tiebreak)]
- Easter Sectionals: CFC rating (if none exists, then UNR)
- FORCED BYE may be offered free rated extra game

DEFAULT TIME (FIDE Law 6.7.1): 30 minutes
- a player who forfeits will need to deposit $100 to return
- if they forfeit again, their opponent will get that $100

TIME CONTROL:
- 90 minutes for the first 40 moves,
- followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game,
- with an addition of 30 seconds per move starting from move one.

FAIR PLAY
restroom conditions:
- one restroom for Men players and one restroom for Women players
- both are situated in the Foyer area near the Ballroom playing area
- staff may also use these restrooms, but no other non-players
(except for staff) no tech of any kind on the whole 2nd floor
other measures to be implemented may not be announced
all onsite attendees may be photographed, videotaped, etc.

Finally, we welcome more volunteers, publicity hounds, floater players!!!
Please email me: arismarghetis@rogers.com

Thank you, kind regards, Aris Marghetis, IA/IO
Chief Organizer/Arbiter, Kingston Easter Chess (KEC)

Arbiter Team & Fair Play Officers:
A.Ferreira, A.Kovatcheva, FA O.Shah, FA C.Wan, FA K.Wan.

DGT Broadcasting: John Upper
Appeals Committee Chair: Hal Bond
- within 1 hour of end of round
- in writing to the Chief Arbiter
- accompanied by $100 deposit
French translations: Patrick Gougeon

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!!
- East Blok United (merry band of Ottawa chess players!)
- Eastern Ontario Chess Association (EOCA)
- Ontario Chess Association (OCA)
IF YOU WANT TO SPONSOR, WE'LL HAPPILY PUBLICIZE!!

HISTORY (2022 is our 2nd "annual")
2019 Champions:
- Zonal/Closed: GM Evgeny Bareev
- U2200: Ruoying Xu, U1900: Sanjay Ramesh, U1600: Gary Hua
2019 Titles:
- IM norm: FM Mark Plotkin
- CM title: William Li, Rejean Tremblay
- CM elect: Z.Dukic, S.Noritsyn, M.Rusonik, A.Saha, H.Yao

****************************************************************

WEB VERSION (big thanks to Don Parakin!!):
https://www.chess.ca/en/news/2022/03...-easter-chess/

[Erik Malmsten]

Thanks Aris. I intend to go. Is there a website that I can link to on chess club's facebook pages? So that the many players not on chesstalk can learn about it?

[Grey Guo]

Thanks Aris,

I tried to find the hotel cancellation policy, but cannot find it, they only mentioned this is a non commissionable rate. Any information on this? And also the cancellation policy on the event registration?

[Aris Marghetis]

Thanks Aris. I intend to go. Is there a website that I can link to on chess club's facebook pages? So that the many players not on chesstalk can learn about it?

Hi Erik, no website yet, partially because I suspect things will be fluid in the coming weeks, especially regarding pandemic considerations, so I kind of want people to keep returning to very few places, namely here (and Parlons-Echecs) and CFC Chat. Would you like me to send you a simple email every time I update, and you can re-post that? I thank you in advance for your support.

[Aris Marghetis]

Thanks Aris,

I tried to find the hotel cancellation policy, but cannot find it, they only mentioned this is a non commissionable rate. Any information on this? And also the cancellation policy on the event registration?

Thanks Grey, I just checked with the hotel, and it's 48 hours cancellation notice with them. The person helping me on this is busy this morning, but to start, she believes that would appear on your reservation confirmation email. So we'll meet later today to also get it included somewhere you actually go to book the rooms in the first place. So hang on for a few hours, and thanks for noticing it.

Regarding cancelling your tournament registration, I would say by Sunday, April 10th. That's the point we lock in our final orders for extra tables and other supplies. Would that seem fair to you?

Thanks, best, Aris.

[Grey Guo]

Thanks Grey, I just checked with the hotel, and it's 48 hours cancellation notice with them. The person helping me on this is busy this morning, but to start, she believes that would appear on your reservation confirmation email. So we'll meet later today to also get it included somewhere you actually go to book the rooms in the first place. So hang on for a few hours, and thanks for noticing it.

Regarding cancelling your tournament registration, I would say by Sunday, April 10th. That's the point we lock in our final orders for extra tables and other supplies. Would that seem fair to you?

Thanks, best, Aris.

Thanks, Aris,

I can confirm the confirmation email only mentioned the cancellation policy could be found online, and the online system showed this is non commissionable rate. Another item may trigger confusion is about the parking fee, as free parking mentioned above, but the booking system and the confirmation email all saying $20 daily for parking.

For the tournament cancelation policy sounds good for me, just like to know it in case something happen in this uncertain world

[Aris Marghetis]

Thanks, Aris,

I can confirm the confirmation email only mentioned the cancellation policy could be found online, and the online system showed this is non commissionable rate. Another item may trigger confusion is about the parking fee, as free parking mentioned above, but the booking system and the confirmation email all saying $20 daily for parking.

For the tournament cancelation policy sounds good for me, just like to know it in case something happen in this uncertain world

Thanks again, I'll get them to improve their website as per your points. But probably not for a few hours.

[Erik Malmsten]

Hi Erik, no website yet, partially because I suspect things will be fluid in the coming weeks, especially regarding pandemic considerations, so I kind of want people to keep returning to very few places, namely here (and Parlons-Echecs) and CFC Chat. Would you like me to send you a simple email every time I update, and you can re-post that? I thank you in advance for your support.

Sorry, that's very discouraging. I don't care about all the details. I just want a site where newcomers to chess tournaments can easily go to. I'm not sending them to discussion boards.

[Aris Marghetis]

Sorry, that's very discouraging. I don't care about all the details. I just want a site where newcomers to chess tournaments can easily go to. I'm not sending them to discussion boards.

I understand. It'll be websited as soon as I can.

(suggestion was that you copy as/where desired)

[Erik Malmsten]

I understand. It'll be websited as soon as I can.

(suggestion was that you copy as/where desired)

I'm not posting 20 paragraphs of details on chess club websites.

These young people are used to using the internet for information and they can't find anything about a national championship?? There should be a dedicated page on the CFC website. These new players have been very active on chess.com and lichess and really want to get a CFC rating. They flocked to the Annex Chess Club when it briefly opened last November. A few have travelled to tournaments in Mississauga and Kitchener (and Hamilton). I also support putting ads on chess.com where the vast majority of Canafian chessplayers are.

[Aris Marghetis]

I'm not posting 20 paragraphs of details on chess club websites.

These young people are used to using the internet for information and they can't find anything about a national championship?? There should be a dedicated page on the CFC website. These new players have been very active on chess.com and lichess and really want to get a CFC rating. They flocked to the Annex Chess Club when it briefly opened last November. A few have travelled to tournaments in Mississauga and Kitchener (and Hamilton). I also support putting ads on chess.com where the vast majority of Canafian chessplayers are.

Yes, I understand. I'll get to it as soon as I can. It's a good idea, I thank you for it. Best.

[Aris Marghetis]

Thanks, Aris,

I can confirm the confirmation email only mentioned the cancellation policy could be found online, and the online system showed this is non commissionable rate. Another item may trigger confusion is about the parking fee, as free parking mentioned above, but the booking system and the confirmation email all saying $20 daily for parking.

For the tournament cancelation policy sounds good for me, just like to know it in case something happen in this uncertain world

Grey, I just went in, pretending to book, and the first line of text I see is:
"Rate includes breakfast, parking and $10 worth of restaurant coupons nightly."
So is that sufficient regarding your concern about the parking? For sure included!

Regarding the 48-hour hotel cancellation policy, I'm still waiting for a callback.

[Aris Marghetis]

Yes, I understand. I'll get to it as soon as I can. It's a good idea, I thank you for it. Best.

Hi again Erik, someone (Don!) is graciously volunteering to build a CFC news item for us.

As soon as that's done, I'll post it here and start referring to it from wherever applicable.

[Don Parakin]

There should be a dedicated page on the CFC website.

Done. See https://www.chess.ca/en/news/2022/03...-easter-chess/

Thank you, Aris, for the incredible amount of work you've done pulling all this together!

[Aris Marghetis]

Done. See https://www.chess.ca/en/news/2022/03...-easter-chess/

Thank you, Aris, for the incredible amount of work you've done pulling all this together!

Thank YOU!! I really appreciate you jumping on this and getting something great done!!