SPARTAN BISHOPS CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2024

Team Swiss Chess tournament

03 – 05 May 2024
Sparkling Waters Hotel – Rustenburg, Bojanala

Rating Bureau

Version published 5/3/2024

The Spartan Bishops Championships
03 – 05 May 2024
“COME AND TAKE THEM!!!”
1 THE CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Championships shall consist of teams from Bojanala Chess Federation; Dr. Kenneth Kuanda
Chess; Eastern Cape Chess; Gaborone City, Botswana; Mangaung and Northern Cape Chess.

Other regional and provincial teams will be allowed to join, subject to space availability.

2 VENUE & ACCOMODATION

2.1 The venue will be Sparkling Waters Hotel & Spa in Rustenburg. Details can be found at
https://www.sparklinghotels.co.za/
2.2 Weekend Accommodation packages at Sparkling Waters Hotel are available at R1500 per person
sharing in 4 pax, two-bedroom chalet. Package includes breakfast and dinner (starting on 03 May
2024).
2.3 Once venue is fully booked, guests will be accommodated at Omaramba Holiday Resort,
Buffelspoort.
2.4 Players who prefer to not stay over, can join for breakfast and dinner at R300 per day.
2.5 Reservations with the hotel can only be done by the appointed Team Representative.

3 TOURNAMENT FORMAT
3.1 The Championships shall consist of teams competing in age bracket sections.
3.2 Notwithstanding, players will be allowed to play up (in older age group sections).
3.3 Each section shall be FIDE rated, subject to there being a sufficient number of players with FIDE
rating in a section.
3.4 Age groups are bracketed as follows:
Section Age Bracket Players Per Team
Little Pawns born 2016 6
Big Pawns born 2015 & 2014 10
Senior Pawns born 2013 & 2012 10
Knights born 2011 & 2010 10
Bishops born 2009 & 2008 10
Rooks born 2007 & 2006 10
Queens Born 2005 & 2004 10
Kings Born 2003 & before 10
Over 50s 50 Years of age and older 6

3.5 Each section will have a 6-player female team, forming the Spartan Ladies Chess Championships.
3.6 Sections may be combined should there be an insufficient number of entries in any one section.

4 THE TITLE
4.1 The teams will compete for the title of “Spartan Bishops Regional Champions 2024” and “Spartan
Bishops Female Regional Champions 2024”

5 MEDALS AND TROPHIES

5.1 The Spartan Bishops Champions will receive the Spartan floating trophy.
5.2 The Spartan Bishops Female Champions will receive the Spartan Female floating trophy.
5.3 Each player from the winning team receives a gold medal.
5.4 Each player from the runner up team and 3rd placed team, receives a sliver-and bronze -medal
respectively.
5.5 Board prizes will be awarded in every section, to the best player of each board.
6 REGISTRATION & FEES

6.1 Teams will register their team numbers at https://forms.gle/EW1mLmi54HsAFh6P6

6.2 Provisional Team numbers must be registered by 13 March 2024.
6.3 By 31 March 2024, team numbers are to be confirmed, using the same link in 6.1.
6.4 Each player pays R250.
6.5 Registration fees are to be paid directly to the player’s respective Province or Region.
6.6 Teams are to pay at least 50% of registration fees to Bojanala Chess by 31 March 2024 and the
outstanding balance by 30 April 2024.

7 SCHEDULE

14h00 Player Arrivals

03 May 18h00 Team Entrances (Flags and Theme Songs)
19h00 Round 1

09h00 Round 2
04 May 12h00 Round 3
16h00 Round 4

05 May 09h00 Round 5

Award Ceremony
8 TOURNAMENT RULES AND RATE OF PLAY
8.1 The rate of play will be 60|5, in a 5-round Swiss for all sections.
8.2 Notwithstanding, depending on the number of teams, the Pawns sections’ format may be converted
to a Scheveningen system format, with more rounds.
8.3 Should there be an unequal number of teams in a section, the format will be converted to an
Individual Swiss, with no players from the same team being paired together.
8.4 Players arriving more than 30min late shall automatically forfeit the game.
8.5 All players and parents should join the tournament information WhatsApp group at
https://chat.whatsapp.com/CYs1EwvqiyKJequgrCOHWQ

9 ARBITERS
Each Touring Squad will provide at least three Arbiters. The Chief Arbiter will be appointed from
this list.

10 THE FRIENDLY RIVALRY

This is a tournament between friends. It is therefore expected that while every player does their best
to get their hands on the trophy, they recognise and respect that their opposition will not make it
easy. Therefore, after every battle… win or lose, we will give praise where praise is due.

COME AND TAKE THEM…