General Principles for Tiebreak Playoffs
1️⃣
1. While this policy sets forth the default formats for tiebreak playoffs, every effort will be made to accommodate the schedules and preferences of the players and organizer/director. An alternative playoff format (including an online format supervised by a director) may be used if all interested parties agree. Failure of one or more interested parties to agree on a proposed alternative format will result in the use of the applicable default format.
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2. All default formats assume over-the-board (OTB) rather than online play.
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3. Non-Armageddon games will be US Chess rated under the applicable rating system (i.e., OTB regular, OTB quick, OTB blitz, online regular, online rapid, or online blitz).
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4. Armageddon maximum bid shall not exceed the time permitted for the previous round played.
5️⃣
5. Except as noted below, players will be permitted a 15-minute break after all games played with regular (as opposed to quick or blitz) time controls.
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6. If feasible and acceptable to all parties, playoff may be held on the same day as the tournament. Otherwise, playoff will be held on a different day from the tournament itself; day/time/site to be agreed upon by players and organizer/director.
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7. If playoff is not on the same day as the tournament, it shall be held alongside some other existing event if possible. Director may be the original tournament director, the director of the existing event, or someone else approved by the MSCA. Director to receive a nominal fee ($20) unless playoff extends longer than 1 hour past the end of the existing event, in which case fee to be determined by the MSCA in accordance with its general policies.
Default Formats
2-player
Open section state championship only: 2 games alternating colors G/90+30; followed by 2 games alternating colors G/25+3 if needed; followed by Armageddon if needed. Players will be permitted a 30-minute break after all G/90+30 games.
All others: 2 games alternating colors G/60+10; followed by 2 games alternating colors G/15+3 if needed; followed by Armageddon if needed. Players will be permitted a 30-minute break after all G/60+10 games.
3- and 4-player
Open section state championship only: Double round robin G/60+30. If a 2-way tie, 2 games alternating colors G/5+3 followed by Armageddon if needed. If 3 or more players remain tied, the two players with the highest tiebreaks from the original tournament will play as described above for the 2-way tie. Players will be permitted a 30-minute break after all G/60+30 games.
All others: Double round robin G/30 d5. If a 2-way tie, 2 games alternating colors G/5+3, followed by Armageddon if needed. If 3 or more players remain tied, the two players with the highest tiebreaks from the original tournament will play as described above for the 2-way tie.
5- and 6-player
Open section state championship only: Single round robin G/30 d5. If a 2-way tie, 2 games alternating colors G/5+3 followed by Armageddon if needed. If 3 or more players remain tied, the two players with the highest tiebreaks from the original tournament will play as described above for the 2-way tie.
All others: Single round robin G/15+3. If a 2-way tie, 2 games alternating colors G/5+3 followed by Armageddon if needed. If 3 or more players remain tied, the two players with the highest tiebreaks from the original tournament will play as described above for the 2-way tie.
7-player+
Single round robin G/15+3. If a 2-way tie, 2 games alternating colors G/5+3 followed by Armageddon if needed. If 3 or more players remain tied, the two players with the highest tiebreaks from the original tournament will play as described above for the 2-way tie.
Armageddon Rules 💥
2 players in original group
Time bidding where the player with the lowest bid receives black and their bid time with draw odds and white plays with 15 minutes. In the case of a bidding tie, the winner of a coin flip chooses colors, black having the bid time. Maximum bid time of 15 minutes.
3 or more players in original group
Time bidding where the player with the lowest bid receives black and their bid time with draw odds and white plays with 5 minutes. In the case of a bidding tie, the winner of a coin flip chooses colors, black having the bid time. Maximum bid time of 5 minutes.
Policy for Titles in the Event of a Tie
Name all those who tie for first as co-champion; playoff to be used for representing Minnesota at a
national event, seeding for any relevant future event, trophies/plaques, and the like.