FIDE “FIRST” for Hastings

The world’s first ever FIDE-rated Blitz tournament will take place at the White Rock Hotel, Hastings on Monday 2nd January.

FIDE are starting to collect rating information from blitz and rapidplay games starting 1 January 2012.  The two new lists will be published 1 July 2012.   The standardplay ratings will not be affected by the blitz or rapidplay results.  The ratings of players who are already FIDE-rated will be used initially.

Depending on the number of entries, the tournaments will be sections of 10 with not more than 6 unrated players in each section.  This means that each unrated player will be able to get a FIDE Blitz Rating on the night.

There will be no FIDE charge for rating blitz or rapidplay tournaments throughout 2012.  The decision about charges for 2013, if any, will be made at the FIDE Congress in Turkey.

The K factor for all players will be 20.  If a rated player plays more than 35 games in a period, then his new rating will be his Tournament Rating Performance for that period.

Entry fee: £2.00 if FIDE-rated, £5.00 if not FIDE-rated
Prizes: All entry fees will be returned as prizes
Rate of play: All the moves in 3 minutes, add on 2 seconds per move from the first