Standardization
of time control
The Association of Chess Professionals has written to the FIDE Presidential
Board asking for a latter to standardize the time control in all events –
"the one the majority of professional chess players are waiting for."
The ACP goes on to say: "Chess players find it very difficult to adapt
to various time controls in various tournaments. The situation has become very
serious, as practically, it is hardly possible to play two tournaments in a
row with the same time control! In majority of other sports, the duration of
a game is precisely set and there is no reason why in chess the situation should
be different."
In July 2005, at a joint ACP-FIDE meeting in Athens, Greece, a new time control
was proposed for official FIDE events: 90 minutes for 40 moves, followed by
30 minutes for remaining moves, with an increment of 30 seconds per move, starting
from move 1. "This time control has been widely recognised and warmly welcomed
by many chess players and organisers, however a significant number of chess
players preferred other, longer, seven-hour time control. The standardization
of time control is absolutely necessary, however the ACP understands, that it
is reasonable to leave a choice between the two above mentioned possibilities
to organisers of a particular event, as for some tournaments the shorter time
control can be more suitable, while for other tournaments the longer one."
After many discussions with players, organisers, arbiters, and officials,
the ACP has come up with the following proposal:
Section I: Digital clocks
Classical |
| Short: 90 min for 40 moves |
30 min for remaining moves |
30 sec increment from move one |
| Long: 90 min for 40 moves |
50 min for 20 moves, 15 min for rest |
30 sec increment from move one |
Rapid |
| 20 minutes for all moves with an increment of 10 seconds per
move from move one |
Blitz |
| 3 minutes for all moves with an increment of 2 seconds per
move, starting from move one |
The ACP advocates using the above mentioned time controls in all official FIDE
tournaments, as well as in all FIDE-rated tournaments. Both the "shorter"
and "longer" time controls for classical chess would be equally possible.
Tournaments, in which different time controls are used should not be calculated
for rating and title purposes, starting from the 1st of July 2008.
Section II: Mechanical clocks – Transition period
For tournaments that are still played with mechanical clocks the ACP proposes
the following time controls:
Classical |
| Short: 120 minutes for 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes
for remaining moves |
| Long: 120 minutes for 40 moves, then 60 minutes for 20
moves, then 30 minutes for remaining moves |
Rapid |
| 30 minutes for all moves |
Blitz |
| 5 minutes for all moves |
The above mentioned time controls for mechanical clocks can be used in FIDE-rated
tournaments, however no longer than untill the 30th of June 2010. After that
date, no international title norms (WIM, WGM, IM, GM) should be achievable in
such tournaments, although the tournaments would stll be counted for rating
purposes.
Section III: Official FIDE events
Taking into consideration results of official meetings between the ACP and
FIDE, the ACP proposes to use:
- the shorter time control (90'/40+G-30')+30" in Olympiads, World Cup
2007
- the longer time control (100'/40+50'/20+G-15')+30" in World Championship
Matches, Challengers Matches, FIDE Masters Cup
The ACP plans to conduct the official poll among all participants of the World
Cup 2007, in order to establish whether they prefer the shorter or the longer
time control to be used in World Cups and Continental Championships. The time
control for future World Cups and Continental Championships should be set accordingly
to the results of the poll.
