OFA chess tournament 2024

I am glad to disclose here that The Old Frees' Association shall organise the second FIDE-rated OFA rapid chess open tournament on the 24th of November this year. This tournament comes in the wake of the successful OFA Centenary chess tournament that we ran last year on the occasion of the club's 100th anniversary. This time, we shall be holding the tournament at The Old Frees' Association itself and not the Penang Free School. The association's multi-purpose hall in its Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah premises should be big enough to host this tournament but we also have a fallback plan to additionally utilise the karaoke room should the need arises. Playing aside, the amenities around the clubhouse are excellent. There are food courts or coffee shops nearby while the Wayla Kin Restaurant within the OFA premises offers very good food too. Therefore, I'd like to ask chess enthusiasts to keep this date available to participate in the OFA's second FIDE-rated rapid chess tournament. Details are given below.

Date: 24 November 2024 
Venue: The Old Frees’ Association, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, George Town 
Main Organiser: The Old Frees' Association (OFA) 
Co-organiser: Penang Chess Association (PCA)

Entry Fees:

RM40 (OFA member and Penang Free School student)

RM60 (Non-OFA member, FIDE rating 2000 and above)

RM70 (Non-OFA member, FIDE rating 1999 and below)

RM80 (Non-OFA member, FIDE unrated)

FIDE ID:

1) IMPORTANT NOTICE: Players without FIDE ID will not be allowed to compete.
2) Local players without FIDE ID must register early through their respective state chess associations.
3) Foreign players without FIDE ID must register through their own national chess federations.
4) Registration fee for local players’ FIDE ID: RM50 per person, to be borne by the player concerned.
5) STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE to apply for FIDE ID: https://tinyurl.com/26babum6 
(Note: An average of SEVEN days for processing. Please apply early to avoid disappointment.)

All players will receive a Certificate of Participation; Medals and e-Certificates of Achievement for winners.

Schedule:

08:45 - Briefing by Chief Arbiter

09.00 to 10.00 (Round 1)

10.15 to 11.15 (Round 2)

11.30 to 12.30 (Round 3)

12.30 to 13.30 (Lunch break)

13.30 to 14.30 (Round 4)

14.45 to 15.45 (Round 5)

16.00 to 17.00 (Round 6)

17.15 to 18.15 (Round 7)

18.45 - Prize Giving

Format:

7-round Swiss System with time control of 20 minutes + 5 sec per move

Tie-breaks:

1) Direct encounter

2) Bucholz

3) Sonnenborn-Berger

4) Tie-break determined by the Organisers

For the purpose of this tournament:

1) Veterans are defined as players 50 years old and above (born in 1974 or earlier).
2) FIDE Rating refers to either FIDE Rapid or FIDE Standard ratings only.
3) Winners are entitled to only one prize each.
4) Maximum 100 participants only.

Online tournament registration: https://tinyurl.com/2zbvu2fj or scan the QR code

Payment method: Maybank A/c 5570-4564-4882 (The Old Frees’ Association)

Closing date: 22 November 2024

Players’ listing: https://tinyurl.com/2vsfdbu4

Contact persons: Quah Seng Sun 0124703700, Alex Ung 0174775418, Terry Ong 0124611865

Notices:

The organisers reserve the right to amend the terms of the tournament. Entries may close early at the organisers’ discretion. The Chief Arbiter’s decisions on all chess matters, including results, are final and shall not be challenged.