• Federation member. If you are not a federation member it will be presumed that you wish to appear in the FIDE Ratings Database under the Isle of Man Flag (subject to the international rating officers approval) and an application to this affect will be made on your behalf, subject to you providing your full name and date of birth, If, however, you are joining an alternative federation, please advise Brian Woodard. Please note that you must be a member of a federation before the start of the tournament otherwise you will not be able to take part.

• 09:15 Opening Ceremony & Random Draw for Round 1.
• 09:30 Round 1; 10:30 Round 2; 11:30 Round 3; 12:30 Round 4.
• (Break)
• 14:30 Round 5; 15:30 Round 6; 16:30 Round 7.
• 17:30 – 18:30 Prize presentation, with pizza and drinks. (Timing subject to tie-breaks) 

• Once entries are close, players will be zoned to either the Open or Major depending on playing strength. Any player can win the Open section.

• Random draw to be made by the IOMCA Chairman, 15 minutes before the start of Round 1.

Winners of the Open & Major

• All players can win the Open title. Players zoned in the Open cannot win the Major. No player can win more than one title. If players tie for first place in either zone a tie break will be held to determine the champion.

• The name of the controller will be confirmed prior to the tournament. The chief arbiter, to be assisted by up to four other arbiters, the name of which will be announced before the tournament. If his assistance is required during play, the arbiter has the right to stop their own clock until the issue is resolved. If the chief arbiter is unavailable or directly involved in the issue as a player, one of the other arbiters will be available to deal with the matter in question.

• All players can win the Open title. Players zoned in the Open cannot win the Major. No player can win more than one title. If players tie for first place in either zone a tie break will be held to determine the champion.

• In the event of two players tying for first place , the winner will be decided by a play-off after the completion of all 7th round games. The play-off will consist of two blitz games with a rate of play of 5 minutes plus an increment of 2 seconds a move, with  alternative colours, first game colours to be determined by the toss of a coin.
• If the blitz match finishes equal then the winner will be determined by Armageddon with 5
  minutes for White and 4 minutes for Black, plus an increment of 2 seconds a move, Black having draw odds. A toss of a coin will determine colours.
• In the event of three or more players tying for first place, the top two will be determined by
  tie-break, in the following order of priority, and will enter the play-off described above:
• The results between the players involved in the tie.
  Sum of progressive score.
  Sum of opponents’ scores (Buchholz).
  Sonneborn-Berger.
  Number of won games.

• Mobile phones must be switched off and left on the table in plain view until the end of the game.

• No eating in the playing hall, including sweets. Drinks are allowed at the board, if consumed quietly.

• Any player under the age of 18 must be accompanied by their parent/guardian for the duration of the tournament.