Semi - Finals of the World Correspondence Chess Championship

1.2 Candidates' Tournaments

1. 
   the participants of one of the previous or running Finals who scored at least 50% of the possible points,
   
2. 
   the participants in the previous or running Candidates' Tournaments (3/4-Finals) who scored at least 60% of the possible points but did not qualify for the Final,
   
3. 
   the winners and runners-up in every Semi-Final group according to the start lists of the particular Semi-Final tournaments,
   
4. 
   the winners and runners-up in every acknowledged Zonal Championship according to the paragraph 1.2.2,
   
5. 
   the first and second placed players in the latest finished World Cup Tournament,
   
6. 
   all previous World Correspondence Chess Champions,
   
7. 
   those players who have at least twice fulfilled the Correspondence Chess Grandmaster norm,
   
8. 
   those players who have a fixed rating in the most recent rating list prior to the start date of the particular section of the Candidates’ Tournament in accordance with the level determined by the ICCF Title Tournaments Commissioner and approved by the ICCF Presidium in the beginning of each calendar year.
   

1.2.2 For the qualifications from the acknowledged Zonal Championships according to the paragraph 1.2.1 d, the following rulings will apply:

1. 
   from all acknowledged Zonal Championships of Category VII to VIII, the top three finishers will promote to the Candidates’ Tournament,
   
2. 
   from all acknowledged Zonal Championships of Category V to VI, the top two finishers will promote to the Candidates’ Tournament,
   
3. 
   from all acknowledged Zonal Championships of Category III to IV, only the winner will promote to the Candidates’ Tournament.
   

1.2.3 Normally, the Candidates’ Tournament sections shall consist of 13 participants.

1.2.1 d)

1.2.1 f)

1.2.1 g)

1.1.2 k)

For the tournaments started from 16.4. till 14.9., the ICCF ratings published as at 1.4. of the current year will apply.

For the tournaments started from 16.10. till 31.12., the ICCF ratings published as at 1.10. of the current year will apply.

The qualifications according to this rule will not be published in the “Table of Qualifiers”, as it is supposed that the players are aware of their ratings achieved.

1. 
   Arrangements for all ICCF approved international invitation and open tournaments organised by ICCF member federations or ICCF Zonal Directors should be in accordance with the principles and aims defined in the ICCF Statutes.
   

2. 
   Applications for ICCF recognition of international tournaments must be submitted to the General Secretary who has delegated authority to approve such tournaments, and not directly elsewhere or to the Congress. The General Secretary should report to the next Congress on all approved applications for formal ratification and inclusion in the Minutes. Where, in the opinion of the General Secretary, there could be a potential problem (for example, involving a breach of these guidelines or another ICCF member federation) he will have the right to refer the application to the next Congress for debate and possible approval. Approvals of applications for multiple tournaments/groups from any federation may be subject to a referral to the Congress if the General Secretary considers it appropriate.
   

3. 
   Applications for invitation tournaments should be submitted not more than 18 months before the intended start date of the tournament and all approvals granted will lapse if a tournament has not been started within 6 months of the approved start date. In such a situation, a renewed approval application is required and invitations should not be issued until renewed approval has been granted.
   

4. 
   Applications for open tournaments must be submitted to the ICCF General Secretary at least four months before it is due to start. It should not be advertised until ICCF approval has been formally confirmed. The General Secretary will consider the number of similar events which are planned concurrently and any ICCF open tournaments that are due to start, before giving formal ICCF approval.
   

5. 
   Invitations to international invitation tournaments must be made via the member federations from whom players are being invited. No invitations should be made until after formal approval of the tournament has been received.
   

6. 
   All approved tournaments will be played under ICCF Playing Rules, and the ICCF Appeals Commission will act as Appeal Instance. If the Tournament Director is not an International Arbiter then the tournament must be played under the guidance of an experienced International Arbiter, who shall be named in the application for approval.
   

7. 
   Bearing in mind that ICCF approved tournaments enjoy an official international status, with title norms (where eligible), ratings and other services provided, a scale of registration and rating fees will apply. These are payable to ICCF, for the year in which tournaments start. For invitation tournaments, these fees are according to the following scale
   

CHF 1 for each game that will be rated for an individual tournament of category I to VII,

CHF 2 for each rated game for an individual tournament of category VIII to XIII,

CHF 3 for each rated game for individual tournaments of category XIV and above.

CHF 2 for each player in invitation team tournaments (organising federation(s) to arrange for fee payment).

For Open tournaments, for each entry in the tournament there will be a fee of CHF 2 payable to ICCF and this will be due at the end of the year in which the tournament started.

8. 
   For Open tournaments, players who are members of an ICCF member federation must be allowed to pay half the tournament fee which is charged to other players.
   

9. 
   All approval requests must include details of the prizes offered, and the Source of the prize fund. Where a federation has previously met problems paying prizes promptly, it will be a condition of approval that the entire prize fund be deposited with ICCF prior to the start date. In these circumstances, the deposited monies will be invested securely and any interest accrued will be credited to the national federation, and the ICCF Treasurer will be responsible for the prompt payment of all prizes.
   

10. 
    Title norms in international invitation and open tournaments need to be formally ratified via the Qualification Commissioner’s report to Congress. Titles in international invitation and open tournaments will only be awarded to players who have been nominated and approved by their appropriate member federations.
    

11. 
    Approvals granted by the General Secretary and by Congress will be published on the ICCF website and member federations are advised to check that approval has been granted for the tournament before forwarding any invitations to their players. Approved invitational and open tournaments will be included in the "Calendar of ICCF approved tournaments" to be published and regularly updated on official ICCF website.