2016 Tiebreaks

The regulations for tiebreaks and play-offs in each Event and for the Tour overall are as follows:

  1. In any tiebreak a "Rapidplay" game shall be played at a time limit of game in 10 minutes plus a 5-second increment per move throughout. A “Blitz” game shall be played at a time limit of game in 5 minutes plus a 2-second increment per move throughout.
  2. The following shall apply to an "Armageddon" game:
    1. White shall have 6 minutes and Black shall have 4 minutes; both players shall receive a 2-second increment per move from move 61.
    2. In the event of a draw Black shall be declared the winner.
    3. Colors shall be determined by the toss of a coin, conducted by the Event Chief Arbiter. The winner of the toss shall have the choice of color.
  3. Where there is a tie for first place in an Event, there shall be a play-off. The play-off shall determine the winner of the Event and the distribution of the first Event Prize money, which shall not be divided.
    1. The winner of an Event following a play-off shall receive the Grand Tour Points for first place, but will not receive the additional bonus for an outright victory.
    2. Where there is a tie for any other position, including all the losers in any play-off, the Event Prize money and the Grand Tour Points shall be divided equally among the tied players.
    3. By way of example, if four players are tied for fourth place in a classical Event, each tied player will receive an Event Prize of $22,500 (($30,000 [the fourth place Event Prize] +$25,000 [the fifth place Event Prize] +$20,000 [the sixth place Event Prize] +$15,000 [the seventh place Event Prize])/4) and each tied player will receive 5.5 Grand Tour Points ((7+6+5+4)/4).
  4. Where there is a tie for first or second place in the final standings of the Tour (after all other Event play-offs), there shall be a play-off conducted in accordance with the Regulations below.
    1. $100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Dollars) shall be awarded to the winner of the play-off.
    2. Where there is a tie for second place in the final standings of the Tour (after all other Event playoffs), including all the losers in the event of a play-off described in this Regulation 4, $50,000 (Fifty Thousand Dollars) shall be divided equally among the tied players.
    3. By way of example, if three players are tied for first place in the final standings of the Tour (after all other Event play-offs), the winner of the tiebreak will receive $100,000 and the other two players will each receive $25,000.
  5. Where there is a reference in these Regulations to "the (highest) number of wins", a win in a Rapidplay game shall equate to two wins in Blitz games.
  6. Where a play-off is to be held, the procedures below shall apply. The play-off shall commence only after a break of at least 30 minutes after the conclusion of the last game in the main Event involving any player in the play-off. The interval between games in the play-off shall be not less than 5 minutes and if possible at least 10 minutes.
    1. Two Players: There shall be a two game Rapidplay match; lots shall be drawn to decide which player has White in the first game. If the scores are still level, there shall be a two game Blitz match; lots shall be drawn to decide which player has White in the first game. If the scores are still level, there shall be an Armageddon Game.
    2. Three Players: There shall be a single round all-play-all Rapidplay tournament, with the pairing numbers drawn by lot.

      If two players are still tied for first place, there shall be a two game Blitz match, followed if necessary (because the scores are still level) by an Armageddon game.

      If all three players are still tied, one player shall receive a bye to the final round. This shall be the player with the highest number of wins in the original event; if there is more than one such player, then those players shall draw lots.

      The other two players shall contest a two game Blitz match, followed if necessary (because the scores are still level) by an Armageddon game. The successful player and the recipient of the bye shall then contest a two game Blitz match, followed if necessary (because the scores are still level) by an Armageddon game.
    3. Four Players: The four players shall be ranked in order of the number of wins in the original event, with ties being broken by lot. Number 1 shall then play Number 4 and Number 2 shall play Number 3. Each pair of players shall contest a two game Rapidplay match, followed if necessary (because the scores are still level) directly by an Armageddon game.

      The two successful players shall then contest a two game Rapidplay match, followed if necessary (because the scores are still level) directly by an Armageddon game.
    4. More Than Four Players: The players shall be ranked in order of the number of wins in the original Event, with ties being broken by lot. With five, six or seven players, the procedure for eight players below shall apply, but the three players, two players and one player respectively who are ranked shall receive a bye in the first round.

      With eight players, the pairings in the first round shall be 1 v 8, 2 v 7, 3 v 6, 4 v 5. In the second round the winner of 1 v 8 shall play the winner of 4 v 5 and the winner of 2 v 7 shall play the winner of 3 v 6.

      In the final round the two remaining players shall play. In all matches the two players shall contest a two game Rapidplay match, followed if necessary (because the scores are still level) directly by an Armageddon game.
    5. In all cases the Event Chief Arbiter and the Event Organizer shall be empowered to substitute Blitz games for Rapidplay games where this is necessary to complete the tournament on schedule.