USBCA Summer Cup on Lichess - Rules of the Tournament

Rules for the USBCA Summer Cup Tournament - Lichess Platform

You can navigate this document using level-three headings.

The rules consist of 17 articles.

1. Organizing Committee

The tournament is organized by the USBCA. The coordination team consists of:

• Mario Montalvo (Tournament Director, USA)

2. Platform and Start Date

The tournament will begin on Monday, July 20, 2026, and will take place entirely on the Lichess platform.

3. Tournament Format

Free theme, standard chess.

4. System and Tiebreaks

A 5-round Swiss system will be used. Tiebreak criteria will be applied in the following order: Direct encounter, Buchholz, Buchholz Cut, and Progressive. Each round lasts two weeks. Extensions may be granted in exceptional cases (e.g., over-the-board events or other force majeure reasons).

5. Time Control

Single phase: 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1.

6. Official Time and Match Days

The official tournament time is UTC. Games must be played starting the Monday following the pairing announcement.

7. Official Communication Channels

Pairings, results, and PGN files will be published through the following official media:

• Chess-Results website: https://chess-results.com/tnr1458969.aspx?lan=1
• Official Email: All tournament management and scheduling reports are handled exclusively via email groups).

8. Player Agreements

Players must contact each other privately and propose a date and time between Monday and Wednesday (until 24:00 UTC) of the first week of the respective round. The player who fails to propose options loses the right to demand the default time slot. Any player who fails to respond and insists on playing only at the default time will be withdrawn from the tournament.

Rescheduled games must be reported to the Tournament Director via official channels. Only one reschedule per game is allowed.

9. Default Match Time

If no mutual agreement is reached, both players are required to connect on the final Sunday of the round at 20:00 UTC. In the event that the contenders are from different continents, the default time will be at 17:00 UTC.

10. Waiting Time and Absences

The maximum waiting time on the platform is 15 minutes.

The player who is present is not obliged to accept a reschedule if the opponent arrives late.

If a player fails to appear without prior notice, they will lose the game. If both are absent, both will receive a loss. If a player notifies their absence in advance and the opponent also does so before the scheduled time, neither is obligated to connect.

11. Walkover

A walkover occurs when a player does not show up to the match or connects but withdraws without making any moves on the board.

12. Win by Default

A full point (1) will be awarded if:

• The Lichess platform formally declares the player as the winner.
• The opponent fails to appear within the designated waiting time.

13. Draws (Tie Games)

Half a point (0.5) will be awarded if:

• The Lichess platform automatically declares a draw.
• Players agree to a draw by mutual consent after move 20.

If a draw is agreed upon before reaching move 20 (on Black's side), the game must continue until this requirement is met. Otherwise, both players will lose the point. A valid claim for threefold repetition of position is excepted from this rule.

14. Disconnections

No penalties will be applied for disconnections unless the Lichess system directly adjudicates the result of the game.

15. Withdrawal and Expulsion from the Tournament

A player will be removed from the competition if they commit any of the following infractions:

• Accumulating two walkover losses, either consecutively or alternately.
• Using chess engines or receiving external assistance of any kind.
• Failing to respond to messages from the Tournament Director or their opponent during a round.
• Showing disrespect toward participants or Tournament Director.

16. Right of Admission

The Organizing Committee reserves the right of admission for players who:

• Have a recurring history of unjustifiably abandoning competitions.
• Systematically ignore communications from the Tournament Director, Committee or their opponents.

17. Unforeseen Cases

Any situation or controversy not expressly covered in these rules will be resolved in accordance with official FIDE regulations or, failing that, at the discretion of the Tournament Director, with the final decision being communicated in a timely manner through official channels.