A draft update of the AGA’s official Tournament Regulations is now posted for review and comment. First published in 2005 by Ken Koester and updated periodically, “These are not sweeping changes, mostly moderate edits and additions to the prior edition,” reports Chris Kirschner, who’s been working with Karoline Li and Steve Burrall on the updates.
Proposed changes include defining regulations for self-promotion and TD discretion (the new section follows a recent policy decision by the Board regarding this issue, which has been simmering for years); regulations have been modified throughout to include competition played under other rule sets than AGA rules; rulings procedures are described separately for cases in which the ruling relates directly to rules of play, and those which relate to player behavior in the course of competition; definition of the completion of a move, and right of opponent to play is clarified; time control management section has been amplified and clarified; advisory elements of the original have been amplified, and moved into appendices; there is a change in the composition of an appeals committee if formed, which includes the TD as a non-voting member of the committee; requests that a summary of all appeals be sent to the AGA Tournament Coordinator.
Comments should be sent to tournaments@usgo.org by July 20, after which the draft will be edited with the comments in mind. “We expect to have a final in time for the Congress, says Kirschner, who adds that “We are also reviewing various informal guidelines for regulating online tournament play.” Anyone with ideas on that should send them to tournaments@usgo.org.
