D.IV. World Cities Championship

Regulations for the World Cities Championship Approved by 1998 General Assembly.
1.	Frequency
	1.1	A tournament for the World Cities Team Championship shall be organized once in two years (odd) by one of the national federation affiliated to FIDE.
2.	Participation
	2.1	Participation in the World Cities Team Championship is open to all federations affiliated to FIDE.
	2.2	Team Composition: 4 players, 1 reserve plus 1 captain or manager
	2.3	Each member federation shall have the right to send one of its city team. A national federation may participate with more than one team subject to rule 3.5.
	2.4	Eligibility : all players, including reserves, are required to have been members of their national federations for at least one year:
3.	Organization
	3.1	At least six months before the beginning of the tournament the organizing federation shall submit to the FIDE President a draft invitation and any special conditions for approval.
	3.2	Invitation At least four months before the beginning of the tournament the organizing federation shall send invitations together with other special regulations, if any, as approved by the FIDE President, to all affiliated federations.
	3.3	Confirmation of Entry At least two months before the beginning of the tournament each federation accepting the invitation shall send its entry to the organizing federation with copies to the FIDE President.
	3.4	Entry Fees Each participating federation shall pay SFr 500 (SFr 750 for 1999, 2001 & 2003 events) per team as Entry Fee to the organising federation upon confirmation of entry. The organising federation shall pay 20 % of the entry fees received to FIDE.
	3.5	Expenses Travelling costs shall be the responsibility of the participating federations. Living expenses for the first nominated team of each member federation shall be the responsibility of the organizing federation. For additional teams from a national federation, the organising federation shall make suitable arrangement for board and lodging and to announce the costs in the invitations.
	3.6	Playing conditions shall conform to the Recommendations for the Organization of Top-level Tournaments, C.01.
	3.7	Duration of the Championship Not exceeding 10 days including days of arrival and departure.
4.	Tournament Regulations
	4.1	Laws of Chess - The FIDE Laws of Chess shall apply.
	4.2	Special regulations and conditions as approved by the FIDE President.
	4.3	System of Play
		4.31	The tournament shall be run on a 10 round Swiss System (controlled Swiss System pairings).
		4.32	Each match between teams shall be played over four boards.
		4.33	Each team shall comprise 4 to 5 players who shall be listed in a fixed board order (1-6) by the team captain at the beginning of the tournament.
	4.4	Time Control
		4.41	The rate of play will be 20 moves in the first one hour followed by all remaining moves in the second hour..
	4.5	Scoring - Each team's place in the order of classification shall be decided by the number of game points it has scored.
	4.6	If any teams finish with equal game points, the tie-breaking procedures, in sequence proceeding from (a) to (b) to the extent required, are. by the sum of the game scores of all the team's opponents; by the number of match points won;
	4.7	Challenge Cup - The winning city in the Championship shall be awarded custody of the Kirsan Ilyumzhinov Cup.
		4.71	This Challenge Cup is property of FIDE and shall be insured by the federation to which it was awarded. Should it be lost, a replacement is to be made of the same design.
		4.72	The Challenge Cup is to be competed for at each successive championship. It cannot be acquired in perpetuity.
	4.8	Prizes and Souvenirs - The organizers should award suitable prizes and souvenirs to at least the top three city teams.
	4.9	Arbiters - The FIDE President, after consultations with the organizing federation, shall nominate the Chief Arbiter and other Arbiters.
	4.10	Appeals Committee
		4.101	Before the beginning of the tournament an Appeals Committee shall be selected.
		4.102	The committee shall consist of a chairman nominated by the organizing federation and five representatives and two reserves from eight different federations elected by the team captains.
		4.103	The Appeals Committee shall decide on protests submitted against decisions of the Chief Arbiter.
		4.104	A protest must be submitted in writing to the Chairman with an accompanying fee of SFr.100 or its equivalent in local currency.
		4.105	If the protest is rejected by the Appeals Committee, the protest fee paid shall be forfeited to FIDE. If upheld, the fee shall be returned.
		4.106	The decision of the Appeals Committee is final, binding and takes effect immediately.
		4.107	The Appeals Committee shall keep a record of all proceedings and submit a final report to the FIDE President at the end of the tournament.
	4.11	Qualification for Rating An unrated player who scored at least 5.0 points and at least 50% in the games he played, shall be awarded a FIDE rating of 2200, or his performance rating if this is higher.
	4.12	Reports On completion of the tournament, the Chief Arbiter and the Appeals Committee Chairman shall deliver to the FIDE President an official written report on the course of the tournament with supporting documents, if appropriate. Copies of these reports are to be extended to the organizing federation and the FIDE Secretariat. Within two weeks after the closing ceremony, the organizing federation shall submit a rating report to FIDE. Within four weeks after the closing ceremony, the organizing federation shall present the FIDE President with a general report on the proceedings.