D.VIII. World Cup for Rapid Chess

World Cup for Rapid Chess Approved by the 1998 General Assembly. Amended by the 1999 Presidential Board.
Frequency
1.	The World Cup for Rapid shall be organized annually under the aegis of FIDE by a federation entrusted with the task by the General Assembly at least one year in advance.
Participation
2.	Sixteen players will be qualified for the final tournament The last rapid World Champion The World Champion The best rapid rated man The best rapid rated woman The best rapid rated from Europe The best rapid rated from America The best rapid rated from Asia The best rapid rated from Africa One nominee by the Organized Committee Four best rated players
Organisation
3.	At least three months before the tournament, the organising federation will send an invitation to all players qualified. The invitations shall be approved by the FIDE President. Regulations for the World Championship D.I.03 under 13.1, 13.2 and 21 will be applied.
Playing Schedule
4.	Each player will have 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move. The games shall be played using the DGT clocks. The participants will be divided in 2groups of 8 players. Group A will have the players with the first, third, fifth, seventh elo. Group B will have players with the second, fourth, sixth, eight elo. Round Robin system will be in use. The four winners will be qualified to the quarter finals. The quarter finals will be played in 2 games plus a tie break if necessary. The first player of group A will play the fourth of group B The second player of group A. will play the third of group B The third player of group A will play the second of group B The fourth player of group A will play the first of group B The semi finals will be played in 2 games plus a tie break if necessary. The winner of the first quarter finals will play the winner of the third quarter finals. The winner of the semi finals will play the final match in 2 games plus tie-break if necessary. The first tie-break game shall commence no later than two hours after the end of the second match game. There shall be a pause of then minutes before starting the second tie-break game. If the scores are still level after two tie-break games, then speed chess games shall be played. The first player to win shall be the Champion. The games shall be played using the DGT clock with White having four minutes on the clock and Black five. After each move from the first, each player shall receive an extra 10 seconds after each move.
Arbiters
5.	The FIDE president shall appoint the Chief Arbiter after consultation with the organizing federation. The organizing federation shall appoint as many Deputy and Assistant arbiters as necessary. A protest against the decision must be submitted in writing to the Chief Arbiter, within two hours of the original decision. The protest shall be accompanied by a fee to be determined by the organizing committee, which shall be returnable if the appeal is successful.
Appeals Committee
6.	Before the beginning of the first round an Appeals Committee shall be set up. The Appeals Committee shall consist of three members including one representative of FIDE. No member of the Appeals Committee shall take part in a decision affecting a player of his own federation.
Finance
7.	The prize fund shall be at least Sfr 150'000. At the end of the tournament the organizer will transfer 10 % from the prize fund to FIDE bank account. The organiser shall provide free board and lodging for each players and chief Arbiter. The player's travelling cost will be met themselves or by their national federations.