2023 GCT Regulations
2023 Grand Chess Tour Regulations
The 2023 Grand Chess Tour (GCT) is a series of elite tournaments in which the participating players are
eligible to earn GCT Points in accordance with their final rank in each Event. At the end of the regular 2023
GCT Season, bonus payments totaling USD 175,000 will be paid out to the top 3 finishers based on the
accumulated Tour Points over the season.
1. Preamble
The 2023 Grand Chess Tour will consist of two 10-player Round Robin Tournaments played at Classical time
controls and three 10-player Round Robin Tournaments played at both Rapid & Blitz time controls. A total of
eight full tour participants will be selected for the 2023 GCT season with each full tour participant required
to participate in both classical chess tournaments as well as in two of the available three Rapid & Blitz
events. Players will earn Tour Points in all events and the results of every event will count towards the final
GCT standings at the end of the regular season.
2. Tour Points
Tour Points shall be awarded based on the final ranking of each full tour player in each event as set out
below. The same point allocations shall apply to both the Classical and Rapid & Blitz events. Tour Points shall
be shared equally between tied players and shall not be impacted by the result of any playoff or tiebreaks
that may take place.
Place Tour Points Place Tour Points
st
1 12 / 13* 6th 5
nd
2 10 7 th
4
rd
3 8 8 th
3
th
4 7 9 th
2
th
5 6 10 th
1
* Any player who wins an Event outright (without the need for a playoff) shall earn a bonus Tour Point for the outright victory.
3. Grand Chess Tour Winner Bonuses
The three players who score the most Tour Points over the course of the 2023 Season shall be awarded
Bonus Payments as follows:
1st USD 100,000
2nd USD 50,000
3rd USD 25,000
Total USD 175,000
4. Scoring
In the Classical Events, the standings shall be determined by the allocation of:
● 1 point for a win, ½ point for a draw and 0 points for a loss in all games.
In the Rapid & Blitz Events the standings shall be determined by the allocation of:
● 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for a loss in a Rapid game; and
● 1 point for a win, ½ point for a draw and 0 points for a loss in a Blitz game.
2023 GCT Regulations
5. Tiebreaks
Tiebreak regulations for Players tied for first in an individual Event and for players who tie in the final
standings of the 2023 Grand Chess Tour are addressed in the “2023 GCT Tiebreak Regulations”, which are
incorporated as part of these 2023 GCT Regulations.
6. Pairings
For the eight full tour participants, the pairings for the second Classical event shall be the same as for the
first Classical event, but with colors reversed.
7. Laws of Chess
Unless otherwise specified, all Events shall be governed by the FIDE Laws of Chess.
8. Rating of Games Played
All games except Armageddon games shall be submitted for the appropriate category of FIDE rating and will
also be submitted for rating within the Universal Rating System (URS™). The GCT shall seek any necessary
permission from FIDE to ensure that all games played are rated (except Armageddon games).
9. Competitive Play
To promote competitive play during all GCT events, it will not be permitted for players to offer or agree to a
draw in any game of a 2023 GCT event, including playoff games. In the event of a claim for a draw under
Article 9.2 of the Laws (three-fold repetition) or under Article 9.3 of the Laws (50 move rule), one of the Event
Arbiters must be asked by the players to verify the claim.
10.Appeals
Any player wishing to appeal a decision made by an Event Arbiter must notify the Event Chief Arbiter of his
intention to appeal within 15 minutes of the end of the round and before the start of any subsequent
rounds scheduled for the same day. A written appeal must then be submitted within 30 minutes of the end
of the final round on the day. There shall be no fee unless the Appeals Committee considers the appeal to
have been frivolous or vexatious.
The GCT will appoint an Appeals Committee panel before the commencement of play at each Event. The
appointed Appeals Committee shall consist of 3 persons and shall include at least one member of the GCT
Appeals Panel, which comprises Joy Bray, Michael Khodarkovsky, IA Tony Rich, IA David Sedgwick and IA
Chris Bird. No member of the Appeals Committee shall serve in respect of an appeal where he or she has
been involved in the original decision. In such circumstances the GCT shall appoint a substitute.
In the event of an appeal the Appeals Committee will convene a meeting to address the appeal at the end of
the day’s play. The Appeals Committee will be responsible for all decisions. A decision regarding any appeals
received will be made before the start of play on the next day. The decision of the Appeals Committee shall
be final and binding for both Player and GCT.
Where there is no International Arbiter on the Appeals Committee, the Committee shall endeavor to consult
one before reaching their decision.
