Master Tournament (MTO)

Master Tournament (MTO)

Main Arbiter	IA Ana Srebrnič
Dates	July 14–24, 2025
Venue	Concert Hall, Biel Congress Center. Smoking is strictly prohibited within the whole building.
Tournament type	10 rounds, Swiss system.
Time control	100 minutes for the first 40 moves + 30 minutes for the rest of the game + 30 seconds increment per move.
Schedule	July 14–19, 2 pm: rd 1–6 July 20: Rest day July 21–24, 2 pm: rd 7–10 July 24, 15' after the end of the last game: Prize-giving (except for the first three players*) July 25, 10.30 am: Prize-giving for the first three players
Prizes	CHF 6'000, 4'500, 3'500, 2'800, 2'300, 1'800, 1'500, 1'400. Non-cash prize for the best U16, the best player without title (GM/IM/WGM/WIM) and the best Swiss player. Total prize fund: CHF 23'800 + non-cash prizes.
	Prizes are valid with 100 participants or more. With fewer participants, they are reduced pro rata.
	Prizes will be awarded according to the final ranking ("Hort System" won’t be applied).
	Prizes are non-cumulative.
	Eligible for the title as best Swiss player are Swiss citizens and settled foreigners (settlement permit C) with FIDE Federation SUI.
	In order to receive their prizes, the top three winners are required to stand on the podium during the prize-giving ceremony.
	Each day, the best game of the round is rewarded with a non-cash prize.
Ranking	1. Points scored 2. Direct encounter 3. Sonneborn-Berger 4. Buchholz Cut 1 (worst score excluded) 5. Elo average of opponents (FIDE standard)
Eligibility	FIDE rated players (lists May, June or July 2025) with at least 1900 standard FIDE rating.
	The admission of a player player is decided solely by the organization. This decision is final.
Registration	CHF 250 or € 250 (born 2009+: CHF 150 or € 150), by bank transfer until July 09, 2025, based on the invoice received by e-mail after the online registration. After this date, cash payments are made on site with a surcharge of CHF 20. Deadline: July 14, 1 pm.
	For GM, IM, WGM and WIM the participation is free of charge. Titled players must also confirm their participation until 1:30 pm at the latest on Monday, July 14.
Check-in	All participants with "paid" status on the website should confirm their presence at the registration desk until 1:30 pm at the latest on Monday, July 14. Players who don't confirm their participation on time will not be paired in the 1st round.
Laws of chess	Any player arriving at the board more than 30 minutes after the start of the round will lose by forfeit, except in cases of force majeure.
	It is forbidden to enter the playing area with any electronic device such as a mobile phone or a smart watch.
	All players must comply with strict anti-cheating measures in accordance with the FIDE rules.
Pairings and results	The starting list is based on the July 2025 FIDE standard rating list.
	The pairings for the first round will be published at 1:45 pm. For all subsequent rounds, the pairings will be published online until one hour after the end of the previous round. Pairing of Round 7 will be published at 8 pm in the evening after rest day.
	Players may request a maximum of one bye (½ point) until 6th round included. Request for a bye must be made on the previous day before 8 pm by sending an e-mail to the arbiter.
	Players have to deliver the original copy of the scoresheet and register the result at the arbiter's desk. Otherwise the result of the game will be recorded as 0-0.
	In case of disagreement with the arbiter's decision, you can appeal verbally against it with the chief arbiter. This needs to be done immediately. The decision of the chief arbiter is final.
	The tournament will be submitted for the Swiss, German and FIDE standard rating list.
	It is possible to achieve a FIDE norm.
	Tournament’s results are counting for the FIDE Circuit 2025.
Declaration of consent	With your participation you give permission for the usage of photos/videos - in which you appear - in any publication.