last update 1st Oct 2025 12:24
The Welsh Premier and U1850 Leagues 2025-26
Version 2025-1 last update 7th Oct 2025
The information contained in this document sets out the Constitution, Rules, and Guidelines for the Welsh Chess Union (WCU) League competitions (WCPL and U1850). This document is the only source of such information; any changes or updates to the rules will be circulated to all interested parties by the WCPL Controller as an updated version of this document.
Any team entering the leagues is agreeing to be bound by the stipulations within this document.
It is advised that Captains and interested parties should read and familiarise themselves with these rules prior to competing in the Welsh Chess Union Leagues.
2.1 The WCPL consists of teams of 6 players.
2.2 The Welsh U1850 League consists of teams of 4 players all of whom must be rated Under 1850 on the FIDE Standard play list, September 1st, 2025. Should a player not have a FIDE rating then they must have a National Rating of under 1850 on 1st September 2025. To avoid confusion where a player has both a FIDE and National Rating, then the FIDE rating takes precedence for qualification.
2.3 Eligibility Clarification: Players whose ratings rise above 1850 after the September 2025 list remain eligible to play in the Under 1850 League for the entire season. Players rated above 1850 on September 1st, 2025 are ineligible for the Under 1850 League for the entire season, even if their rating subsequently falls below 1850.
3.1 Except where stated below, the FIDE laws apply to these competitions.
3.2 In the event of a contradiction between FIDE rules and Welsh Chess Union League rules, then Welsh Chess Union League rules shall apply.
4.1 The rate of play is as follows: 40 moves in 90 minutes, followed by 30 minutes to finish the game, with an increment of 30 seconds per move from move one.
All matches will begin at 2:00 pm.
The default time is 1 hour after the start of the match (3:00 pm).
7.1 For each fixture, captains are asked to submit team lists before 9:00 pm on the day before the match. This must be by the online submission form:
WCPL: https://www.welshchessunion.uk/wcpl/2026/team-lists-wcpl.html
U1850: https://www.welshchessunion.uk/wcpl/2026/team-lists-u1850.html
Board pairings will be published on the web site:
Board Pairings: https://www.welshchessunion.uk/wcpl/2026/board-pairings.html
7.2 Board orders can be changed until the deadline stated in 7.1, after which pairings will be published and no further changes will be permitted.
7.3 If electronic submission fails, captains must notify the WCPL Controller immediately via alternative means.
7.4 Failure to submit a team list by 9:00 pm will result in boards being filled using the top 6 players from the registration list for that club.
7.5 Publication of the board pairings will be done by 10:00 am on the day of the match.
8.1 The board scores in a match are referred to as game points.
8.2 The game score in each match is 1 for a win, ½ for a draw and 0 for a loss.
8.3 The team that scores more game points in a match than its opponents receives two match points; the opponents receive no match points. Each team receives one match point for a drawn match.
8.3.1 The rankings will be determined according to match points. The team obtaining the highest number of match points is declared the winner of the competition. In case of a tie, 8.3.2 shall be applied.
8.3.2 The order of teams that finish with the same number of match points shall be determined by the application of the following tie-breaking procedures in sequence:
(a) By the total number of game points scored across all matches - the highest number wins
(b) Board count between the tied teams - The boards on which wins are scored are added for each team and the lowest total wins
(c) Bottom Board Elimination between the tied teams
(d) By the sum of the game points of all the team's opponents, excluding the opponent who scored the highest number of game points and the opponents who scored the lowest number of game points (Sonneborn-Berger) - the highest number wins
(e) Play-off between the teams - either single head-to-head or mini league if 3 or more teams remain tied. The rate of play for the play-off will be all moves in 15 minutes plus 10 second increment. If teams are still tied then (c) and (d) above are applied. If still tied, then a blitz match of 3 minutes plus 2 seconds will decide the outcome. If still tied then (c) and (d) above are applied again.
The play-off will take place after the final round or, in the case of 3 or more teams, it may be scheduled for a later date of the Controller's choosing.
8.4 In all cases where penalties are applied, the integrity of the match will be retained. Board points will continue to total 6 points (WCPL) or 4 points (U1850 League) in all cases, whereby default points are transferred to the non-offending team.
8.5 Contrary to Rule 8.4, matches in which there are double defaults occurring on the same boards will result in the overall board point total dropping below 6 points (WCPL) or 4 points (U1850 League).
9.1 Clubs may assemble teams from a collection of players provided all players are registered members of the WCU at the time of registration. Players must be registered with WCU prior to playing their first game.
9.2 The teams shall be composed of 6 players in the WCPL or 4 players in the U1850 League.
9.3 A player may only play for one Welsh Chess League club in a season.
9.4 Each club should appoint a "Club Nominee" to act as a representative for that club, or a nominee for each team should a club enter teams in both WCPL and U1850 League. As the main point of contact, the Club Nominee MUST have access to email facilities and communication with the WCPL Controller and other club nominees. Clubs are responsible for their own internal communications.
10.1 This is a list of eligible players for a club. This list is to be provided on the online form by August 31st, 2025.
10.2 If a club enters a team in ONLY the WCPL or Under 1850 League at the start of the season, the number of players in the squad must not exceed 15 players (WCPL) or 10 players (U1850).
Clubs who have entered teams in BOTH WCPL and Under 1850 may provide either a squad for each section based on the numbers stated in 10.2, or a combined squad list which shall not exceed 20 players at the start of the season. These players are allowed to play in either team, subject to the rating restriction for the Under 1850 league.
Where a club submits one joint squad, it is a requirement that should there be any defaults, then these must occur in the Under 1850 league team first.
10.3 There will be one opportunity to add or delete players from a squad. This transfer window will occur between Rounds 3 and 4 (exact dates to be announced with fixture list). Only players who have not played in the WCPL during the 2025-26 season are free to join a squad, or transfer from one squad to another. At this point each team may increase their squad to 17 players (WCPL), 12 players (U1850) or 22 players (combined squad, both leagues).
10.4 Any club playing in the current WCPL must lodge any objections or queries on a player's eligibility prior to the next round of matches.
10.5 The squad list shall include all information requested.
10.6 A player may not play until clearance has been given by the WCPL Controller (or appointed nominee).
10.7 It is the responsibility of the club to provide the evidence of qualification credentials of its players.
10.8 All players must be registered with FIDE before they play their first match.
11.1 All games played in the WCPL are subject to rating. Games will be rated by both FIDE and the WCU.
11.2 The ratings used for board order in both leagues will be assigned in the following order:
BOTH LEAGUES
11.3 The team for a match shall be arranged in rating order. However, a player may play above another player who has a higher rating provided the rating difference is not greater than 80 ELO points, based on the rating lists in operation at the time of the match.
Where players have multiple ratings, the rating system used for both players must be the same when calculating the 80-point difference. FIDE ratings take precedence where available.
12.1 A league schedule for the WCPL season will be issued by the WCPL Controller as soon as practically possible.
12.2 All matches will be played on Sundays selected by the WCPL Controller.
12.3 Should there be an exceptional reason why a match needs to be cancelled, a request must be made to the WCPL Controller at least 21 days before the match date, except for weather emergencies or force majeure events. The WCPL Controller will decide whether to approve such requests.
12.4 The first named team in each fixture shall have white on odd boards.
12.5 All matches must be fulfilled.
13.1 In exceptional circumstances (e.g., extremely bad weather, venue emergencies, transport strikes) the match may be postponed with the agreement of the WCPL Controller. Both teams should attempt to agree on postponement before contacting the Controller.
14.1 Defaulting a Match: Should a team default a match, then the opposing team will be awarded 2 match points and full game points (i.e., 6 for Premier League and 4 for Under 1850 League).
14.2 If a team defaults 2 matches they are withdrawn from the competition, and all their results are discounted for the competition. However, games played will still be rated.
14.3 If a club is unable to raise a team of 6 (WCPL) or 4 (U1850 League) to fulfil a fixture, then the available players must play on the highest boards, i.e., defaults shall start from board 6 (WCPL) and 4 (U1850 League) upwards. Each board thus defaulted shall be scored as a loss (0-1).
(a) Reserve Nomination
(b) Substitution Procedure
(c) Clock Adjustments for Reserve Players
(d) Improper Use
The improper use of reserves includes:
The WCPL Controller may impose a penalty as they deem appropriate on the offending team for improper use.
(e) Original Player Arrival
14.5 Where a team defaults a board other than the lowest board(s), then they shall be penalised by the loss of ½ game point for the match.
14.6 Captains may verbally notify the Match Arbiter of eligibility concerns at any time during the match. The Match Arbiter should make a note on the results form that a protest is pending. Verbal protests must be confirmed in writing within 24 hours. Formal written complaints must be submitted to the WCPL Controller within 7 days of the match.
If the complaint is upheld by the Controller, the team infringing the rules will be penalised by forfeiture of all points scored in the match concerned with effect from the highest offending board downwards.
14.7 If a team plays a player on a board which violates the 80-point difference rule, they will be treated as an ineligible player. See rule 14.6.
14.8 If a team violates the team composition rules, then starting at board 1 and working to board 6, the player on the first board on which the violation occurs shall be treated as ineligible. See rule 14.6.
15.1 The League Controller is Kevin Staveley.
15.2 The Deputy League Controllers are Nathan Trickey and Hannah Richmond.
15.3 The WCPL Controller and Deputy League Controllers shall not play in the WCPL. This will ensure that all remain impartial.
15.4 The WCPL Controller may seek advice from other members of the WCU Management Board, Welsh Arbiters and Rating Officers. The Controller may also seek external help regarding rule infringements and similar league enquiries from such bodies as the ECF, ECU and FIDE.
15.5 The WCPL Controller's decisions are final, subject to the appeals process outlined in Section 16.
Teams may appeal Controller decisions to an Appeals Panel within 72 hours of the decision being communicated.
Game Appeals: Disputes about specific game incidents, rule interpretations during play, or arbiter decisions
League Rule Appeals: Disputes about eligibility, league regulations, penalties, or administrative decisions
For Game Appeals
For League Rule Appeals