REQUIREMENTS FOR SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP
As several people have been asking about the requirements for the Scottish I have put together the following.
| Venue Hours | Under current format of 9 days
Day 1 - Setup 10.30am-1.00pm; Play 1.00pm - 7.00pm Making draws etc until 7.30pm Days 2-6 12.00-7.30pm Day 7 (start of weekend) 11.00am-11.00pm Day 8 9.00am - 7.30pm Day 9 9.00am- 8.30pm It would be nice to have a junior event (No Wait type ie continuous pairings on one morning and if in licenced premises the Lightning and quiz could also be held from 8.00pm-10.30) |
| Venue Size | If seeking a venue then I assume 80 during the week and 120
at weekend. This means to most centre managers that you must tell
them that you require space equivalent to 200+ dining. Also check
that they have rectangular tables - this can be a major problem. If an
International Open is being held larger venue needed (say 300 cover dining
space.)
Side room needed for analysis and bookstall. This could be in canteen area. |
| Catering | This can be a major problem. Many organisations insist on in-house, but the demand during the week is seldom sufficient to justify staff costs. Some chess events have had to subsidise the canteen. This year it would have cost £50 per day for use of the kitchen. The self-service table made £150. Ideally, a venue where catering facilities are running anyway is ideal. |
| Internet Access | If the event is to be sponsored properly then the venue should be able to provide access to the internet so that games can go out live. Equipment for this can be hired from the ECF but would require someone with experience and a willingness to comply with requests from arbiter/organiser (Experience shows that these two do not always go together). |
| Costs | The Scottish should run on a break even budget. Ideally, if
sponsored, some money should be set aside to provide for future years.
Venue Cost: Budget of £3000 would allow you to get a reasonable venue wherever you wanted, however £1250-1800 is realistic venue cost. Expenses to players: GMs £500, IMs £150. Therefore a tournament with 4 GMs and 6 IMs would cost £3900. Organisation: If sponsored it would not be unreasonable for the following Congress Director £250, Chief Arbiter £150-£250 (if accommodation required both these figures could be increased) Weekend arbiters 2 @ £30 Internet organiser £500. In addition money should be set aside for CS and FIDE grading fees. |
| Prize Fund | Championship: £500, £250, £150, £75
International Open: £2000, £1000, £500 Grading 3 @ £200 (Ordinary Open £200, £100) Other events 6 @ £150,£70,£30 |
| Location | There should be sufficient accommodation in the local area for any players likely to be travelling + families, etc. Local contact is essential. For example a local person willing to receive entries for the weekend congress is a must. |
| Publicity | Info put on the website - this will normally be sufficient to attract the chess press. Other media is much more difficult. If funding allows a Press Officer should be appointed. |
| Miscellaneous | Unless most people are travelling there should be a social program set up - visits to places of interest, etc. |