National FIDE rated rapidplay event

[Ianbrownlee]

Jim,
Would a player be allowed to play in the event if their national rating was below the limit but FIDE rating was higher?

easy one this. The 1850 quoted is the local grade and that is the benchmark we are using. 1850 wasnt pulled out if the air. The 1850 limit comes directly from the MacIsaac tournament which also used the local grade. We may indeed raise the limit in future if the tournament takes off.
We are trying to revitalise the prestige and spirit of the MacIsaac but give it an updated and modern twist. Since most people's FIDE grades are nigher then their local grades, we would have to put a much higher grade limit if we referenced FIDE grades rather than local grades. There are many small details to be ironed out . The Home Director whoever he or she may be would run the tournament as director but the arbiters would have to be FIDE rated and the rules, regulations and submissions for grading would be FIDE. In fact the games would be submitted both for local and for FIDE using the same submission principles we applied this year for both the Richardson and Spens cup. There also requires to be a lot of work involved both by the arbiters and by the Grading Director.
I am still keen for national participation. There are already great examples in how the tournament could be run, such as the SNCL and our existing home tournaments. What I need now more than anything are opinions on points I have already highlighted. If this tournament runs as a one off venue, chances are it would be at Grangemouth but if multiple venues are used, we are looking at additional venues, hopefully in Ayrshire, Perth Glasgow etc , wherever we could get a free or low cost venue