TGWC 2018 Regulations

The Team Gomoku World Championship is played by gomoku swap2 rule. The opening player puts first three stones (black, white and black) anywhere on the board and his opponent then chooses either which color he wants to play or he can put two additional stones (white and black) on the board and let the opening player choose which color to play. Only exactly five stones in a row win, rows of six or more, called overlines, do not count and the game continues.

Team Body. Each team consists of 4 main and from 0 to 2 reserve players. It is possible for a team to apply with 3 main players only. A team, which has less than 3 players in its body, cannot play in the tournament. If a team has less than 4 players in its body, they have to play at first tables.

Match Formula. A match between "Team A" and "Team B" consists of 4 games: 1A-1B, 2B-2A, 3A-3B, 4B-4A, where nN is a participant, who plays for team N at the n-th table in this round. Participant, mentioned in a pair as first, plays preliminary Black.

Team Captain. Each team has to select its captain in time of the registration. Team captain is the only person, who has the right to represent the team in time of the tournament. Team captain also has the right to:

• Select team players at the tables
• Substitute any of the main players of the team with any reserve one before the next round.

Substitution of Players. For making a substitution team captain has to apply the note to a referee with allocation of all the team players not later than 15 minutes before the next round. In absence of such a note the team plays in its main body.

Tie break rules:

1. Number of game points 2. Team match points 3. Berger coefficient (calculated on game points) 4. Personal match between teams 5. Result of 1st table 6. Result of 2nd table 7. Result of 3rd table 8. If all criteria are the same, the teams will share the places, except when precise determination of places is required - in that case an extra game with 20 minutes per player is played between the 1st table players (in case of 2 involved teams). If the extra matches are to be played between 3 or more involved teams with same tie break criteria, the referee will decide the time limit of the games between the 1st table players. If the tie was not broken, there will be additional matches played between the 1st table players until the tie is broken. The referee decides the time limit for those matches.

Additional rule 1: Players may talk to their team captain about strategy regarding offering or accepting draw in their ongoing game. However, this conversation must be done in English. In cases when a player cannot use English, the referee can make an exception.

Additional rule 2: When two players from the same team are copying moves from opponents resulting in the situation that the opponents are really playing versus each other is regarded as “copying of moves”. When this kind of copying of moves happens a team captain can claim that one of the games will be continued in a separate playing hall without access for other players than the moved players

Recording of the game

The players must record their games on specially designed game protocols. Whoever does not know how to record a game, has to ask referee or other players before the beginning of tournament. The players must record opponent's move before making his own next move. The players must not record any move on protocol which is not on the board yet. The players must continue recording the game on protocol until the end of the game.

Result of the game

The game is won by a player when...

• There is 5 in a row on board while having still thinking time left on clock. The players has to declare his victory by saving "five" or pointing his finger at his winning line. If the player does not notice his winning five, the game continues. The referee and observers must not notify the players about the situation on board.
• The opponent resigns the game.
• The opponent's time runs out.

The game ends with draw when...

• The player offers a draw by saying "draw?" or "I offer a draw", and the opponent accepts it by shaking hand and stopping the clock. If the opponent plays his next move instead, the draw offer is rejected by that. The player has the right to offer a draw only after his move (while opponent's clock is running).
• The board is completely full of stones and nobody claims victory.

The use of clock

The player must press the clock button with the same hand that puts the stone on the board. If at any time the clock button is pressed by mistake, the referee has to be called immediately. The opponent's clock should not be pressed to fix the mistake because it would cause adding 30 seconds to both players.

If the player's action causes shifting of stones or other damage on board during his thinking time, the player has to recover the position on board before pressing the clock button. If it happens during opponent's thinking time, the opponent has a right to call a referee to evaluate the damage and take actions if needed.

The clock can be stopped by pressing the button on the clock's control panel. Other clock operations are done by a referee.

Players have the right to

• Watch the ongoing games in the playing hall
• Move freely inside the playing hall
• Visit a resting area for smoking purpose
• Visit a resting area for fresh air
• Visit toilette
• Get drinking water, coffee and tea
• Bring reasonable amount of drinks, food and other refreshments into the playing hall
• Notify referee and have opponents clock started if player is preliminary black and on time but preliminary white is late. In this case preliminary black does not need to put the opening; instead the preliminary white's time will start to run.

Players may not

• Write down move(s) before it has been played on the board
• Correct the position by touching stones when their clock is not running
• Disturb each other during the games
• Leave the playing hall without permission from referee or referee appointed person. Staff member should accompany player if possible.
• Use any kind of external help, such as a database, internet, personal help etc during their games
• Talk to anyone during the game except the referee, referee appointed person, to person who has got special permission or the opponent when needed
• Use headphones during the game
• Use any kind of electronic device during the game, all electronic devices must be switched off before the start of the round
• Be late more than 60 minutes to a game. Breaking this rule will make the player lose the game.
• Be late more than 15 minutes to a game. Breaking this rule, the referee can check reason for being late and act depending on answer.

Alcohol is forbidden during the tournament. Obviously drunk players will not be allowed to play nor observe games.