Zimbabwe Chess Federation

16th Floor Joina City www.chesszimbabwe.com

+263787629666
Cnr Julius Nyerere/ Jason Moyo chesszimbabwe@gmail.com
Harare, Zimbabwe

In Partnership with Crystal Candy

Proudly Present
 CONTENTS

INVITATION………………………………………………………………….......3
PREAMBLE…………………………………………………………………........3
BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATION……………………………………………....3
TOURNAMENT DETAILS……………………………………………………....4
PRIZES …………………………………………………………………………...6
RULES & REGULATIONS …………………………………………………..….7
LEAGUE ADMINISTRATION …………………………………………………..8
REGISTRATION FORM ………………………………………………………...9

1
INVITATION
The Zimbabwe Chess Federation (ZCF) – Chess in Education Commission is inviting
all primary schools and secondary schools in Zimbabwe to join and participate in the
ZCF Crystal National Schools Chess Tournament. This is a team chess tournament that
will start at cluster level in all provinces of the country, with schools that excel moving up
to zonal and the district competitions and winning teams proceeding to the provincial
Competitions. Winners of the provincial games will proceed to the nationals. Winners of
the nationals will represent Zimbabwe in international tournaments as the National
Champions.
Registration opens on 22 January 2024 and closes on 29 February 2024. Games will
start from 8 March 2024 and end on 25 May 2024. The finals will be held in
Bulawayo. Traveling days will be the 23rd and 26th of May. Playing days will be 24
and 25 May 2024.

PREAMBLE
The introduction of the Crystal National Chess League has been a milestone which saw
to it the International Chess Federation (FIDE), Chess in Education Chair, Jerry Nash
visiting Zimbabwe and launching the first edition of the Preparation of Teachers Course.
Learning and playing chess has many proven benefits, especially among children. From
chess, we learn important and transferable skills such as calculation, sportsmanship,
critical thinking, concentration etc. The Zimbabwe Chess Federation is on a mission to
promote these skills and habits through the Schools Chess Tournament.
The vision is to have a vibrant national school’s league. The goal is to have chess
played by every school in Zimbabwe by introducing it and making it part of the
educational system. The playing of chess at grassroots levels of primary and secondary
school level is of paramount importance to the enhancement of the sport at higher
levels.
Affiliated schools for the year 2024 will participate in the team tournament without
paying an additional entry fee. The affiliation fee for institutions is covered under
registration and participation item 1.3.

ZCF Chess In Education 2 Crystal Schools Team Tournament

TRAINING OF TRAINERS AND ARBITERS
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is rolling out the ZIMFIT program for
the teaching of PE in schools. The model will start with five sport codes which include
chess. This team tournament will complement the MoPSE model. The Ministry will
target a group of teachers in Primary and Secondary schools for the ZIMFIT program in
all the Primary and Secondary schools for educational chess.
Those teachers who do not make it in the ZIMFIT Ministry training and still want to be
trained as trainers and Arbiters will be trained for educational and sport chess
Dates and venues will be arranged in provincial whatsapp groups. To be added to the
groups kindly contact the Zimbabwe Chess Federation WhatsApp with a specific
request to be added to your respective group. The payment of training fees differs
depending on the nature of training program as well as the status of your school's
membership with ZCF. Check on the benefits of participating to get the benefits of
affiliation. More details will be communicated about training as soon as MoPSE avails
it's ZIMFIT training dates and schedule.

BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATION
1. The school will automatically become affiliated to the Zimbabwe Chess
Federation for the year 2024 and enjoy discounts for the events that will be held
by ZCF in 2024. These include teacher training registration discounts.
2. Winners will be considered to represent the country in international events.

3. Exposure to the benefits of chess (to be explained on additional documents that

will be distributed via social media or a hardcopy during tournaments and
workshops) as ZCF complements the Ministry of Primary and Secondary
Education in the Competence Based Curriculum.

4. Subsidized training and certification for Coaches and Teachers from participating
schools. These discounts may be up to 50% or more.

5. Prizes for individual top performers or specific prizes (subject to terms and
conditions).

6. All participating players will be issued with a FIDE ID which will allow them to
participate in FIDE rated and international events.

ZCF Chess In Education 3 Crystal Schools Team Tournament

 7. Outstanding players from the league will be awarded National Colors and will be
considered for the National Team in regional and international events.

8. Schools without chess equipment may apply to use ZCF equipment i.e. chess
sets and/or chess clocks (subject to terms and conditions).

TOURNAMENT DETAILS
1. REGISTRATION & PARTICIPATION
1.1. The ZCF CRYSTAL CANDY Schools Chess League is open to all primary and
secondary schools that are registered with the Ministry of Primary & Secondary
Education.
1.2. To participate, the school must fill the registration form and submit to the
Zimbabwe Chess Federation together with a ZCF affiliation fee for the year 2024
of (US$50 - Primary; US $ 75 -Secondary) per Institution.
1.2.1. Cash: ZCF Office, 16th Floor, Joina City, Harare.
1.2.2. Bank Deposit:
ZCF FCA Account – USD

Zimbabwe Chess Federation

Stanbic Bank
9140001314415

Borrowdale Branch
For ZWL payments. Kindly communicate with ZCF to get an invoice.
Send proof of payment to ZCF chesszimbabwe@gmail.com together with the filled out
registration form. You can also use the ZCF WhatsApp number. +263 787 629 666

2. The Competition
2.1. Only schools that register before the deadline will participate in the chess league
i.e., no late entries.

2.2. Each zone/district will have the District HIC managing the league supported
technically by ZCF CIE trained league secretariat who should be
teachers/headmasters who are part of the district set up. Similarly, at provincial
level only trained personnel will manage and coordinate games.

ZCF Chess In Education 4 Crystal Schools Team Tournament

 2.3. All games that will be played will see schools getting rated in a new
Zimbabwe schools chess rating system, that is aimed at promoting
competition in the sport.

3. TEAMS
3.1. Each school is allowed to register a maximum of 1 (0ne) team.
A team of five players boys’ section and five players girls section makes up a
school team.
Schools which are not mixed gender schools, only provide five players where
they fit (Boys or Girls).

3.2. In each team, players should be arranged in descending order of strength of

play i.e. the team’s best players play on the top boards.

3.3. Composition of 5 players is in this format;

Secondary- (Under 18);
Primary- (Under 12)
For the future of chess at your school, do not leave out the Junior players,
This means that vetting will be done through the use of birth certificates and IDs
before the games start.

4. GAMES
4.1. All games are played simultaneously on every match.

4.2. Teams in a cluster or zone meet on an agreed venue and play their games.

4.3. A toss or electronic pairing will determine who plays with the white pieces on
odd numbered boards i.e. boards 1,3 and 5

4.4. Scoring for each individual game is 1 point for a win, ½ point for a draw and 0
for a loss.

4.5. All game-points for the team are added to give the final score for each match.

4.6. Scoring for each match (team vs. team) is 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw
and 0 points for a loss.

ZCF Chess In Education 5 Crystal Schools Team Tournament

 4.7. Teams will play to determine the winners for the next level competition.

4.8. District, Provincial and National Championships will be held as will be discussed
in workshops and in consultations with the organisers.

4.9. Cluster, zonal or district level competitions depend on how many teams will
register per cluster, zone or district.

5. PLAYING SCHEDULE

5.1. Games will be played in a gala system at one venue to save costs of travel.
Venue for games is confirmed using existing structures and days when games
will be played should be regulated and advertised, so all have an equal chance
to participate in the games.

5.2. Due to financial constraints which may arise, changes to the schedule must be
approved by the Zonal or District or Provincial or National coordinator 48 hours
before the match. Any deviation from the schedule will be dealt with on a case-
by-case basis.

5.3. Provincial commissioners in agreement with participating schools can agree on

a date to play the zonal, district and provincial games as long as they allow
enough preparation time for National Finals.

AWARDS
1. The winning schools (Under 12 and Under 18) will earn a right to represent
Zimbabwe in World Schools Team Championships.

2. The regional coordinator that produces the best school will earn express right to be
nominated as accompanying person to the international events where the particular
school will participate.

3. Provincial champions will be awarded with Provincial trophies. All participants at the
Provincial Games will be awarded with Certificates of participation.

ZCF Chess In Education 6 Crystal Schools Team Tournament

RULES & REGULATIONS

1. The current FIDE Laws of Chess shall apply to all games.

2. Parings shall be done using Swiss Manager and results updated on

chess-results.com

3. Recording of results shall be done by team officials of both captains and

countersigned by the match arbiter.

4. Recording or notating of games is not compulsory (although highly encouraged).

5. If a team has less than the required players for a match, they lose by default on
the boards that they do not field any players.

6. Zonal, District, Provincial and National coordinators will oversee the league in
terms of administration, submission of results, resolving disputes and linking
teams.

7. A standard rating system will be used to rank schools and players to know the
National, Provincial, District, Zonal and Cluster ranks.

8. The winning team will be selected by calculating the number of points it earns in
the girls and boys team.

For same sex schools, the winning school automatically qualify to represent Zimbabwe
without the need to add points from an opposite sex team as will be done for mixed
schools.

ZCF Chess In Education 7 Crystal Schools Team Tournament

LEAGUE ADMINISTRATION
National Chief Coordinator(s) ZCF Chess in Education chair , NASH HIC and NAPH
HIC

League superintendents CIE commissioners representing the 10 provinces. NAPH

and NASH HICs. Under the leadership of their respective National HICs.
For further information, please contact:

1. ZCF office admins on the Zimbabwe Chess Federation number for calls and
WhatsApp +263 787 629 666 - chesszimbabwe@gmail.com

ZCF Chess In Education 8 Crystal Schools Team Tournament

ZCF CRYSTAL NATIONAL Schools Chess League
REGISTRATION FORM
Primary School : Secondary/High School :

Name of School/Institution:
Province:

District:
Phone: Email:

Contact Person: Designation:

WhatsApp Phone:

Number of Teams registered Male : Female:

(Only one male and one female team)
Primary School : Secondary/High School :

Payment status Office-Cash Electronic

NB: Registration is only complete after the full payment has been made.
By signing this registration form you agree that all the information provided is correct.
Furthermore, you agree to be bound by the regulations, terms and conditions of the
ZCF Schools Chess League and the Zimbabwe Chess Federation.
Head/Principal:

Signature: Date

SCHOOL STAMP