Spring 2003 ZCS Tournament Rules
      
        Entry Rules

1.     Each person may submit only one entry form.

2.     A player must have a valid, active Zone nickname that he has used with enough frequency and success to meet the eligibility criteria for the current tournament. 

3.     Players may attempt to meet the eligibility criteria using more than one Zone nickname. Any nickname that a player wishes to be considered must be listed on the entry form. The nickname that will be used for play in the current tournament will be determined by the priorities incorporated in the eligibility criteria.

4.      All Players must provide a personal email address.  This email will not be publicized on the ZCS site.  Instead, a ZCS email address will be used to forward all email to the player's personal email address.

5.      Players agree to permit capture of their dice logs and analysis of their matches for subsequent publication on the ZCS site.

6.      Players must confirm their understanding of the rules and indicate their willingness to comply with them. Any player who anticipates difficulty in complying with these rules should discuss the problem with the Host or the Directors prior to the start of the tournament. 

7.      The Directors will not extend invitations to anyone who they feel might compromise the integrity or civility of the tournament. Validity of performance records, previous incidents, and behaviour patterns in ZCS tournaments and the various qualifying venues will be examined in these determinations. 

Scheduling Rules

8.      Players are responsible for arranging and playing all their own assigned matches in compliance with the tournament schedule. 

9.      The world wide field inevitably presents scheduling challenges, even for players with the best of intentions.  Accordingly, we advise players to take the initiative in scheduling their matches. 

10. We strongly encourage players to:

·        schedule matches via e-mail

·        propose a specific date and time for a match in any scheduling attempt

·        send an early e-mail providing preferred, possible, and impossible playing times (including time zone with reference to GMT)

·        save these e-mails until the match has been played and reported satisfactorily

·        advise the Host of any scheduling difficulties as soon as possible, providing all relevant emails.

Boot Rules

11. If a player disconnects and cannot continue, the players must reschedule and restore the match as soon as possible. While there are no arbitrary boot limits, players must be able to maintain a connection to the Zone that allows continuous play at a reasonable pace without undue interruption.

Rules of Play

12. All matches will be played on the MSN Gaming Zone Backgammon site, in the Doubling Cube room. 

13.  All matches within any round must be played and reported within the specified time frame posted on the ZCS site.  At the completion of each match, the winner should post the result immediately.

14. We request that players turn their ZM on and set to DND during a match to ensure that any ill-timed or inappropriate communication does not interrupt or compromise the match.

15. The auto-double option must be set to OFF. 

16.  Kibitzing must be left ON during match play.  Players are encouraged to silence watchers to allow kibitzers to talk freely about the ongoing match and to ensure that any ill-timed or inappropriate communication does not interrupt or compromise the match.  Either player may silence watchers.

17.  Players may not receive assistance of any kind from any source during a match. This includes, but is not limited to, reference material, automated backgammon programs, or other humans.

18.  The tactic of deliberately losing a match to influence the outcome of the tournament is prohibited.

Rules of Conduct

19. We expect all participants to conduct themselves in a civil, reasonable and sportsmanlike manner.

20. Players must adhere to the MSN Gaming Zone Code of Conduct (COC) at all times while playing in the ZCS tournaments.

21.  As indicated on the entry form, matches may be analyzed and this analysis may be published on the ZCS site. If a player wishes to have a match analyzed, that player must capture the dice log and submit it.  If either player indicates a desire to save the dice log, the other player must remain at the table after the conclusion of the match until the dice log has been saved.  

Replacements

22. In the case of players withdrawing or being disqualified, the results of their matches will be maintained. If possible, the host will name a replacement player who will play the remaining matches for that round and have a normal chance of advancement.

23.  Any player who has not started playing promptly or has not played a significant portion halfway through the round may be replaced at the discretion of the Host.  Specific deadlines may vary from tournament to tournament and will be provided before the start of each round.  Requests for exceptions should be directed to the Host as soon as possible.

24. Replacement players for Round 1 of the ZCS will be selected from the “next best” performers in the ZCSQ.  Replacement players for subsequent rounds will be selected from the “next best” performers in the previous round.

General

25.  The Host will interpret and enforce the rules during the tournament.  Any lapse by a player risks disciplinary action from the Host.  Depending on the infraction, sanctions could be: forfeiture of games or matches, disqualification from the current tournament, or even disqualification from subsequent ZCS tournaments.

26.  Any player wishing to dispute an action or decision by the Host may do so by directing an appeal to the Tournament Directors, whose decision is final.  Where appropriate, the Directors may solicit expert opinion or include others in the adjudication process.

27.  Prior to each ZCS tournament, the rules, format and eligibility criteria are reviewed and evaluated by the Directors.  This process includes soliciting input from ZCS players and kibitzers on the ZCS discussion forum.

28.  Notwithstanding the above, the Directors reserve the right to amend or add to these rules in order ensure civil behaviour and to protect the integrity of the ZCS tournaments.