D. European Individual Chess Championships
The ECU organises four individual chess championships: the European Individual Chess Championship, the European Individual Women’s Chess Championship, the European Individual Senior Chess Championship and the European Individual Senior Women Chess Championship.
D.1. Participation
D.1.1 Nominations of players can only be submitted by the National chess federations.
D.1.2 There are two Senior categories: one for those who shall have reached the age of 50 by December 31st of the year in which the tournament will commence, and one for those who shall have reached the age of 65 by December 31st of the year in which the tournament will commence. In each age category an Open and a Women’s competition is organised.
D.2. Organisation
D.2.1 The European Individual Chess Championship and the European Individual Women’s Chess Championship shall be organised in April, May or June. In exceptional cases the Board may accept other dates.
D.2.2 The playing conditions shall conform to the FIDE recommendations for the organisation of top-level tournaments.
D.3. Tournament Regulations
D.3.1 Each Championship shall be played in one group according to the Swiss system.
D.3.1.1 The European Individual Chess Championship shall be played in 11 rounds, with one free day.
D.3.1.2 The European Individual Women’s Chess Championship shall be played in 11 rounds, with one free day.
D.3.1.3 The European Individual Senior Chess Championship and shall be played in 9 rounds.
D.3.1.4 The European Individual Senior Women Chess Championship shall be played in 9 rounds. Only in case there are less than nine participants they may be included in the men’s section of the championship
D.3.2 There are no tie-break matches to establish the champion, the medal winners or the qualifiers to a World Cup or World Championship.
D.4. Titles and Prizes
D.4.1 Titles
D.4.1.1 The winner of the European Individual Chess Championship receives the title “European Chess Champion 20..”.
D.4.1.2 The winner of the European Individual Women’s Chess Championship receives the title “European Women Chess Champion 20..”
D.4.1.3 The winner of the European Individual Senior Chess Championship receives the title “European Senior Chess Champion 20..”. European Chess Union Tournament Rules 2016 Page 15
D.4.1.4 The winner of the European Individual Senior Women Chess Championship receives the title “European Senior Women Chess Champion 20..”.
D.4.2 The number of players qualifying for the World Championship will be decided by the ECU Board and published in the letter of invitation.
D.4.3 The organiser has to provide a prize fund of minimum 100.000 € for European Individual Chess Championship, and 60.000 € European Women Chess Champion.
D.4.4 An additional payment, equivalent to 25% of the announced prize fund, shall be made to ECU.
D.4.5 The money prizes will be equally shared among the players with the same score.