The Etienne Lewis 2024 Trials will take place from 30 August 2024 to 1 September 2024. 

TSHWANE CHESS MERIT RANKING POLICY

This policy describes the “Tshwane Chess Merit Ranking List” which will be referred to as the “Merit
Ranking List”.

The purpose of the Merit Ranking List is to determine a ranking order for all active Tshwane Chess
players and to select teams to represent Tshwane Chess as well as for allocation of awards.

All Tshwane Chess Teams are selected from the Tshwane Chess Merit List.

Annual Merit Point (AMP): This is the total of all the merit points that will be used for the final ranking list.

A Player’s Etienne Lewis Final merit Point is added as the last Merit point to determine the Final Annual Merit Point of each Player.  This will determine the final ranking of the player on the merit list of his / her age group. 

Best 90/90 or 60/60+30sec Tournament merit point + 3 x ( Best 60/60 (55:55+5sec) Tournament Merit Points) + Etienne Lewis Merit Point = Final Merit Point for Team selection. (Only tournaments which appear on the Tshwane Calendar (Excluding Gauteng and SA events) will be taken into consideration, for invitation, from after the 2023 Etienne Lewis until the tournament before the 2024 Etienne Lewis).  

All standard time control tournaments played count towards a players merit point calculation.

This will include:

Selection Criteria for u8 Players to be invited to the Etienne Lewis Trials:

• Any 1 x 60:60 Rated Tournaments on the Tshwane Calendar.
• Must have been present for 4 out of the 5 rounds for the tournament to count for merit selection.

Selection Criteria for u10-u16 Players to be invited to the Etienne Lewis Trials:

•  1 x 90:90 or 60:60+30 sec increment Rated Tournament on the Tshwane Calendar
• Any 3 x 60:60/ 55:55+5sec Rated Tournaments on the Tshwane Calendar of which one must be an Official Tshwane Chess Tournament.
• Must have been present for 4 out of the 5 rounds for the tournament to count for merit selection.

Selection Criteria for u18 Players:

•  1 x 90:90 or 60:60+30 sec increment Rated Tournament on the Tshwane Calendar
• Any 2 x 60:60 / 55:55+5sec Rated Tournaments on the Tshwane Calendar of which one must be an Official Tshwane Chess Tournament.
• Must have been present for 4 out of the 5 rounds for the tournament to count for merit selection.
• These players will be selected for the Tshwane Chess Teams on merit points only and are exempted from playing in the Etienne Lewis Trails.
• Tshwane Chess may organise a section in the Etienne Lewis Trails for these age groups,
  but this will be used as a normal tournament and will count the same weight as the other
  tournaments. Although it is not a requirement to play in the Etienne Lewis Trials, it is highly
  recommended.

Selection Criteria for u20 Players:

•  1 x 90:90 or 60:60+30 sec increment Rated Tournament on the Tshwane Calendar
• Any 2 x 60:60 / 55:55+5sec Rated Tournaments on the Tshwane Calendar of which one must be an Official Tshwane Chess Tournament.
• Must have been present for 4 out of the 5 rounds for the tournament to count for merit selection.
• Tshwane Chess reserves the right to select the strongest under 20 teams possible.
• The Adult section of the Merit Ranking List will be used as strong guideline.
• Players from younger age groups, irrespective of age and gender, can be selected for any
  u/20 team.
• No player who does not appear on the Merit Ranking List can be selected.