The league is held for schools via the global chess platform (Lichess.org)
League Divisions
The league is divided into three main divisions:
1. Cycle One: Primary Stage
2. Cycle Two: Preparatory Stage
3. Cycle Three: Secondary Stage
League Stages
Stage One & Stage Two:
1. Participation is open to students from all schools. Each division consists of two stages:
• Stage One (qualification stage)
• Stage Two (qualification stage)
2. Both stages are held using the Arena system on the Lichess platform.
3. The duration of each stage is 120 minutes, and only games played within this time are
counted.
4. Dates and Timings:
• Stage One: Tuesday, April 14, from 16:00 – 18:00 (UAE Time)
• Stage Two: Thursday, April 16, from 16:00 – 18:00 (UAE Time)
5. Time Control: 5 minutes per player with an increment of 3 seconds per move.
6. Participation is open to an unlimited number of players from each school.
7. Features such as Streaks Arena and Berserk are disabled on Lichess.
8. The top 3 players with the highest scores from both Stage One and Stage Two qualify for the final stage.
9. Players from within the country may also be invited to join the final stage based on the organizers’ decisions.
Final Stage (Elite Championship)
1. 18 players qualify for the Elite Championship.
2. The final is conducted using the Swiss system on Lichess, with the following criteria:
o 6 rounds
o Expected duration: approximately 120 minutes
o Time control: 10 minutes per player with 2 seconds increment per move. Swiss rules are applied.
3. Players are ranked based on their final scores (1 point for victory, 1/2 for a draw, and 0 for a loss).
4. In case of withdrawal of any qualified player, another player may be invited as a
replacement.
Awards
General Award
• The overall winner will have the opportunity to play a match against the
World Chess Champion.
Stage One & Two Awards (for each division):
1st Place: Gold Medal + AED 3,000 (1,500 for each stage)
2nd Place: Silver Medal + AED 2,000 (1,000 for each stage)
3rd Place: Bronze Medal + AED 1,000 (500 for each stage)
Final Stage Awards (Elite Championship):
1st Place: Gold Medal + AED 10,000
2nd Place: Silver Medal + AED 6,000
3rd Place: Bronze Medal + AED 4,000
Fair Play
Fair Play Policy (Play Fair)
1. The use of any external assistance is strictly prohibited, including but not limited to:
a) Assistance from others (parents, teachers, coaches, etc.)
b) Educational materials (books, videos, etc.)
c) Chess engines
2. The following fair play procedures will be applied:
a) Lichess monitors all games using its official anti-cheating system.
b) Any violation may result in account flagging.
c) Games may be analyzed using PGN tools and FIDE-approved systems.
d) In the final stage, players must join a video call throughout the competition.
3. Except for what is stated in Clause (2-A), players may appeal fair play decisions via: https://lichess.org/appeal
4. Each player is allowed to use only one account.
5. Any player flagged for cheating will be disqualified from the tournament.
6. If Lichess determines that a player created a “second account” to bypass restrictions,
participation will be cancelled.
7. If a violation is confirmed, organizers may take the following actions:
a) Adjust match results
b) Disqualify a school from the tournament
c) Invite alternative players to the final
8. Refereeing & Discipline:
a) All referee decisions are final and non-appealable.
b) Any player proven to have used external assistance will face necessary disciplinary
actions.
c) Participation in the tournament implies full acceptance of all rules.
How to Join
Step 1:
Register on the Lichess platform.
If you forgot your username or password, you can recover it via email.
Step 2:
Go to Community → Teams, then search for:
“UAE Chess Federation Team” and click on it.
If the team does not appear:
Use the following link:
https://lichess.org/team/federation-chess-uae
Then request to join.
Step 3:
Click Join to participate in the tournament.
Ensure you are logged in before the tournament begins.