Members of EFCC Member organisations are entitled to take part in ICCF tournaments. You can enter online direct with ICCF (https://www.iccf.com/ )or you can pay via the EFCC which is a little cheaper. If paying via the EFCC, you can pay online at this site if you have a PayPal account (see "Tournament Entry") or you can send a cheque to the appropriate official.
ICCF Promotion Tournaments
The ICCF promotion tournaments are organised in three classes: Master, Higher and Open and are available either by web server or by post; and both World and European sections are offered. Open and Higher class tournaments are 7-player, all-play all with one game against each opponent; Master class tournaments are similar, but with 11 players. The winner of each Open class section is promoted to Higher class; the winner of each Higher class section is promoted to Master class. The winner of each Master class section earns the right to play in the semi-final of the World Championship or, for European sections, of the European Championship. All promotion sections are rated by ICCF.
Annual Competitions/Cups
Currently, ICCF organise a Veterans World Cup every year (open to any player age 60 or over) and a full World Cup (open to every player) every 4 years. There are also Webserver Opens & Direct Entry Opens which are available to every player. So there is always something to play in!
New Players
New entrants normally start in Open class, but players with a strong track record may start in Higher or Master with EFCC approval. As a guideline, a rating of 1900+ (ECF 145+) would be needed for Higher Class, and a rating of 2100+ (ECF 165+) for Master Class.
ICCF Thematic Tournaments
ICCF also offers thematic tournaments, with one or two themes starting every six weeks or so. Again, play is all-play-all but with two games against each opponent in sections of 5 to 7 players. Most themes have a preliminary round and then a final, but the most popular ones require a semi-final stage as well. Thematic tournaments are not rated by ICCF.
Strong Players
For the seriously strong player, ICCF also offers Master Norm tournaments in which IM title norms are available. The qualification rules are strict; entry is limited to players:
- who have a fixed ICCF rating of 2300+
- who have a not-fixed ICCF rating or a FIDE rating of 2350+
- who have placed 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the English Correspondence Championship.
Entry Fees
Entry via 'Direct Entry (DE) is automated through the ICCF Webserver. When paying by cheque please ensure it is made payable to EFCC.
