ICCF Champions League

ICCF Champions League

The ICCF Champions League is a continuous Email Team Tournament of the International Correspondence Chess Federation, organized by its Email Tournament Office.

The Champions League (CL) is a championship event played in seasons, comprising several divisions with promotion and relegation.

Every CL season will be played under the version of ICCF Playing Rules for team tournaments played normally by Email that is valid on the official start date - downloadable from the official Website.

Each team in the CL consists of 4 players, which do not necessarily have to come from the same country; mixed teams are possible. All players must have a working Email address. A player can play only for one team in a season.

Every team must have a name, which should be related to CC or chess in general. A team will be allowed to change its name between separate seasons.

Each team must determine a Team Captain, who can be a member of the team

A team will be allowed to replace players during the season only with the prior authority of the Tournament Director. If all the 4 players in a team are changed within 2 seasons, then the team will be relegated to a lower division.

The winning team of the top league (Champions League A) will become the 'ICCF Champions League winner' at the end of each season. Before the leagues can be established firmly, a qualification tournament will have to be played.

Afterwards, the actual Champions League will begin with its first season by separate divisions.

A season will last for approximately 2 years. Only after one season has been completely finished (after every game has a result)- will the new season begin. It is not yet foreseeable whether very long games will need to be adjudicated or whether the start date of the next season, should be delayed a little.

For current details and updates of the playing rules please visit the excellent ICCF web pages!