Tournament System User Guide

This guide provides step-by-step instructions for tournament organizers on how to use the Shogi Tournament System to prepare and submit tournament results to FESA.

Table of Contents
BEFORE THE TOURNAMENT
Tournament Registration
1. Register your tournament with FESA at least 2 weeks before the event date
a) Fill in the required information:
  • -Tournament name
  • -Date(s)
  • -Location (city, country)
  • -Time control
  • -Tournament mode
  • -E-Mail and Link to the tournament announcement
b) Send E-Mail with that information to the webmaster(s)
2. Ensure your tournament meets FESA requirements
a) Minimum time controls must be either:
  • -30 minutes + 30 seconds byoyomi, or
  • -20 minutes + 40 seconds byoyomi
b) Tournament must follow FESA regulations
3. Prepare your tournament management system
  • -Decide on tournament format (Swiss, Round Robin, etc.)
  • -Set up pairing system
  • -Prepare score sheets
DURING THE TOURNAMENT
Recording Results
1. Record all game results accurately
  • -Note the players' full names (first and last)
  • -Record the result (win, loss, draw)
  • -Note any handicaps used
  • -Record byes or no-shows
2. Track player information
  • -For new players (not in FESA database), mark them with 'N'
  • -Record nationality if known (using two-letter country codes)
3. Maintain a master results sheet
  • -Update after each round
  • -Verify results with players
  • -Calculate current standings
AFTER THE TOURNAMENT
Finalizing Results
1. Verify all results are complete and accurate
  • -Check that all games have results
  • -Ensure player names are spelled correctly
  • -Verify final standings
2. Calculate final standings
  • -Sort players by points
  • -Apply tiebreak rules if needed
  • -Assign final placement numbers
CREATING THE TOURNAMENT FILE

The tournament file must be created in the turnering.txt ISO 8859-1 format.

Follow these steps:

Step 1: Create a new text file
  • 1.Open a text editor (Notepad, TextEdit, etc.)
  • 2.Create a new file
  • 3.Save it as turnering.txt
Step 2: Add tournament header information
1. First line: Tournament name in brackets
[Tournament Name, City, Country, Date(range)]

Example: [13. Kurpfalz New Year's Open, Ludwigshafen, Germany, 2025-01-06]

 
2. Second line: Last tournament date in brackets
[YYYY-MM-DD]

Example: [2024-01-06]

 
3. Third line (recommended): Time control in brackets
[Time control: XXmin + YYsec]

Example: [Time control: 30min + 30sec]

 
4. Fourth line (optional): Column headers
Example: Nr Name Nat 1 2 3 4 5 MM Pts
 
Step 3: Add player data
For each player, add a line with the following format:
<Placement> [<LastName>][<FirstName>][<Results>][<MacMahon>] <Points>

Example:

1 [Smith][John][2+ 3- 1=] 2.5
For a new player, add a line with the following format:
<Placement> N [<LastName>][<FirstName>] <Nationality> [<Results>][<MacMahon>] <Points>

Example:

1 N [Smith][John] PL [2+ 3- 1=] 2.5
Components:
  • -Placement: Final standing (1 = winner)
  • -Player Name: Last name and first name in separate brackets
  • -Nationality (optional): Two-letter country code after first name
  • -New Player Indicator (optional): Prefix 'N' before the player's name
  • -Results: Opponent numbers and results for each round
  • -MacMahon Points (optional): For MacMahon tournaments
  • -Total Points: Final score
Step 4: Format results correctly
Results must use the following notation:
  • -Win: + (Example: 2+ means won against player #2)
  • -Loss: - (Example: 3- means lost against player #3)
  • -Draw: = (Example: 1= means drew against player #1)
Special cases:
  • -Bye (received a point without playing): 0+
  • -Skipped round (no point): 0-
  • -Draw without opponent: 0=
  • -No-show: 0# (A player's failure to enter a game for ranking purposes is treated as a loss to an opponent with the same ranking.)
For handicap games, add the handicap in parantheses:
<opponent><result>(<handicap>)

Example: 2+(-2p) means won against player #2 while giving a 2-piece handicap

Step 5: Additional Information
All additional tournament information e.g. SOS SOSOS can be included in the result line without square brackets. Best added at the end of the line.

Step 6: Save the file
Save the file as turnering.txt in ISO 8859-1 encoding.
 
SUBMITTING RESULTS TO FESA
Send an e-mail to rating@fesashogi.eu with the tournament file(s) as attachment. Each tournament needs to be in a separate file.
 
TROUBLESHOOTING COMMON ISSUES
Empty Tournament Name
Problem: “ERROR: Tournament name cannot be empty.“
Solution:
1. Open your turnering.txt file
2. Ensure the first line contains a tournament name in brackets: [Tournament Name]
3. Save and validate again
 
Incorrect Date Format
Problem: “ERROR: Invalid date format.“
Solution:
1. Ensure the date is in the format [YYYY-MM-DD] or [YYYY-MM-DD - YYYY-MM-DD]
2. The year must come first, followed by month, then day
3. Example: [2024-01-15] for January 15, 2024
 
Inconsistent Results
Problem: “ERROR: Inconsistent results between player #1 and player #3 in round 2.“
Solution:

1. Check the results for both players in the specified round

2. Ensure they match (if player #1 won against player #3, then player #3 must have lost against player #1)
3. Correct the inconsistency and validate again
 
Invalid Handicap Notation
Problem: “ERROR: Invalid handicap notation "(+3p)" for player #2 in round 1.“
Solution:

1. Use only permitted handicaps: m, l, b, r, rl, 2p, 4p, 5p, 6p

2. Ensure the format is correct: <opponent><result>(<handicap>)
3. Example: 2+(-2p) or 3-(-m)
 
Missing Player Name
Problem: “ERROR: Player #3 has an empty name.“
Solution:
1. Ensure both first and last names are provided for all players
2. Format: [LastName][FirstName]
3. Example: [Smith][John]
 
FAQ
Question: How do I indicate a new player?
Answer: Add the prefix ‘N’ before the player’s name:
1 N [Smith][John][2+ 3- 1=] 2.5
Question: How do I record a bye?
Answer: Use 0+ for an automatic bye, 0- for a player that withdrew from a tournament or 0= for a bye with half a point:
1 [Smith][John][2- 0+ 0= 0- 0-] 1.5
Question: What happens if a player fails to show up for a round (without an excuse)?
Answer: Use # to indicate a no-show:
1 [Smith][John][2- 3# 1=] 1.5
Question: How do I format handicap games?
Answer: Add the handicap in parentheses after the result:
1 [Smith][John][2+(-2p) 3-(+m) 1=] 1.5
The player giving the handicap uses a minus sign, the player receiving uses a plus sign.
Question: What are the permitted handicap notations?
Answer: The following handicaps are permitted:
  • m – Sente instead of Furigoma
  • l – Left lance
  • b – Bishop
  • r – Rook
  • rl – Rook and left lance
  • 2p – 2 pieces (rook and bishop)
  • 4p – 4 pieces (2p plus both lances)
  • 5p – 5 pieces (4p plus right knight)
  • 6p – 6 pieces (4p plus both knights)
Question: How do I indicate nationality?
Answer: Add the two-letter country code after the first name:
1 [Smith][John] GB [2+ 3+ 1=] 2.5
Question: What if I need to make corrections after submission?
Answer: Send a new e-mail with the corrected file and clearly indicate in the subject and body that this is a correction to a previous submission.