Saturday, December 6, 2025

Correspondence Mastery Open – Engine-Assisted Play Allowed

 

Official Rules – Correspondence Mastery Open

Engine-Assisted Play Allowed

These rules define the structure and expectations for the Correspondence Mastery Open, a modern correspondence event where all forms of external assistance are permitted. By joining the tournament, every participant accepts these conditions fully and without exception.


1. Allowed Assistance (Everything Listed Below Is Fully Permitted)

Participants may use any and all external resources, including but not limited to:

✔ Chess engines

  • Stockfish

  • Leela

  • Komodo

  • Any private engine

  • Cloud engines

  • Local engines

  • Multi-engine comparison

✔ Opening resources

  • Opening books (digital or physical)

  • Online opening explorers

  • Databases (Chess.com, Lichess, MegaBase, private DBs)

  • Repertoires, theory files, and personal notes

✔ Human assistance

  • Friends

  • Coaches

  • Grandmasters, IMs, FMs

  • Study groups

  • Discord analysis rooms

  • Personal team support

✔ Any analytical tools

  • Endgame tablebases

  • Engines for middlegame planning

  • Annotated books

  • YouTube explanations

  • Chess.com lessons

  • Any research method

If it exists, you may use it.
There are no restrictions.


2. No Accusations of Cheating (Zero Tolerance Policy)

Because external assistance is explicitly allowed:

🚫 It is strictly forbidden to accuse any opponent of cheating.

This includes:

  • Messaging them directly

  • Posting publicly

  • Reporting them

  • Complaining in chat

  • Mentioning “engine use” in any form

Every player has the same legal advantages.
Therefore, no player can be accused of unfair play.

A violation of this rule results in:

  • Immediate forfeit of the match

  • Removal from the tournament

  • Possible account restrictions for harassment


3. No Reports to Chess.com Regarding Engine Use

Players may not report engine use in this tournament.
All reports will be dismissed because this event intentionally allows engine assistance.

Only report behavior unrelated to gameplay, such as:

  • Harassment

  • Spam

  • Abusive language

  • Threats

Game quality or suspicious moves are not grounds for any complaint.


4. Voluntary “Human-Only” Play Is Allowed — At Your Own Risk

Any player who wishes to play without external tools may do so — but entirely at their own discretion.

They cannot:

  • Claim unfair advantage from others

  • File complaints about engine usage

  • Request special treatment

  • Appeal game results

  • Ask for protection from stronger analysis

This is a “Full-Tools Format” tournament.
Playing human-only is a personal challenge, not a protected category.


5. Tournament Spirit and Purpose

The purpose of this event is to:

  • Encourage deep research

  • Produce master-level games

  • Generate theoretical novelties

  • Allow players to use engines openly and responsibly

  • Reduce cheating accusations in other formats

  • Create an honest environment where analysis thrives

This format is an evolution of classical correspondence chess, embracing the modern era with transparency.


6. Fairness and Respect

All participants must maintain:

  • Good sportsmanship

  • Respectful tone

  • Zero toxicity

  • No trash talk about “engines vs humans”

  • Acceptance of the tournament’s unique rules

Failure to follow these standards may result in removal.


7. Arbiter Policy

Arbiters (or Chess.com staff) will:

  • NOT investigate engine use

  • NOT overturn games based on move quality

  • ONLY intervene for violations of communication, harassment, or platform rules

Game outcomes stand as final.


8. By Joining the Tournament, You Agree To All Rules Above

Joining the tournament constitutes full acceptance of:

  • Engine-assisted play

  • External research

  • Equal tools for all players

  • No accusations

  • No engine reporting

  • No appeals on move quality

  • Total transparency and respect


Final Reminder

This tournament is designed for:

  • Analysts

  • Researchers

  • Engine users

  • Opening theorists

  • Correspondence veterans

  • Deep-thinkers who want to create high-quality games

If you want a pure human-vs-human experience, please choose a different tournament.
This event is built precisely on the opposite foundation.

Tournament:

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