Incremental Times

[David G Congalton]

Most congresses have a time control of 90 minutes for 36 moves, then 30 minutes quickplay. Replacing the 30 minute quickplay by a 30 second increment would mean games could last 96 moves without taking longer than they do at the moment. It is very rare that games last longer than 96 moves.

I guess the simplest way would be to make it 72 minutes for the whole game with a 30 second increment from move 1 which is effectively the same.

if the increment is less than 30 secs there is no need to record, otherwise you should. I've had to pull up one or two players for failing to do so - all within the last 5 minutes - so it may be a habit rather than defiance of the Law.

Any suggestions for four and a half hour playing sessions?

Would the introduction of an incremental time control to a weekend congress with two rounds a day not be sort of contradicatory and a bit messy?

Are there enough appropriate clocks for a weekend congress to implement an incremental time control across all of the sections?

Any suggestions for using an incremental time control in a one day junior tournament? Or is this just a mad, bad idea?

Final question, would there be any interest in a six round FIDE rated event, spread over three weekends through the season, with one round a day and using the incremental time control Alex mentioned is used in FIDE events?