English Chess Forum

FIDE has announced that it's considering standard play rating of "Fast Classic" chess.

"Fast Classic" is defined as 45 minutes plus a 30 second increment. Unlike the current arrangements, there are no restrictions on the ratings of the players for the games to be eligible for rating.

Is there any evidence to support FIDE's claim that "The initiative responds to a growing demand from players and organizers to recognize “fast classic.” In modern life, time is increasingly limited, and there is a clear trend toward shorter formats that remain serious and competitive."?

As events played at this time limit are still restricted to a maximum of 2 games per day and won't be eligible for title norms, I'd question whether there would be much demand for this time limit in Open events compared to, say, 90'+30" or 60'+30", the first of which is eligible for title norms. Maybe it has a place in invitation tournaments where the organisers want spectators. In one of the trial events, the teams play each other twice in a day with colours reversed for the second match.

Ian Thompson wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 06, 2025 8:50 pm

FIDE has announced that it's considering standard play rating of "Fast Classic" chess.

"Fast Classic" is defined as 45 minutes plus a 30 second increment. Unlike the current arrangements, there are no restrictions on the ratings of the players for the games to be eligible for rating.

I would have thought it logical that anything between rapid play (one hour maximum) and 90 30 and other four hour move rates should count. Thus it could include all the British 80 10, 105 10, 90 15 etc tournaments.

45 seconds plus 30 is a notional 75 minutes for the game to move 60. So it's like the old adjudication special of 30 moves in 75 minutes, but twice the speed. It would be unwise to use it in league play if the venue had fixed closure times. 65 10, which is an option in some leagues would be better.

One possible advantage is that it would make evening league games rateable by Fide, thus perhaps doing away with the need for a separate national rating system

Tim Spanton wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 06, 2025 9:49 pm

One possible advantage is that it would make evening league games rateable by Fide, thus perhaps doing away with the need for a separate national rating system

There are just over 9,600 players on the ECF rating list rated 1400 or more, so that leaves several thousand who need a national rating system because they aren't good enough to get a FIDE rating.

Aaah, yes, I was forgetting the Fide floor has been raised from 1000 to 1400

Tim Spanton wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 06, 2025 10:41 pm

Aaah, yes, I was forgetting the Fide floor has been raised from 1000 to 1400

When did this happen?

March 2024, I believe

Tim Spanton wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 06, 2025 10:41 pm

Aaah, yes, I was forgetting the Fide floor has been raised from 1000 to 1400

At which point any possible direct link between FIDE and ECF ratings disappeared.