♟️ Technical Arbiter Training Program – Full Syllabus Chess Victoria is launching a Technical Arbiter Training Program to develop practical, hands-on skills required to run modern ACF and FIDE-rated tournaments.   🎯 Program Overview With increasing tournament size and complexity, arbiters and organisers are expected to be proficient in: Vega pairing software DGT board operations Rating file management Live results and broadcasting This program is designed to build technical capability, improve tournament standards, and reduce reliance on a small pool of experts.   📚 Training Syllabus 🔹 Vega & Tournament Management I & II (Instructor: IA Dr Peter Tsai)- select only 1 Tournament Setup Creating tournaments in Vega Managing players with multiple ratings (ACF Classical / Quick / Blitz / FIDE) Importing rating files and handling provisional ratings Pairings & Control Automatic and manual pairings Handling late entries and latecomers Managing byes and withdrawals Special pairing scenarios Tournament Operations Prize configuration (rating groups, age prizes, upset prizes) Printing pairings and results Managing changes after registration closure Efficiency & Best Practice Time-saving workflows Common errors and how to avoid them Real tournament case scenarios   🔹 Advanced Vega & DGT Training (IA Walter Wolffs) Module 1 – DGT Boards & Troubleshooting (1.5 hours) Physical setup and cabling Board configuration Common issues and troubleshooting Real-time problem solving Module 2 – DGT Integration & Broadcasting (1 hour) Live game broadcasting setup Broadcast delay and fair-play considerations Integration with online platforms Module 3 – Online Results & Publishing (1 hour) Uploading pairings and results FTP and Vega online tools QR-code pairing systems Publishing to ChessChat and other platforms   🧪 Practical Assessment Participants will complete a 1-hour practical assessment, covering: Tournament setup in Vega Importing ratings Managing pairings, byes, and entries Publishing results ✅ Successful participants will receive a Chess Victoria Technical Arbiter Certificate   📅 Training Sessions Vega & Tournament Management II 📍 Ballarat (Anglers Hall, 114C Wendouree Parade, Ballarat on the corner of Devon Street) 📅 Saturday, 9 May 2026 ⏰ 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Vega & Tournament Management I 📍 Glen Waverley Secondary College 📅 Saturday, 30 May 2026 ⏰ 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Advanced Vega + DGT Training 📍 Melbourne Chess Club 📅 Sunday, 16 August 2026 ⏰ 4:00 PM – 9:30 PM   💰 Fee $25 per participant   👥 Who Should Attend? Arbiters (NA, FA, IA) Aspiring arbiters Tournament organisers Club officials and volunteers   📌 Key Notes Hands-on practical training (bring your laptop recommended) Limited to ~10–15 participants per session Strong demand — early registration encouraged   👥 Questions? Email: IA Casey Goh major_tournaments@hobsonsbaychess.com

Tournament is catered for beginners, juniors and rookies (including adults) below ACF 1500 or FIDE 1700.  Venue: Hobsons Bay Chess Club, 108 Queen Street Altona Rating: FIDE/ ACF Classical Rating Contact: FA Kuanysh Batyrbekov hobsonbaychessclub@gmail.com  Chief Arbiter: FA Myiesha Maunders Deputy Chief Arbiter: NA Hemanth Gajula Entry: $45 (members only price) $65 (non-members) To register as member: https://portal.hobsonsbaychess.com/member/memberships Early Bird ends strictly 1 week in advance: 9th MAY 2026 (SATURDAY), Late Entry $75 with no exceptions.  Last Day to Register: 14th MAY 2026 (THURSDAY), preliminary R1 pairings to be distributed on 15th MAY (Friday) Schedule: 6:00 PM - Tournament starts Format: 7 rounds, 60 minutes + 30 seconds per move (1 round per week), with 3 weeks' break in July (school holidays) Notation is mandatory Two Half Point byes available per player between Rounds 1 to 5. Must be notified at least one day in advance of the round. Eligibility:  Unrated  (rating by Close of tournament registration) or ACF below 1500 (rating by Close of tournament registration) or  FIDE rating below 1700 (rating by Close of tournament registration) Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident OR FIDE ID (registered with home country chess federation) Non Citizen or PR holder are required to register your FIDE ID with your home country. No exception on this.  Trophies/ Medals + Cash Prizes Cash prizes are as below First Prize Rating Group 1: $200 Second Prize Group 1: $100 Third Prize Group 1: $50 Rating Group 2 Winner: $50 Rating Group 3 Winner: $50 (based on number of entries) Rating Group 4 Winner: $50 (based on number of entries) Tournament Rules - please view here

Entry: $30 (members) $50 (non-members). Add $15 late fee for entries after Tuesday 26 May. Free entry for titled players (includes GM/WGM/IM/WIM/FM/WFM/CM/WCM). Must enter by Tuesday 26 May. Rating: FIDE / ACF Classical Rating Eligibility: Australian Citizens or Permanent Resident OR FIDE ID for players registered with a non-Australian Federation. Contact: NA Steven Hogan hobsonbaychessclub@gmail.com Chief Arbiter: FA Myiesha Maunders hobsonbaychessclub@gmail.com Schedule: Tuesdays 7:30 PM. Round schedule provided below. Format: 7 rounds. 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move (1 round per week). Notation is mandatory for all moves. Two half point byes are available between rounds 1 to 5. Must be notified to the Chief Arbiter by 5pm Wednesday following the previous round. Trophies & Cash Prizes Cash Prizes below $1,000 Prize Pool Overall 1st $300 2nd $200 3rd $100 Rating prizes Rating Group 1 $100 Rating Group 2 $100 Rating Group 3 $100 Rating Groups will be decided on ACF rating, with field split into four event groups. Rating Groups will be published ahead of round 2. Cash Prize Rules: Eligibility rating is as at start of Round 1 One prize per player (highest value) Ties split prize money equally Rating prizes are “Under” cut-offs (e.g., U1600 means <1600) Tournament Rules: Here