2025-12 – AGM 2024 – Resolution 7 – Limits on player numbers in tournaments

Preamble

Proposal: To set out a clear procedure where there are limits on the number of players in any category.

Background:

Currently, there is no clear procedure, in either the Official Handbook or the Tournament Organisers’ Handbook, regarding the application of tournament entry limits, nor how registration is to be conducted when any such limits are reached.

Therefore, as a general rule, it is proposed that:

• when applying to FISTF for the assignation of a tournament and when publishing the official tournament announcement, the organiser must clearly state any entry limit for each category. If no such limit is specified at this stage, no entry restrictions will be accepted later; and
• for all tournaments with a fixed maximum number of participants, the priority for acceptance of registrations must strictly follow the chronological order of registration.

If this general approach is approved, amendments will be drafted to section 2.7 of the Official Handbook and section 1 of the Tournament Organisers’ Handbook for the 2026-27 season to reflect this approach.

(Submitted by A Ciccarelli, VP Media and Communications, FISTF)

Voting

AGM 2025-12 – Resolution 7 – Limits on player numbers in tournaments

Vote: To accept or reject Resolution 7

> I agree to authorise the Board to draft amendments to section 2.7 of the Official Handbook and section 1 of the Tournament Organisers’ Handbook for the 2026-27 season to set out a clear procedure where there are limits on the number of players in any category.

> I do not agree to authorise the Board to draft amendments to section 2.7 of the Official Handbook and section 1 of the Tournament Organisers’ Handbook for the 2026-27 season to set out a clear procedure where there are limits on the number of players in any category.

> I abstain

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As per the FISTF Statutes, a majority vote of 66.67% is needed to carry this resolution.
Abstention is not a cast vote (it was voted but will not be considered in the final results)

Discussion:

Andrea Ciccarelli outlined the proposal to specify player limits in tournaments and ensure transparency in communication where there are limits in player numbers.

Roger Trouillard noted that this would require a change to the Event Request form, and that we would need to consider how to apply this approach where there are many categories in one event, for example, a Major GP like Bologna. Andrea agreed that, as well as the overall limit on players in a venue, limits in one category would affect limits in another category and that this would need to be managed flexibly so, for example, if player numbers were lower than expected in one category, additional players could be allowed in another category.  However, it was important that the limit on the maximum number of players by the tournament organiser (either overall or in particular categories) should be the minimum number of players allowed. Eliot Kennedy noted that careful wording of the proposed amendments to the Handbooks could allow for this flexibility.