Junior Selection Norm Targets
for the World Youth and European Youth 2013
(Junior Selection Policy for 2013)
| Birth Year | World Youth / European Youth 2013 | Tournament Performance Rating | Junior Selection TPG |
| 1996 & 1997 | U18 Open/Boys | 2352 | 213 |
| U18 Girls | 2128 | 185 | |
| 1998 & 1999 | U16 Open/Boys | 2246 | 199 |
| U16 Girls | 2036 | 173 | |
| 2000 & 2001 | U14 Open/Boys | 2115 | 183 |
| U14 Girls | 1914 | 158 | |
| 2002 & 2003 | U12 Open/Boys | 1952 | 163 |
| U12 Girls | 1767 | 140 | |
| 2004 & 2005 | U10 Open/Boys | 1819 | 146 |
| U10 Girls | 1647 | 125 |
Junior Selection Norm Technicalities
The tournament performance rating (TPR) is a common measure in international chess. The tournament performance grade (TPG) commonly used in the ECF grading system is calculated on a different basis than a TPR. Junior selection TPGs, however, are essentially TPR calculations using FIDE ratings that correspond to ECF grades. Game results versus higher rated (or higher graded) opponents yield greater TPRs (and greater junior selection TPGs) than the same results versus lower rated (or lower graded) opponents.
A junior selection norm or a half norm may be claimed for a performance in any tournament worldwide, provided the tournament is either FIDE-rated or ECF-graded; the tournament is designed with a sufficient number of rounds; the norm candidate plays a sufficient number of games in the tournament and scores at least 50%; and the norm candidate plays opponents who have sufficient ratings or grades to achieve the norm targets (TPR or junior selection TPG) shown in the chart above. An event must be designed with a minimum of nine rounds for a norm to be possible or a minimum of five rounds for a half norm to be possible. The norm candidate must play in a minimum of four games against rated or graded opponents in an event with five or six rounds; a minimum of five games against rated or graded opponents in a event with seven or eight rounds; a minimum of six games against rated or graded opponents in an event with nine rounds; or a minimum of seven games against rated or graded opponents in an event with ten or more rounds. Norm calculations must include all games played with graded or rated opponents (i.e., byes, defaults and games against unrated or ungraded opponents excluded). Norm calculations may be based on either the opponents’ published FIDE ratings or published ECF grades valid when each game is played, liberally applying the formula correlating ECF grades with FIDE ratings, ECF Grade = (FIDE Rating – 650) / 8. In the event the Junior Rating Officer or Junior Director determines a particular opponent’s grade or rating is materially stale in relation to the other, the official norm calculation will use the more active measure. Only one in a pair of half norms may be claimed outside the area where the ECF governs chess. Finally, the player must comply with event regulations to the satisfaction of the tournament director. Despite the complexity of this attempt to objectively identify outstanding performances, the Performance Calculator will deliver vast majority of norm calculations accurately.
Calculation Eligibility Chart
(Click on the chart for a clearer view)
* The player must complete the tournament to the satisfaction of the tournament director. Game results must be submitted for grading or rating.
** A junior selection TPG calculation is used to determine (1) a score in the English Youth Grand Prix; and (2) whether a junior selection norm (or half-norm) was achieved.
If you achieve a junior selection norm, Congratulations! To ensure due recognition, it’s prudent to claim a norm or half norm by emailing the ECF (Junior Director) for validation. Identify the tournament or league with its name, location and dates. Detail your results (wins, draws, losses, byes), your opponents’ names, their FIDE or ECF reference numbers, and their ratings or grades. Report the TPR or junior selection TPG value from the Performance Calculator, explaining your rationale for any use of the ECF-to-FIDE formula. Remember that tournament authorities must submit tournament games to FIDE or ECF, as appropriate.
Tournaments in which Junior Selection Norms were validated for 2012 Major Championships
- Norms: British Championship 2011 (2 norms) | British Major Open, Aug 2011 (2) | e2e4 Sunningdale, Aug 2011 (1) | e2e4 Gatwick, Oct 2011 (1) | CCF New Year Congress, Jan 2012 (1) | Kidlington, Feb 2012 (1) | West of England, Feb 2012 (1)
- Half Norms: Frome Congress, May 2011 (1 half norm) | Sheffield Congress, May 2011 (1) | Nottingham Congress, April 2011 (1) | Hampshire CA Championship, Apr-Jun 2011 (1) | EACU Congress, Jun 2011 (1) | British Junior Championship, Aug 2011 (1) | e2e4 High Wycombe, Oct 2011 | English Closed U11, Oct 2011 (1) | e2e4 Brighton, Nov 2011 (1) | London Classic Weekend A, Dec 2011 (1) | London Junior U12 Major, Dec 2011 (1) | Coulsdon New Year, Jan 2012 (1) | South of England Closed, Jan 2012 (6) | West of England, Feb 2012 (1)
Tournaments in which Junior Selection Norms were validated for 2013 Major Championships
- Norms: watch this space!
- Half Norms: watch this space!
Norm performances not included here may have not been noticed (i.e., not claimed), possibly by players who qualified for major championships by target ratings or target grades. Five claims were not valid.
Performance Calculator’s Method
Definition: The TPR is the theoretical FIDE rating a person would need, such that their expected score based on that rating would match their actual score in the tournament.
The expected score is calculated using the FIDE Elo expectancy tables. The expectancy is extracted from the FIDE tables, on an opponent-by-opponent basis, then added together to obtain the expected score for the tournament.
The method involves trying out various theoretical FIDE ratings, determining the expected tournament score using each rating, until one rating is found where the expected score matches the actual tournament score (excluding byes).
Example: Find the TPR of a player who scores 3.5/5, playing against opponents rated 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800 and 1900.
Start with an arbitrary theoretical FIDE rating of 1600. Using this value, the following expectancy values are obtained for each game.
| Theoretical FIDE rating | Opponent Rating | Rating difference | Expectancy from FIDE table (Probability of a win) |
| 1600 | 1500 | 100 | 0.64 |
| 1600 | 1600 | 0 | 0.50 |
| 1600 | 1700 | -100 | 0.36 |
| 1600 | 1800 | -200 | 0.24 |
| 1600 | 1900 | -300 | 0.15 |
| Expected Score: | 1.89 |
The expected score based on a theoretical FIDE rating of 1600 is 1.89, which is less than the actual score of 3.5. The next trial is therefore conducted using a higher theoretical FIDE rating. A value of 1700 yields an expected score of 2.5; 1800 yields a value of 3.11. A theoretical FIDE rating of 1870 yields an expected score of 3.5, matching the actual score. The TPR is 1870.
With this methodology, it is not possible to calculate a TPR for a 100% score, because no matter how high the theoretical FIDE rating is, the expected score is always less than 100%. For perfect game scores (e.g. 9 of 9), approximate your TPR or TPG assuming one draw (e.g. 8.5 of 9). If the value is close to a norm performance, contact the Junior Ratings Officer.
This method is independent of the player’s own FIDE rating. It gives the true TPR even when one or more of the opponents are rated significantly greater or less than all the other opponents.
The TPG is calculated by converting all ECF grades into corresponding FIDE ratings using: FIDE Rating = ECF Grade x 8 + 650, and then applying the method described above. The calculated TPR is then converted into a TPG using: ECF Grade = (FIDE Rating – 650) / 8.
Thanks to Anurag Gupta for the calculator.