Rules and Regulations of the 17th World Computer Shogi Championship

Eligibility
Open to anyone of any nationality, though there is one exception (for which, see the Special Rule, below). Only originally produced programs may be entered. Furthermore, only one program from each developing team may enter the tournament. The program may use CSA library modules.
Each developing team must disclose all the members' first and last names and the name of any library module (package) used.

The program must be able to quit and resume at any point and any total time spent. The program should allow a move to be adjusted, in case of input error. (Extra time will be reimbursed.)

Any computer may be used.
Competitors are strongly urged to bring their own computer.
The CSA may provide an IBM compatible, but it may be a relatively slow machine.

Operator
The operator should be one of the principal programmers of the entered program. If none of the programmers can come to the tournament, one proxy must be prepared by the entrant.
The operator may recompile the program/modify parameters before starting each game. The operator may not operate any input device during any game unless a referee orders it or a referee allows it after the operator
obtains the opponent's agreement.

All games will be evenly played (hirate).
Perpetual repetition: Draw, 1/2 win point (except perpetual check).

1st day through 2nd day: Preliminary Contest
The top 3 of the last tournament will be exempted from these days and proceed directly to the Final.
The Preliminary Contest is divided into two groups. The upper division will consist of 16 programs (1st through 19th seeds, excluding the three direct finalists).
The lower division contest will be held on the first day. There will be 7 Swiss-style games. The top 8 programs will join the upper division contest. If the number of programs is odd, the CSA will add an extra program by invitation. The invited program will not proceed to the second day.
The upper division contest will be held on the second day. There will be 9 Swiss-style games. The top 5 programs will proceed to the third day of competition. If the number of programs is, by chance, odd, the CSA will add an extra program by invitation but the invited program will not proceed to the third day.
The CSA reserves the right to alter the number of proceeding programs if the number of entrants is less than 28 or more than 64.
(Note that the CSA has implemented a minor change in the Swiss-style format used in the previous tournament.)

3rd day: The Final
Round robin of 8 programs with each program playing each other once.


Time Limits
To complete a game, each program is allowed a total of 25 minutes of playing time. If one side runs out of time before it wins or declares a win, then it loses the game.
The program must measure the time spent on each move and display the total time spent. The minimum of the time spent on each move is one second, i.e., if the time spent on a move is one second or less, then the program must count it as one second. If the time spent on a move is more than one second, then the program must count in whole seconds, rounding fractions up or down at the discretion of the programmer.
Handling (input move) time will be excepted in the case of a communication breakdown.


Declaration of a win in the case of Nyugyoku
In the case of Nyugyoku (JISHOGI), the CSA applies the following declaration rule:
The program may declare a WIN (send %KACHI if communication is available) if the following conditions are satisfied. If one of the conditions is not satisfied, the declaring side loses.
(1) The King of the declaring side is in the third rank or beyond.
(2) The declaring side has 28 (the first player (sente, black)) or 27 (the second player (gote, white)) piece points or more.
Piece points are counted only for pieces of the declaring side that are in hand or in the third rank or beyond. Piece points are counted as follows: King:0; Rook, Bishop, Promoted Rook or Promoted Bishop:5; Other:1.
(3) The declaring side has 10 or more pieces other than the King in the third rank or beyond.
(4) There is no check on the King of the declaring side.
(5) The declaring side has at least one second left.


Outcome of Game
The outcome of a game will be determined by the following rules, in the order given:

1) the decision of an operator to resign
2) a decision by the referees (on matters including one side having exceeded the time limit, and perpetual repetition)
3) a normal end of the program (for example, a resignation and the declaration of a win by a program) and an abnormal end of the program (for example, if a system breaks down or is not able to quit the program when a referee orders an interruption). All abnormal ends result in a loss for that program.
4) an illegal move

Tournament Results
Tournament results will be determined by the following rules, in the order given:

1) number of wins
2) sum of all opponents' scores
3) sum of defeated opponents' scores
4) sum of defeated opponents' scores without top and bottom
5) results of head-to-head competition (*)
6) order in the last tournament (for seeded programs) or preliminary contest (for other programs)

draw: 1/2 point
(*) number of wins minus number of losses, taking into account only those games involving the player whose results are the same after 1) to 4) above

Game Records
Each player must provide a record at the end of each game.
The format must be the CSA format (see http://www.computer-shogi.org/protocol/record_e.html/).
The CSA reserves the right to freely publish or otherwise use all game records. The record must include moves and time spent.


Communication
Each player must prepare communication ability (see http://www.computer-shogi.org/protocol/tcp_ip_server_11_e.html).
Each player must prepare communication using the LAN protocol, and should prepare using the RS-232C protocol. For the LAN(TCP/IP) protocol (Server Protocol Ver1.1) by the CSA and sample codes, visit http://www.computer-shogi.org/protocol/csa_tcp.cpp.
In case of a communication breakdown for any reason, the program must resume smoothly (sometimes, several moves prior). Each player must also prepare manual communication using any style.
After initiating the fifth move, a program loses if it stops for any reason.

Appeals
The tournament version of the set of the object program (exe), data, and so on to enable a replay of the games in the tournament must be kept by the programmer for one year (until the last day of the tournament in the following year). If the program, etc., was varied within the tournament, all versions of the set must be kept.
The CSA may accept an appeal if it is legitimate; the programmer will be required to show the set, which a committee will examine.
If the set is not shown, the CSA may remove the award and/or restrict entry in subsequent tournaments.
Appeals must be made within six months of the last day of the tournament.


Remote Entry
One may use a remote machine if
(1) a front machine is brought to communicate with the opponent;
(2) time spent is measured by the front machine (which entails time loss during communication with the remote machine having to be included in total time spent);
(3) the game record is provided by the front machine;
(4) a copy of the game record (at least all moves and time spent) is kept for one year in some form of media written by the remote machine (The CSA may check the remote machine if it accepts an appeal).


CSA-authorized shogi-specific program module library (CSA module library/package)
A program may contain program modules from the CSA-authorized shogi-specific program module library. The program modules are published on the CSA homepage.
The programmer must disclose the names of any library program module (package) used. The programmer may modify library modules without prior notice, even though the program is said to be using the modules.
Anyone may apply to the CSA for a shogi-specific module to be added to the authorized library (see the CSA homepage for the application page to do this).


Tournament Referees
There will be a number of referees managing the tournament.


Special rule for the 17th World Computer Shogi Championship
The CSA may accept the application but cannot accept the registration of any program from North Korea. If a program applies and the Japanese Government lifts or relaxes its economic sanctions by April 15, the program may enter the tournament. The KCC shogi will lose its seeded position if the lifting or the relaxation of restriction comes after March.


A LAN(TCP/IP) protocol and the sample codes, together with an RS-232C protocol and the source codes for a communication program for an IBM compatible and for a Macintosh, are provided on the CSA homepage.
The Rules and Regulations of the Computer Shogi Championship are available in both Japanese and English. In all questions of interpretation, the Japanese version shall be regarded as authoritative.


Takenobu Takizawa