Introduction
The ICCF Champions League (ICCF-CL) is a correspondence chess Team Tournament event played in 2 years cycle seasons. All registered teams play in several groups part of the three existing divisions: A, B and C. At the end of each season teams can promote/relegate as explained by these present rules. Players within a team may be of any nationality or mixture of nationalities. All games played in ICCF-CL are rated.
Organisation of the Champions’ League is the responsibility of the Non-Title Tournaments Commissioner. All sections of the Champions’ League are played by webserver. The playing rules in effect are the ICCF Playing Rules for Webserver Team Tournaments.
An ICCF-CL Support team consisting of tournament directors (TDs), webmasters, administrators and consultants are in charge of running the daily activities in the league.
ICCF Champions League brief history
- SEASON 1 (Qualification round): 2002-2004; 242 teams, max cat.8; NTTC: Valer-Eugen Demian (CAN)
- SEASON 2: 2004-2007; 222 teams, max cat.12; NTTC: Valer-Eugen Demian (CAN)
- SEASON 3: 2007-2009; 271 teams, max cat.12; NTTC: Valer-Eugen Demian (CAN)
- SEASON 4: 2009-2011; 195 teams, max cat.11; NTTC: Valer-Eugen Demian (CAN)
- SEASON 5: 2012-2014, NTTC: Andrew Dearnley (ENG)
ICCF-CL season 4
CL/2010/A (status as of 23.11.2011)
| N | Team | ELO | Score | RG | |
| 1 | Underdogs I | GER | 2474 | 29 | 1 |
| 2 | Brevnov Knights | CZE | 2502 | 26.5 | 0 |
| 3 | Bashkir Chess | RUS | 2453 | 26 | 1 |
| 4 | Zugzwang Bocholt 2 | GER | 2518 | 25 | 0 |
| 5 | Grone Stralsund | GER | 2525 | 24.5 | 0 |
| 6 | Trojanische Schachautomaten Berlin | GER | 2538 | 24.5 | 4 |
| 7 | Blue Team | ITA | 2486 | 24 | 2 |
| 8 | Hamburger SG – BUE | GER | 2419 | 23.5 | 0 |
| 9 | ALFA | CZE | 2522 | 22.5 | 0 |
| 10 | HSG Uni Rostock | GER | 2452 | 22.5 | 1 |
| 11 | CS Energy Cameron – Campina | ROU | 2395 | 20.5 | 2 |
| 12 | YUZHIK | RUS | 2479 | 19 | 0 |
| 13 | Chess Allies | AUS | 2476 | 18.5 | 1 |
Promotions and relegations (14.01.2010)
Division A (13 teams):
- Remain 5
- Relegate bottom 8 teams
Division B (4×13 = 52 teams):
- Promote top 2 per each group: 2 x 4 = 8
- Relegate bottom 5 per each group: 5 x 4 = 20
Division C (10×13 = 130 teams):
- Promote top 2 per each group 2 x 10 = 20
Additional information
There is a special website “ICCF Champions League” where more information can be found.
At the ICCF Congress 2011 Valer-Eugen Demian (CAN) offered his letter of resignation from Non-Title Tournament Commissioner, effective immediately. One volunteer stepped forward, Andrew Dearnley (ENG) to a unanimous vote of confidence by Congress.
Tournament rules for the ICCF Champions’ League are to be inserted into the existing Tournament rules.