FIDE ELO – cost structure (2/4)

In our April survey, a majority of respondents indicated their preference of moving towards a unified global rating system (FIDE). In order to have a good understanding of both systems, we are launching this series of articles. This is the second of four articles explaining the FIDE ELO cost structure:

1. the FIDE ELO system, calculation rules and differences with our national ELO system
2. the FIDE ELO cost structure
3. the FIDE ELO reporting requirements
4. the FIDE ELO arbiter requirements

What is the cost for FIDE elo reporting?

The full details of the reporting cost are described in the FIDE Handbook 02. Financial Regulations. Here is a brief summary at the time of writing:

• € 1 / player / tournament for all tournaments with standard time control and average rating < 2230
• free of charge all blitz & rapid tournaments

Here is more in detail the rating fee table from the FIDE financial regulations:

Rating fee for standard tournaments – details

When analysing the rating fees charged by FIDE, we notice that:

• the number of players in the first round of the tournament is taken as a reference, rather then the number of different players participating in the tournament
• for players who only played non-rated (N.C.) opponents, no rating fee is charged – as no rating calculation can be made

Also note that the fee only depends on the number of players. The fee is not dependent on e.g. the number of rounds in the tournament.

Rating fee for rapid & blitz tournaments

The FIDE Financial Regulations include the same fees for rapid & blitz tournament reports. However, FIDE has decided that, (at least) until 2026, no rating fees will be charged for rapid & blitz tournaments.

Who pays the cost for FIDE ELO reporting?

Ultimately, the tournament organizer. As the reporting is done by the RBCF FIDE delegate, the rating fee is invoiced to the RBCF. FIDE sends a 6-monthly invoice (Jan & Jul) covering all costs made by the RBCF. The RBCF passes on this invoiced to each tournament organizer involved.

Tournament organizers only pay what is charged by FIDE. There is currently no markup charged by the RBCF.

What does this mean per Belgian club?

The graph below simulates what the total FIDE charge towards the RBCF would be per club, assuming all games submitted for national ELO, would also be submitted for FIDE ELO.

Details about this graph:

• Time period is October 2022 → September 2023.
• The graph covers 35 049 games reported (70 098 rating updates to process), between 4 303 players
• This includes 460 tournament reports received, reporting about 344 different tournaments

Some important remarks need to be made:

• This simulation calculates with unique players per tournament, which overestimates the rating fee. Simulating with the number of players in the first round is technically challenging, hence this approximation is made
• This simulation does not take into account players only playing non-rated opponents. Hence also here an overestimate is made.

Roughly 50% of games reported for national ELO is currently already reported for FIDE ELO. This is a free choice of the tournament organizer, who also pays the FIDE rating fee.

For the majority of Belgian chess clubs, reporting all their current tournaments for FIDE ELO, would result in a FIDE rating fee charge of < € 100 on a yearly basis.