Both players will rock paper scissors each game to determine who gets to choose whether they start white or black. All matches are first to win a game, if there is a tie another game is played until someone wins. The top 4 matches may be first to 2 wins if time permits, in which case the lower of the previous game gets to decide color once someone has won a game.

Each player starts with 5 minutes on their clock, and each time they make a move 5 seconds are added to their clock.