Format: there will be an Open event and a Women's event, both 9-round swiss-system tournaments.

Under FIDE regulations for sub-Zonals run as swiss-system events, the maximum number of titles that can be awarded, without the prior approval of the Joint Chairmen of the Titles Commission, is 1xIM, 2xFM, 1xWIM and 2xWFM. Therefore some titles may be decided on tie-breaks.

90 minutes for the first 40 moves followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with an increment of 30 seconds per move from move 1.

In the case of a tie for first place in either the Open or the Women's event, a play-off will decide the qualifier who will go through to the next round of the FIDE World Championship Cycle (Open: World Cup 2011; Women's: Women's World Championship Knockout event in 2012). Play-offs will be held on the afternoon of January 31st. Details of the play-off will be put up here closer to the event.

The default time will be 30 minutes after the start of play. In the first round, some allowance may be made for the late arrival of scheduled flights from Australia.