DGT2500 Official FIDE Chess Clock

1. Introduction

Congratulations on your purchase of the DGT2500 chess clock. The DGT2500 is the Official FIDE Chess Clock, approved and recommended by the International Chess Federation FIDE. It is in full accordance with the FIDE Laws of Chess and suitable for all games and competitions.

2. Button Description

• ON/OFF Button:
  • Turns the clock On or Off. Pressing it quickly twice resets the clock to the last used option.
• Left Arrow Button:
  • Moves the cursor or goes to the previous setting screen.
  • Shows option information: In "Wait for start" and "Option select" modes, press to see the timing category and detailed settings.
  • Forced move counter: In "Wait for start" mode, hold for 2 seconds to set the clock so that period transition is based on the number of moves.
• Plus Button:
  • Increases the value of a selected digit by 1.
  • Move counter: Hold to show the number of finished moves for each side.
• Minus Button:
  • Decreases the value of a selected digit by 1.
  • Sound: In "Wait for start" or "Pause" mode, hold for 2 seconds to turn the Sound On or Off.
• Right Arrow Button:
  • Moves the cursor or goes to the next setting screen.
  • Accept: In "Selection mode" press to accept the current selection. In manual setting, moves to the next setting screen.
  • Freeze: In "Wait for start" mode, hold for 2 seconds to turn Freeze On/Off. Time freezes for both sides when one player reaches 0:00.

3. Quick Setup

1. Press the ON/OFF button to turn on the clock.
2. Navigate through options using the plus and minus buttons.
3. Press Play/Pause or the right arrow to select an option.
4. Set the lever in the correct starting position. Indicator bars will be visible on the side that will start (the white side).
5. Use minus, plus, or left arrow buttons to turn sound, freeze, and/or move counter on or off.
6. Press Play/Pause to start the game.
7. Press Play/Pause to pause and resume the game.
8. When a player reaches zero, a flag indicator (blinking bar on top and bottom of the display) is shown.
9. Press ON/OFF at the bottom quickly twice to restart the DGT2500 and start a new game.

4. Manual Setup

1. Press the ON/OFF button to turn on the clock.
2. Select the manual setting option for the timing method you wish to use.
3. Use the left and right buttons to navigate through the digits; use plus and minus to edit the digit value.
4. At the last digit, press to go to the next setting screen. Edit values per screen for your desired game time.
5. If you do not wish a second or third period, leave the value at zero.
6. If you do not wish to use the "Forced move counter", leave the move counter value at zero.
7. At the last screen, press to exit manual setup and go to "Wait for start".
8. Note: You can press Play/Pause at any moment during manual setup to skip further screens and immediately go to "Wait for start".
9. The manual setup is now complete. Steps 4 through 9 from the quick setup can now be followed to finish setting up and start your game.

5. Full Setup and Clock Modes

Sections 3 and 4 provide a quick setup explanation. This chapter details the functions and modes of the clock.

Selection Mode

When turned on, the clock starts in "Selection mode". Navigate through options using plus and minus buttons. The display shows starting time, total periods, default freeze, sound, or forced move counter settings, and two bars indicating the white side. Freeze is on by default for Bonus and Delay options but can be turned off. You can switch the lever freely but not change other settings. Pressing the left arrow button shows setting details. Press Play/Pause or the right arrow button to select a timing option.

Wait for Start

After selecting an option, the clock enters "Wait for start" mode (the pause before a match). Final adjustments can be made:

1. The lever position can be changed to indicate the correct starting side (white side).
2. Freeze function can be turned On/Off by holding the right arrow button.
3. Sound function can be turned On/Off by holding the minus button.
4. "Forced move counter" can be turned On/Off by holding the left arrow button.
5. Press the left arrow to show setting details.
6. Press Play/Pause to start the clock when all settings are correct.

Time Running Mode

When started, the clock counts down on the side where the lever is up. When a player finishes their turn, they push the lever down, and the other player's clock starts counting down. This continues until either side reaches zero. During time running, button presses have no effect unless the plus button is pressed while the move counter screen is shown. Option and period numbers are hidden; activated sound, freeze, or "Forced move counter" symbols remain visible.

Show Move Counter

During certain modes, the move counter can be shown using the plus button. Holding the plus button displays "W" and "B" for White and Black sides. The digits next to "W" and "B" show the number of lever switches, which should correspond to the number of moves completed.

Pause

The clock can be paused and started by pressing the Play/Pause button. This pauses countdown for both sides, shows the Play/Pause symbol, and makes option and period numbers visible. During pause, freeze, sound, and "Forced move counter" settings can be changed. The lever position cannot be changed; if it is, the clock enters "Arbiter mode" as a safety precaution.

Flag-fall

A Flag-fall occurs when a player uses all their available time. Two blinking bars are shown above 0:00. If freeze is not active, the other side's clock continues counting. If freeze is active, time stops for both sides after 0:00. Flag bars are also shown (not blinking) for 5 minutes during a period transition.

Setting Details

Current settings can be checked during "Option select", "Wait for start", and "Pause". Pressing the left arrow shows the time control category (e.g., "Fischer"). Pressing the right arrow cycles through screens showing starting time, bonus time, etc., for each period. Return to the previous mode by pressing the left button, Play/Pause, or the right button until all information screens have passed.

5.1 Manual Settings

A separate manual setting is available for each timing method, allowing custom time per period, bonus, delay, or Byo-Yomi periods. When entering manual setting for the first time, the display shows the starting time for the first period. Blinking bars indicate the selected digit. Use plus and minus buttons to edit the digit value. Arrow buttons move to the next or previous digit. Changes on the left side are applied to the right side; for asymmetric settings, edit the left side first, then the right. At the last digit, pressing the right arrow moves to the next screen. The second screen depends on the chosen manual setting type (e.g., "Fischer bonus"). Editing is done similarly. After setting bonus, delay, or other options, you enter the moves screen to set the number of moves per period. Leave the "Forced move counter" at zero if not used. If set to a specific number, the clock transitions to the next period after that number of moves. Bonus or delay must be set for each period. To set a bonus from a certain move number, use the forced move counter in the preceding period. During manual setting, pressing Play/Pause accepts all settings and skips to "Wait for start".

6. Period Transition

Period Transition by Time

When a timing option has multiple periods, transition occurs when time reaches 0:00 in the first period. The second period's time is applied, and "flag" bars are shown for 5 minutes.

Period Transition by Move Count

The "Forced move counter" function allows period transition based on a set number of moves (lever switches). If active, the next period's time is added automatically when the move counter reaches the set number. Default options have pre-set move counts based on FIDE systems. For custom move counts, use manual setting. To activate "Forced move counter" before a game, select the option, then press and hold the left arrow button. The [# symbol] appearing on the display indicates activation.

7. Arbiter Mode

Arbiter Mode

Arbiter mode allows correction of time or move count after a game has started. The setup sequence is the same as manual setup. To enter Arbiter mode, press and hold the Play/Pause button for 3 seconds when the clock is paused.

Quick Time Penalty

One minute can be quickly added to either side without entering Arbiter mode. When the clock is paused, press and hold the right arrow button. Then press the minus button to add 1 minute to the left side, or the plus button to add 1 minute to the right side.

8. Glossary

Time: In Time mode, the clock counts down the time on the side where the lever is up.

Fischer bonus: Players receive additional time for each move. Bonus time is added before each move from the start of the game. Playing with increments (bonus) is standard in chess.

Delay: Players are given free time at the start of each turn before their main thinking time counts down. This Delay time is added to the main thinking time display. If a player moves within the delay time, the display time returns to its state before the turn.

US Delay: The clock has a separate timer that counts down before each turn. After this timer finishes, the main time starts counting down.

Byo-Yomi: When main time runs out, players transition to Byo-Yomi periods with a set amount of time per period. If a move is completed within the period time, it resets. If time is exceeded, the period time does not reset, and the next period starts. Each exceeded period reduces the count of remaining periods. Losing the last Byo-Yomi period results in a loss on time.

Canadian byo-yomi: When main time runs out, players enter a second period to complete an agreed number of moves in a certain time. Completing the moves allows reloading Byo-Yomi time by pressing the minus button for two seconds.

Hourglass: Players start with the same time. When one player's clock counts down, the other's counts up.

Gong: Players receive a fixed amount of time for each move and must move when the clock signals the end of their turn. The lever is not used.

Scrabble™: When zero is reached, the clock starts counting up.

Move timer: The clock counts down a set time, and a player must complete their move before 0:00. The time then resets for the next move.

9. Warranty

The DGT2500 meets high quality requirements. If a defect appears within two years of purchase, contact the dealer. The guarantee is valid for reasonable and careful use. It is void if the product is used improperly or modified without prior written consent from DGT support or authorized service centers. Service center lists are available on the DGT website.

10. Technical Specifications

• Batteries: 2x AA (1.5 Volt)
• Battery life: 4000 hours
• Accuracy: within 1 sec/hr
• Housing: ABS plastic
• Display size: 174 mm x 31 mm (6.8" x 1.2")
• Clock weight: 318 gram (11.2 oz)
• Dimensions: 198 mm width, 110 mm depth, 59 mm height (7.8" width, 4.3" depth, 2.3" height)
• Registered design

Other Languages

Do you prefer to read the manual in your own language?

• Deutsch
• Français
• Español
• Italiano
• Nederlands
• Polski
• Русский
• Türkçe
• Czech

Find all manuals online at: digitalgametechnology.com