ACF BULLETIN No 7 - 28 February 1999

CONTENTS

Doeberl Cup; Chess - is it a Sport? Swiss Pairings Systems; Zonal;
University Chess; Women's Championships; Acf Webpage; What's on Next;
Correspondence

DOEBERL CUP

I'm very much looking forward to attending my first Doeberl Cup in early
April and staying on for the National Junior Open. Andrew Allen and a few
Gold Coast kids will be accompanying me. Whilst there I will be accompanied
to meetings with Tim Fischer and Senator Ian Macdonald by my Federal MP,
Margaret May. She is also hoping to line up meetings with Sports Minister,
Jacky Kelly and the CEO of the Australian Sports Commission. The weekend
will also be an opportunity to meet with the ACF Executive, talk to various
chess people and perhaps start putting together a draft of a national
development plan.

CHESS - IS IT A SPORT?

Whilst I realise that not everyone will agree that chess is a sport, chess
is presently recognised and funded as a sport by many overseas countries.
It is difficult to find any other category under which chess is funded
overseas. It is certainly not recognised by any Australain Federal
Department at present. Tim Fischer thinks we should concentrate on sport
and I agree. Personally I've always thought that chess is a sport. I don't
think anyone can conclusively prove that chess is or is not a sport. What
is important is that if we want regular Federal Government funding we must
all talk about chess being a sport. Unity is strength!

SWISS PAIRINGS SYSTEMS
 
I received quite a deal of correspondence last week re Swiss Pairings
systems. There seemed to be much support for the ACF purchasing a bulk
licence and Australian chess benefiting from a standard system. Which
system we choose, of course, will be the subject of debate and analysis. It
was pointed out by one person that computerised pairings systems don't
always pass the test of meeting FIDE requirements when making draws. Others
say that the latest versions are now much more reliable. I've no doubt that
this matter will be discussed by the ACF Council.

ZONAL
 
Arrangements for the FIDE Zonal are progressing well with a steady stream
of entries. Acceptances for seeds close today and I hope to give a good
progress report on entries next week. We are expecting word from FIDE on
details of the World Championships any day.

UNIVERSITY CHESS
 
If anyone involved with University chess is interested in starting up (or
being involved in starting up) a national inter university competition
which (perhaps) could be held during IV Week, please contact me. I feel
that there is a big gap in Australian chess which could be bridged with
this kind of competition.

WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIPS
 
I was talking to Evelyn Koshnitsky today and she advised that Carol Holmes
and Georgina Tarrant are organising the Australian Women's Championships
for this July (possibly in the QVB Building). She also advised that that
the SAJCL recently passed a motion in favour of a separate girls'
tournament at the Australian Juniors - the main reason being that they have
always struggled to get girls to enter combined tournaments and that they
want to encourage girls to play chess.
 
ACF WEBPAGE

May I remind everyone that we would really welcome news, results,
corrections, additions etc for the ACF webpage
http://www.somerset.qld.edu.au/chess/ which is maintained by Andrew Allen
aallen@somerset.qld.edu.au In particular we would like results of your
weekend tournaments (preferably Swiss Sys files) or final standings in text
format.
 
WHAT'S ON NEXT

Grand Prix events on next weekend are: 6-8 March Ballarat Open sponsored by
Visy Industries and 6-7 March South West Open, Bunbury, WA.

CORRESPONDENCE

KERRY CORKER: If the 12s,10s and 8s had been allowed to play their
championships in one week instead of almost two in Adelaide in 97/98, I
think the pressure would have been greatly reduced for players such as
Craig Barnard. Craig's was an exceptional case. After 10 rounds, and I
think 12 days, a seven year old had to win the last round against a strong
opponent to help his brother win the U/10 title. Should we stop younger
players from participating because of the stress generated by the above
example. Or should we simply have the 12,10 and 8 section play 2 rounds per
day over 6/7 days with a rest day. The Olympic Marathon lasts for 2 and a
bit hours with prevailing winds. How long does it take to find the
Australian U/10 chess Champion? - 2 weeks. Something's wrong somewhere.
Thanks very much to Graeme for allowing this problem to be aired in such an
expedient format.

DEBORAH POULTON: The ACTJCL has a healthy diversity of opinion on the issue
of the separate girls' competition which was aired at our meeting on
Saturday afternoon. The general consensus was that the girls' comp should
remain.

Re the Australian Juniors Championship to be held in Melbourne in January
2000, we as a committee wish to advise that we are disturbed at the timing
of rounds. Having been house mother for the ACT team in Hervey Bay  I can
offer the following observation. Playing 2 rounds a day tired out the
younger players in our team and by the time the rest day arrived they were
exhausted. Most veged for half of the rest day. We would prefer either less
rounds or a longer tournament.

*************

Best wishes
 
Graeme Gardiner
 


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Graeme Gardiner
President, Australian Chess Federation
C/- Somerset College, Somerset Drive, Mudgeeraba Q 4213
Phone 07 5530 3777 (w) 07 5530 5794 (h) Fax 07 5525 2676 (w)
Email: ggardiner@somerset.qld.edu.au    http://www.somerset.qld.edu.au/chess/[Note: please do not hit the 'reply' button if you wish to contact Graeme
directly. His email address is ggardiner@somerset.qld.edu.au]