ACF Bulletin No. 35, September 19, 1999

CONTENTS
Obituary - Garry Koshnitsky; FIDE Congress in Qatar; Children's Chess
Olympiad Artek, Crimea; Asian under 20s Vietnam; Asian Men's and Women's,
Udaipur, India; ACF Webpage Address; Lidums Cup, Adelaide 2/3 October;
Victorian University Competition; National Schools' Teams' Comp; Orange
Bowl Junior Open; Swiss Perfect; Australian Juniors, Churchill, Gippsland,
Victoria 11 to 23 January; NSW Junior Chess; Gold Coast Classic;
Correspondence
 

VALE GARRY KOSHNITSKY
 
OBITUARY by ROBERT JAMIESON

Garry Koshnitsky MBE - Chess Master and Administrator.
Born: 6.10.1907 - Died: 17.9.1999

Garry Koshnitsky, along with Cecil Purdy the most prominent figure in
Australian Chess this century, has passed away in Adelaide at the age of 91
years.

The "Grand Old Man of Australian Chess", Grigory Semienovich Koshnitsky
(Garry) was born in Kishenev, Russia, in 1907 but his family moved to
Shanghai and Kosh joined his first chess club coming to prominence by
beating touring Master Boris Kostich in a simul.

In 1926 he moved to Australia, settled in Brisbane and won a hat trick of
Queensland Championships in 1926, 1927 and 1928.   He moved to Sydney to
find better competition and met the young Cecil Purdy who became his
life-long friend and rival.  Kosh won the Australian Championship at his
third attempt in 1933 and was successful again in 1939 with a record score
of 12.5 points out of 13 games.

Kosh enlisted during the war and was soon moved to the education section to
teach chess to the troops.  He gave simuls and lectures throughout
Queensland, New South Wales and New Guinea and was promoted to Lieutenant.

After the war Kosh's first marriage broke up and in 1947 he started a chess
academy at Anthony Horden's store in Sydney which ran till 1960.   In 1950
he married Evelyn Esau, herself a keen chess player and organiser, and
together they formed a unique partnership in world chess which culminated
in 1993 with them both being awarded Honorary Membership of the World Chess
Federation (FIDE).

In 1961 the Koshnitskys moved to Adelaide and Kosh began his involvement
with FIDE as President of Zone 10 (South-East Asia and the Pacific).   He
was soon elected to the FIDE Central Committee and was Australia's delegate
to FIDE for many years and captain of our Olympiad Team in 1964, 1968 and
1970.

The Koshnitskys organised many International Tournaments in Adelaide,
starting with the Karlis Lidums International in 1971 and including the
World Junior Championship in 1988 when he was a mere 81 years of age!   In
1979, when the Australian Chess Federation instituted the office of
President, Kosh was elected as the inaugural President and in 1994 both
Garry and Evelyn were presented with the "ACF Distinguished Service Award".

Garry Koshnitsky also excelled at correspondence chess, twice finishing
second in the Australian Championship and achieving the International
Master title in overseas play.   He was President of the Correspondence
Chess League of Australia from 1937 to 1953.

Kosh wrote his first chess column in 1933 in the "Sydney Sun" and has
contributed numerous columns to various papers over the years, including a
brief stint of over 45 years as editor of the chess column in the Sydney
"Sun Herald" from 1949.

In his long life there has not been an area of Australian chess in which
Garry Koshnitsky has not made a significant contribution, whether it be
organising junior chess, women's chess, correspondence chess, national or
international chess or as a champion chess player in his own right.   His
contribution will never be equalled.

In recent months Kosh was in poor health, but maintained his enthusiastic
outlook on life and his interest in chess.   He is survived by his wife
Evelyn, and two sons Peter and Nicholas.

I (Graeme G) will be representing the ACF at Garry's funeral in Adelaide on
Tuesday.
 
FIDE CONGRESS IN QATAR
 
I'm pleased to say that PHIL VINER will once again be representing the
interests of the ACF and Zone 3.2b at the upcoming congress in Qatar. We
are indebted to him.
 
CHILDREN'S CHESS OLYMPIAD ARTEK, CRIMEA

MANUEL WEEKS, roving reporter: Tales of a Weary Traveller!

The adventure began in Sydney when I met RHENDON COOK and CHRIS PAGE at
Sydney airport, having ZONG-YUAN ZHAO already in tow. Our task was to get
to the seaside town of Artek in Ukraine to participate in the Children's
Olympiad. We were delayed getting out of Sydney and since then events have
turned for the worst! Delayed in Kuala Lumpur (where Rhendon feels he has
the most expensive pizza in the world!) and arriving in Zurich to find our
flight to Kiev delayed as well. We had a connecting flight in Kiev plus a
transfer to the local domestic airport which is across town and on the
itinerary had four and a half hours to spare. Did we make it? Not a chance
in hell! Landing down more than 2 hours behind,  then having to fill out
visa forms, followed by slowly realising that everyone's luggage had
decided that Kiev was not the place they had in mind! The next half an hour
was spent describing our luggage to airport staff and hoping that it catch
up with us in Artek!

Having missed our flight to Semferapol from Kiev we had to overnight in
Kiev which had the team at least thinking of hot showers and sleeping in
something other than a airplane seat after more then 30 hours non-stop
travelling time! The next morning Rhendon starts feeling unwell as I left
to pay the tourist agency for the hotel and the new tickets but hop over to
Swiss Air offices and extract from them the money I had just paid and see
if our luggage had been found and was, hopefully, gaining on us. I left
Swiss Air richer but still with my clothes on the missing list!

When we arrived in Semferepol we were met by organisers of the tournament
and after two more hours on a bus had finally made it to Artek. The place
where we are staying is the Ukrainian version of a summer camp, it's your
typical university  type accommodation, the actual complex is pretty big
and we are on the beach. Rhendon is now looking  the worse for wear and
after locating the Complexe's local doctor and using VERONICA KLIMENKO as
our interpreter it seems that a former case of Glandular fever has arisen
again because of the travelling and he has to be taken to the local medical
centre. Veronica and I accompany him to the center at around 8:30 in the
evening. Before ten I jump back in the ambulance which is doubling as a
taxi for me to get back for the captains meeting. Unbeknown to me it turns
out to be a  rather memorable meeting. After the meeting I  manage to jump
in a van dropping people off in the village. I get back to find Rhendon
asleep and I stay up most of the night talking to Veronica. At the start of
the day I had to fight tooth and nail to get Veronica as the official
interpreter. She proves to be invaluable over the next week, going from
interpreter to main liaison with the organisers.

Sorry for no contact before but my floppy disc drive was broken down and I
couldn't get it working. The Press Center shuts at 7pm which makes it hard
for me to sit down at one of their computers and write everything myself.

The team is still in good spirits even though we seem to be regular
visitors to the medical centre! Veronica and Zong-Yuan have left for
Armenia which leaves a big gap for our team since he gives the team
confidence on board one. I have checked with my friend in Yerevan and she
will look after Zong-Yuan at her place. I managed to transfer my database
onto the Olivers' computer and let mine go to Yerevan so they could prepare
for the first couple of rounds.

Rhendon has made friends with the South Africans (only other English
speaking nation!) and regularly is seen at the table tennis tables with
them. He is unhappy with his chess as he is continually blundering in good
positions overlooking simple tactics. He still has trouble keeping his food
down but keeps his appetite.

Chris knows everyone in the computer room and is happiest playing computer
games with his new friends, he has bought a fair few new games for
virtually nothing which puts him in a good mood. We have dragged him on a
few excursions because we  couldn't let him go back home without leaving
the complex. The Oliver family was the healthy example for a while but,
unfortunately last night we had to take Shannon to the medical centre as
she has come down with the same bug.

The kids love the actual tournament and this type of event should be
encouraged. Gareth, for example, has been playing players with FIDE ratings
most rounds and everyone is  finding that their level is rising as well.

I have contacted the tourist agency in Kiev and Rhendon and Chris will be
met at Kiev airport by someone they met already and he will put them on the
connecting flight for Zurich. They feel confident that everything will work
out and Rhendon keeps reminding me that he has no luggage to worry about. I
was going to delay my own departure which is the day of the last round if
they were sick but they seem ok. Everyone is leaving on the same day and we
came over with a few teams on the flight down so they will have company on
the way back anyway.

I have entered Zong-Yuan in a tournament in Hamburg and he has free entry
and a place to stay. I will now be in more regular contact so I will be
good to keep up with the news.
 
ASIAN UNDER 20s VIETNAM
 
TIM SWITZER and CONNIE CONSTANTINOU are representing Australia at present.
Unfortunately I have no news that I can report just yet.
 
ASIAN MEN'S AND WOMEN'S, UDAIPUR, INDIA
 
I gave the wrong dates last week. They should be 1 to 12 December.

A note from STEWART REUBEN, UK - In case it helps for raising a team:
UDAIPUR is an absolutely wonderful place and people should seize the
opportunity to go there.
       
ACF WEBPAGE ADDRESS
 
A reminder that the address of our webpage which is well maintained by
ANDREW ALLEN is http://www.somerset.qld.edu.au/chess/ We always like to
hear of suggested improvements and changes of information etc. Please take
the time to check it if you get the chance. Please also forward any email
addresses of chess players that you know of so that we can further improve
communication.
 
LIDUMS CUP, ADELAIDE 2/3 OCTOBER
 
ROLY EIME advises me that this event is in fact an Australian Grand Prix
Class 5 Event. A reminder that there are two other Grand Prix events on
that weekend - The Redcliffe Challenge and The Greater Sydney Open at Rooty
Hill.
 
VICTORIAN UNIVERSITY COMPETITION
 
Here is info from DAVID CORDOVER re the Victorian University competition.
I'm very keen to see a national inter-varsities comp run as part of the IV
Week. Anyone in the universities system who is interested in coordinating
such a comp please let me know.


1999 INTERVARSITY CHAMPIONSHIPS

Place Team Name Score Buch.
  
1 Monash Uni, A 23.5 69.5
  
2 Monash Uni, B 23 65
  
3 Melbourne Uni, Endless 17 73
  
4 MU 1, 15.5 74.5
  
5 Melbourne Uni, Rampaging Kings 13 77
  
6-7 Melbourne Uni, Vice 12 67.5
Deakin Uni, White Men Can't Mate 12 59

8 Melbourne Uni, Free Porn 9.5 60
  
9 RMIT, Chess 7.5 62
  
10 Melbourne Uni, Excalibur 7 73.5
 
Melbourne University Chess Club hosted the 1999 Intervarsity Championships.
Although it appeared to be an inagural tournament Tony Wright tells me that
intervarsity chess was played in the '60s. But this is certainly a welcome
return!

Congratulations to Monash Uni (also the A-grade interclub Champions) who
narrowly defeated themselves to win the competition.
 
NATIONAL SCHOOLS' TEAMS' COMP
 
Victoria have held their high schools comp. The qualifiers are University
High (Open) and MacRobertson High (All Girls).

EVELYN FITZPATRICK: Hello everyone - This was dictated to DEBBIE POULTON
from my hospital bed (I will be going home on Sunday I hope). This report
has been prepared from memory. Venue is booked - Canberra Grammar in Monaro
Cres Red Hill. To my knowledge Queensland teams have been chosen, Tasmania
has chosen its primary school team  (only sending one team) and are working
on fundraising to finance the team's travel to Canberra. Victoria have
chosen their primary team and girls' primary team and are finalising their
high school and girls' high school team. ACT final primary school team has
been chosen and high school final takes place today. Likely that a high
school girls' team will be chosen.

Could the remaining states please advise team details as soon as possible.
Catering organisation is in progress. Please remind remaining states that
girls' team members must all attend the same school, we will not be
accepting any composite teams. Please advise flight details, accommodation
details and your interest in attending a BBQ on Saturday evening at our
ACTJC chess centre in Kambah. Bye for now hope to see many of you in
Canberra in December.

ORANGE BOWL JUNIOR OPEN

2nd Annual Junior Orange Bowl Scholastic Chess Championship - Co-Sponsored
by the Junior Orange Bowl Committee and the Miami-Dade Scholastic Chess
Association
December 26th to 29th, 1999 at the Radisson Mart Hotel, Miami, Florida

7 Round Swiss, Game 90,
Participate in the Junior Orange Bowl Parade and Awards Ceremony
4 divisions: Under 19; U16, U13; U10
Full Details at http:home.sprynet.com/~dadeches/ Or by phone: 305-270-0234;
Fax: 305-275-1308 E-mail: adilley@gate.net
 
SWISS PERFECT
 
We have now put out 55 licences to sites all around Australia. A reminder
that under the terms of our agreement schools around Australia may use the
respective state licences. In order to keep track we would like to know
every time a school is given access to a state licence.
 
AUSTRALIAN JUNIORS, CHURCHILL, GIPPSLAND, VICTORIA 11 to 23 JANUARY
 
GARY WASTELL advises that the full brochure will now be distributed around
the end of this month. In the meantime if you urgently need to do some
planning please email Gary for more info. His email address is
gwastell@netspace.net.au
 
NSW JUNIOR CHESS
 
I recently received my copy of the NSWJCL publication which runs to 92
pages. This reminded me of the fantastic job being done by the NSW junior
team and in particular MARGARET CUCKSON who puts out that publication and
runs competitions with approx 7,000 to 8,000 players! We are indebted to
Margaret and hope that her fine example inspires others to do everything
that they can to promote and develop junior chess all around the nation.
 
GOLD COAST CLASSIC
 
The Gold Coast Classic was won by Ian Rogers with 6.5/7 from Stephen
Solomon and David Smerdon in second place on 6/7. There was a welcome
return after a two year absence from Charles Pizzato who took half a point
off Ian and finished fourth on 5.5/7.

An innovation (probably not entirely novel) was a concurrent teams event.
Teams of four consisted of one player of open rating, one under 1800, one
under 1400 and one under 1000. The advantages of this seemed to include the
following:

More communication and social interaction between players of different
standards.

Less likelihood of players pulling out or agreeing to draws for fear that
they would let their team down.

Players persuading friends to join their team who might not otherwise have
played.

86 players participated.

Winning team was Allen/Sonter/Kaspar/Lam
Second was Rogers/Rogers/Rakauskas/Thompson
Third was Myers/Weller/Hamilton/Cooke

All three teams finished on 17.5/28 and the result was decided on countback.
 
CORRESPONDENCE

GARY BEKKER, ACF Deputy President, gbekker@mira.net:

Dear Chessplayers,

The Anderson Chess Collection is one of the largest public collections  of
chess books and magazines in the world, and offers a rare insight into the
fascinating history of the game. The collection boasts an extensive
collection many of the latest chess publications as well as a wide array of
rare and hard to find chess books and articles.

The Anderson Chess Collection is located at  the State Library of Victoria,
in the Secure Reading Room, Level 3A, Entry 5, on the corner  of La Trobe
and Russell Streets.

I strongly recommend that all active chess players and enthusiasts show
their support for this wonderful attraction and visit the Anderson Chess
Collection soon.

In its endeavour to keep the collection up to date, the State Library of
Victoria is seeking to find out if any significant chess publications are
absent from the collection. If there is a book which you believe should be
in the collection, but is not already there, please contact Brian Hubber,
the rare books librarian who looks after the Anderson Chess Collection. His
email address is bhubber@slv.vic.gov.au.

For further information on the Anderson Chess Collection contact the Rare
Printed Materials Collection Department on (03) 9669 9032.
 
STUART REUBENS, UK President:

Grand Prix. Just in case you do not have it, we have an Amateur Prix as
part of our system with a prize. This is restricted to players over 18 and
results are used only from rating restricted tournaments. I do not know
what your Grand Prix prizes are, but if they are substantial and attract
the strong players to local events, surely that is wonderful. In what other
sport (apart from Bridge) can an ordinary player have a chance to meet a
star and play them on equal terms?
       
Do not be surprised if an exhibition event during the Olympic Games falls
through. I was under the impression none were intended there. Also it will
be very expensive to mount because the cost of accommodation will be very
high. I doubt FIDE will be thinking of a junior event. I would suggest a
knock-out rapid play with losers put into secondary events. 
 
Best wishes to all
 
Graeme Gardiner


-------------------------------------------

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/