ACF Bulletin No. 37 - October 3, 1999
AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS, MINGARA, NSW CENTRAL COAST 28/12/99 - 9/1/00
Entry forms and accommodation details have been sent out all around
Australia. If you haven't received these details you may like to go to the
Mingara Chess Club webpage http://www.mingara.com.au/chessmain.htm
or
alternatively email the President of the club Mal Murrell on
murrell@bigpond.com
I'm told that this is a fantastic venue and that this will be one of the
best Australian Championships ever. Bearing in mind the demand for
accommodation in December/January I strongly recommend that you book your
accommodation very soon. There are less than three months to go!
NORTHERN TERRITORY
I spoke to John McElroy, the new President of the Darwin Chess Club, and he
is very enthusiastic about the future of Darwin chess. He is keen to form a
Northern Territory Association and affiliate with the ACF and is
particularly keen about the development of junior chess. This is very
encouraging news.
INSURANCE PREMIUMS
It is quite clear to me that massive savings can be made by taking out a
national public and products liability insurance policy. I'd really
appreciate it if clubs and associations could advise the following details
re their policy: Company policy issued by, sum insured, annual premium,
matters covered, number of members declared. Please email the ACF treasurer
Norm Greenwood normg@bigpond.com.au
with your details.
STATE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ACF
Presently, contributions totalling $12,000pa are made by the states to the
ACF to cover the ACF budget, which includes such items as FIDE payments,
travel grants to those representing Australia overseas, council phone hook
ups, contribution towards Australian Chess Forum, Swiss Perfect licences,
administration costs and miscellaneous expenses.
I have received the following communication from the Chess Association of
Western Australia which I agreed to put in the bulletin for debate:
MICHAEL PARTIS, President, CAWA
The CAWA would like to ask for a review of the mechanisms by which state
contributions to the ACF are calculated.
At one level the present system of basing contributions on state
populations has a simplistic appeal, though it might be fairer to look at
the actual membership of the various state associations since in reality it
is the 'paid up' members who constitute the funding base.
The Western Australian case, however, is based on the geographical
isolation of our state relative to most of the others. This means that WA
chess players have far fewer opportunities to compete in major chess events
in the more populous parts of Australia. There is no easy answer to the
tyranny of distance. For the foreseeable future chess players in WA will
not be able to take advantage of the benefits of ACF membership to the same
extent as, for example, players from NSW or Victoria.
We strongly support the current policies and initiatives of the ACF, but we
do see the current funding arrangements as inequitable. We believe that a
review of funding arrangements should consider how the relative
geographical isolation of some states can be addressed and allowed for.
Similar arguments are often advanced in Premiers' conferences and other
forums, and there are precedents for accepting such arguments, at least in
part.
STATE WEBPAGES
Some of the states do not have up-to-date webpages. If you have an interest
in webpage design, and have the time and inclination to keep a state site
current, perhaps you could volunteer your services.
AUSTRALIAN JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS, CHURCHILL, GIPPSLAND, VICTORIA 11/1/00 -
23/1/00
The Victorian Chess Association have sent out forms all around Australia
that give comprehensive travel/accommodation details for this important
event. If you have not received these details please email the VCA
President, Gary Wastell on gwastell@netspace.net.au.
Alternatively there
are details on the ACF webpage http://www.somerset.qld.edu.au/chess/
TASMANIAN CHESS ASSOCIATION
When I visited Hobart in July, the local committee seemed a little self
deprecating - personally I think they have plenty to be proud of. I've just
received the September issue of the Sandy Bay newsletter put out by Kevin
Bonham, an impressive young PhD student. I notice that they had 60 juniors
participating in their state junior titles. Also they held an inaugural
state inter-club teams' event over a weekend and they are running a
successful inter-schools' teams' event. On a 'per capita' basis I'm sure
that Tasmania compares very favourably with most other states in terms of
chess activity.
The Tasmanian Open Championships will be hosted by the Burnie Chess Club,
held during the northern public holiday weekend of 30/10/99 - 1/11/99. This
is an Australian Grand Prix event.
A TOURNAMENT FOR CHESS PURISTS AT A REASONABLE COST
The NSWCA is experimenting with a relatively new concept for its November
weekender. In response to a number of enquiries from regular competitors at
NSWCA tournaments this will be a cash prize-free tournament with low entry
fees. Prizes will be trophies and book prizes. I suspect that the large
majority of average club players take part in these events not for the
prize money but because of a genuine love for the sport, to test their
mental agility and to receive feedback in the form of their rating.
This event will be held at the Ashfield Catholic and Community Club on
13/14 November (7 Rounds 60 mins a side). Entry fees Full $15, Junior Under
18 $10, Junior Under 14 $5. I'm most interested to see how this particular
tournament goes in terms of participation.
WORLD JUNIOR UNDER 20 CHAMPIONSHIPS, ARMENIA
The three Australian representatives at this ultimate world junior event,
Max Leskiewicz 6/13, Zong Yuan Zhao 5.5/13 and Veronica Klimenko 6/13 all
put in very respectable performances.
ASIAN UNDER 20 CHAMPIONSHIPS, VUNG TAU CITY, VIETNAM
Tim Switzer scored 3.5/11, including 3 draws with 2250 rated players.
Sixteen of the 22 competitors were rated over 2100 with 6 IMs and 4 FMs.
Connie Constantinou scored 1.5/11 including a draw with a 2150 rated
player. Several WIMs and WFMs participated.
Tim and Connie had a great time, although Connie contracted chicken pox on
the way home.
CHILDREN'S CHESS OLYMPIAD, ARTEK, CRIMEA, UKRAINE
JENNI OLIVER:
The Children's Chess Olympiad in Artek finished with a closing ceremony
almost as spectacular as the Opening Ceremony had been. The Olympiad had
consisted of 30 teams from 27 countries. Most of the eastern European
countries were represented, as well as more far off countries, such as
China, Vietnam, Japan, Belgium and South Africa.
The Australian team was dogged by misfortune - late flights, missing
luggage and a virus that laid low 3 team members at various times. In
spite of having a reserve, 10% of games had to be forfeited due to illness.
The team was Zong Yuan Zhao, Gareth Oliver, Chris Page and Rhendon Cook
with Shannon Oliver as a reserve. After round 5 Zhao left to play in the
U20s and the whole team moved up, with Shannon slotting in on Board 4. Due
to a bizarre interpretation of the rules, Shannon had earlier had to play
on Board 3, when Chris was in Hospital, fortunately this was not enforced
when Zong Yuan left, otherwise Shannon would have had to play on Board 1,
instead of Gareth.
The competition was very strong, with Ruslan Ponomariov, playing board 1
for the Ukraine and more than half the competitors with FIDE ratings.
Gareth played 5 FIDE rated players, Zhao 3, Shannon 2 and Rhendon 1. This
was fantastic experience for the children and of course the main reason for
going. All children won games and Australia ended up with a score of 11.5
and 28th position. The Ukraine came first with a score of 24.
Georgia was
second and China third.
The competition was very well run and the organisers did everything
possible to make it an enjoyable experience. The scenery was spectacular
and many interesting "tourist" places to be seen (all the better,
because
there weren't any tourists). Manuel as usual did a great job coaching the
children. Our guide Tania became a close friend and Veronica Klimenko was
an angel in disguise, as she assumed the role of interpreter and nurse,
before she had to go to the U20s.
Final scores for the team were Zong Yuan 3/5, Gareth 1.5/9, Chris 3.5/6,
Rhendon 2.5/8 and Shannon 1/5.
REDCLIFFE OPEN
Stephen Solomon won with 6/6. John Paul Wallace, Alain Pardoen and Craig
Duxbury came second equal on 5/6. 61 players participated.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN AND AUSTRALIAN JUNIORS, CANBERRA, JANUARY 2001
Update at http://samba.anu.edu.au/listproc/chess/0654.html.
CHESS TOURNAMENT IN CUBA
The Latin American Higher Institute of Chess (ISLA) and Horizontes Hotels,
in coordination with the Cuban Chess Federation and CUBADEPORTES SA, invite
you to participate in this event to be held in the PANAMERICAN HOTEL in
Havana, from November 15th to 21st 1999.
9 rounds, Swiss System, within 7 days (two double rounds days).
Valid for FIDE ELO and eventually norms for IM titles, both male and female.
Money prizes of 500, 400, 300, 200 and 100 USD for the first five places.
A Children's Group for players up to 14 years old.
Entry fees : 50 USD for players of 2299 ELO FIDE points or less.
40 USD for players of 2300 ELO FIDE points or more.
30 USD for Children's Group.
Accommodation in the Panamerican Hotel: 40 USD daily with breakfast and
dinner (double occupancy) or 50 USD daily with breakfast and dinner (single
room).
Accommodation in Panamerican Village Apart-Hotel: 30 USD daily with
breakfast and dinner (double occupancy).
6TH HAWAII INTERNATIONAL CHESS FESTIVAL
Outrigger Kauai Beach Hotel, Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii, March 21 - April 1, 2000
Hawaii International (March 21 or March 24 through March 29)
9 Round SS, 40/2, 20/60, SD/30; two schedules; open to all FIDE rated,
limited entry to USCF 2000+ (equivalent to ACF 1600 approx); GM and IM
norms are almost certain to be available! Enjoy the unparalleled beauty of
Kauai - the most beautiful of all the islands! - and get a norm while
you're at it. Hard on the heels of the U.S. Masters and National Open. Fly
straight from Las Vegas. FIDE and USCF rated.
Check it out via http://members.xoom.com/hawaiichess/
CORRESPONDENCE
GEORGE LITHGOW:
A consideration for the ACF Grand Prix.
I begin with the assumption that the aim of the Grand Prix is to increase
participation in chess tournaments and flow onto increased membership.
We must not start with the consideration that the present arrangements are
anywhere near satisfactory, they are not, they are abysmal and must be
changed if the Grand prix is to achieve the above aim.
The outline below would perhaps be difficult to organize but I hope
something like it could be functional and an improvement on the existing
system.
I believe the necessary steps to improve the situation are as follows.
1. (a) As participation is the important thing it must be rewarded by
correctly considering it more important than performance.
(b) Each event must carry the same Grand Prix value. No event should be
favoured.
Action to correct the items under clause 1 (a) and (b) would be as follows:
Each Tournament should be worth say an arbitrary 20 points. Ten points to
be for appearance in the tournament and playing in all its rounds. *
Ten points to be given for a maximum score regardless of the number of
rounds, and could be corrected in the following way.
Grand prix points = Actual score divided by the Number of rounds X 10
plus at least 10 given
points.
2. Only games of one hour or more should be considered. They should also be
submitted for rating under the normal rating system.
3. The tyranny of distance needs to be reduced. This is harder to accomplish.
I suggest that each individual Club be asked to enter the Grand Prix and
that a fairly modest fee be charged for arguments sake say $100.
Each club that enters must agree to run three Grand Prix events during the
year, and to submit the results for rating within one month of the
completion date. These events should only be for financial members of the
clubs and the distance allocation referred to later will not apply.
The individual state association's unrestricted events will all be Grand
Prix events. These events must be open events and held within a radius 100
Km from the capital cities. Individual chess players may play in all
events but will only be credited with their best 3 scores.
The Australian Championships will also figure in the Grand Prix.
Bonus Points will be awarded in all Capital City tournaments and the
Australian Championships if the distance of the player's home to the
Tournament Location exceeds 100 Km; Less than 100 Km - zero points; 100 -
200 Km, one point; 200 - 500 Km, two points; 500 - 1000 km, three points;
1000+, four points.
This means that the theoretical maximum points that can be gained by a
person living in the area of the Australian Championship is: -
3 local tournaments + 2 best Capital city tournaments + Australian
Championship or 6 x 20 points = 120 Maximum.
Eg. If the Australian Championships were held in say Melbourne and a
competitor journeyed from WA or from Queensland his theoretical total would
increase to 124 points, assuming he has no allocation of other bonus points.
4. Where do we get the money? Only a small amount would be raised with the
subscription earlier suggested. Say $1000 to $2000.
4a Well if all honest methods fail to raise the money, why not try a raffle
with a decent prize. We could include in the "Forum" and other state
journals advertisements for tickets a well as other methods such as
advertising on the various web pages.
4b Sponsorship
5. I believe that efforts should be made to keep the margins between prizes
to a minimum to encourage the players who are doing reasonably well.
As an example only I have here laid out a sample list to give an idea of
what I mean:
1st 2000; 2 1600; 3 1280; 4
820; 5 720; 6 576; 7
460; 8
360; 9 290; 10 240
12 to 20 200 and 20 prizes of 100 dollars= a total of 40 prizes with a
total of $12,456
* unsanctioned withdrawal from a tournament should result in total loss of
GP points for the said tournament.
Have a great week.
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/
Chess - the clever sport!
Please note there is a Grand Prix Class 5 Event this weekend, 9 and 10
October - the 25th Geelong Open.
Venue: Newtown Primary School, Aberdeen Street, Newtown, Vic 3220
5 Round Swiss starts 10 am on Saturday and Sunday.
Prizes: 1st $500
2nd $300
3rd $100
Entry fees: Full $55; concession $45; Under-16 $35
Contact Ian Boasman on 03 5224 1293
http://www.ozemail.com.au/~chesswd/99geelng.html
Please support this famous event.
-------------------------------------------
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/
Chess - the clever sport!