ACF Bulletin No. 120 - 10 June
2001
IN THIS ISSUE
Chess is a sport, World Under 20 Championships, Asian Under 16
Boys
Championship, Asian Individual Championship (World Championship
qualifier),
Children's Olympiad, Other important dates taken from FIDE
calendar, British
Chess Championship, Grand Prix, Voice conferencing, Chess
the Musical,
Correspondence.
CHESS IS A SPORT
There follows the copy of a letter I have written to
Senator
Kate Lundywhich is self explanatory. Once again I ask all those who
care about this
matter to consider writing to both the
Minister for
Sport, Jackie Kelly and
Shadow Minister, Kate Lundy. Now is the best
possible time to write. Letters
can be sent to Jackie Kelly and/or Kate Lundy
at Parliament House, Canberra,
ACT 2601 or by email Jackie Kelly
Jackie.Kelly.MP@aph.gov.au and Kate
Lundy
senator.lundy@aph.gov.au.
If you think it appropriate, I would appreciate
copies of your letters or
their replies. Incidentally, if we have a
professional lobbyist living in
Canberra who is prepared to work on behalf
of the ACF, please let me
know.
*****
Dear Senator Lundy
Chess is a sport.
I refer to previous correspondence in which you indicated that you
were
currently looking at Labour Party policy in this matter.
There follows the copy of an email I've just sent to the Minister of
Sport,
Jackie Kelly, which is self explanatory.
I'm sure that the Australian chess community would be extremely
interested
to hear whether you are prepared to break with tradition and
commit to
changing the legislation and finally bring chess into the
fold.
I'd be very pleased to transmit your policy to the chess community
through
my weekly bulletin.
With warm regards
Graeme Gardiner
President, Australian Chess Federation
**********
Dear Ms Kelly
Michelle Wagner, the mother of a young chess player from Gladstone,
has
received the following information as part of a reply from your
office
regarding the question of chess as a sport:
"... there are many activities that seek recognition as a sport from
the
Australian Sports Commission. For the purpose of providing guidance to
these
organisations, the commission has defined 'sport' as requiring
elements
involving physical exertion and/or physical skill, is competitive by
nature
and is generally accepted as being sport."
"The Commission, while recognising that chess is a worthwhile pastime,
does
not view chess as a sport. There are no plans to review the sport
definition
in the near future. The Commission would, however, reassess its
position
should chess be accepted as a full medal event on the program on an
Olympic
Games."
I must say that I'm extremely disappointed in your complete lack of
sympathy
for the plight of Australian chess players. We cannot understand why
people
who choose other sports are in some way better than chess players. Why
is it
that so many other nations around the world recognise and fund chess as
a
sport....but not Australia? Quite apart from the fact that we are made
to
feel like second class citizens, we have to scratch around for funding
to
try and comply with the IOC's requirements in respect of drug
testing.
Meanwhile, ASDA provide funding for this purpose to all the wealthy
sports
recognised by you.
Of course, whilst drug testing is necessary to comply with IOC
regulations,
what we really want to do is develop our sport.
Why does chess have to wait until it is 'on the program on an
Olympic
Games'? I'm sure you recognise several other sports which are not 'a
full
medal event on the program on an Olympic Games'.
To be quite honest, whilst I'm sure you do not intend it, your policy
is an
insult to all those Australian children who choose chess as their
sport. I
put it to you that the present definition used by the Australian
Sports
Commission, and the current interpretation of the definition,
is
conveniently and unnecessarily exclusive and that you should
introduce
legislation to change it.
I will pass on your policy to the Australian chess community through
my
weekly email bulletin which goes to over 900 administrators and
players
involved in Australian chess.
Sincerely,
Graeme Gardiner
President, Australian Chess Federation
WORLD JUNIOR CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS UNDER 20,
16-29 AUGUST
ACF Junior Coordinator Brett Tindall advises that
Zong Yuan Zhao and
Catherine Lip have been
selected to represent Australia at the World Junior
Championships which are
due to be held in the Exhibition Center of
Peristeri, Athens from 16-29
August.
ASIAN UNDER 16 BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP 6-16
October
This will be held at Doha, Qatar from 6 to 16 October. Participants
must
have been born on or after 1 January 1985. Full board will be provided
to
the Australian representative. Those interested in being selected
to
represent Australia should advise
Brett Tindall sydneyacademy@iprimus.com.auby
30 June latest.
WORLD CHESS QUALIFYING CHAMPIONSHIP
INCORPORATING 3RD ASIAN INDIVIDUAL CHESS
CHAMPIONSHIP 9-18
AUGUST
Nominations received to date are from Alex Wohl, Jean-Paul
Wallace and Tim Reilly. I have
written to the
Asian Continental President, Khalifa, Mohamad
Al-Hitmi,
asking for clarification on the number of Australian
seeds. By my
calculation it could be one or two. Unfortunately Alex got
pickpocketed in
Santa Clara, Cuba so he'll have an extra incentive to do well
in this event,
assuming he gets selected!
CHILDREN'S OLYMPIAD BATATAIS, BRAZIL 18-26
SEPTEMBER
OTHER IMPORTANT DATES TAKEN FROM THE FIDE
WEBPAGE
World Amateur Championship Bento Gonzales, Brazil 08.12.01 -
16.12.01
World Senior Championship Argo, Italy 16.10.01 - 28.10.01
World
Team Championship (every 2 years) Yerevan, Armenia 11.10.01 - 21.10.01
IV
World Junior Team Championship Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 08.08.01 -
12.08.01
World Rapid Cup Cannes, France 20.03.01 - 25.03.01
Asian Junior
Boys and Girls U-20 Tehran, Iran 12.07.01 - 20.07.01
BRITISH CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP, SCARBOROUGH 29
JULY TO 11 AUGUST
All commonwealth countries are entitled to send one official
representative
to compete. I have entry forms.
graemeg@bigpond.net.au
GRAND PRIX
Upcoming events in the Grand Prix:
VOICE CONFERENCING
The quarterly ACF Council meeting by phone hook up is due to be held
on
Monday 25 June. This is quite an expensive exercise. If anyone can advise
of
an internet-based or phone-based voice conferencing option that is
fairly
simple and reliable, please let me know as soon as possible.
Text
conferencing is not an option.
CHESS - THE MUSICAL
Imagine, if you will, that it's 1982. Ronald Reagan just delivered
his
speech to the House of Commons denouncing Russia as the "Evil
Empire." As
the two world superpowers battle it out, Chess has become
more than just a
game ...
It's The U.S. Versus U.S.S.R! ... And you are invited to participate in
a
historic event.
What: The Cold War CHESS Tournament
Conducted over two Saturdays in June, this high profile tournament will
mix
calculating strategies with live music, to be performed by the cast
members
of the THE Theatre Company Ryde, Inc.'s production of the rock
musical
'CHESS.' In the spirit of the Cold War, each player will
represent either
the U.S. or the U.S.S.R. ALL MOVES IN 30 MINUTES.
The Stakes: Fame & Fortune Plus
In addition to receiving notoriety by the Media (which will be invited
to
cover this competition), there will be a $500 cash prize pool.
1st Prize $200, 2nd Prize $100 Bottom Section 1st Prize $100, 2nd Prize
$70,
3rd Prize $30.
When: June 16 (Sat) & June 23 (Sat) 10:00am
2:00pm
Where: Chatswood Westfield Shopping Centre (LEVEL 6)
Why: To promote the rock musical 'CHESS' (Music by
Benny Andersson and Bjorn
Ulvaeus, Lyrics by Tim Rice)
Entry Fee: $15 per person
R.S.V.P.: By 8 June, 2001
Phone: 0413 488 599 (OR) 9660 7660 Email:
ppaul_moore@yahoo.com.au(*Please
include commitment to participate, name, club name, address and
contact
numbers.)
... It's Your Move!
The venue for the musical production is the Argyle Theatre, Cnr Argyle
St &
Blaxland Rd, Ryde.
Jun 29 8pm Fri
Jun 30 8pm Sat
July 1
5pm Sun
3 8pm
Tue
4 8pm
Wed
6 8pm
Fri
7 2pm
Sat
7 8pm Sat
Adults $23.10 (concession $19.10) Group $17.10 (10 or more per
night) Plus
Booking fee. Ticketmaster7 136166 or
www.ticketmaster7.com
Editor's note: For lovers of chess and musicals this is a must. My
school
put this on a few years ago and it was one of the most enjoyable of
the many
musicals I've seen over the years.
CORRESPONDENCE
DENIS JESSOP on Swissperfect
I can confirm the fact that cheap old computers can run the
program
successfully. Both Canberra and Tuggeranong CCs have computers in
the
$200-400 range running it. Also it runs perfectly on a Windows emulator
such
as Virtual PC on a Macintosh which is what I use. (I believe Bill
Gletsos
also uses a Mac.)
DR JAN MAZUCH
Dear chess friends,
We let send you regulations of the 1st International Chess
Tournaments
Series CZECH TOUR 2001/2002.
One part of series will be one of the biggest chess events in the world
-
XII. Year of CZECH OPEN Festival and 5 open tournaments for players
without
age and performance limitation with rating for ELO FIDE.
12.-29.7. 2001 CZECH OPEN - Pardubice
2.-9.8. 2001 OPEN OLOMOUC -
Open championship of Moravia and Silesia
7.-14.10. 2001 OPEN
ZNOJMO
1.-8.11. 2001 OPEN KRKONOSE - Pec pod Snezkou
25.1.-1.2. 2002 OPEN
MARIANSKE LAZNE
2.-9.2. 2002 OPEN PRAHA (Prague)
Yours sincerely
LLUIS MIRACLE
Dear President of CF Australian,
I have the pleasure to inform about a new edition of "City of
Banyoles"
Chess Open International
Banyoles is a nice village in Girona (Spain), near to the
Mediterranean
Coast.
It is a very interesting place where you can spend excellent
holidays.
Banyoles have a very nice lake: Lake of Banyoles.
The tournament is played from 4th until 12th August 2001. It is open
to
licensed players. 9 Rounds. Swiss System. 40 moves / 2 hours + 1 hour
K.O.
To enrolment:
Thank you very much
Your faithfully
Lluís Muratet i Miracle
President of Escacs Banyoles Club
ALI HABIBI
Dear chessfriends,
I am organizing several tournaments in
Eger/Hungary, which will take place
between 24th of June and 3rd of July.
Enclosed you'll find our announcement.
To every interrested player, I will
give very good conditions concerning
entry fee and accommodation.
Please
anwer me as soon as possible, if you are able to play or if you know
somebody
who is. Thank you in advance!
With regards,
Ali Habibi
Int. EUROPE CHESS Festival Eger (HUN)
June 25th to July 3rd
2001
Esterházy Károly College, Egészséhaz u. 4, Eger
A: GM
Tournament
Category VII to IX, 12 to 14 participants,4 prizes + natural prize
for every
participant. Time limit: 40 moves/2h + 20 moves/h + 30 min sudden
death
B: IM Tournaments
Category I to II and III to IV, 12 to 14
participants,4 prizes + natural
prize for every participant. Time limit: 40
moves/2h + 20 moves/h + 30 min
sudden death
C: Rating Tournament
12 to
14 participants, 3 nonrated players, 4 prizes + natural prize for
every
participant. Time limit: 40 moves/2h + 30 min sudden death. Entry
fee
depending on rating, to be stipulated with the organiser.
D: Open
9
rounds CH system, last round 1st of July, 40 moves/2h + 30 min
sudden
death
Prizes (HUForint): 60.000, 40.000, 30.000, 25.000, 20.000,
15.000, 10.000,
8.000, 7.000, 6.000, best woman, best junior, best senior,
rating prizes +
10 natural prizes. (Prize fond guaranteed > 60
participants).
Entry fee (ELO/USD): nonrated / 50; 2001 2100 / 40; 2101
2200 / 30;
2201 2300 / 25; above 2301 /
15
Accomodation:
Hotels and private roms at different categories (ł USD
10,- /night +person)
Information and Registration:
EuropeChess, Ali
Habibi, Postfach 1148, D-35436 Linden,
email:
EuropeChess@web.de
With best wishes to all.
Graeme Gardiner
Chess - the clever sport!
