ACF Bulletin No.131 - 26 August 2001
IN THIS ISSUE
Change of address details for President, Australian Universities Teams Championships, World Junior Championships, Kerry Stead's Perfect 10 website, Email addresses, 2001 Grand Prix, Launceston weekender, Geelong Open, Box Hill Whitehorse Festival weekender, Correspondence.
CHANGE OF CONTACT DETAILS FOR PRESIDENT
Please note that Graeme and Wendy Gardiner will be moving to a new address on Wednesday 29 August. As there is no cable at this new address through which to access Bigpond, we have to have yet another new email address.
Phone +61 7 5530 5794; Mobile 0438 305797; Fax +61 7 5530 6959
Emails ggardiner@auschess.org.au and wgardiner@auschess.org.au
We hope to build and open a chess centre on this new property by mid 2002 (subject to Town Planning consent).
AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITIES TEAMS CHAMPIONSHIPS 24-27 SEPTEMBER - ALLAN RICHARDS
Dear Chess Players!
The event is drawing near. Thanks to those teams that have already entered. There are still a number of teams who havent entered yet however. Please send them in ASAP!
While entries will be accepted up to an hour before the event starts, entries received later than a week before it starts will incur a $10 administrations cost per player. This means entries received after the 15th of September.
Based on 10-15 entries, which seems highly likely at this stage the prize fund looks like it should be $1000-$1500. Any extra entries will obviously just add on to the amount.
For those of you who want to play, but can't get enough people from your University to make a team I am going to make it possible to make combined teams with people from different Universities playing on the one team. Obviously the restrictions to the number of Postgraduates and members of staff still apply. If you want to be part of such a team then please contact me so that I can organise it for you.
Regards, Allan Richards.
Mobile: 0407 713 684
Email: inter_uni_comp@hotmail.com
The Festival:
An Australian University Games Cultural and Arts Festival will be held for the first time in conjunction with the 2001 Australian University Games. This event is a joint initiative by the Australian University Games and the University of Sydney Union to integrate existing university cultural activities, currently being held in isolation, into the University Games program. The event will showcase Australia's premier artistic talent in a weeklong program of musical, intellectual, artistic and cultural events. The cultural program is expected to attract an additional 1500 students and the wider community into Sydney on top of the 6500 university athletes in Sydney to participate in the Games. The festival will be held predominantly on-campus at The University of Sydney.
The week-long activities will be integrated into the Games Program to maximise attendances to the festival. While the cultural program is a trial in 2001, the anticipated success of the event is expected to ensure that it becomes a significant part of the Australian University Games Program in future years. The 2001 Australian University Games Cultural and Arts Festival aims to complement the Games by presenting a spectacular national forum for students, tertiary & secondary, across Australia to participate and perform in.
Details:
This is a teams event and will consist of four players a side. There can be as many Undergraduates as a team wants, with one member of staff and one Postgraduate also allowed. Universities can send as many teams as they like.
Dates: 24 to 27 September.
Format: 2 rounds a day on the 24th, 25th, 26th and one round on the 27th.
Venue: The University of Sydney.
Time Controls: 60 minutes a side plus 30 seconds per move.
Entry Fee: $25 per player.
WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS (UNDER 20)
Zong-Yuan Zhao (age 15) is now on 4.5/9 and Catherine Lip (age 15) is on 3.5/9 in what is an extremely tough 13 round competition. Full details at http://www.greekchess.com/pagosmio/games.htm
CHECK OUT KERRY STEAD'S PERFECT 10 WEBSITE
http://www.geocities.com/perfect10chess/
EMAIL ADDRESSES
I would really appreciate it if supporters could supply me with current lists of email addresses of chess players. Although we have around 1,000 Australian chess players on our list, there must be at least double that with email addresses which we don't have. This request applies to all states but particularly the remote states and territories. Australian chess is the beneficiary from better communication.
2001 GRAND PRIX
The Grand Prix Supervisor is Norm Braybrooke chessnut@windsor.net.au http://crcchess.topcities.com/GP2001.htm
Just a reminder that we welcome more details of Grand Prix events for publication in this bulletin.
There are now 41 events for 2001.
1/2 September Launceston Weekender TAS Cat 1 Leo Minol 03 6344 7472 leominol@telstra.easymail.com.au
1/2 Sep Geelong Open VIC Cat 2 Bill Stokie 03 5250 1786 Paul Power ppower@datafast.net.au
22/23 Sep Gold Coast Classic QLD Cat 3 Graeme Gardiner 07 5530 5794 ggardiner@auschess.org.au
29/30 Sep Lidum's Cup SA Cat 2 Roland Eime 08 8268 1374 eimes@senet.com.au
29/30 Sep Redcliffe Challenge QLD Cat 1 Mark Stokes 07 3205 6042 mstokes@bne.catholic.edu.au
13/14 Oct Tweed Heads Open QLD Cat 3 Audie Pennefather 07 5536 9185 pennefather@iprimus.com
20/21 Oct Box Hill Whitehorse Festival Week-Ender VIC Cat 2 Trevor Stanning trevors@bluep.com
3/4 Nov Laurieton Open NSW Cat 1 Endel Lane 02 6559 9060 endel@fasternet.com.au
3-5 Nov Tasmanian Open TAS Cat 1 Neville Ledger 03 6431 1280 nlchess@tassie.net.au
17/18 Nov Taree RSL Spring Open NSW Cat 1 Endel Lane 02 6559 9060 endel@fasternet.com.au
24/25 Nov NSWCA Cat 1 Robert Keast 02 9649 8614 rkeast@comtech.com.au
8/9 Dec Tuggeranong Vikings Weekender ACT Cat 1 Lee Forace 02 9556 3960 ljforace@hotmail.com
15/16 Dec Melbourne Chess Club Christmas Swiss VIC Cat 2 Malcolm Pyke dexter@labyrinth.net.au
15/16 Dec Fairfield RSL Pre Christmas Cup NSW Cat 2 Elpidio Bautista 02 9723 5537 bautista@smartchat.net.au
NSW 15, Qld 9, Tas 4, SA 4, ACT 3, Vic 5, WA 1.
LAUNCESTON WEEKENDER 1/2 SEPTEMBER 2001
Adult Education Centre 8 High Street Launceston
A Level 1 ACF Grand Prix Event.
Hosted by Launceston Chess Club for the Tasmanian Chess Association.
Rate of Play: 5 rounds S/P. 90 minutes per player for the whole game.
Entries close Saturday 1st September 2001 10:45 AM.
Sessions: Saturday: 1st Sep Round 1: 11:00 AM - 2.00 PM Round 2: 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM Round 3: 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
Sunday: 2nd Sep Round 4: 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon Round 5: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Followed by presentation of prizes. 4:10 PM
Entry Fee: $40.00 seniors, $35.00 concessions, $30.00 juniors (U18). Early entries $5.00 discount if paid by Wed 29 August.
Prizes: 1st: 45% of prize pool, 2nd: 25%, 3rd 10%. U 1700: 10%, U 1500: 10%. Note: Prize pool is entry fees less running costs, ACF fees and TCA levy. Tiebreak methods will be used.
Arbiter: Kevin Bonham plus assistants. FIDE 1997 laws apply. Some billeting will be available.
Entries and Enquiries: Leo Minol 11 Docking Court Newstead Tas 7250 Phone 03 6344 7472 Email leominol@telstra.easymail.com.au
CENTENARY OF FEDERATION GEELONG OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP 1/2 SEPTEMBER
A Category 2 Grand Prix Event
Prize Pool 1st $700 2nd $450 3rd $200 3 Rating prizes of $200 Top Junior $125 Top Lady $75
Players are eligible to receive only one of the above prizes, which are guaranteed by our sponsor 'Daniels Band'
Entry fee $50 Juniors and concession $40 Late entry $60 Arbiter John Frew
Entries will be received until Friday 31/8/2001 6pm. Entries may be sent by mail to reach the G.C.C. Treasurer 83 Peter Street Grovedale Vic. Cheques made payable to Geelong Chess Club.
Playing Schedule 8:30am entries close, subject to numbers 9am start Some accommodation available Saturday night pre-book please. All enquiries to: Bill Stokie 03 5250 1786
Venue: Lara Town Hall, Flinders Avenue Lara, Melways Ref 422 K5
BOX HILL WHITEHORSE FESTIVAL WEEKENDER 20/21 OCTOBER
Full details at http://www.boxhillchess.org.au/e2001/e0110woh/entry.htm $2,000 in prizes.
CORRESPONDENCE
BRETT TINDALL & JOHN PAUL WALLACE
Chess in NSW
We have a number of suggestions which aim to help boost the popularity and success of chess within NSW. These include:
1) A permanent venue where chess tournaments, coaching and other functions can be held. A canteen can be set up here
2) Restructuring the NSWCA policy on entry fees, primarily with the aim to reintroduce concession rates
3) A view to increase tournament prize money and to have this money guaranteed
4) An informative magazine or newsletter that would keep members up-to-date with upcoming events well in advance
5) Organising chess exhibitions which can generate income for the NSWCA
6) Networking and advertising initiatives
7) Schemes aiming to promote professionalism within chess, including a dress code policy
8) Drawing on the skills and knowledge of individuals who have a wealth of experience within the chess world
A permanent venue:
Having a permanent venue for chess within NSW would greatly benefit the game. NSW chess identity and businessman, Peter Parr, is still interested in investing in a venue that could be jointly owned between the NSWCA, the NSWJCL and himself. Such an operation would allow players to regularly meet and play both in tournaments and on a casual basis. Coaching sessions, and this need not be only directed at the younger population, could be held regularly, where the owners of the venue could take a percentage of the income. The Internet could be made available to customers at some competitive rate, which would be another revenue raising avenue. A canteen could be arranged, even if only during tournaments and other events (see more about "canteens" below). All these possibilities make a venue a financially sound option. Perhaps there is even a local government keen to support such an initiative, after all, there is a lot of political talk at the moment about preventing Australia from falling behind the rest of the world ‘intellectually’.
Besides this exciting possibility, there are some good venues, which the NSWCA could consider approaching once again. The West Strathfield Bowling Club was a great venue with plenty of room, and the possibility of running a financially successful canteen. The Strathfield Bowling Club is also worth considering and is ideally located right next to Strathfield train station. Five Dock Bowling Club at Five Dock/Drummoyne might be interested in having chess tournaments held there on a regular basis as might Granville Bowling Club, as both these clubs seem to be used below there potential. Perhaps one of these clubs would agree to become a permanent venue for NSWCA weekenders.
A Canteen as a Revenue Generator:
For a number of years Lyn Tindall ran a canteen at the Flemington/Strathfield Bowling Club during chess tournaments with the profits going to the Junior Leagues special projects fund. The canteen was a great financial success and the fund has provided juniors representing their country with 50% of the cost of their airfare and has also been used to pay coaches at the Australian Junior Chess Championships. The NSWJCL continue to utilise canteen facilities as a way of generating income.
It is difficult to have canteens in licensed clubs so perhaps the NSWCA should consider this when deciding on a tournament venue.
Entry fee policy:
Entry fees for tournaments should be reasonably priced and concession rates for pensioners, university students and juniors made available. We believe that if these changes were made a number of members would return to tournament chess. On the other hand it should be pointed out that if the venue and conditions were very good then members would be more willing to part with their money, so that relatively high entry fees would then be more reasonable.
Prize fund policy:
We suggest a minimum of $500 for first place for a weekend tournament and $800- $1000 for first place in the State Championships would be a good policy. Furthermore, the prize fund should always be guaranteed. Many chess players play largely in the hope of financial gain and these players need to know what they are competing for. Good prizes attract the elite players in particular, which raises the status of an event, which in turn attracts more competitors. Class 3 weekend tournaments held in NSW with $1000 first prize would attract a number of strong players from inter-state, which would further add to the prestige of an event.
Magazine:
An inexpensive and informative magazine or newsletter could be set up which should aim to provide:
· Information regarding the upcoming tournaments for next few months in advance
· Results from across the state, the ACF rating list, Grand Prix standings
The Australian Chess Forum magazine has already been endorsed by the NSWCA and so the simplest solution would be to ensure easy member access to this magazine and that the magazine itself keeps an up-to-date profile of chess within our state.
Chess Exhibitions:
I (Brett) can recall when I started to get into chess at the senior level there were a number of chess exhibitions given at Shopping Malls and at various other places. These exhibitions are a brilliant way to promote the game of chess and spark interest in the general community. I remember once watching Kevin Harrison and Simon EasterBrook Smith giving a fantastic exhibition game at Chatswood Plaza.
I also recall Gary Davis (The Chess and Checkers King) who gave simultaneous displays in every shopping complex across the state. He promoted a big interest in chess. I first played him in Macarthur Square Campbelltown when I was 10 years old which sparked my interest in chess.
When I was 14 I helped out at a toy and game exhibition with Michael Walsh and a couple of other juniors where we were promoting chess computers and giving demonstrations on how they worked. Another computer match I took part in was organised by Richard Torning where we had to play a match against a number of computers. The person who scored the most amount of points against the computers out of the 6 of us won a Personal Computer.
Currently in NSW we have an abundance of strong players who might be interested in doing a simul or playing exhibition matches at clubs. These include GM Ian Rogers, IM Gary Lane, IM Marten Martens, IM John Paul Wallace, IM Vladimir Feldman, IM Irina Berezina and IM Shane Hill.
The NSWCA could consider organising for Ian Rogers to do a tour of NSW shopping centres where he could give simuls. The NSWCA could charge a particular shopping centre a fee, say $1000 for the day and then pay Ian a fee of $700 which would result in a $300 profit for the Association. At the simul Ian could give out NSWCA flyers and promote the Association. Local shop owners in the complex could donate prizes to the simul and Ian could give them as prizes for people who beat him, etc.
The NSWCA could also organise for strong players to give a lecture at clubs during the week. A club could pay $200 for a player to give a lecture and the IM giving the lecture could earn $150 with the Association taking $50. I (Brett) attended the recent Shirov lecture and it was fantastic! I would have definitely paid double what I was charged. I also took part in the Djuric simul, which I found very enjoyable.
Other possible chess exhibitions that could be successful include
· A huge knockout blitz tournament in Hyde Park during the summer time. Contestants can be charged $5 to play with money, trophies and books given as prizes. This could be very appealing for television stations to telecast and would draw in big crowds as many people visit the park and watch the chess being played there. It would be a great chance to advertise the Association and flyers could be handed out during the event.
· Simultaneous exhibitions at Darling Harbour would also expose the NSWCA to an enormous amount of people.
Networking:
Chess information, in particular tournament information, can be advertised extremely effectively through the following people:
· Peter Parr – Peter has a huge exposure to the chess public through his chess shop and his chess column.
· Ian Rogers – is a very well known chess identity as one of the country’s 2 grandmasters and he can promote events through his various columns
· The NSWJCL – To encourage the future of NSW chess
· Chess coaches – People such as Michael Walsh, Manuel Weeks, and Brett Tindall who promote junior chess in schools.
· Brian Jones – As he has contact with a number of chess players and also runs a chess business.
Information on upcoming events should be sent as early as possible to the following media:
· ACF bulletin
· ACF web page
· NSWCA Web page
· A bulk Email list of members who have Internet access (Peter Cassatari’s email list for the grade matches is an example)
· Local newspaper of the town where the tournament will take place
· Bulletin boards in local libraries
· All local Adult and Junior Chess clubs such as St George, Nth Sydney, Mt Pritchard etc
Other places in which the NSWCA could advertise their chess tournaments:
1) Hyde Park, Burwood Park, Liverpool Westfields are all places where a number of chess players congregate to play chess, although most are not members of the chess association.
2) Ethnic based clubs where chess is part of the culture of their former country, for example the Russian Club at Strathfield and the Ukrainian youth club at Lidcombe.
3) Advertisements can be placed in a number of Russian shops across Sydney as a number of Russian people visit these shops and possibly have an interest in chess, for example the Russian shop in Burwood and Darling Harbour – the former of which sells the Russian Chess Magazine Schach 64. Who knows we might discover we have a lot of strong players who never knew that the NSWCA even existed!
Promotion of chess as a professional game:
In order for chess to be seen as a professional game it must be run professionally. We believe the NSWCA should consider aiming to run as a business entity with the goal of making money in the long term. At the moment building up the member base would be a powerful start. In the medium term, as mentioned above buying commercial premises where a chess centre can be established would bring great benefits to chess. We believe that eventually, just like within the USCF, council members of the NSWCA should be paid to promote and enhance chess in this state.
I (John-Paul) believe that should the NSWCA introduce a strict and enforced dress code policy this can only have benefits for chess in the long run. A "smart casual" dress code may suffice for the majority of events and perhaps exceptions can be made for ‘weekenders’ as opposed to, for example, the State Championships. In any case I believe that if we all dress well we can both reflect (and even create) pride in what we do and this is something that will attract sponsorship and TV coverage.
The NSWCA might consider employing chess ambassadors who can promote the game by talking to potential sponsors, by promoting events etc. These chess ambassadors could be young and of a "clean cut" nature to help remove the stereotypical view of the "typical chess player", which is unfortunately an unfavourable one in Australia at this point in time.
Knowledge of people who have "been there and done that":
The NSWCA could consider involving people who have a wealth of chess administration experience and knowledge. Peter Parr is one such individual. Peter has been involved in chess for over 20 years now, he has been a president of the NSWCA, is an international arbiter, has a rating of 2200+, runs Australia’s biggest chess store and has fantastic contacts within the chess world. His know-how would be a great asset to the chess league
Yours sincerely,
FM Brett Tindall and IM John-Paul Wallace
With very best wishes to all.
Graeme Gardiner
President Australian Chess Federation
11 Hardys Road Mudgeeraba Queensland 4213
Phone +61 7 5530 5794; Mobile 0438 305797; Fax +61 7 5530 6959
Email ggardiner@auschess.org.au
Chess - the Clever Sport!
If you do not wish to receive this bulletin in future please email Wendy Gardiner on wgardiner@auschess.org.au