From: "Graeme Gardiner" To: Subject: ACF Bulletin # 153 - 24 February 2002 Date: Sunday, February 24, 2002 5:45 ACF Bulletin # 153 - 24 February 2002 IN THIS ISSUE ACF Sponsorship Committee, Olympiad Appeal, Expired Title Norms, Australian Olympic Committee, National Universities Competition, Asian Under 10, 12, 14 and 16 Championships, 2001 Grand Prix Cheques, 2002 Grand Prix, Hobart Labour Day Weekender, Correspondence. ACF SPONSORSHIP COMMITTEE As previously advised, a sponsorship committee has been formed under the leadership of former ACF President, Peter Wallman. All members of the committee reside in Sydney. The committee now comprises Peter Wallman, Ashley Rambukwella, Adam Spencer, Peter Koshnitsky, John Baker, Ewa Soltysik, Jason Lyons and Lloyd Suttor. The first meeting of the committee will be held next Sunday. Thank you to the members for volunteering their time. I'm sure they would appreciate any leads to decision makers in large corporations. If you believe you can be of assistance in this area, please email Peter Wallman on peter.wallman@springglobal.com. Whilst the ACF has made some slow progress towards restructuring its finances, a national sponsor for chess could make a big difference in the ACF's ability to develop chess in Australia. OLYMPIAD APPEAL FOR BLED SLOVENIA 27 OCTOBER TO 13 NOVEMBER 2002 - PLEASE DONATE NOW This is Olympiad year. Once again I would very much like to hear from anyone who has the time to help with the ACF Olympiad Appeal. Our players not only deserve the support of the Australian chess community, I'm sure it means a lot to them to know that we are all behind them. It would be nice to launch the appeal with a few sizeable donations so please dig deep. Let's get the ball well and truly rolling. Donations will be acknowledged in this email bulletin unless omission is specifically requested. EXPIRED TITLE NORMS I have been advised by Gary Bekker/Peter Parr that FIDE norms do not now expire. I understand that Dimitri Gedevani missed out on an IM title because his norm had expired. If anyone knows the contact details for Dimitri, please let me know and I'll put him in touch with Gary Bekker. If anyone else think that they may be in the same situation, please let me know. AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE Early last year, then ACF Secretary Paul Broekhuyse wrote to the Australian Olympic Committee formally requesting membership for the ACF. The AOC have been followed up on several occasions since, but always seem to evade giving any kind of an answer. I finally got to talk with AOC Executive Director Michael Mercer this week. He advised that the "mind sports" have several supporters in the AOC. He further advised that the President of the AOC is currently at the Winter Olympics and is specifically talking with his international counterparts about the progress of mind sports into the Olympic Games. Bridge has held a demonstration at Salt Lake City similar to that run by chess at the Sydney Olympics. NATIONAL UNIVERSITIES COMPETITION Last year Allan Richards kindly organised a new national universities competition. There had been one in the seventies, but this folded. Unfortunately, due to study commitments, Allan is unable to continue with this task in 2002. As far as I'm concerned the universities competition is an important building block in developing Australian chess. I would be delighted to hear from someone prepared to volunteer their time in progressing this idea. Please contact me on ggardiner@auschess.org.au if you are interested. Allan is prepared to share the information from 2001 including a fairly substantial database. ASIAN BOYS AND GIRLS UNDER 10, 12, 14, 16 TEHRAN, IRAN 28 MARCH TO 4 APRIL The organisers will give free twin share board and lodging to official representatives and one accompanying official. 9 Round Swiss, Rate of Play: G/90 plus 30 seconds a move from the start (Fischer). Contact: MJ Kambouzia, President Iran Chess Federation, Chess Palace, Hejab Street, Keshavarz Bvde, Tehran, Iran. Phone: (+98) 21 8951511-3 Fax: (+98) 21-8951514 Please contact the ACF Junior Coordinator, Brett Tindall sydneyacademy@iprimus.com.au if you wish to be considered for this event. 2001 GRAND PRIX CHEQUES All Grand Prix cheques were mailed this week apart from three where I'm awaiting addresses. 2002 GRAND PRIX Organiser: Norm Braybrooke 19 Trafalgar Drive Kippa-Ring 4021 Email chessnut@windsor.net.au. Webpage http://crcchess.topcities.com/GP2002.html Please note change of date for Launceston Weekender and change of email address for Leo Minol. We have now received 30 events for the 2002 Grand Prix. We could do with several more, especially ACT, SA, WA and Vic. I believe that players from all states deserve an opportunity to win Grand Prix prizes. Remaining events in 2002: 9/10 Mar South West Open WA Cat 1 Alan Phillips 08 9725 4843 alanglo@tpg.com.au 9-11 Mar Hobart Labour Day Weekender TAS Cat 1 Kevin Bonham 03 6224 8487 k_bonham@tassie.net.au 16/17 Mar Dubbo RSL Open NSW Cat 1 Alexander Aich 02 6884 4561 sjaich@tpg.com.au 29 Mar to 1 Apl Doeberl Cup ACT Cat 3 Roger McCart 02 6251 6190 roger.mccart@anu.edu.au 4/5 May Laurieton May Open NSW Cat 1 Endel Lane 02 6559 9060 endel@fasternet.com.au 4-6 May Redcliffe Peninsula Open QLD Cat 1 Mark Stokes 07 3205 6042 mstokes@bne.catholic.edu.au 18/19 May NSWCA Cat 1 Robert Keast 02 9649 8614 robert.keast@didata.com.au 8-10 June Tasmanian Championships Burnie TAS Cat 1 Neville Ledger nledger@tassie.net.au ph 03 6431 1280 8-10 June NSWCA Cat 2 Robert Keast 02 9649 8614 robert.keast@didata.com.au 22/23 June Taree RSL Open NSW Cat 1 Endel Lane 02 6559 9060 endel@fasternet.com.au 22/23 June Gold Coast Open QLD Cat 3 Graeme Gardiner 07 5530 5794 ggardiner@auschess.org.au 29/30 June Suncoast Open Chess Tournament Noosa QLD Cat 3 Robert Hochstadt 07 5447 5056 robhoch@ozemail.com.au July (Date TBA) Fairfield Winter Cup NSW Cat TBA Rolando Atienza 0421 379940 atienzarolando@hotmail.com 13/14 July Adelaide University Open SA Cat 3 Robin Wedding 08 8303 3029 chess@smug.adelaide.edu.au 3/4 August NSWCA Cat 1 Robert Keast 02 9649 8614 robert.keast@didata.com.au 10/11 August Coal City Open NSW Cat 2 George Lithgow 02 4943 3862 george.lithgow@bigpond.com 7/8 September Launceston Weekender TAS Cat 1 Leo Minol 03 6344 7472 loeominol@bigpond.com 14/15 Sept Hobsons Bay Open VIC Cat 1 Peter Caissa 0411 710900 pcaissa@melbpc.org.au 21/22 Sept Gold Coast Classic QLD Cat 3 Graeme Gardiner 07 5530 5794 ggardiner@auschess.org.au 5/6 Oct Redliffe Challenge QLD Cat 1 Mark Stokes 07 3205 6042 mstokes@bne.catholic.edu.au 5-7 Oct Koala Open NSW Cat 3 Brian Jones 02 9838 1529 chessaus@chessaustralia.com.au 12/13 Oct Tweed Heads Open QLD Cat 3 Audie Pennefather 07 5536 9185 pennefather@iprimus.com 2/3 Nov Laurieton Open NSW Cat 1 Endel Lane 02 6559 9060 endel@fasternet.com.au 3-5 Nov Tasmanian Open Hobart TAS Cat 1 Kevin Bonham 03 6224 8487 k_bonham@tassie.net.au 16/17 Nov Taree RSL Spring Open NSW Cat 1 Endel Lane 02 6559 9060 endel@fasternet.com.au 23/24 Nov NSWCA Cat 1 Robert Keast 02 9649 8614 robert.keast@didata.com.au December (Date TBA) Fairfield Winter Cup NSW Cat TBA Rolando Atienza 0421 379940 atienzarolando@hotmail.com NSW 16, Qld 6, Tas 4, ACT 1, SA 1, WA 1, Vic 1. LABOUR DAY WEEKENDER, HOBART 9-11 March, Migrant Resource Centre 49 Molle Street Hobart A Level 1 ACF Grand Prix Event 8 rounds Swiss x 75 minutes per player Saturday: 12-2:30, 3:30-6:00, 7:00-9:30 Sunday: 10-12:30, 1:30-4:00, 5:00-7:30 Monday: 9-11:30, 12:30-3:00 $45 waged, $40 concession, $25 juniors (U18) $5 discount before Feb 20th. Enquiries: Kevin Bonham k_bonham@tassie.net.au CORRESPONDENCE ALEX WOHL Dear Graeme, I recently received an e-mail from Malcolm Hunt, a friend of Tony's. He told me that a Biography is being written. He asked me for an Antipodian contribution with some anecdotes. I thought some other people might also have stories they wish to share. I have also been asked to write something for 'Kaissiber', a German magazine edited by Stefan Bueker. It specializes in offbeat openings and so I am writing an article titled 'kangooroo's featuring games where Tony put knights on weird squares like his Nh6 in the English or such. Any games from weekenders that people think are entertaining would also be appreciated. Thanks in advance, Alex. STEWART REUBEN Concerning the FIDE Time Limit. Bob Wade and I decided in 1993 the minimum time for add-on to be required to keep score should be 30 seconds. When I came to write the 1999 World Championship rules, I decided on 40/100, 20/50, add-on 10 minutes to the finish with 30 seconds added per move from the first. In order to gain acceptance, I wanted time controls as closely similar to the then current standard practice as possible. I viewed with horror the possibility of somebody such as myself deciding the World Championship on 10.2 of the Laws of Chess, cannot win by normal means. I believe a rate such as all in 150 minutes, add on 30 seconds per move would be appalling. Some people would simply sit there and think until they only had a few minutes left. That would be overwhelmingly boring for spectators. For a faster game, there is nothing wrong with just one time control. Thus all in 90-120 minutes, add-on 60 seconds per move would meet with my approval. I have not come across the Australian problem that children find 30 seconds too short a time in which to keep score. The idea of one time control is taking hold because the dgt clocks do not work very well with several time controls. It is all too likely the clock will be pressed incorrectly and thus move on to the next time control prematurely. Iljumzhinov and certain people in FIDE believe the games should be quicker. Thus they favour all in 90, add-on 30 seconds per move from the first. They claim this would be more appealing to television. I believe that to be nonsense. If you want a game designed to be shown live on TV, then all in 10 add on 5 seconds is about right. They clearly also want to lead to more than one game per day. Thus the 2004 Olympiad is predicated to be played at three rounds in two days. The 2001 World Championship was played with two days for each round. The tie-breaks were played the same day as the second round. This was pretty awful. I know of no player or organiser, apart from those few FIDE people, who favour a serious game which lasts only about 4 hours. However, it is Iljumzhinov's money. This is an argument with which it is hard to quibble. Most active players in Europe do not like the cumulative mode throughout the game. They believe the time should be under their own control. I am not certain whether this is an absolute thing or whether it is just being conservative. Of course there is nothing wrong with preferring what you already know. Of course it is absolutely correct that different events should have different time controls depending on what the players and organisers want. Stewart Reuben 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!