From: "Graeme Gardiner" To: Subject: ACF Bulletin # 162 - 28 April 2002 Date: Sunday, April 28, 2002 9:42 ACF Bulletin # 162 - 28 April 2002 Paid Advertisement Chess Today is the first daily electronic newspaper on chess, which was started in November 2000 by GM Alexander Baburin. Currently Chess Today has two editors and four journalists: IM Vladimir Barsky, GM Ruslan Scherbakov, GM Mikhail Golubev and GM Alexander Baburin. It has readers all around the world - in USA, Canada, Australia, Asia and in most European countries. The paper is delivered via e-mail in PDF, PGN and CBV formats. Currently Yahoo hosts its mailing list. Almost every issue has one well-annotated game and 1-2 tactical puzzles, as well as latest chess news. Chess Today also contains instructional materials, book review, interviews and cartoons. Players rated 1500+, who are serious about chess, will benefit from the paper most. Subscribing is easy – payment can be made by credit card, check, PayPal or bank transfer. ICC members can also pay for Chess Today with ‘shekels’ – to Alexander Baburin (handle – IrishBear). Subscribers should provide their name and e-mail address, to which they wish to receive Chess Today. Subscription is free for GMs, so if you are lucky to be one and wish to receive the paper, please contact Alexander Baburin at ababurin@iol.ie For samples and more information please visit www.chesstoday.net. IN THIS ISSUE Oceanic Zonal, Olympiad Selections, Olympiad Appeal, 2003 Australian Open, Chess the Musical, World Youth Festival, Geraldton Chess Club, City of Sydney Championships, 2002 Grand Prix, 37th Redcliffe Peninsula Open, Laurieton May Open, NSWCA May Weekender, Correspondence. OCEANIC ZONAL FIJI 6 TO 11 MAY The Fiji Chess Federation has done a great job in organising this important regional qualifying event for the 2003 World Championships. 25 men and 9 women is an excellent turnout. To watch the games live go to Gary Bekker's Oceania site at http://www.auschess.org.au/oceania/fzt.htm. Anticipated Open Entries: GM Darryl Johansen AUS 2531 IM Gary Lane AUS 2446 FM Chris Depasquale AUS 2335 FM Greg Canfell AUS 2334 IM Anthony Ker NZL 2320 IM Vladimir Feldman AUS 2316 FM Mirko Rujevic AUS 2303 FM Bob Smith NZL 2282 FM Brett Tindall AUS 2273 FM Eddy Levi AUS 2264 FM Naum Kagan AUS 2250 Peter Green NZL 2247 FM Tim Reilly AUS 2240 Brian Jones AUS 2223 Damian Norris FIJ 2220 Stuart Fancy PNG 2209 Paul Spiller NZL 2072 Hilton Bennett NZL 2055 William Doobenen FIJ 2000 Bill Egan AUS 2000 Sanmogam Goundar FIJ 2000 Lee Jones AUS 2000 Manoj Kumar FIJ 2000 Nilesh Prasad FIJ 2000 Roneel Sharma FIJ 2000 Anticipated Womens Entries: Name Fed FIDE WIM Irina Berezina AUS 2274 WIM Laura Moylan AUS 2087 Catherine Lip AUS 2076 WFM Narelle Szuveges AUS 2031 Sita Anjali Devi FIJ 2000 Artila Prasad Devi FIJ 2000 Nancy Lane AUS 2000 Vivian Smith NZL 2000 Fanny Yee FIJ 2000 Enquiries: Dr. Virgilio C. De Asa President, Fiji Chess Federation. Chairman, Organising Committee. Phone: (679) 3314-450 (w); (679) 3312-682(h) Mobile: (679) 9979-924 Fax: (679) 3303-655. Postal address: G.P.O. Box 12408, Suva, Fiji. E-Mail: virgilio_de_asa@hotmail.com. 35TH WORLD CHESS OLYMPIAD, BLED, SLOVENIA, 25 OCTOBER TO 11 NOVEMBER 2002 SELECTION OF AUSTRALIAN TEAMS An open team, consisting of 6 players and a non-playing captain, and a women's team, consisting of four players and a non-playing captain, shall be selected to represent Australia at the 35th World Chess Olympiad being held in Bled, Slovenia. Players and captains will receive accommodation from the host organisation and will receive travel subsidies from the ACF's "Olympiad Appeal" fundraising efforts. Those wishing to be considered for selection as official playing representatives must apply, in writing, as per the ACF Selection Procedures By-Laws, by Friday 28th June 2002. Please refer to item 8 of the ACF Selection Procedures By-Laws before applying. The Selection By-Laws are available from the web site http://www.auschess.org.au/newcon/con7.htm. Applications should be sent, preferably by e-mail, to: IA Gary Bekker, ACF Olympiad Selections Coordinator 1/1 Aberdeen Road, Blackburn South, Vic 3130 Fax: (03) 9877-3214 or E-mail: gbekker@mira.net Applicant's supporting statements and other information provided to selectors will be published, and open to public scrutiny, at the website http://www.auschess.org.au/oceania/selections.htm. Any corrections or amendments to players' supporting statements or other selection information, must be submitted by Friday 5th July. Selection of players for this event will be finalised and made public by Sunday 14th July 2002. The selection process for team captains will commence immediately after the teams are announced and applicants should contact the Selections Coordinator, Gary Bekker, by Friday 19th July to nominate. Team captains will be selected by the ACF Council after ascertaining the preference of team members. Team captains will be announced by Sunday 28th July. Further details about the Olympiad are available from FIDE. OLYMPIAD APPEAL As usual Australia will be sending men's and women's teams to the upcoming Olympiad in Bled, Slovenia. In the absence of government or commercial sponsorship, the considerable costs of sending our teams overseas are borne by the chess community (that means us!) with the team members themselves having to make up any shortfall. There can be little doubt that if chess involved running, jumping, swimming, riding a bicycle or chasing some type of roughly spherical object around, then governments would be more than willing to channel taxpayer's money into chess. But that is not the case. Physical games are of paramount importance it seems, but intellectual games just don't count! Well, not so far anyway! It may be of interest to note that the Federal Department of Sport has an annual budget of well over $100 million, but not a dollar for chess. So much for the rhetoric about creating a "clever country". I therefore urge all Chess players to make a donation towards the cost of sending our Olympiad team overseas. Donations may be sent to the ACF Treasurer, Norm Greenwood PO Box 1840 Hornsby Westfield NSW 1635. 2003 AUSTRALIAN OPEN The ACF has received a bid from Chess Victoria Inc (Formerly Victorian Chess Association Inc) to host the 2003 Australian Open at the Mount Buller Chalet Conference Centre from 28 December 2002 to 11 January 2003. The bid has the benefit of significant sponsorship from the ski resort and the wish of the ski resort to host other important chess events. The ACF has also been in discussion with another state over a possible second bid. The venue for the upcoming Australian Open is likely to be decided at the next ACF Council Meeting scheduled for Monday 24 June. CHESS THE MUSICAL - ROLAND BROCKMAN Nova Music Theatre is staging a production of 'CHESS' (by Tim Rice & ABBA's Benny Andersson & Bjorn Ulvaeus) at the Whitehorse Centre, Nunawading, Victoria from May 10 to May 25. Enquiries; (03) 9761 2145, (03) 9262 6555. (Editor's note: I saw an amateur production of 'Chess' at the Gold Coast Arts Centre in January. It was a great night and the music was fantastic. Easily the best amateur musical of the many I have seen - including Les Mis). WORLD YOUTH FESTIVAL CRETE, GREECE 14 TO 22 NOVEMBER My apologies but there is still a delay over the selection for the Under 18 Girls representative. I should be in a position to announce the selection in next week's bulletin. Would those juniors who have not been selected to represent Australia at this important world junior event, but would like to attend as non selected players, please contact Mona Lee Email mlee8@bigpond.com immediately. GERALDTON CHESS CLUB Geraldton Chess Club (WA) now has a website. Check it out at http://www.modnet.com.au/~tdean/. CITY OF SYDNEY CHAMPIONSHIPS Open: 1 Reilly, Tim NSW 2249 7.5 38.5 48.5 37.5 2 Xie, George NSW 2091 7 41.0 53.0 40.0 3-5 Bolens, Johny NSW 2091 6 38.0 50.0 32.0 Goris, Robert NSW 2131 6 35.5 47.0 30.0 Samar, Raul NSW 2230 6 35.5 45.5 29.0 6-8 Canfell, Gregory J NSW 2281 5.5 39.0 51.5 32.0 Navarro, Sim NSW 1950 5.5 36.5 46.0 28.0 Safarian, Alek NSW 1961 5.5 33.5 43.5 27.0 9-12 Ingram, Ben W NSW 1926 5 35.5 47.5 29.0 Fell, Lloyd S NSW 1872 5 33.0 42.5 26.0 Kragovic, Dragoslav NSW 1919 5 31.5 40.0 23.5 Murray, Bruce D NSW 1998 5 30.5 39.0 24.0 13-17Suttor, Vincent NSW 1632 4.5 32.0 40.5 23.0 Lip, Catherine NSW 1807 4.5 31.5 42.0 23.5 Bleicher, Horst NSW 1713 4.5 31.5 40.5 19.5 Singaram, Subrumanian NSW 1798 4.5 30.5 39.0 20.5 Tulevski, Vasil G NSW 1815 4.5 28.0 36.0 19.5 18-22Capilitan, Romeo NSW 2009 4 32.0 40.5 24.0 Harp, Joel NSW 1908 4 31.5 40.0 22.5 Chan, Jason NSW 1794 4 31.0 39.0 21.0 Kordahi, Nicholas NSW 1800 4 30.0 37.5 19.0 Escribano, Jose NSW 1528 4 26.0 32.5 15.0 23-24Tomas, Tom NSW 1784 3.5 30.0 37.5 18.5 Barrera, Uriel NSW 1511 3.5 29.0 39.5 19.5 25-27Rosario, Amiel NSW 1606 2.5 28.0 35.0 11.5 Korbe, Heinrich NSW 1576 2.5 25.0 32.0 11.5 Soto, Leopoldo NSW 1739 2.5 25.0 31.5 14.0 28 Javor, Stephen NSW 1716 2 25.0 32.5 9.0 29 Ho, C C NSW 1715 0 8.5 15.5 0.0 Under 1700: 1 Keuning, Anthony V NSW 1547 7 34.0 43.5 33.0 2-4 Rewais, Sarwat NSW 1610 6.5 37.0 48.5 34.5 Chan, Andrew NSW 1417 6.5 34.5 45.5 29.5 Savelieff, Geoffry NSW 1319 6.5 34.5 44.5 33.5 5-8 Bisson, Danny Wayne NSW 1546 5.5 37.5 46.5 27.5 Huang, Jim NSW 5.5 36.5 46.0 34.0 Isaac, Ashur NSW 1606 5.5 32.0 41.5 25.5 Song, Raymond NSW 714 5.5 31.0 39.5 21.5 9-12 Kresinger, Frank NSW 1564 5 38.5 49.0 33.0 Tracey, Michael J NSW 1427 5 35.0 44.5 32.5 Grbin, Tereza NSW 1529 5 32.5 41.5 25.0 Baterowicz, Mark NSW 1668 5 30.5 39.5 22.5 13-18Art, Carl NSW 1539 4.5 35.5 45.0 27.0 Greenwood, Norman NSW 1506 4.5 31.5 39.0 24.0 Laugery, Bernard A NSW 1427 4.5 31.5 39.0 23.0 Mann, Nicholas G NSW 1249 4.5 29.0 37.0 19.5 Huang, Justin NSW 1237 4.5 29.0 37.0 19.0 Song, Angela NSW 1002 4.5 28.0 34.5 17.5 19 Wu, Edwin NSW 580 3.5 32.0 40.0 17.5 20-21Chan, Raymond NSW 3 26.5 33.0 14.0 Komljenovic, Stojan NSW 1288 3 26.0 32.0 13.0 22 Parker, Trent NSW 627 2.5 30.5 39.0 15.0 23 Accola, Tom NSW 1051 2 27.5 34.0 10.0 24 Miranda, Adrian NSW 230 1.5 27.0 33.5 9.5 25-26De Vera, Steve NSW 1190 1 8.5 15.5 3.5 Vargas, William NSW 1 4.0 10.0 2.5 2002 GRAND PRIX Organiser: Norm Braybrooke 19 Trafalgar Drive Kippa-Ring 4021 Email . Webpage http://crcchess.topcities.com/GP2002.html Remaining events in 2002 (a reminder that we welcome details of each event for publication in this bulletin): 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 18/19 May Adelaide Cup SA Cat 1 George Howard 08 8271 2757 georgeshoward@hotmail.com 8/9 June Queens Birthday Weekender SA Cat 1 George Howard 08 8271 2757 georgeshoward@hotmail.com 8-10 June Tasmanian Championships Burnie TAS Cat 1 Neville Ledger nlchess@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 13/14 July Fairfield Winter Cup NSW Cat 2 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 leominol@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 5/6 October Lidums Cup SA Cat 2 George Howard 08 8271 2757 georgeshoward@hotmail.com 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 14/15 December Fairfield Winter Cup NSW Cat 2 Rolando Atienza 0421 379940 atienzarolando@hotmail.com NSW 16, Qld 6, Tas 4, SA 4, ACT 1, WA 1, Vic 1. Total 33 events. 37TH PENINSULA OPEN (REDCLIFFE) 4 TO 6 May An ACF Grand Prix Class 1 Event Venue: Library, Redcliffe State High School Cnr Oxley Ave and Klingner Rd, Redcliffe, Queensland Prizes: 1st $500 2nd $250 3rd $125 Class/Group Prizes $100 (Minimum 10 players per group). Groupings to be determined on day. Juniors U1100 $50 (minimum 5 players ) Cadets U1100 $50 (minimum 5 players) Unrated $50 (minimum 5 players) Saturday: Registration 9.00am - 9.45am, Rd 1 - 10.00am, Rd 2 - 1.00 pm, Rd 3 - 3.30pm Sunday: Rd 4 - 10.00 am, Rd 5 - 2.00 pm Monday: Rd 6 - 9.00 am, Rd 7 - 1.00pm Monday Time controls: Rds 1 - 2: 60 minutes each plus 10 secs per move, Rds 3 - 7: 90 minutes each plus 10 secs per move Entry fees: Seniors $50 Pensioners/FTS $45 Juniors (under 18 at 01/01//02) $40 Cadets (under 12 at 01/01/02) $30 Discount $5 for entries paid by 1 May 2001 $10 surcharge for late entries (after 3 May) Entries/enquiries Mark Stokes 20 Melaleuca Drive Strathpine Qld 4500 Tel: 07 3205 6042 Email mstokes@bne.catholic.edu.au LAURIETON MAY OPEN 4/5 MAY ACF Grand Prix Cat 1 Event. IM Guy West is a confirmed entry. Venue: Laurieton United Servicemen’s Club on the waterfront in Seymour Street. Excellent playing conditions provided by our Major Sponsor L.U.S.C. Times: Saturday 10:00am, 12:30pm, 3:15pm, 5:45pm. Sunday 10:00am, 12:30pm, 3:15pm. Presentation after Round 7. Time Limit: 60 minutes per player for game. Games will be ACF rated. Prizes: $200 First Prize. Divisional prizes determined by the number of entries. Players can only win one prize each. The decision of Tournament Directors will be final. Entry: $25 1500+ Rtg, $20 U1500, $15 U1250 & unrated. $5 Discount for Juniors under 18 years of age. $5 Juniors in first Australian Chess Federation Rated Tournament. Tea/Coffee/Cordial supplied free! Club Bistro open for Lunch. Contact: Endel Lane 02 6559 9060, Strahan 02 6585 1143. NSWCA MAY WEEKENDER 18/19 MAY ACF Grand Prix Cat 1 Event Venue: Ashfield Catholic and Community Club 7 Charlotte St, Ashfield (1 minute from Ashfield Railway Station) Saturday Registration 9:00am-9:30am Rd 1 10:00am, Rd 2 12:30pm, Rd 3 3:00pm, Rd 4 5:30pm Sunday Rd 5 10:00am, Rd 6 12:30pm, Rd 7 3:00pm Presentation 5:30pm Time Limit 30 minutes plus 30 seconds per move Entry Fees: Adult $60. Juniors, Concession $50 (U15 $40) All entries must be on official entry form (or copy). Payment and entries accepted on the day before 9:30am. Or pre register via phone or email and save $10 (details below). All NSW resident players must be members of NSWCA or NSWJCL. 1st Prize $250 Other prizes will be announced on the day and are dependant on the number of players. Players are eligible for only 1 prize. Please make all cheques payable to NSWCA. Mail must be sent before 3 May 2002 to GPO Box 2418 Sydney 1043. Enquiries - Pre registration - pay on the day. Robert Keast 0417497258. robert.keast@didata.com.au. CORRESPONDENCE JOHN RICHES Dear Graeme, You wrote, and asked for comments on: "To me what is clear is that we need to develop a new constitution that achieves the following: 1. Retains responsibility for the states in respect of the matters which states should be responsible for. 2. Gives responsibilty to the ACF in respect of matters that the ACF should be responsible for including a leadership role in the overall development of chess in this country. I agree with Robert Jamieson that the commission (or board or executive - whatever you want to call it) has to be made up of people whose sole responsibilty is to the overall good of Australian chess and not to any particular state. 3. Includes all stakeholders with some kind of voting rights and collective responsibility. "All stakeholders" includes the Australian Chess Federation, the states (CAQ, NSWCA, ACTCA, VCA, TCA, SACA, CAWA and shortly the NTCA), the junior chess leagues (NSWJCL, ACTJCL, SAJCL), the Australian Women's Chess League, The Correspondence Chess League of Australia. Have I forgotten any organisations?" My concern with this sort of proposal is that it talks about responsibility, but not about answerability. Would you like to see Australia governed by people who were not elected, but appointed (by themsleves, of course), and whom you could not get rid of if you were dissatisfied with the way they were running the country? Doesn't that sort of system remind you of systems that have been in power, and are still in power, in certain other countries? Why should it be considered satisfactory as a way of running our national chess association? I am not sure what you mean by "voting rights" and "responsibility", but I am very suspicious in view of your stated desire to have Australian Chess run by people "whose sole responsibilty is to the overall good of Australian chess and not to any particular state". This sounds nice, but what does it mean? I belong to a state, and I want someone who is there to represent my interests and is answerable to our state association. In effect, the notion of "sole responsibilty to the overall good of Australian chess and not to any particular state" simply means that the executive can ignore the interests of chessplayers in one or more states (and it does not take an Einstein to work out which ones they would most likely be), and then justify their actions by claiming they did it "for the overall good of Australian Chess". The problems caused for the ACTCA with regard to the Doeberl Cup entries provide an example of the sort of thing that can be justified by this sort of logic - the interests of the smaller people are overlooked and overridden. It is all too easy to argue that changing to a major event in Sydney, rather than a smaller event elsewhere, would be "for the good of Australian chess", thus ignoring the interests of players in regional areas and destroying what they have worked for many years to build up and achieve. I urge all state associations to consider very carefully where these proposals could lead before giving away their rights to a group of "appointees" over whom they will have little or no control. John Riches. DR GEORGE STERN Graeme On my part there was no controversy. I've long held the ACF needs shaking up. Good on you! George RAE GALTSMITH-CLARKE Graeme, As a sometime editor of various club and organisation magazines, including chess, I know how frustrating it can be to regularly "cast your bread upon the waters" and in return get a deafening silence. While I have nothing useful to contribute to the various recently aired topics, except to say that I am following them with interest, I would like to compliment you on producing so frequently such a lively publication. Perhaps I do have "5 cents worth" to say - Nikola Zbilijic's comments regarding lowly rated players in tournaments struck a chord. I have long foregone any thoughts of entering "open" tournaments, whether GP-rated or not; the combination of an around 1400 rating and restricted finances makes the idea of paying high (to me anyway) entry fees to merely make up the pot for the "professional tournamenters" to gobble up between them, outweighs the pleasure of playing "just for fun". Keep up the good work. Rae Galtsmith-Clarke BRUCE HARRIS Hi Graeme, Last night at the club the subject of “ratings drag” came up in conversation. I have long thought there’s a simple solution to this problem. The problem arises when players, particularly juniors, improve so rapidly that their official rating is unable to keep up, and therefore doesn’t reflect their true playing strength. This is unfair on the players themselves, and also on their opponents, who are robbed of rating points after each encounter. The source of the problem is the fact that players (rightly) start playing in rated tournaments early in their careers, when they are inexperienced and weak. After a few tournaments they get an official rating, often as low as 500 or 600. From that moment on, every rating point they gain is at the expense of an opponent. So as the Smerdons, Chows and Leskiewiczes rise through the ranks, they devastate the ratings of their weekend tournament opponents. It doesn’t have to be this way. Suppose a 14-year-old Smurf has a playing strength of 1800 and an official rating of 1300. Now suppose that instead of the 1300 rating he was actually unrated. Then after 25 rated games (correct me if I’m wrong here) he would have an official rating, and it would be something like his true 1800 strength. So what I’m proposing is that the system records not one but two ratings for rising players, the first being the traditional rating calculated by the incremental formula, the second being the performance rating for the player’ s most recent 25 (or other number) rated games. If at any time the latter figure is higher than the former, then it becomes the player’s official rating. The dual ratings would continue until the player reached either a certain age (say 18) or a certain rating (say 2000). The same system could apply to any new player of any age, for perhaps 3 years from the player’s first rated game (on the grounds that this period is likely to see rapid improvement). If this were implemented, it would eliminate the problem of under-rated juniors, and may overcome the ancillary problem of some seniors refusing to play in junior-abundant tournaments for fear of losing precious rating points. Maintaining the two sets of ratings would be a pain if done manually, but in a computerised system should be a breeze. What do you think? Regards, Bruce PETER HANNA (Peter has been out of contact for the last four weeks). As the instigator of the Sydney Easter Cup (SEC) I must respond to Paul Dunn's article in the Bulletin of 21st April, a later bulletin is not on your chess site. Unfortunately I do not receive the magazine but assume from Paul's article that the magazine claimed that the clash of Cups was intentional. Those with a memory will recall that all this was discussed intensively three years ago. The only reason for the Sydney Easter Cup is that it is totally ridiculous to leave a city of four million people, of high ethnic content, with no chess over a four-day holiday -- it has absolutely nothing to do with Canberra. As a new competitor I rebelled against this travesty. Go to Canberra I was told -- oh yeah great -- and what do tell my young son expecting a decent parent, I could not be so selfish. This is the reason why the SEC is only held on the Saturday and Monday -- to allow for family life, we receive much positive response. As well it is ridiculous to expect people to cough up for travel, accommodation and entry fees when like myself they are still finding their legs -- so they are neglected. If blame must be attributed aim it at me not Bob Keast, he just happens to be president (or secretary) of the Canterbury Bankstown Leagues Club Chess Club. Bob saw at the first SEC that the demand existed and being the nice and responsible guy that he is he fulfilled his responsibilities as the Presidnet of the NSW Chess Assoc. and became director of play. It was the plesant memories our members had of the first SEC two years ago that drove us to push on, just as our highly successful 2002 competition will drive us to strive even harder next year, my goal is seventy players. TRANSYLVANIA CHESS TEAM Dear chess player, We organize a strong international chess open in Transylvania, Romania. A beautiful city and 4 star Hotel offer you the best conditions to play a chess tournament, FIDE rated. For details please visit our site: http://www26.brinkster.com/chesstd If you want more information, send us an email at: Transylvania.Chess@personal.ro Transylvania Chess Team. 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!