Ralph Seberry RIP
The NSW chess community is in shock following the sudden death of state champion Ralph Seberry last week, aged just 37. Ralph died in his sleep on Tuesday night last week. Besides being a first-rate player, Ralph was a well-liked and respected chess administrator who had recently reinvigorated the local chess scene with a range of experimental tournaments, designed to test new formats for popularity. He is survived by his partner Kat, who is a lawyer, and their two children, Jackson (11) and Alexandra (9). Ralph was a full-time father and chess coach, and came from an academic family - both his parents are professors. He had recently begun a PhD in computing at Macquarie University, and had earlier worked as a computer programmer. His major successes in chess include winning the 2003 NSW Championship, the 2004 ANZAC Day Open and the City of Sydney Championship in 1988.

The ACF offers its deep condolences to Ralph's family and friends.

A highlight of Ralph's games was his tactical ability, as demonstrated in these encounters:

Seberry, Ralph - Xie, George
City of Sydney 2003
(notes by Gareth Charles)

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. a3 Be7 7. Bg5 d5 8. cxd5 exd5 9. e3 O-O 10. Bb5 Ne5 11. Be2 h6 12. Bh4 a6 13. Qb3 Ng6 14. Bg3 Bd6 15. Bf3 Bxg3 16. hxg3 {Ralph has already outplayed Black by his clever handling of the opening. He has got a weak isolated pawn to attack on d5, an outpost on d4, and the Black light squared bishop has little scope.} Ne7 17. O-O Qa5 18. Rfd1 Rb8 19. Qa4 Qb6 20. b4 Bg4 {trying to exchange off the craven bishop. But Ralph has seen further...} 21. Bxg4 Nxg4

Although the next game is a loss, it gives a good indication of Ralph's daring style

Canfell, Gregory - Seberry, Ralph 1-0
City of Sydney 2003
(notes by Ralph Seberry)

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. c3 c5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. Ne2 cxd4 8. cxd4 f6 9. Nf4 Nxd4 10. Qh5+ Ke7 11. exf6+ Nxf6 12. Ng6+

hxg6 13. Qxh8 Kf7 14. O-O e5 15. Nf3 Nxf3+ 16. gxf3 e4

17. fxe4 Nh5 18. Be3 Qh4 19. f3 Bh3 20. Qh7

Bc5 21. Bxc5 Qg5+ 22. Kf2 Qd2+?

Seberry, Ralph - Sigfred From 1-0
Denmark 1986

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.Nf3 Bc5 5.e3 Nc6 6.Nc3 a5 7.Be2 Ngxe5 8.Nxe5 Nxe5 9.O-O O-O 10.b3 Ra6 11.Qd5 Qe7 12.Ne4 Ba7 13.Bb2 Re6 14.Qxa5 Nc6 15.Qc3 f5 16. Ng3 f4 17.exf4 Rxf4

And some spectacular finishes, courtesy of Ian Rogers' columns:

Seberry - Holliday
1985/6 Australian Championship

Seberry - Mescher
1985/6 Australian Championship

Ralph Seberry will be sadly missed.

The NSWCA May Weekender was a category 2 Grand Prix event with $1500 in prizes, held at the scenic Rose Bay RSL Club on May 15-16. DOP was Lee Forace and the time control was 60 minutes + 10 seconds per move.

No Name                     Rtg  Loc  Total  1    2    3    4    5    6  

1  Xie, George                   2297 5.5   20:W 12:W 10:W  5:W  2:W  4:D
2  Canfell, Gregory J            2281 5     22:W 34:W  7:W  6:W  1:L  8:W
3  Song, Raymond                 1843 5     23:W 39:W  4:D  7:D 19:W  6:W
4  Schultz-Pedersen, Jesper      2236 4.5   17:W 16:W  3:D  9:W  5:D  1:D
5  Joyce, John              2270 2270 4     24:W 13:W 11:W  1:L  4:D  7:D
6  Chan, Jason                   1957 4     21:W 41:W  9:W  2:L 12:W  3:L
7  Charles, Gareth               2106 4     28:W 27:W  2:L  3:D 21:W  5:D
8  Kevork, Chris                 1855 4     15:L 32:W 20:W 16:W 13:W  2:L
9  Samar, Raul                   2139 4     35:W 19:W  6:L  4:L 25:W 14:W
10 Bolens, Johny                 2029 4     18:W 33:W  1:L 19:L 23:W 24:W
11 Harp, Joel                    1965 4     30:W 15:W  5:L 13:L 27:W 20:W
12 Rachmadi, Herman              1756 4     38:W  1:L 30:W 26:W  6:L 19:W
13 Descallar, Levi               1746 3.5   37:W  5:L 35:W 11:W  8:L 17:D
14 Rout, Ian C                   1932 3.5   33:L 23:W 17:W 27:D 15:W  9:L
15 Art, Carl                     1448 3.5    8:W 11:L 31:D 22:W 14:L 34:W
16 Mendes da Costa, Alex         1717 3.5   43:W  4:L 33:W  8:L 18:D 28:W
17 Illingworth, Max              1597 3.5    4:L 43:W 14:L 39:W 26:W 13:D
18 Reid, Vaness                  1516 3.5   10:L 31:L 40:W 32:W 16:D 27:W
19 Clark, Domenic                1729 3     40:W  9:L 36:W 10:W  3:L 12:L
20 Watharow, Sean P              1631 3      1:L 37:W  8:L 35:W 31:W 11:L
21 Dick, Graham                  1539 3      6:L 42:W 34:W 31:D  7:L 22:D
22 Song, Angela                  1655 3      2:L 28:D 41:W 15:L 33:W 21:D
23 Pickering, Anthony            1528 3      3:L 14:L 43:W 41:W 10:L 32:W
24 Keuning, Anthony V            1635 3      5:L 35:L 28:W 38:W 34:W 10:L
25 Nicholson, Scott              1566 3     32:L 36:L 37:W 29:W  9:L 31:W
26 Low, Frank                    1640 3     41:L 38:W 32:W 12:L 17:L 36:W
27 Escribano, Jose               1654 2.5   42:W  7:L 39:W 14:D 11:L 18:L
28 Losh, Gary                    1520 2.5    7:L 22:D 24:L 37:W 36:W 16:L
29 Miranda, Adrian               1351 2.5    0:D  0:D  0:L 25:L 30:D 43:W
30 Greenwood, Norman             1540 2.5   11:L 40:W 12:L 36:L 29:D 41:W
31 Baterowicz, Mark              1709 2     39:L 18:W 15:D 21:D 20:L 25:L
32 Evans, Carrie                      2     25:W  8:L 26:L 18:L 43:W 23:L
33 Bisson, Danny Wayne           1489 2     14:W 10:L 16:L 34:L 22:L 35:W
34 Javor, Stephen                1754 2     36:W  2:L 21:L 33:W 24:L 15:L
35 Nichas, John                  1428 2      9:L 24:W 13:L 20:L 41:W 33:L
36 Cohn, Jason                   1328 2     34:L 25:W 19:L 30:W 28:L 26:L
37 Sweeney, Matthew              1283 2     13:L 20:L 25:L 28:L 40:W 38:W
38 Tracey, Michael J             1435 1.5   12:L 26:L 42:+ 24:L 39:D 37:L
39 Adler, David                  1305 1.5   31:W  3:L 27:L 17:L 38:D 40:L
40 Eales, Jonathon               1110 1.5   19:L 30:L 18:L 43:D 37:L 39:W
41 Reese, Peter                  1192 1     26:W  6:L 22:L 23:L 35:L 30:L
42 Stevenson, John                    1     27:L 21:L 38:-  0:W  0:   0: 
43 Bell, Gerry                        .5    16:L 17:L 23:L 40:D 32:L 29:L

Peninsula Open: This Queensland GP tournament was held at Redcliffe State High School from May 1-3 and attracted 50 players.

Myers 6.0; Edwards, Davidovici 5.5; Wilkinson, Alkin, Davidson 5.0; Barnard, Ly, Lazarus, Manongas, Horwood, Stewart, Davison, Van der Meer, Grenfell 4.5; Weller, Macleod, Hvistendahl, Ritchie, Buciu, Booy, Goodwin 4.0; Stokes, Harris, Buciu V, Paterson, Bender, Kospartov, Mills, Horwood 3.5; Sorensen, Gray, Grunte, Lei, Mcintyre, Kinder 3.0; Russell, Sullivan, Davison, Dobson, Taylor, Braybrooke, Hartley-Holl, Ezzy, Horwood, Hunter, Newton 2.0; Johnston, Stanley 1.5 Harry 1.0.

Andrey Bliznyuk won the Canberra Club Championship with five wins and a draw from seven games, but Junta Ikeda will have been equally pleased with his second place given that the youngster missed two games and conceded only a single draw to Bliznyuk in the five games he played.

Leading scores:
1. A.Bliznyuk 5.5/7;
2. J.Ikeda 5;
3. A.DeNoskowski 4.5;
=4. M.Grcic, J.Maguire 4.

Junta Ikeda and Khoi Hoang dominated the ACT U/16 Championship with Ikeda defeating Hoang in a lightning playoff to take the title.

Leading scores:
=1. J.Ikeda,Khoi Hoang 5.5/6;
3. S.Guo-Yuthok 4.5;
=4. T.Oliver, J.Neeman, C.Tran, Lin Ying, K.Smith 4.
- Ian Rogers

Mind Games Festival at Surfers Paradise: Fri to Sun 26-30 May

The Surfers Paradise Management Association in Association with the Queensland Events Corporation are running the inaugural Mind Games Festival from 26 to 30 May. The events include Chess, Bridge, Euchre, 500 and Scrabble.

Gardiner Chess has been asked to run the chess part of the festival. Whilst the other four events will be held indoors in five star hotels, we are delighted that chess will be given a very high profile in, and around, Cavill Avenue.

Full details: upcoming tournaments page

Surfers Paradise Premier Rapid Tournament $3,550 in Prizes Sat 29 May 11am to 6pm
Full details and enter online at www.surfersisparadise.com (Mind Games)

Australian Club Teams Champs at Caloundra, 27 Sept to 1 Oct, Deadline for Entries:

All potential teams please take note that I need confirmation of your intention to participate in this event by Monday 31 May latest. Graeme Gardiner ggardiner@gardinerchess.com

Australian Participation Records: Last week 864 students participated in round two of Gold Coast Primary Schools Chess. The event was held over two days with 344 on the Tuesday and 520 on the Wednesday. I think two or three years ago we had approx 650-700 at one venue at one time.

It might be useful in presenting challenges to chess organisers to know what are the various participation records in Australian chess. I’m not sure that anyone has tried to keep these records.

If anyone can help me out on any of the following I’d appreciate it:

Australian record for most players at one event at one place at one time?

Australian record for most players in an event (eg NSW schools comp)?

Australian simul record (All games played at the one venue starting at the same time)?

Andrew Martin's world simul record is 321 games (+294, =16, -1), taking 17 hours.

John Kellner has the Australian blindfold record of 17, established at Warbuton in 1973

(Thanks to Ian Rogers for these records)

Any other Australian participation records? Please send any info you are prepared to share on this issue to Graeme Gardiner at ggardiner@gardinerchess.com and he will try and collate it and devise a forum to keep these records maintained.

Sponsor a GM for the Australian Open: Australian Open organiser Chess World is seeking your support to increase the number of GMs at Mt Buller this year. Chess World is inviting donations to help pay for transport and accommodation costs - and offering various benefits in return. Full details in ACF Newsletter No. 263.

Olympiad selections: 36th Chess Olympiad, Calvia, Majorca, Spain, October 14th-31st.

Applications are now open for the Australian Open and Womens Olympiad Teams for the 36th Chess Olympiad to be held in Calvia, Majorca, Spain from October 14th-31st 2004. (Event website: http://www.36chessolympiad.com/uk/index.php).

Those wishing to be considered for selection as official playing representatives must apply, in writing or by email, as per the ACF Selection Procedures By-Laws, by Friday 18th June 2004. Please refer to item 5 of the ACF Selection By-Laws before applying and for details of material required in an application (see below). The full Selection By-Laws are available at http://www.auschess.org.au/constitution/con7.htm .

Full details on the upcoming tournaments page

- Kevin Bonham
ACF Olympiad Selections Co-Ordinator.

World News:

Sarajevo: Scores after 1 round: 1. Bologan, Viktor g MDA 2665 1.0; 2. Movsesian, Sergei g SVK 2647 1.0; 3. Shirov, Alexei g ESP 2713 1.0; 4. Atalik, Suat g BIH 2554 0.5; 5. Dizdarevic, Emir g BIH 2520 0.5; 6. Kozul, Zdenko g CRO 2627 0.5; 7. Sokolov, Ivan g NED 2690 0.5; 8. Kurajica, Bojan g BIH 2540 0.0; 9. Predojevic, Borki m BIH 2490 0.0; 10. Short, Nigel D g ENG 2712 0.0. Site | View games

5th European Individual Chess Championship: A very strong event under way in Turkey. Round 1 was almost delayed when an electricity generator blew up, but eventually everything was sorted out. Ivanchuk and Naiditsch were both upset losses in round 1. Leading scores after 3 rounds: 3.0 Jobava, Navara; 2.5 Milov, Radjabov, Krasenkow, Nyback, Mamedyarov, Agrest, Andersson, Gurevich, Aronian, Miroshnichenko. Site | View games

Dominguez regains lead in Capablanca Memorial: Havana, Cuba. Scores after 9 rounds: 7.5 Dominguez; 7.0 Bruzon; 5.5 Delgado, Arencibia; 5.0 Felgaer; 4.0 Morovic, Gonzalez; 3.5 Ikonnikov, Luther, Ramirez; 2.5 Maiwald, Quezada. Site | View all games | Annotated games

Karadjorje-Serbia: Final scores,11 rounds: 8.0 Mastrovasilis, Georgiev K; 7.5 Pavasovic; 6.0 Goloshchapov; 5.5 Ruck; 5.0 Jeremic, Ivanisevic, Sedlak; 4.5 Damljanovic, Pikula; 4.0 Todorovic; 3.0 Pavlovic. Site | View games

World Championship press conference: Some details of the upcoming Kramnik-Leko world championship have emerged at a press conference. The tournament, sponsored by Centro Dannemann, will take place from September 25 to October 18, 2004 at the Centro Dannemann in Brissago at Lago Maggiore (Ticino, Switzerland) over 14 games with classical time controls. Prize fund is a million Swiss Francs tournament. Details at www.worldchesschampionship.info, which will also feature competitions to predict the course of the play via interactive elements and win prizes. Some TV channels will cover the match. Kramnik rates his chances at 55 per cent, and Leko also thinks he'll win.

After the press conference, Association of Chess Professionals (ACP) president Joel Lautier confirmed that the group was ready to take over the world championship reunification process if FIDE failed. And Kramnik confirmed there would be no re-match after his Leko match, whatever the result.

Games:

The 5th European Chess Championship had some big upsets in round 1:

Ivanchuk-Radulski

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 Na5 9. Bc2 c5 10. d4 Qc7 11. d5 Bd7 12. b3 O-O 13. h3 Nb7 14. c4 Rfe8 15. Nc3 g6 16. Bd2 Bf8 17. g4 h5 18. Nh2 b4 19. Na4 hxg4 20. hxg4 Be7 21. Nb2 Kg7 22. Kg2 Rh8 23. Rh1 Rh4 24. f3 Rah8 25. Qe2 Qc8 26. Rag1 Qg8 27. Be1 Rh3 28. Nd1 Qh7 29. Bg3 Nxg4!!

Kose,S 2244 - Naiditsch,A 2571

1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Be2 e6 7. O-O Nc6 8. h3 Bh5 9. Be3 cxd4 10. cxd4 Be7 11. Nc3 Qd6 12. Nb5 Qb8 13. Rc1 a6 14. Nc3 O-O 15. Na4 Nd5 16. Nc5 Rd8 17. Qb3 b5 18. Qd1 Qb6 19. Bd3 e5 20. Bxh7+!!

Cuba is hosting a major event: the Capablanca Memorial

Ikonnikov - Gonzalez

1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.g3 Qb6 7.Nb3 Ne5 8.Bg2 Nxc4 9.e4 Bb4 10.Qe2 Qc7 11.O-O Bxc3 12.bxc3 d6 13.Nd2 Nxd2 14.Qxd2 O-O 15.Ba3 Rd8 16.Rad1 Ne8 17.e5 d5 18.Qd4 Bd7 19.Qb4!

And Serbia also had a big tournament last week: Karadjordje-Serbia 1804-2004

Pavasovic - Georgiev

1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bc4 Nb6 6. Bb3 c4 7. Bc2 Qc7 8. Qe2 g5 9. h3 Bg7 10. O-O Nxe5 11. Nxg5 d5 12. a4 h6 13. Nf3 Nd3 14. Bxd3 cxd3 15. Qxd3 Qc4 16. Qe3 Bf5 17. Re1 e6 18. d4 Bxb1 19. a5 Qa6 20. Rxb1 Nc4 21. Qf4 Qxa5 22. b3 Qb6 23. Qg4 Bf6

Grand Prix tournaments:

These details are provisional. For up-to-date details of these events, please visit the Grand Prix website

NSW Open Championship NSW; 3; June 12-14; Sydney - Ryde Eastwood, Charles Zworestine Website
Mid North Coast June Open NSW; 3; June 19-20 ; Laurieton; Endel Lane 02-6559-9060
Darling Downs Open QLD; 2; June 12-14; Toowoomba; Ross Andrew Mills 07 46340875/0405 382 324. Email
Tasmanian Open 1; June 12-14; Hobart; Kevin Bonham k_bonham@tassie.net.au
Gold Coast Open QLD; 3; June 26-27; Robina Town Centre; Graeme Gardiner 07-5522-7221 Email
Caloundra Open QLD; July 3-4; Caloundra Powerboat Club; Bob Goodwin
Fairfield Winter Cup NSW; July 10-11; Fairfield; Rolando Atenzia
University Open SA; 3; July 10-11; Adelaide University; Andrew Saint 08-83323752 Website Email
Queensland Open QLD; 2; July 17-18; Gardiner Chess Centre; Graeme Gardiner 07 5522 7221 Email
ANU Open ACT; 3; July 24-25; Canberra
Coal City Open NSW; 3; Aug 7-8; Newcastle; George Lithgow 02-4943-3862
August Weekender NSW; July 31-August 1; Rose Bay; Website
Gold Coast Classic QLD; 3; September 18-19; Somerset College; Graeme Gardiner 07-5522-7221 Email
Ryde Eastwood Open NSW; 3; October 2-4; Ryde Eastwood; Website
Redcliffe Challenge QLD; October 2-3; Rothwell Grace Lutheran College? Website
Tweed Heads Open NSW; October 16-17; Tweed Heads Civic Centre; Audie Pennefather
Laurieton Open NSW; 1; October 30-31; Laurieton; Endel Lane 02-6559-9060
Coffs Harbour Inaugural Open NSW; 2; November 13-14; Coffs Harbour Catholic Club; Bill Ross 02-6651-8855 Email
November Weekender NSW; November 20-21; North Sydney Leagues Club; Website
Fairfield Summer Cup NSW; 3; December 10-11; Fairfield; Rolando Atenzia

Other tournaments

Full details - see upcoming tournaments on the website.

Queensland Women’s Champs: May 22-23. Gardiner Chess Centre. website Email.
Mind Games Festival: 26-30 May. Surfers Paradise, Simuls by GM Johansen and IM Solomon. Rapid Tournament, Fischerandom, Social Family Event
Victorian junior champs: May 22-23 and 29-30. Carrington Centre, 79 Carrington Road Box Hill. Email website
Victorian Open Championship: June 12-14. Box Hill Chess Club, 79 Carrington Road. 7 round swiss. $3000 in prizes. Email website
Mingara May Major: May 29-30. Under 2000. Contact Mal Murrell 02 43923873/0408495323 email or Joe Keaveney 0243322023.
ASEAN Masters Chess Congress: Several tournaments. Thomas Hoe Tel : (65) 96934049 Fax : (65) 63581483 Email
World Youth Under-16 Chess Olympiad, India. July 1-9. 10 Round Swiss. 4-player teams. Contact: P.T. Ummer Koya, Phone : (91) 495 – 2420327, 2420727 Fax : (91) 495 – 2422033, 2421005. Email Website
NZ North Island chess championship & rapid: July 12-17. Auckland. Contact: Bob Smith.

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