ACF NEWSLETTER
The newsletter of the Australian Chess Federation Inc.
an affiliate of the World Chess Federation (FIDE)
No. 390
22 November 2006
AUSTRALIAN CHESS
FEDERATION
Public liability insurance:
In 2001 the ACF introduced a Public Liability Insurance Scheme for Australian chess bodies. The scheme offers competitive rates of insurance for the ACF, ACF-affiliated State and Territory Associations and Clubs affiliated with those Associations. More details here. Clubs wishing to join should contact Ian Gammon of John Bernard & Associates Pty Ltd tel: (03) 9568 4822.
ChesSOS Correspondence Chess on the Web
Check out some sample issues. Daily Chess News – Annotated Games - Chess Lessons and Hints. Interviews, reviews and more. Trial
The Giant Games specialist selling life-sized Teak and Plastic chess and checkers sets. Set sizes up to a massive 2m in height.
Suncoast Chess Club Inc.
On the Sunshine Coast
Queensland's Leading Club for the past 20 years.
Host to - 26 Open Tournaments and The 1999 Australian Open.While on the web visit our web page, http://www.sunchess.org.au
We invite all visitors to play in our club night events.
So why not come to The Sunshine coast for your next holiday? Email Bill Powell
Australian Open Championships 2006/2007
I understand that GM's Ian Rogers and Darryl Johansen(AUS) Dejan Antic (Serbia) and Mark Bluvshtein (Canada) are now confirmed entries.
Negotiations with another 2 GM's are continuing.
The Open has budgeted for a field of 150 players and with 21 prizes on offer you have a 1 in 7 chance (minimum) of winning a prize.
The highest placed woman in the Open will be the Australian Women's Champion until the next Open, subject to there being sufficient qualifying entries. There need to be at least 6 entries from 3 different States and Territories. In recognition of that, the Womens prize is now $750 and there is a second prize of $250.
Enties are coming in steadily but please support the efforts of the organisers by entering the tournament as soon as possible. It would be fabulous to have an entry of 150+ for the Open, as well as big fields for the supporting events, so we can go back to our sponsors and say "Support Australian Chess and Australian chess players will support you"..
Details of the events and venue and an entry form are available at the official website:
http://www.actjcl.org.au/ausopen2006
Australian Schools Teams Championships 2006
Australian Junior Championships 2007
Entries for the Australian Schools Championship are all but finalised. There is still however some uncertainty about the final field for the Girls Secondary section in which the response has been disappointing for the organisers. Details are on the official website at http://www.actjcl.org.au/astc2006/index.php
More than 160 players are already entered in the 2007 Australian Juniors with only a handful of those still to confirm their entry with payment. So numbers look very exciting! We are really proud to already have in excess of 20 entries in the U18 Girls but admit disappointment with entries in the U12 Girls. 16 entries to date with 12 from the ACT?! Hopefully a few more will enter before 22 December. Certainly a bit more of a development effort needs to be happening in this area across all states.
Entries are now listed alphabetically. Players who have entered (but don't appear) have not had their payment confirmed. If any players have concerns about their entry they should contact Jenny Wilkinson ausjuniors@internode.net .
Key dates -
1 December - enter before this date for discounted entry fee of $80 (late entry 1/12-22/12 $95)
22 December - all entries CLOSE.
There are two advertisements on the website specifically for inclusion in your publications - newsletters, flyers etc. These can be found at www.actjcl.org.au/ausjuniors2007/downloads.php as both pdf & picture files.
If you have any questions or concerns please don't hesitate to drop Libby Smith an email at mandesmith@homemail.com.au or call her on (02) 6291 7625.
Australian Championships and Junior events 2008
Bids for these events closed last Friday, 17 November 2006. There is so far only one bid, namely, for the Australian Junior Championships 2008 from NSW. That means there are no bids for either the Australian Championship 2007/2008 and Major or the Australian Schools Teams Championships finals 2007. This is, to say the least, disappointing as it means not only a futher daly in allotting the events but also a short lead-up time fro the organisers, something that I have been keen to avoid. Unfortunately in recent years this has been the rule but it places a considerable burden on the organisers and lessens the chances of good sponsorship.
Any expressions of interest in either of these would be welcome. You could contact me in the first instance.
Commonwealth Chess Championships
The Commonwealth Chess Championships began at Mumbai, India on 19 November. They are being organised by the All India Chess Federation for the Commonwealth Chess Association. Australia is represented by FM Lee Jones who is seeded 91st in a field of 165. Top seed is GM Nigel Short who is also President of the Commonwealth Chess Association. It is a pity that there is only one Australian playing as the event is of significance for the area and is also clearly quite strong. There are 28 players on 2/2 after 2 rounds. Lee Jones has not fared so well and is yet to open his account. Almost the whole field comprises Indian players including a dozen GMs.
MYER TAN AUSTRALIAN CHESS GRAND PRIX
Ralph Seberry Memorial (Cat. 2)
This tournament was played last weekend, 18 and 19 November. The winner was FM Igor Bjelobrk on 6.5/7 whose only exception to a perfect score was a draw with junior Max Illingworth in round 6. FM George Xie and veteran Johnny Bolens shared 2nd and 3rd on 5.5.
CAQ November Weekender (cat. 2)
This event was also played last weekend over 7 rounds. The equal winners were IM Stephen Solomon and GM Dejan Antic on 6 with FM Jonathan Humphrey on 5.5 third. There were 45 players.
Only four events remain to conclude the years calendar. They are:
Best in the West VIC Melbourne 25/11/06 26/11/06 Cat.1
Tuggeranong Vikings ACT Canberra 02/12/06 03/12/06 Cat.1
Xmas Open WA Perth 02/12/06 03/12/06 Cat.1
Christmas Swiss Weekender VIC Melbourne 16/12/06 17/12/06 Cat.1
More information about them can be found on the Grand Prix web page www.chessaustralia.com.au/grandprix/index.cfm .
2006 Vikings Weekender (Cat 1)
The 2006 Vikings Weekender, sponsored by Tuggeranong Vikings, is on 2 to 3 December at Vikings Erindale, Wanniassa, ACT. A flyer is available at http://www.netspeed.com.au/ianandjan/IansPage/results/weekenders/2006Vikings.htm
Please direct any questions to the listed contact, Michael Whitely.
Myer Tan Australian Chess Grand Prix 2007
Entry forms for the 2007 Myer Tan Australian Grand Prix are now available at http://www.chessaustralia.com.au/grandprix2007/index.cfm .
Please enter by the end of November so that programs can be printed before Xmas.
Brian Jones
Australian Chess Enterprises
[Organisers are strongly urged to enter their events in the 2007 Myer Tan GP so as to build on the excellent start made under Brian Jones' Direction this year. DJ]
FIDE Trainer Titles
A final reminder that the closing date for applications for a title without the need for an examination is 30 November 2006. So far we have two applicants but it would be good to see more.
Visit www.fide.com for full details.
Australian Masters
A reminder, too, that the Australian Masters and supporting tournaments will be held from 15 to 23 December at the Noble Park Chess Club, Melbourne. Full details were in Newsletter No. 388.
Players who wish to play have to enter by Friday, 1st December 2006. The final field of the tournament will be known on Monday, 4th December 2006.
If you wish to enter, you can contact the following people
Carl Gorka-9528 6452, 0406 021 559, carlgorka@hotmail.com
Domagoj Dragicevic- 0421 896 365, domic1000@hotmail.com
Or you can email australianmasters@yahoo.com.au
World Championship Candidates matches.
After some preliminary skirmishing the FIDE President has now announced arrangements for the Candidates matches to choose players for the World Championship Tournament 2007. Here is what he said:
Moscow, 16 November 2006
Dear friends of chess,
On behalf of FIDE I am pleased to announce that both rounds of the Candidates Matches for the 2007 World Championship Tournament will take place in Elista, 26 May - 14 June 2007. The prize fund for each match of both rounds will be USD 40,000. I shall personally contribute 320,000 USD towards the total prize fund and a further USD 160,000 will be contributed by FIDE.
The 16 Grandmasters who will participate in the Candidates Matches are:
01. Levon Aronian (ARM)
02. Peter Leko (HUN)
03. Ruslan Ponomariov (UKR)
04. Boris Gelfand (ISR)
05. Etienne Bacrot (FRA)
06. Alexander Grischuk (RUS)
07. Judith Polgar (HUN)
08. Alexei Shirov (ESP)
09. Michael Adams (ENG)
10. Evgeny Bareev (RUS)
11. Vladimir Malakhov (RUS)
12. Gata Kamsky (USA)
13. Rustam Kasimjanov (UZB)
14. Sergei Rublevsky (RUS)
15. Mikhail Gurevich (TUR)
16. Magnus Carlsen (NOR)
Out of the above 16 Grandmasters, the top 4 will qualify for the 2007 World Chess Championship Tournament in Mexico, 11 September - 1 October, joining the defending World Champion Vladimir Kramnik (RUS) and GMs Vishy Anand (IND), Peter Svidler (RUS), Alexander Morozevich (RUS) who have already qualified from the previous World Championships.
We are all looking forward for another world class event to be held successfully in Elista.
Gens Una Sumus!
Kirsan Ilyumzhinov
FIDE President
This goes to show how easy it is to topple off the top of the heap in world championship chess. GM Veselin Topolov's name is missing though it has been speculated that, if one of the 16 withdraws, Topolov will take his place.
And now I'll say goodbye until next time.
Denis Jessop
Acting Editor and ACF President
E-mail: denis.jessop@netspeed.com.au
Post: 33 Cargelligo Street, Duffy, ACT 2611
Phone: 02 6288 1935
0418 278 324
Australian Chess Enterprises
Australian Chess magazine:
Keep up with the latest news and views. Subscribe here or telephone Brian Jones on 02-9838-1529
Chess Discount Sales
For details of upcoming events, chess products, and all things 'chess' in Queensland, please go to www.gardinerchess.com .
Chess Kids has a full-time chess coaching position available starting in 2006. Must be FM strength or above. Salary $40,000 per annum plus superannuation. Please apply to cordover@chessworld.com.au with your resume.
Books, coaching and more.