ACF Olympiad Appeal – 45th Chess Olympiad
A proud record
The biennial Chess Olympiad is one of the world’s largest sporting events, and the premier teams event on the global chess calendar. After a succession of Asian venues in recent years, the Olympiad returns to Europe – Budapest, the Hungarian capitol, is hosting the 45th Olympiad.
Australia has performed remarkably well against the rest of the world. We have contested every Olympiad since 1968, our open team tying for 25th place (of 187) and our women tying for 35th (of 161) at the 2022 Olympiad in Chennai.
Again this year Australia will be one of the expected 190 nations competing, fielding an open and a women’s team (each five players plus captain) of our best available players.
…but there’s a catch
…the Australian nemesis, the tyranny of distance – Australia is a long way from just about anywhere. As airlines recover from the Covid-19 downturn, the days of cheap fares are yet to return. By departing on 6th September and delaying the return flight till 24th September, China Eastern is the best available (at mid-March, but fares change almost daily), with a $1561 return fare from Sydney via Shanghai to Budapest – 28 hours outbound and 36 hours homeward bound (via Wuhan, Xi-An and Shanghai).
While other national teams receive government support, our teams must meet their own travel costs.
That’s where you come in. The teams need your support to represent us. Please give what you can to the appeal.
All donations will be acknowledged here and in the ACF email bulletin. The Australian Chess Federation will match all donations dollar-for-dollar up to half of the total cost, leaving an estimated $11000 to be raised, including incidental costs such as FIDE registration and entry fees; and uniform costs.
ACF Newsletters
ACF Newsletter issue No. 627 – 9 March 2024
ACF Newsletter issue No. 626 – 10 February 2024
ACF Newsletter issue No. 625 – 13 January 2024
ACF Newsletter issue No. 624 – 9 December 2023
ACF Newsletter issue No. 623 – 11 November 2023
ACF Newsletter issue No. 622 – 14 October 2023
ACF Newsletter issue No. 621 – 9 September 2023
ACF Newsletter issue No. 620 – 12 August 2023
ACF Newsletter issue No. 619 – 8 July 2023
ACF Newsletter issue No. 618 – 10 June 2023
ACF Newsletter issue No. 617 – 13 May 2023
ACF Appeal – 44th Chess Olympiad
It’s been a rocky road to the 44th Chess Olympiad, scheduled to be held in 2020. The host city was originally Khanty-Mansiysk but was leter transferred to Moscow. The COVID pandemic forced postponement to 2022, then Russia invaded Ukraine and Moscow became politically untenable. India stepped up at very short notice to organise the event in Chennai, starting on 26 July.
Our teams have now been selected – see http://acfappeal.aunz.org/teams.html With an all-GM open team for the first time and a women’s team spearheaded by two WGMs, Australia is poised to gain its best-ever result.
Olympiad Appeal Coordinator
Arianne Caoili Memorial 2021
Brilliancy Prize – Arianne Caoili Memorial FIDE Rapid, Nov 27 2021
Round 2 GM David Smerdon Vs Rhys Rakauskas 1-0
The Brilliancy Prize – $100 has been awarded to GM David Smerdon for his game in Round 2 with Rhys Rakauskas.
Congratulations David on your beautiful creation, ideas and attack!
1.e4 c5 2.c3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.cxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Bg5 Bg7 7.e5 dxe5 8.dxe5 Nfd7 9.e6 fxe6 10.Nf3 O-O 11.Bc4 Qb6 12.Qe2 Nf6 13.O-O Kh8 14.Rfe1 Nd5 15.Bxd5 exd5 16.Bxe7 Rxf3 17.Qxf3 Qxb2 18.Ba3 Qxa3 19.Re8+ Bf8 20.Rxf8+ Kg7 21.Qf6+ Kh6 22.Rf7 Bg4 23.Qf4+ Kh5 24.Rxh7# 1-0
GM Smerdon has provided a personal account of this game at the following web address for all to enjoy :
https://lichess.org/study/noYhObaq/vyyVHU8K
Posted by Gold Coast Chess Club on Monday, 29 November 2021
The Purdy Medal for Journalism 2021 was presented to GM David Smerdon by former ACF and OCC President Graeme Gardiner during the afternoon break.