ACF

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR ACF EXECUTIVE POSITIONS

from Jey Poole, ACF Secretary

Nominations now in hand for positions on the ACF Executive committee are:
    President: Gary Wastell
    Deputy President: Bill Gletsos
    Vice-President: Denis Jessop
    Vice-President: Kevin Bonham
    Secretary: Jey Hoole
    Treasurer: Norm Greenwood

The deadline for nominations for President having now passed, Gary Wastell is declared re-elected. Additional nominations for the other five Executive committee positions, receivable during or before the ACF Annual Conference on 6 January 2009, must be sent, preferably by email, to jeydh4@hotmail.com. If unable to transmit by email, the address for the submission of hardcopy nominations is:
    ACF Secretary
    Jey Hoole
    25 Carlile Street
    Evatt ACT 2617.

All nominations will be formally acknowledged within 72 hours. If you have not received an acknowledgement of your application by this time, please contact me on 0403 126 181.

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

1 ^st MIND SPORTS GAMES, BEIJING 2008

from Leonid Sandler, Team Captain

After a very long journey (Igor Goldenberg and myself travelled for more than 24 hours) we finally arrived at our hotel on Monday October 13th at around 1-00 am local time. The Blitz tournament was scheduled to start at 10-00 am the same day, with 5 rounds before lunch and 6 more games after. Two players (S.Solomon and B.Tindall ) unfortunately could not make the trip which left us with 4 players who played all the games. The time control was 3 minutes per game plus 2 seconds per move. Some other important novelties had been introduced for the event such as if you were not at your board before the official starting time you would forfeit the game. If you dropped the pieces and pressed your opponent's clock you would lose... The full results and games are on the very informative website.

Just a few statistical points:

In the Blitz, the leader of the team, David Smerdon, scored 5˝ points from 11 games (+4-4=3).
Performance rating 2426. He played against 6 Grandmasters.

On board two Igor Goldenberg was the highest scorer in the team with 7 points (+6-3=2).
Performance rating 2451, playing 4 Grandmasters.

On board three I scored 6 points (+4-3=4) with performance rating 2319.
I played against 2 Grandmasters.

On board four Vladimir Feldman had a hard time, scoring 3 points (+3-8) with a performance rating of 2111.
Vlad played against 1 Grandmaster.

We won 5, lost 5 and one match ended in a draw, scoring 11 team points or 21˝ points using the normal scoring system.

The Rapid tournament was held over 3 days and we played 9 rounds with a time control of 25 minutes plus 5 seconds per move. We won 3, lost 4 and drew 2 matches, scoring 8 team points or 17˝ normal points.

Individual results were:

Board one, David Smerdon, 5 points from 9 games (+4-3=2).
Performance rating 2465, David played against 5 Grandmasters.

Board two. Igor Goldenberg ended up with 3 points (+1-4=4).
Performance rating 2267, he played 2 Grandmasters.

Board three, Leonid Sandler finished with 5˝ points (+3-1=5).
Performance rating 2404, with 3 Grandmasters among my opponents.

Board four, Vlad Feldman being inspired by his wife's brilliant performance played much better and scored 4 points (+3-4=2).
Performance rating 2160 with one Grandmaster opponent.

Overall (blitz and rapid) we played against 18 different countries and met 24 Grandmasters along the way. Not a bad number! All members of the team have enjoyed the Games.

In the Chess Teams Blitz (Women) tournament, Irina Berezina showed her fans why she is the undisputed leader of the Australian womens team since 1994. Some critics in Sydney were whispering that Irina, who was born in 1965, is too old to play high level chess. I have to tell them they are wrong! After losing her first round game against very strong opposition from Vietnam, Berezina showed her high class by winning 5 games with 5 draws including hard fighting games against World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk from Russia and Chinese Vice-World Champion wondergirl Hou Yifan. These were truly memorable moments for Irina and all our team. Our ladies played against the superpowers of Womens' chess, China and Russia, on the two top boards!

I also was very pleased to witness Irina win against the leader of the Dutch team Peng Zhaoqin. Irina played against 2 Grandmasters, 3 Womens Grandmasters and 2 International masters scoring 7˝ points from 11 games (+5-1=5) with a performance rating of 2431! Brilliant performance. It's a pity that Irina will not be able to participate in Dresden Olympiad 2008 because of work commitments.

On board 2 Arianne Caoili performed very well and scored 6 points from 11 games (+5-4=2). She played against 1 GM, 2 WGMs and 1 IM with a performance rating of 2292. Arianne played against a lot of very strong opponents which will help her preparation for the Dresden Olympiad where she will be the leader of the team.

Biljana Dekic scored 3˝ points on board 3 (+3-7=1) with a performance rating of 2084. Amongst her opponents were 1 GM and 1 WGM. Biljana should have scored more points but unfortunately in a completely winning position against her American opponent her mobile phone alarm went off... She was very upset and lost a few other games after that.

13-year old Emma Guo from Canberra played on board 4 and performed admirably in her debut for the Women's team. Emma was a fantastic team member and I have no doubts that in the not too distant future she will be making regular appreances in the team. She scored 4˝ points from 11 games (+4-6=1). Performance rating 2064. She met 2 WGMs and 1 IM. Well done, Emma!

Our team scored 11 team points (21˝ points in the normal system) and ended up in 12th spot! (we were seeded 21 out of 27 teams). Amongst our opponents were China, Russia, Vietnam, USA, Iran, England, Holland... We won 5,lost 5 and one match end in a draw. This was a trully classy performance!

In the Women's Rapid tournament Irina scored 5 points out of 9 games (+3-2=4) with a performance rating of 2197. She lost her 2 last games, in one of them Irina was in a winning position and just blundered into a simple checkmate.

Arianne continued to show her good form from the blitz event and ended up with 5˝ points (+5-3=1). Performance rating 2199.

Biljana Dekic finished with 3˝ points (+2-4=3). Performance rating 1976.

Young Emma played well and collected 4 points(+3-4=2). Rating performance 1950.

We lost 4, won 3 and draw 2 matches. The team was seeded 21 out of 28 and finished in 20th position with 8 team points (18 normal points from a possible 36).

At the end I would like to mention that the organisation of the Minds Sport Olympiad was fantastic, the people were very friendly and efficient. China looks very impressive indeed. During our day off we managed to visit the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, Pearl Market... It was a really unforgetable experience for all of us!

PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF FIDE CHESS SURVEY

from Dr. Robert Howard

Thanks to everyone who took part in this survey. Here are the preliminary results. The sample consist of 581 players to date, with five grandmasters, 25 international masters, 67 FIDE masters, two woman's grandmasters, two woman's international masters, and two woman's FIDE masters. The results are only preliminary, however.

If you would like to participate in the survey and you have an FIDE rating, please go to this link:
     education.arts.unsw.edu.au/fidestudy.

Some highlights:

Players learned the moves at a median age of eight years old (masters about two years younger). The median age of starting serious play and taking part in the first rated tournament is 14, 12 for masters. Most players have had coaching. Players average around five or six hours of chess study a week, but the range is huge (0 to 60 hours). Number of hours of study of chess material is a factor in expertise level but only a relatively minor one.

Most players firmly believe in natural talent for chess and most believe that top ten players have some special traits, that few really can reach that level. However, many believe that a lot of study and practice can take a player a long way. Some believe that almost everyone can get to FIDE master with enough practice and study.

Views on what natural talent for chess consists of vary, but some common ideas are good spatial ability, high IQ, good memory, creativity, high motivation, a strong will to win, control over emotions, and psychological hardiness.

Eventual grandmasters take a median 390 FIDE-rated games from rating list entry to gain the title. Most players do not play anywhere near enough rated games in their careers to have a realistic chance of becoming a grandmaster. About two thirds of those who do play over 900 games actually succeed in becoming a grandmaster. However, those who play over 740 games without becoming a grandmaster on average seem to strike an impassable barrier at around 2400 level.

Analysis of rating data of players who played over 900 FIDE-rated games show that eventual top ten players indeed are identifiable from list entry. They get on the rating list much younger on average, get the grandmaster title much younger and much faster, and rise in the ratings much faster than other grandmasters.

Most believe that playing rated games and studying are equally important in developing skill.

The full article is below.
     education.arts.unsw.edu.au/fidestudy/results.

2008 MYER TAN AUSTRALIAN CHESS GRAND PRIX

Complete 2008 calendar. 3 events remain for 2008.

Coming Grand Prix Events

2009 YULGILBAR-THINK BIG AUSTRALIAN CHESS GRAND PRIX

Complete 2009 Calendar. 11 events currently registered for 2009.

Coming Grand Prix Events

EVENTS CALENDAR

2008 Queensland Veterans and Disabled Chess Championships

Venue Blue Fin Fishing Club, 24 Lilac St, Inala, Qld, 4077.
Format 6 rounds. 60 minutes + 10 seconds per move.
DOPs Chief Arbiter: Garvin Gray.
Entry fee $50; $40 if paid by 1 November. Add CAQ $10 membership fee if applicable.
Prizes Veteran (50+) $125, $100, $75. Disabled $125, $100, $75.
Entries close 6.00 pm, Friday, 14 November. Registration from 8.30 to 9.00 am on Saturday, 15 November.
Enquiries to Gail Young, 3372 8077, qwcl@hotmail.com.
Website here.

2008 Queensland Women's Chess Championship

Venue Blue Fin Fishing Club, 24 Lilac St, Inala, Qld, 4077.
Format 7 rounds. 60 minutes + 10 seconds per move.
DOPs Chief Arbiter: Garvin Gray.
Entry fee $50. (plus CAQ $10 membership fee if applicable).
Prizes $150, $125, $100, plus trophies (Best senior rated under 1200, best under 18, best under 12).
Entries close 6.00 pm, Friday, 12 December. Registration from 8.30 to 9.00 am on Saturday, 13 December.
Enquiries to Gail Young, 3372 8077, qwcl@hotmail.com, or Garvin Gray, 0422 993 062.
Website here.

2009 Australian Open Chess Championship

Venue Manly-Warringah Rugby League Club, 563 Pittwater Road, Brookvale.
Format 11-Round FIDE-rated swiss. “Fischer” 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move.
DOPs Chief Arbiter: Nick Chernih.
Entry fee if received by 9 December $145 ($105 concession). After 9 December $170 ($130).
Prizes $2500, $1750, $1000, $750, $500, $250, $200, $150. Under 2100 $250, U2000 $250, U1900 $250, U1800 $200, U1700 $200, Best Senior $250, Best Woman $250.
Registration from 11.00 a.m. Friday, 2 January, 2009.
Enquiries to Chris Dimock. Phone (02) 9221 5380. Fax (02) 9221 5282. Email enquiries@australianchessopen.com.
Website here.

Manly Chess Classic

Venue Manly-Warringah Rugby League Club, 563 Pittwater Road, Brookvale.
Format 11-Round swiss for players rated under 1600. “Fischer” 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move.
DOPs Chief Arbiter: Nick Chernih.
Entry fee if received by 9 December $100 ($75 concession). After 9 December $125 ($100).
Prizes $600, $450, $300, $200. Under 1400 $150, U1300 $150.
Registration from 11.00 a.m. Friday, 2 January, 2009.
Enquiries to Chris Dimock. Phone (02) 9221 5380. Fax (02) 9221 5282. Email enquiries@australianchessopen.com.
Website here.

Australian Open Lightning Championship

Venue Manly-Warringah Rugby League Club, 563 Pittwater Road, Brookvale.
Format 5 minutes per player per game.
DOPs Chief Arbiter: Nick Chernih.
Entry fee $25 ($20 concession).
Prizes TBA.
Enquiries to Chris Dimock. Phone (02) 9221 5380. Fax (02) 9221 5282. Email enquiries@australianchessopen.com.
Website here.

2009 Australian Junior Chess Championship

Eligibility For male and female players born in 1991 or later.
Venue The Dennett Centre, Saint Ignatius' College, 2 Manresa Court, Athelstone, SA.
Format 11-Round Swiss. 90 minutes + 60 seconds per move.
DOPs IA Charles Zworestine & IA Roland Eime.
Entry fee if received by 25 November $70. If received by 23 December $80. If received after 23 December $95.
Prizes U18 $800, $300, $100. U16 $300, $100. U14 $300, $100.
Enquiries to Chief Organiser Alan Goldsmith, 0401 672 481, alang@chariot.net.au, or to George Howard, 0414 841 575.
Website here.

2009 Australian Girls Chess Championship

Eligibility For female players born in 1991 or later.
Venue The Dennett Centre, Saint Ignatius' College, 2 Manresa Court, Athelstone, SA.
Format depending on entries. 90 minutes + 60 seconds per move.
DOPs IA Charles Zworestine & IA Roland Eime.
Entry fee if received by 25 November $70. If received by 23 December $80. If received after 23 December $95.
Prizes U18 $400, $200, $100. U16 $150, $50. U14 $150, $50.
Enquiries to Chief Organiser Alan Goldsmith, 0401 672 481, alang@chariot.net.au, or to George Howard, 0414 841 575.
Website here.

2009 Australian Junior Under 12 Chess Championship

Eligibility For male and female players born in 1997 or later.
Venue The Dennett Centre, Saint Ignatius' College, 2 Manresa Court, Athelstone, SA.
Format 11-Round Swiss. 60 minutes + 60 seconds per move.
DOPs IA Charles Zworestine & IA Roland Eime.
Entry fee if received by 25 November $60. If received by 23 December $70. If received after 23 December $85.
Prizes U12 $300, $100. U10 $100, $50. U8 $100, $50.
Enquiries to Chief Organiser Alan Goldsmith, 0401 672 481, alang@chariot.net.au, or to George Howard, 0414 841 575.
Website here.

2009 Australian Junior Under 12 Girls Chess Championship

Eligibility For female players born in 1997 or later.
Venue The Dennett Centre, Saint Ignatius' College, 2 Manresa Court, Athelstone, SA.
Format depending on entries. 60 minutes + 60 seconds per move.
DOPs IA Charles Zworestine & IA Roland Eime.
Entry fee if received by 25 November $60. If received by 23 December $70. If received after 23 December $85.
Prizes U12 $150, $50. U10 $50, $25. U8 $50, $25.
Enquiries to Chief Organiser Alan Goldsmith, 0401 672 481, alang@chariot.net.au, or to George Howard, 0414 841 575.
Website here.

2009 Queenstown Chess Classic

Venue Millennium Hotel (corner of Frankton Rd and Stanley St), Queenstown, New Zealand.
Format 10 round Swiss, 100 minutes + 1 minute/move.
Entry fee NZ $165 (Juniors NZ $88). Entry free to GMs and, WGMs. Entry free to IMs and WIMs (with $90 deducted from any prize won). Title players claiming free entry must provide organisers with notification of booked flights itinerary by 1st December 2008. Entries received after 1 November add $35; entries received after 1 January add $70; entries received on site add $90, all payable at time of entry.
Prizes $10,000, $7000, $5000, $4000, $3500, $3000, $2500, $2000, $1800, $1700, $1600, $1550, $1500, $1450, $1400. Under 2000 $500, U1800 $500, U1600 $500, plus senior and junior prizes.
Registration 6.00 - 8.00 pm, Wednesday 14 January at the tournament hall.
Enquiries to Helen Milligan, heligan@queenstownchess.com.
Website here.

New Zealand Rapidplay and Lightning Championships

Venue Millennium Hotel (corner of Frankton Rd and Stanley St), Queenstown, New Zealand.
Format Rapidplay: 25-26 January, 9 round Swiss, 30 minutes per player. Lightning: 26 January, preliminary seeded groups leading to a round-robin final, 5 minutes per player.
Entry fee Rapidplay: NZ $80 (Juniors NZ $45). Lightning NZ $35 (Juniors NZ $25). Entry free to GMs and WGMs with the proviso that an amount equal to the appropriate entry fee will be deducted from any prize won.
Prizes Rapidplay: $1650, $1100, $800, $600, $320, $225, $175, $110; best junior $110; best female $110. Lightning: $450, $330, $220, $110; First reserve $110; Second reserve $80.
Enquiries to Helen Milligan, heligan@queenstownchess.com.
Website here.

2009 Doeberl Cup

Venue The Hellenic Club of Canberra, Matilda Street, Woden ACT 2606.
Format Premier (9-13 April, 9-Round Swiss, 90 minutes + 30 seconds), Major, Minor, 50+ (10-13 April, 7-round Swisses, 90+30), Under 1200 (10-11 April, 6-Round Swiss, 20+10) & Chess 960 (11 April, 5+0).
Entry fee free to GMs, IMs, WGMs and WIMs. Premier $140. Major & Minor $120, U/18 $80. 50+ $80. Under 1200 $60.
Prizes Premier $4000, $2500, $1500, $800, $500, $400, $350, $300. Major $1500, $800, $450, $250, $150, $100. Minor $750, $400, $250, $150, $100. 50+ $450, $300, $150, $100. Under 1200 trophies and gift vouchers.
Close of entries for Premier, Major, Minor, 50+ is 12.00 midday, Wednesday 8 April. Under 1200 entries close 12.00 midday, Friday, 10 April. All player sign-ins close 12.00 midday on first day of play.
Enquiries to Charles Bishop, info@doeberlcup.com.au.
Website here.

2009 Sydney International Open Chess Tournament

Venue Parramatta Town Hall, Church Street, Parramatta, NSW, 2150.
Format Open & Challengers (restricted to players rated below 2000) events. 9-Round FIDE-rated Swisses. 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move.
Entry fee free to GMs, IMs, WGMs and WIMs and players rated over 2500. Open 2400-2499 $100, 2300-2399 $125, 2200-2299 $150, 1600-2199 $175, unrated $225. Challengers $90, unrated $100.
Prizes Open $5000, $2500, $1500, $1000, $750, $500, $500, $500, $250, $250, $250, $250, $250 (Best female), $250 (Best under 18), $250 (Best under 12). Challengers $500, $400, $350, $300, $250, $200, $200, $100 (Best female), $100 (Best under 18), $100 (Best under 12).
Close of entries is on Sunday, 12 April. Player registration from 6.30 - 7.45 pm on Tuesday, 14 April.
Enquiries to Brian Jones, phone 61-2-9838-1529, fax 61-2-9838-1614, info@chessaustralia.com.au.
Website here.

Oceania Zonal Chess Tournament for Men and Women

Venue Outrigger Twin Towns Resort
Format Nine round swiss for Men and Women (or a round robin if appropriate).
DOPs Chief Arbiter: IA Charles Zworestine. Assistant Arbiters: IA Gary Bekker & Graeme Gardiner.
Entry fee dependant on rating. See website.
Prizes Men: $1500, $1000, $750, $500, $400, $250, $150. 1^st under 2000 $300. 1^st under 1800 $300. Women: $750. $500, $300. 1^st under 1800 $300.
Registration by Friday, 6 June, 2009. The organiser may, at his discretion, accept late entries.
Enquiries to Graeme Gardiner, 11 Hardys Road, Mudgeeraba Qld 4213. Phone 5522 7221. Fax 5522 7760. Email ggardiner@gardinerchess.com.
Website here.

OVERSEAS EVENTS CALENDAR

Notice of the following overseas events has been received by the ACF. For more information, please consult the relevant website or contact auschessnews@gmail.com.

9^th Liberec Open 2008, The Liberec Hotel, Saldovo Namesti 1345, Liberec, The Czech Republic, 15 - 22 November 2008. 9-round Swiss. www.czechtour.net/liberec-open

13 ^thRakan Muda GACC World Inter-Varsity Chess Championship, University of Malaya , 50603 Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia, 29 November - 6 December 2008. www.gacc-chess.com

Prague Open, Top Hotel Praha, Blazimska 1781/4, Praha 11, Czech Republic, 9 - 16 January 2009. www.czechtour.net/prague-open

7^th Parsvnath International Tournament, Modern School, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi, 10 - 19 January 2009. 10-round Swiss. Rs 11,50,000/- in prizes. Open, U2400, U2251, U2100, U1901, Women, Veteran and Junior prizes. www.delhichess.com

Marianbad Open, Kossuth hotel, Ruska 77/20, Marianske Lazne, Czech Republic, 17 - 25 January 2009. www.czechtour.net/prague-open

TAILPIECE