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ACF

ACF ANNOUNCEMENTS

from Bill Gletsos

The ACF Council transferred $3000 from general ACF revenue to the ACF Olympiad Appeal fund. The total Appeal fund amount of $19,680 was equally distributed to team members and captains on 6th November.

Open Olympiad Team Captain Manuel Weeks was appointed as the Australian Chief of Delegation during the 2008 Olympiad in Dresden.

ACF Secretary Jey Hoole has been appointed the convenor for the ACF National Conference to be held in Sydney on 6th January 2009.

Starting in 2009 the ACF Council has increased the ACF admin fee and introduced a new additional admin fee for FIDE rated events. The wording of the motions were as follows:

For tournaments commencing after 31st December 2008 the ACF Admin fee be set at 30 cents per player per game for normal games and 10 cents per player per game for rapid games.

That in addition to the ACF Admin fee, an ACF FIDE admin fee be introduced for FIDE rated tournaments commencing after 31st December 2008 and that fee be set at 15 cents per player per game. Where the total of this amount for a tournament is less than $50, the ACF FIDE Admin fee will be $50. No ACF FIDE Admin fee will be payable for the Australian Championship, Australian Open and Australian Junior or for tournaments where all players have FIDE ratings greater than 2200.

NOMINATIONS FOR ACF MEDALS

from Gary Wastell, Medals Selections Coordinator

State Associations are reminded of the opportunity to nominate persons for ACF medals as detailed in the ACF Medals Procedures by-law which may be viewed at the ACF website here. The by-law includes the following guidelines for medals to be presented in January 2009.

Steiner Medal for Australian ‘Player of the Year’ 2008
This is to be awarded to the player who has made the greatest impact, not necessarily the highest-rated – it is for the most notable achievement during 2008 and may be awarded to a previous recipient.

Koshnitsky Medal
This is awarded annually for an outstanding contribution to Australian chess administration at a national or a state level. This is a lifetime achievement award, not limited to accomplishments during a particular period.

CJS Purdy Medal
This is awarded in odd-numbered years for an outstanding contribution to Australian chess as a journalist at a national or state level. This is a lifetime achievement award, not limited to accomplishments during a particular period.

Nominations
Nominations need not be from among a State's own members or residents.
A separate document or set of documents containing the following should be provided in respect of each nominee:
— name (correctly spelt);
— contact details (phone, email, postal address);
— a citation describing relevant achievements, suitable for reading and/or publication when the medal is presented;
— anything else relevant to the nomination.
Nominations may be forwarded as follows:
— email: gwastell@netspace.net.au
— post: 22 Bruarong Crescent, Frankston South Vic 3199
A person submitting a nomination must retain at least one complete copy of each document submitted in connection with the nomination and must phone (03) 9787 7974 or 0409 525 963 to confirm that it has been received if delivery has not been acknowledged 24 hours after expected delivery time.

Previous Winners
The Koshnitsky, Purdy and Whyatt medals may not be won more than once by the same person. A link [Chess Medals] to lists of all previous medal winners is at www.auschess.org.au/acfrec.htm.

Deadlines
— Koshnitsky medal: Sunday 14 December 2008
— Purdy medal: Sunday 14 December 2008
— Steiner medal: Friday 2 January 2009

Presentation
It is intended that the announcement of winners and presentation of medals will take place as part of the presentation ceremony following the forthcoming Australian Open Championship, currently scheduled to begin at 4.30pm on Sunday 11 January 2009 at the Manly-Warringah Rugby League Club, 563 Pittwater Road, Brookvale, Sydney.

Distribution of This Notice
All recipients of this notice are invited to distribute copies of it to affiliated clubs, members and others to maximise the possibility of nominations being received in respect of the most suitable nominees.

2008 MYER TAN AUSTRALIAN CHESS GRAND PRIX

Complete 2008 calendar. 1 event remains for 2008.

Coming Grand Prix Events

2009 YULGILBAR-THINK BIG AUSTRALIAN CHESS GRAND PRIX

Complete 2009 Calendar. 14 events currently registered for 2009.

Coming Grand Prix Events

EVENTS CALENDAR

Australian Universities Rapidplay Tournament

Eligibility Open to all University students and staff around Australia.
Venue Level 4, Wentworth Building, Sydney University (corner of City Rd and Butlin Ave, Darlington, NSW).
Format 9 round Swiss. 20 minutes + 10 seconds per move. Play from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm both days.
DOP International Arbiter Dr Charles Zworestine.
Entry fee $10.
Prizes Title of Australian Universities Rapid Champion and trophy to winner. Trophies for second and third place. Australian Universities Rapid Team Champion determined as the sum of the best 3 scores of players from the same university. Team trophies for first, second and third.
Entries close day of play.
Enquiries to Tomek Rej, (02) 9874 3533, president@sydneychess.org.
Website here.
This is the third year of this tournament. The original idea was to give students across Australia a chance to compete in a friendly environment and this year will be no different! The focus on the event is not so much the competition but the social atmosphere. Free lunch will be provided on both days and there will be a dinner on the night of the 10th December. In addition to the main tournament there will be a side event in the form of a variants tournament.

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). In response to several requests, the time controls have been increased to: 40 moves in 90 minutes, 30 minutes to finish, plus 30 seconds per move from the start.
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.
As an added attraction, the Gold Coast Open, a cat 5 Yulgilbar-Think Big Grand Prix event, will take place in the same playing venue, Visions Conference Room, Twin Towns Resort, on the weekend immediately after the Zonal 27/28 June 2009.

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.

Kuala Lumpur Open, Commonwealth Hall, Bukit Jalil Stadium, KL, 15 - 21 December 2008. chessasia.net/?p=401. The Australian Junior Chess League may be able to organise board and lodging for any juniors wanting to go to this event.

2008-09 Hastings International Chess Congress, Horntye Park Sports Complex, Bohemia Road, Hastings, TN34 1EX, 28 December 2008 - 5 January 2009. www.hastingschess.org.uk. Includes an Open event and several supporting tournaments and activities.

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

Gibralter Chess Congress, 27 January - 5 February 2009. www.gibraltarchesscongress.com/gib2009/index.html. Includes an Open event and several supporting tournaments and activities. Gibraltar 2009 has £100,000 prize money and is probably the richest totally open congress in the world. A player under 2250 could, for example, win £5000 there.

OVERSEAS NEWS

38^th CHESS OLYMPIAD DRESDEN 2008

Full results.

The Olympiad took place from November 12^th to 25^th in the Congress Hall in Dresden, Saxony, Germany. 156 teams from 152 nations participated, with most of the top players present.

In the final round, Armenia beat China 2½-1½ to win their second Olympic Gold medal in succession. Israel beat Netherlands 2½-1½, and with this victory took Silver. In one of the most sensational upsets of the Olympiad, the United States defeated the super-strong Ukraine team 3½-½ to claim third place.

Leading scores:

 Zong-Yuan Zhao (2567) - Viktor Korchnoi (2584) [A17]
38th Olympiad, Dresden GER 19/11/2008

1.Nf3 e6 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 O-O 5.a3 Bxc3 6.Qxc3 a5 7.b3 d6 8.Bb2 e5 9.g3 c5 10.Bg2 Nc6 11.O-O Bg4 12.Rfe1 Qb6 13.e3 a4 14.bxa4 Rxa4 15.d3 Rd8 16.Rab1 Qa5 17.Qb3 Qa6 18.Nd2 Ra5 19.f4 Be6 20.Bc1 Bc8 21.Qb6 Qxb6 22.Rxb6 Nd7 23.Rb3 Nf6 24.Bb2 Ra6 25.Bxc6 Rxc6 26.fxe5 Ng4 27.exd6 Rcxd6 28.d4 Rh6 29.Nf3 Bf5 30.e4 Bc8 31.d5 b6 32.Bc1 Rg6 33.Nh4 Rgd6 34.e5 Re8 35.Nf3 Rg6 36.h3 Nf6 37.exf6 Rxg3+ 38.Kf2 Rxe1 39.Kxe1 gxf6 40.Kf2 Rxh3 41.Rxb6 Bg4 42.Rxf6 Rh1 43.Bb2 Bxf3 44.Kxf3 1-0

OP ED

Fisher's Ghost

from John Pascoe

Charles, in his tournament report of the 2008 Fisher's Ghost Open, says of Fisher, "some sort of local hero", but for this murdered ex convict farmer "identity" would have been a better choice of word. The following is from Wikipedia.

"The legend of Fisher's ghost is a popular Australian story dating to the early 19th century. It arose from a series of historical events which occurred in Campbelltown, now a large urban population centre on the southwestern outskirts of Sydney, but at the time a remote rural outpost.

In 1826 a Campbelltown farmer named Fred Fisher suddenly disappeared. His friend and neighbour George Worrall claimed that Fisher had returned to England, and that before departing had given him power of attorney over his property and general affairs. Later, Worrall claimed that Fisher had written to him to advise that he was not intending to return to Australia, and giving his farm to Worrall.

Four months after Fisher's disappearance a respectable local man named John Farley, ran into the local hotel in a very agitated state. He told the astonished patrons that he had seen the ghost of Fred Fisher sitting on the rail of a nearby bridge. Farley related that the ghost had not spoken, but had merely pointed to a paddock beyond the creek, before disappearing.

Initially Farley's tale was dismissed, but the circumstances surrounding Fisher's disappearance eventually aroused sufficient suspicion that a police search of the paddock to which the ghost had pointed was undertaken - during which the remains of the murdered Fisher were discovered buried by the side of a creek. George Worrall was arrested for the crime, confessed, and subsequently hanged. Fred Fisher, whose lands he had coveted, was buried in the cemetery at St. Peter's Anglican Church in Campbelltown.

It is thought by some that the story of the ghost may have been invented by Farley as a way of concealing some other speculated source of his knowledge about the whereabouts of Fisher's body, but this cannot be confirmed. Contemporary police and court records do not mention the ghost story - but they are also silent on how the authorities knew where to look for Fisher's body.

The legend of Fisher's ghost has since entered popular folklore, and is celebrated during Campbelltown's annual Fisher's Ghost Festival which commences early November concluding mid month. The creek beside which the body was discovered is known as Fisher's Ghost Creek. It has now however been converted into mostly a storm water drain."

There are other versions of the story which you can find by Googling "Fisher's ghost".

TAILPIECE