Editorial
by Miles Patterson
Welcome to the November 2024 ACF Newsletter. Thanks for all the contributions for this issue. Please note the requests for applicants for international events and for nominations for ACF Medals and Awards, and particularly note the tight deadlines.
ACF Notices
INTERNATIONAL EVENTS – APPLICATIONS FOR SELECTION
Applications are invited from players wishing to represent Australia in the following forthcoming events.
Asian Amateur Championship: Al Ain, UAE – Sat 14 to Mon 23 Dec 2024
Closing date for applications: Saturday 30 November 2024
Asian Chess Federation Invitation & Regulations:
FIDE Calendar ref:
The ACF has been advised that an ACF-selected Australian participant will be entitled to complimentary accommodation for the duration of the event.
World Rapid & Blitz Championships: New York, USA – Thurs 26 to Tues 31 Dec 2024
Closing date for applications: Wednesday 20 November 2024
Official website:
FIDE Regulations:
In addition to the entitlement of “reigning National Champions (in Standard, Rapid and Blitz)”, FIDE regulations provide for “a reasonable number of players” being nominated by the FIDE President and the Organiser.
Oceania Zone 3.6 Open & Women’s Championships: Melbourne, AUS – Fri 24 to Wed 29 Jan 2025
Closing date for applications: Saturday 30 November 2024
Official Website:
FIDE Regulations:
FIDE Calendar ref:
Applications & Inquiries:
To enable time for local selection procedures, closing dates for applications are earlier than the organiser’s date for registration of federation-nominated representatives. Late applications might be accepted by the organiser upon payment of an additional fee but entitlements obtained by selected players will be retained.
To help early identification of potential visa and eligibility issues, please include the following in respect of each intending participant and any accompanying person who wishes to be registered for organiser-designated accommodation:
Applicant:
FIDE Identification (ID) number from FIDE
Full name exactly as in current passport
Country of passport
Passport expiry date
Date of birth
Adult accompanying Applicant younger than 18:
Relation to Applicant (e.g. parent, guardian, coach);
All other information listed above
Please address applications and inquiries to:
ACF Selections Director, Mr Tom Saltmarsh
selections_director@auschess.org.au and phone 0499 995 669 if not acknowledged within 48 hours
ACF MEDALS & AWARDS - NOMINATIONS INVITED
Australian Players-of-the-Year 2024
Nominations are invited for potential winners of the following medals, to be awarded to Australian players who have made the greatest impact during 2024. Recipients are offered financial assistance to participate in significant forthcoming national or international events.
Steiner Medal and Steiner-Holt Award – Australian Player of the Year 2024
This medal is to be awarded to the Australian player who has made the greatest impact, not necessarily the highest-rated – it is for the most notable achievement during 2024. There is no limit to the number of times the Steiner or Viner medals may be won by the same player.
Viner Medal & Award – Australian Senior Player of the Year 2024
On the same basis as the Steiner Medal, the Viner Medal is limited to nominees born in or before 1974.
Arlauskas Medal & Romanas Arlauskas Award – Australian Under-16 Player of the Year 2024
The Arlauskas Medal, also awarded on the same basis as the Steiner Medal, is limited to nominees born in or after 2008. The Arlauskas Medal and Romanas Arlauskas Award may not be won by the same person more than twice. Previous recipients are listed at https://auschess.org.au/honour-boards/
Service & Achievement Medals
Nominations are also invited for the following medals in recognition of services or contributions at a national or state level. These are lifetime achievement awards, not limited to accomplishments or services during a particular period and may not be awarded more than once to the same person. Links to lists of previous recipients may be seen at: https://auschess.org.au/honour-boards/
Koshnitsky Medal
Awarded annually for outstanding contributions to Australian chess administration at a national or a state level.
Purdy Medal
Awarded biennially for outstanding services and/or achievements in chess journalism.
Nominations
Nominations need not be from among a State's own members or residents.
A separate document or message containing the following should be provided in respect of each nominee:
name in full (correctly spelt)
contact details (phone, email, postal address)
a citation describing relevant achievements, suitable for reading when the medal is presented and/or publication thereafter;
anything else relevant to the nomination.
Please address email nominations to awards@auschess.org.au
Deadlines
Koshnitsky & Purdy medal nominations – Sunday 1 December 2024.
Australian Player-of-the-Year 2024 medals & awards – Thursday 2 January 2025.
Nominators must retain copies of documents submitted and phone 0409 525 963 or (03) 9787 7974 to confirm delivery if not acknowledged 24 hours after expected delivery time.
FIDE RATING SUBMISSIONS
Note that events for FIDE ratings that are completed in the last seven days of the month need to be submitted to ACF FIDE Ratings Officer Bill Gletsos for ratings immediately so that any issues with them can be resolved in time for events to be rated in that month. Also note that intended changes of names or dates of FIDE-rated events need to be notified immediately as they may affect the event's rating status. Note also that all FIDE rated events must be submitted for ACF ratings – no exceptions.
FIDE RATED EVENT REGISTRATION
Australian tournaments to be FIDE rated must be advised to the ACF FIDE Ratings Officer at least 40 days prior to the start of the tournament for tournaments where norms are available and at least 7 days prior to the start of the tournament for all other tournaments. Where these conditions are not met, the decision whether to register it or not is solely at the discretion of the ACF FIDE Ratings Officer.
FIDE ID NUMBER REGISTRATION
FIDE has issued a warning that they will not accept tournaments for FIDE rating where those tournaments contain players who do not have FIDE ID numbers. Although new Australian players can be registered by the ACF FIDE Ratings Officer, this does not apply to new players from overseas. Therefore, organisers should not immediately accept the entries of overseas players who lack FIDE ID numbers to FIDE rated tournaments; instead, those players should be required to first obtain a FIDE ID from their own national federation.
Tournaments submitted that include foreign players who do not have ID numbers end up not being FIDE rated. Organisers need to confirm prior to the start of the tournament that all players without a FIDE ID number are either Australian citizens or have a permanent residency visa.
Players without ID numbers should only be submitted as Australian if they are citizens or are a permanent residency visa holder; if a player is registered under the wrong country, they may incur transfer costs later. For further information/clarification contact the ACF FIDE Ratings Officer Bill Gletsos via fide_ratings@auschess.org.au.
AUSTRALIAN REPRESENTATIVE INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR CHESS TOURNAMENTS
Any inquiries can be sent to Selections Director Tom Saltmarsh, at selections_director@auschess.org.au.
ACF POSITIONS
The following ACF Council-appointed positions are vacant. Councillors and others wishing to inquire or register interest in appointment to one or more of these positions are welcome to email executive@auschess.org.au or phone 0409 525 963 at any time.
Advertising Manager. It has been suggested that, ideally, the appointee would be a person with an interest in coordinating advertising in both the ACF newsletter and website, and at or in connection with ACF championships, the Grand Prix and other major ACF events.
Assistant Secretary. This position and the currently filled position of Assistant Treasurer were created to provide opportunities for younger administrators to experience the joys of chess administration at national level.
Archives Director. Generally, the Archives Director would be expected to gather, maintain and build a repository of records and documents that might be of historical interest or value, or which might help in confirming the organisation’s status or credibility for a variety of purposes.
Trophies Officer. Responsibilities relating to trophies and other mementos to be presented in connection with ACF Championships and other events.
ACF FUNDING SUPPORT PROGRAM
The application deadline for activities commencing between 1 March 2025 and 31 August 2025 is 31 December 2024. Application forms and related information are available on request to executive@auschess.org.au.
News from the States / Territories
Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory Chess Association (ACTCA)
Recent Events
ANU Open and Minor
Although the results of the ANU tournaments have been reported in the newsletter, Charles Zworestine has provided an excellent account of the events here:
Upcoming Events
Street Chess
Every Saturday. From 10.45 to 2.30. King O’Malley’s in Civic.
2024 Vikings Weekender
15th to 17th November 2024, 6 round FIDE-rated Swiss,
Vikings Club, Erindale, ACT
2025 Doeberl Cup
17-21 April, Canberra Southern Cross Club Woden,
92-96 Corinna Street, Woden ACT 2606
New South Wales
New South Wales Chess Association Inc (NSWCA)
Recent Events
2024 NSW Seniors Championship
1st IM Gary Lane 5.5/6, 2nd Paul Broekhuyse 5, 3rd= WIM Biljana Dekic, Ian Welch 4.5
2024 Gosford Weekender
1st WCM Bayasgalan Khishigbaatar 5.5/6, 2nd= CM Yifei Hu, Ian Welch, 5. (57 players)
Upcoming Events
NSW Blitz Championship
Sunday 24 November 2024, Sydney Academy of Chess, Level 2 Suite 2, 1-17 Elsie Street, Burwood, NSW. Details here
2025 Sydney International Open
23-27 April, Novotel West HQ, Conference Rooms 5 & 6, see NSWCA site
Northern Territory
Northern Territory Chess Association
Queensland
Recent Events
Bundaberg Classic
Overall: 1st Mars Qi 5.5, =2nd Marc Calonge Fabregat, Russell Reed, 4.5
1300 & over: =1st Joshua McCorkell, Ronald Bourke, 4
Under 1300: 1st Cheng Yi Xia, 4, =2nd Ezekial Alley, Alon Asaf, Iris Wang, Phil Mulholland, 3
Best Seniors (untitled):
50+: =1st Tony Dowden, Ralph Jackson 3.5
70+: 1st Phil Mulholland 3, 2nd Tony Weller, 2.5
Best Junior Female: 1st Iris Wang, Iris 3 $50
2nd Sanvi Krovvidi, 2.5
Upcoming Events
2024 Queensland Seniors Chess Championship
November 16-17, 2024, Grace Lutheran College - Rothwell Campus, Anzac Ave &, Mewes Rd, Rothwell QLD
2024 Christmas Special
December14 & 15
Venue: F & J Blocks Grace Lutheran College, Buchanan St, Rothwell.
South Australia
South Australian Chess Association Inc (SACA)
Recent Events
Hosworth Foundation FIDE Weekender
Open
1st James Boyd-Norman, =2nd Oladoyin Fasakin, Alex Min
=Junior & U1800 Alistair Maria, Tarush Jindal
=Under 1500 Alexander Horlin-Smith, Olaoluwa Fasakin
Senior FM Bill Jordan, Rating Performance Peter Dreyer
High Flyers U1600
1st Alexander King, 2nd Finn Reiner, 3rd Cindy Chen,
Under 18 Samuel Hanson, Under 12 Oliver Cirami,
Female Charlotte Chen, =Unrated Nicky Wang, Adian Du, Mark Lian
Under 1200 David Sambell, =Under 1000 Connor Caruso, Tony Xiang
Upcoming Events
Sunday 10 November, November Booster 2024
Thursday 14 November, November Allegro #1 2024
Tasmania
Tasmanian Chess Association Inc (TCA)
Upcoming Events
Launceston Northern Champs 2024 Nov 30 - Cancelled
2025 Australia Day Weekender
Hobart 24-27 January 2025. Details here
Victoria
Upcoming Events
2024 Australasian Masters
Melbourne, 14th to 22nd December 2024 Details here
2025 Australian Open Chess Championships
Melbourne, 2nd to 11th January 2025 Details here
Western Australia
Chess Association of Western Australia Inc (CAWA)
Upcoming Events
2024 Rook and Rock Tournament
Saturday the 14th of December at Adrenaline Vault Cockburn, 443 Yangebup Rd, Cockburn Central 6164. Details here
2025 Australian Junior Chess Championships - Perth, 13 - 21 January 2025
Manning Community Hall in Manning, WA Details here
Finesse Chess Blitz Tournament
11 round Blitz Tournament (2 divisions) on the 25th January at John McGrath Hall - 97 Hensman St, South Perth 6151. Details here
New Zealand
New Zealand Chess News (newzealandchess.nz)
Recent Events
13 October Summit Rookies October 2024
1st Under 2000: Sophia Feng. 1st Under 1600: Tilden Wang. 1st Under 1000: Haoteng Yu.
20 October NZ Fischer-Random Championship 2024
1st A-grade: IM Omer Reshef. 1st B-grade: Zi Yao (Kelvin) Wang.
26-28 October Merv Morrison Memorial 2024
1st: CM Isabelle Yixuan Ning.
3 November Summit Rapid Championships 2024
1st A (Open): FM Felix Xie. 1st B (Under 1800): Huankai (Eden) Xu. 1st Junior: Conghan (Kirby) Shao.
Upcoming Events
9-11 November NZ Women's Championship 2024
16 November North Island Rapid Championships 2024
1 December Otago Summer Rapid 2024
1 December Summit Rookies December 2024
7-8 December Papatoetoe Rapid 2024
2-12 January NZ Chess Congress 2025
13-19 January Bob Wade Masters 2025
8 February Hawkes Bay Rapid 2025
22 February 19th Bay of Plenty Rapid 2025
15 March Latvian Rapid 2025
International News
Upcoming International Events
Singapore International Open 2024
29 Nov - 5 December Details here
Study of the Month
White to play and win
Solution at the end of the newsletter.
Book Review
By IM Gary Lane
Making My Move
The Autobiography of a Chess Grandmaster and FIDE Executive, by Victor Bologan, published by New In Chess, 424 pages.
The grandmaster from the small country of Moldova presents his best games against a fascinating combination of elite players and hardy tournament campaigners.
Thankfully, the cringy subtitle about the FIDE Executive news is confined to half a chapter of politics and is as boring as you would expect from someone involved in the internal conflicts of the International Chess Federation. However, it is Victor’s autobiography, and he understandably wants people to know why he is no longer travelling from tournament to tournament.
The actual games and the amusing anecdotes are entertaining and there are numerous insights on how to improve. He has a knack of explaining the openings in such simple but positive terms that you feel like adopting the line. It is an interesting revelation how often an opening is played due to the psychology of the opponent. This helps to make the tactical games mini lessons for the improving player, while the background information on the tournament adds to the tension. The 88 fully annotated games are wonderfully attacking but it would have been even better to round it up to one hundred games; admittedly the hefty book would be even bigger.
There is plenty of time to discuss snippets of life, including how he met his ballerina wife, that add a personal touch and makes you want Victor to win more games.
A hugely entertaining games collection that will enhance your understanding of the game.
Looking Back
‘Australian Veteran’ (from Chess magazine, December 1941)
‘In May, 1880, the Melbourne Leader published, in its chess column, which recently celebrated its seventieth birthday, F. K. Esling’s* maiden problem. On June 28th of this year - 61 years later - it published his latest. Here it is. White to play and mate in three moves.
‘The author offers a prize to the reader (of the Leader) who sends in the best answer to the question “Why the pawn on White’s KKt3?”** It will be observed that, with or without this particular pawn, the problem mis perfectly sound.’
*The first Australian Champion **g3
Solution at the end of the newsletter.
Links
Laws of Chess
FIDE Laws of Chess with effect 1 January 2023
Ratings
Pairing Programs
Vega or Orion only accepted for FIDE and ACF rating with effect 1 June 2021
Other FIDE endorsed pairing programs:
Calculators
ACF Rating Calculator with Barry Cox
ACF Rating Lookup Dave Thomas
Federations
Commonwealth Chess Association
State & Territory Associations
Australian Capital Territory Australian Capital Territory Chess Association Inc (ACTCA)
New South Wales New South Wales Chess Association Inc (NSWCA)
Queensland Chess Association of Queensland Inc (CAQ)
South Australia South Australian Chess Association Inc (SACA)
Tasmania Tasmanian Chess Association Inc (TCA)
Victoria Chess Victoria Inc (CV)
Western Australia Chess Association of Western Australia Inc (CAWA)
Junior Chess
West Australia See "Juniors" tab
Correspondence chess
Correspondence Chess League of Australia
International Correspondence Chess Federation
Variants
Chess960 Position Generators
Internet Forums
United States Chess Federation
Newspaper columns archived
West Australian David Ellis
Blogs
chessexpress FM Shaun Press
chess.business/blog Gary Lane's Book Reviews
GM Max Illingworth’s Blog GM Max Illingworth
Infinite Chess IM Junta Ikeda
newzealandchess.nz New Zealand Chess News
YouTube
Games Archive
Australian Chess Paul Summers
OzBase Paul Dunn
Problem Composition
World Federation for Chess Composition
OzProblems Peter Wong
Graphics
VirtualPieces Peter Wong
Disability
International Physically Disabled Chess Association
International Braille Chess Association
International Chess Committee of the Deaf
Suppliers
Australian Chess Enterprises Richmond NSW
Australian Chess Supplies Online Chess Shop
Canberra Academy of Chess Phillip ACT
Chess Australia South Yarra Vic
Chess School SA Salisbury SA
Chess Store Australia Burleigh Heads Qld
Chess World Ormond Vic
Gambit Chess Supplies Harrington Park NSW
Gardiner Chess Mudgeeraba Qld
Knights & Bytes Hindmarsh SA
Lakner Chess Perth SA
Northern Star Chess Balwyn North Vic
Sydney Academy of Chess Burwood NSW
Topchess Qld
Total Chess Perth WA
Chess Clubs
Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory Chess Association Inc (ACTCA)
Gungahlin (Belconnen) Gungahlin
Canberra Woden
Tuggeranong Wanniassa
Street Chess Canberra Home Page Street Chess
New South Wales
New South Wales Chess Association Inc (NSWCA)
For details and links of NSW chess clubs, see: NSW Chess Association (nswca.org.au) chess clubs
Albury
Armidale
Bathurst Community Chess Club Inc.
Cabra-Vale Diggers Chess Club – Canley Vale
Campbelltown Collegians
Canterbury Bulldogs - Lakemba
Central Coast Leagues (aka Gosford)
Circular Quay Chess Club
Coffs Harbour Chess Club
Dooleys Lidcombe Catholic Club - Lidcombe
Dubbo
Ettalong
Harbord Diggers - Freshwater
Knightclub – Marrickville
Laurieton
Moree Chess Club
Newcastle District Chess Association
Norths (Chatswood) – Cammeray
NSW Junior Chess League (for players Under 18)
Optus Yes Chess Club – Macquarie Park
Orange NSW - Colour City Chess Club
Parramatta Chess Club
Penrith RSL Chess Club
Richmond Club Chess Club
Rooty Hill RSL
Ryde Eastwood – Rest Ryde
South Sydney Juniors Chess Club – Kingsford
St George -Kogarah
Sydney Academy of Chess – Burwood
Sydney Chess Club – Burwood
Tamworth Chess Club
University of NSW – Kensington
University of Sydney
UTS Chess Club – Ultimo
Wagga Chess Club
Wollongong Chess Club
New Zealand
New Zealand Chess Federation Inc (NZCF)
Mount Maunganui RSA Chess Club
Northern Territory
Northern Territory Chess Association
Queensland
Chess Association of Queensland Inc (CAQ)
Brisbane Woolloongabba
Bundaberg https://bundabergchessclub-com.webs.com/
Cairns Facebook
Gold Coast Coomera/Burleigh Heads
Logan City Rochedale
Mackay
Noosa Shire Tewantin Contact Peter Cam: noosachess@gmail.com
City of Redcliffe Rothwell
Suncoast Buderim Suncoast Chess Club - Home
Springfield Ipswich Chess Club Springfield Lakes. Contact Tyson Walker, president@springfieldchessclub.com.au
Toowoomba Contact: Sam Buckley sam@toowoombachessclub.com.au
Townsville Pimlico
South Australia
South Australian Chess Association Inc (SACA)
Adelaide University North Terrace
LeFevre Queenstown
Marion Cultural Oaklands Park
Modbury Modbury North
West Torrens North Plympton
Tasmania
Tasmanian Chess Association Inc (TCA)
Burnie Havenview
Devonport East Devonport
Hobart Sandy Bay
Launceston Kings Meadow
Victoria
Chess Victoria Inc (CV)
Bandicoot Craigieburn
Box Hill Ashwood
Canterbury Junior Ashwood
Chess Artists Caulfield
Hobsons Bay Altona
Melbourne Fitzroy
Western Australia
Chess Association of Western Australia Inc (CAWA)
Albany Chess Club e-mail: akritaspearce556@gmail.com
Rockingham City Chess Connection e-mail: gregburgess1949@yahoo.com.au
South Perth Senior Citizens Social Chess Club Tel: 9367 9880
Southern Suburbs Chess Club (Facebook page)
UWA Chess Association (Facebook page)
Crobs Coffee and Chess (Facebook page)
ACF Personnel
The Australian Chess Federation is an incorporated association (number A 01325) under the Associations Incorporation Act 1991 of the ACT. It is the governing chess organisation in Australia and is affiliated to FIDE (the Fédération Internationale des Échecs).
ACF COUNCIL
State Asssociation Delegates
NSWCA Delegate: Richard Gastineau-Hills nswcouncillor@auschess.org.au
CV Delegate: Leonid Sandler viccouncillor@auschess.org.au
CAQ Delegate: Shaun Curtis qldcouncillor@auschess.org.au
SACA Delegate: Misheck Muza sacouncillor@auschess.org.au
TCA Delegate: Tom Saltmarsh tascouncillor@auschess.org.au
ACTCA Delegate: Cam Cunningham actcouncillor@auschess.org.au
CAWA Delegate: Andrew Hardegen andrewhardegen@iinet.net.au
Executive Committee
President: Gary Wastell president@auschess.org.au
Deputy President: Bill Gletsos deputy president@auschess.org.au
Vice-President: Kevin Bonham vice president1@auschess.org.au
Vice-President: Andrew Hardegen vice president2@auschess.org.au
Secretary: Rob Watson secretary@auschess.org.au
Treasurer: Bob Keast treasurer@auschess.org.au
COUNCIL-APPOINTED PERSONNEL
Assistant Secretary: Vacant
Assistant Treasurer: Misheck Muza asst treasurer@auschess.org.au
Auditor: Ross Hamilton auditor@auschess.org.au
Equipment Coordinator: Bob Keast equipment officer@auschess.org.au
FIDE Delegate & Admin Officer: Dr. Kevin Bonham fide delegate@auschess.org.au
FIDE Ratings Officer: Bill Gletsos fide ratings@auschess.org.au
Junior Chess Coordinator: Vacant. Enquiries to: junior chess coordinator@auschess.org.au
Medals & Awards Convenor: Gary Wastell awards@auschess.org.au
National Ratings Officer: Bill Gletsos acfratings@auschess.org.au
National Ratings Officer: Graham Saint g_saint@tpg.com.au
Newsletter Editor: Keong Ang auschessnews@chessnews.asia
Newsletter Editor: Miles Patterson newsletter editor@auschess.org.au
Public Officer: Cam Cunningham public officer@auschess.org.au
Publicity Director: Paul Power publicity@auschess.org.au
Selections Director: Tom Saltmarsh selections director@auschess.org.au
Webmaster: David Esmonde webmaster@auschess.org.au
Solution to Study of the Month
White to play and win
Solution:
1 Rg2+ Kf5 2 Ng3+ Kf6 3 Ne4+ Kf7 4 Nd6+ Kf8 5 Rf2+ Ke7 6 Rf7+ Kd8 7 Kc6 Rg7 8 Nb7+
(R Gray 1944)
Solution to Esling Problem
White to play and mate in three moves
Solution 1 Nc1, eg 1…Bc4 2 Ba6 Bxb3 3 Ne2
Newsletter Article Contributions
Please email the editor if there is something you would like published in the next edition of this newsletter.
Examples of articles:
Upcoming chess event.
Results of a chess event that was completed since the last newsletter was published.
Any information that is chess related, especially Australian chess, that could be interesting.