Welsh Correspondence Chess Federation

Austin Lockwood  Tuesday, August 26, 2025

The 2025/27 BCCC will commence play on 1st October 2025, but if you haven't already, it is still not too late to enter!

We currently have 77 players registered for the event, and it would be good to break a record by reaching three figures before we close registrations on Wednesday 10th September.

The Championship section will be at least Category 8, so this should be a very attractive prospect for British players rated over 2,400 looking for SIM or even GM norms (but please note that the field this year is so strong that we cannot guarantee entry to the Championship section, even for players rated over 2,400).

The Candidates section will probably be Category 5 or 6, so ideal for players seeking IM norms, however in order to be classed as a title tournament, we do need to have a mix of players of different nationalities and we currently have a few too many English players who are likely to qualify for the Candidates to enable this mix.  If you are a Scottish or Welsh player rated 2,350 - 2,400 then you are strongly encouraged to enter to improve the chances for all participants of earning title norms.

There will be several Reserve sections which are all likely to carry minor norms, it you are rated below 2,350 and are seeking CCE or CCM norms, then this is the event for you!

(but again, please note that the above thresholds are only estimates - the actual rating qualification for each level will depend on the final list of entries, we can only guarantee a place in the Championship or the Candidates to players having qualified from previous seasons).

The entry fee this year is only Four Euros! (that's less than £3.50), which represents amazing value.  We won't be able to hold that price next year, so make the most of it now!

Entry is via the ICCF Direct Entry system, please log onto the ICCF website, select "New Events" from the menu, and then "Wales" from the list of categories.  We will close entries on Wednesday 10th September.

The British Championship, having been run annually since 1921, is the most prestigious correspondence chess event of the British calendar, and all British correspondence chess players are cordially invited to participate.

The rules for the 2025/27 season are here.

British Championship Organising Committee

• Austin Lockwood (Wales)
• Phill Beckett (England)
• David Kilgour (Scotland)

Austin Lockwood  Wednesday, July 30, 2025

The 2025 Annual General Meeting unanimously approved the new Constitution, which introduced the requirement to validate the identity of all members. This new ruling applies to all WCCF events, participation in an ICCF tournament or inclusion in a Welsh team. It is an essential requirement for all such events starting on or after 13 July 2025.

Validation can be effected by either of two ways:

• The payment of a one-off, lifetime validation fee of £1 direct to the WCCF, either by bank transfer or personal cheque from the bank account of the player. For this method, Paypal is not acceptable.
• Alternatively, a Premium member will be given a free lifetime validation on payment of the annual £5 membership fee, which may be done by bank transfer or cheque, or by Paypal through this link.

Austin Lockwood  Sunday, July 13, 2025

The 2025 AGM of the Welsh Correspondence Chess Federation took place on Saturday 12th July 2025.

The following officers were elected unanimously:

• President: Paul Scott
• Secretary: Austin Lockwood
• International Secretary/Delegate to ICCF: Austin Lockwood
• Treasurer: Marc Wakeham

The AGM unanimously voted to adopt the new constitution proposed by the EC.

The most significant change is that a validation fee of £1.00 is now required for all national members before they can enter any ICCF or WCCF event, or be selected for any Welsh team.  This is a one off fee which must be paid to the treasurer either from a bank account in the player's own name, or by cheque, again in the player's own name.

(For only £5.00, National Members may upgrade to Premium Membership, which can be done conveniently using PayPal from this website.  Premium membership includes the lifetime validation fee.)

Austin Lockwood  Sunday, July 6, 2025

A reminder that we are still seeking players for a 20 board friendly match against Italy.

There are no ratings restrictions on this match, it is open to all players of all grades, we will try to match you against an Italian player with a similar grade.

Only two games (unless you want to play more than one board), and an opportunity to represent Wales on the international stage.

If you are interested in playing, please contact Paul Scott, WCCF friendly match team captain, on [email protected]

Austin Lockwood  Monday, June 30, 2025

Our Italian friends have challenged us to a friendly match starting in September.  This would be two games against the same opponent (although you can play more than one board if you want more games).  This match is open to players of all strengths, and we will try to match you against an Italian opponent with a similar rating.

If you are interested in playing, please get in touch with the WCCF Friendly Match Captain, Paul Scott [email protected]

There is no entry fee.

Austin Lockwood  Monday, June 30, 2025

Wales will enter a team into the semi-finals of the 13th European Team Championship, starting in September.  This is probably the second most prestigious international team event in the ICCF calendar behind the CC Olympiad.

https://www.iccf.com/message?message=1756

We are looking for eight players and will select the strongest possible team based on rating, if you are interested in representing Wales in this event, please email the International Secretary, Austin Lockwood [email protected]

WCCF will pay all entry fees.

Austin Lockwood  Sunday, June 29, 2025

The 2025 Annual General Meeting of the Welsh Correspondence Chess Federation will take place online (using Zoom) on Saturday 12th July at 10:00am.  Members wishing to attend the meeting should contact the secretary ([email protected]) for the link to the Zoom meeting.

The meeting will have the following agenda:

1. Election of Officers
2. Vote to adopt the new Constitution (see earlier website post)
3. Treasurer's Report

No "other business" will be discussed.

The candidates for official positions are:

• President: Paul Scott
• Secretary: Austin Lockwood
• International Secretary: Austin Lockwood
• Delegate to ICCF: Austin Lockwood
• Treasurer: Marc Wakeham

As none of the positions have been contested, a single vote will be taken at the meeting to re-elect all officers as a "ticket".

Premium members not able to attend the meeting are invited to submit their votes to the secretary by email, please indicate:

1. I vote to re-elect the current Executive Committee OR I abstain from the election of officers (you cannot vote against a candidate)
2. I vote to adopt the new constitution OR I vote against adopting the new constitution

Email votes must reach the secretary no later than 10th July.

Austin Lockwood

WCCF Secretary

Austin Lockwood  Saturday, June 21, 2025

A reminder that nominations for the 2026 WCCF Executive Committee and motions for the AGM are due no later than Friday 27th June 2025.  If you are interested in serving on the Executive Committee, or if you would like to add an item to the AGM agenda, please get in touch before this date!

Please note that no "other business" will be discussed at the meeting.

Austin Lockwood  Saturday, June 14, 2025

After some discussions with our colleagues in Scotland and Ireland, WCCF would like to participate in the World Team Cup as part of a joint "Celtic Nations" team.

https://www.iccf.com/message?message=1751

Players of all strengths are welcome to participate in this team, it will be similar to a friendly match in that each player will have only two games.  The start date will be 15 August 2025 with a rather fast time control (all moves completed in 350 days).

If you are interested in joining the team, please contact me at [email protected] before the end of June.  The final team of 20 will be selected from all Welsh, Scottish and Irish players entering, ordered by rating.

Austin Lockwood  Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Entries are flowing in for the 2025/7 British CC Championship, and both the Championship and the Candidates sections are likely to carry norms (hopefully up to IM for the Championship).

But Welsh participation is a little bit disappointing to date, and ICCF will not allow the event to carry norms if more than 2/3 (i.e. 10 players for the Championship section) are from the same country (probably England in this case), so we do need a few more Welsh (and Scottish!) entries to be able to offer norms.

Four Euros for an event which carries norms is an incredible bargain (ICCF norm tournaments are 18 Euros via Direct Entry)... and all you need to do is click the button and pay via Stripe or PayPal, no need to send a cheque or make a complicated bank transfer.

All Welsh CC players are encouraged to participate.