Welsh Correspondence Chess Federation

Russell Sherwood  Saturday, November 4, 2023

To finish off 2023, we are arranging a friendly match with England

To sign up or for more details, get in touch. Start date, December 2023

As England has a larger player pool, we should be able to match ratings closely, Opponents are available for all ratings. 

As a reminder, participation in friendly matches is one of the criteria for selection to Team and Invitational events.

If you wish to play more than one board, please let me know.

I encourage all Welsh players to get involved, as Champions of Europe, we have a reputation to maintain!!

Andrew Smith 

Russell Sherwood  Friday, November 3, 2023

Congratulations to Michael on picking up a 2nd CCM Norm in Cross Table (iccf.com).

Unfortunately, due to the low game count, a third will be required for the title.

Russell Sherwood  Friday, November 3, 2023

Congratulations to Peter on achieving a CCM Norm in Cross Table (iccf.com)

I am sure the hunt continues for the 2nd!

Russell Sherwood  Sunday, October 15, 2023

A suggestion has been made for potential events the WCCF could offer.

For several years we have had the Trio events, but these have been dormant due to inactivity.

There are two potential events:

1. A 5 player, single round-robin event with each player playing a single game against each opponent – four games in total.
2. A Ladder event where players two games against a single opponent, in a limited number of pairings. The overall results of games are calculated for each player, up to a total of 20 games, to create a leaderboard.

In both cases, only Welsh-flagged premium members would be able to take part (as otherwise, these would be Open events, which have severe limitations)

We would look to include a limited number of events within the premium membership fee, with additional entries at a flat rate to be determined.

Below is a link to a survey with a few questions related to the potential events. Whilst the first event could run when 5 players are interested, the second would realistically need 15-20 players to be viable.

Below is the link for a short survey, which will remain Open until 17/11

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/22BYSVV

Russell Sherwood

Austin Lockwood  Tuesday, October 3, 2023

Wales are now officially the undisputed Champions of Europe, having a now unassailable score of 50.5 in the 11th European Team Championship

Gold medals will be awarded to each team member at ICCF Congress, which, in a beautiful twist of fate, will next be held on home soil in Llandudno!

Congratulations in particular to Tony Balshaw and Helen Sherwood for completing their final norms for the SIM and IM titles respectively in the event and to John Claridge for fininishing first on Board Three and Ian Jones for finishing joint first on Board Four.

The event was completed without a single defeat.  An incredible result for the lowest seeds in the event against some of the European CC giants, for a title which has never before been won by a British team.

The Gold medal gives an automatic qualification for the final of the 12th Championship, and bragging rights for many years to come.

Cymru am byth!

Austin Lockwood  Tuesday, September 12, 2023

Congratulations to Russell for being awarded the Silver Bertl von Massow Medal at the recent ICCF Congress in Amsterdam.

The Bertl von Massow Medal in Silver is awarded for ten years meritorious service to ICCF and well deserved!

Russell Sherwood  Monday, September 11, 2023

In completing Wales games in the European Team Championship, Tony picked up a 2nd SIM Norm and hence the Title. Excellent!

Cross Table (iccf.com)

Austin Lockwood  Monday, September 11, 2023

The Welsh team have now finished all games in the 11th European Team Championship, securing a final score of 50.5 points (+5).

With only twelve games remaining in the event, no other team can now better that total and only two from Slovenia, Germany or Italy can equal it and finish above Wales on tie breaks.  Wales are therefore now guaranteed a podium finish, a medal, and qualification for the 12th Final, making this team the most successful ever British team in a European Team Championship... an outstanding achievement!

The only open question now is... which medal... We await the final results with eager anticipation!

Hopefully the final places will be known in time for the medals to be produced and awarded to the team on home soil at the 2024 ICCF Congress in Llandudno next August.

Russell Sherwood  Sunday, September 10, 2023

Congratulations to Peter on achieving a 2nd Norm and the CCE Title.