Welsh Correspondence Chess Federation

Russell Sherwood  Saturday, June 13, 2020

Dear Players,

ICCF Zone 1 and SSKK - Sveriges Schackförbunds Korrschackkommitté are delighted to announce that a friendly match Sweden versus Rest of Europe will be organized in September, 2020. 

1. The match will be played on ICCF webserver, ICCF Playing Rules will apply. Time control is 10 moves in 50 days with duplication after 20 days.

2. Number of boards is expected 50 to 60.

3. Any Zone 1 (Europa) National Federation (except for Sweden) may nominate up to 3 players for the Rest of Europe Team (usually some NFs are not represented in friendly matches, however it would be good if all players will be set in order). Deadline is August,31, 2020.

4. Each player will play two games (one with White, one with Black) against her/his opponent on her/his board.

5. Start date is September 30, 2020.

6. Team Captains are IM Sture Olsson (Sweden) and GM Artis Gaujens (Rest of Europe). 

7.Tournament Director is GM Mrkvička, Josef (Czech Republic).

8. Order of boards will be set in accordance with ICCF ratings being taken from

up-to-date rating list (i.e. 2020/3).

Any Welsh flagged play interested in taking part should get in touch with Russell Sherwood by the 24th of August 2020. 

Austin Lockwood  Sunday, June 7, 2020

The Welsh Correspondence Chess Federation have offered to host the 2021 ICCF Congress at the Imperial Hotel in Llandundo from 15-20 August 2021; delegates will vote on whether or not to accept this offer between 8th and 28th July 2020.

https://www.iccf.com/Proposal.aspx?id=1297

Russell Sherwood  Saturday, May 9, 2020

Good Luck to Andrew Smith and Bob Hurn in the Brian Jones Celebration

Austin Lockwood  Saturday, May 9, 2020

As over the board chess leagues around the world have closed their doors due to COVID-19 lockdown, correspondence chess continues.

In honour of all chess players who have succumbed to this terrible disease, ICCF announce a unique one-off event, the “ICCF Lockdown Open”. This is open to all chess players around the world, in particular we welcome players who are currently unable to play chess because of national lockdown.

Entry will be by Direct Entry or via the player’s member federation; the entry fee for direct entries will be €6.24 Euros. Registration will close on 20th June 2020. Multiple entries are allowed, however will be limited to the number of groups running in the first round, additional entries will be refunded if necessary.

You can enter the tournament here.

ICCF will donate 100% of the entry fees from this event to the COVID-19 Solidarity Fund for the World Health Organisation.

The time control will be Triple Block “650” with 75 days initial bank and 4 days increment for the first 50 moves; guaranteed time will be deployed after the first 50 moves.

The tournament will be split into two rounds:

Preliminary Round

Starting 30th June 2020.

Groups of 80-100 players using the Silli System. Each player will play twelve games against different opponents. Games will be rated and no title norms will be available.

Final

Starting June 2022

This will be a single group consisting each of the top ten players (taking into account tiebreaking rules) from each of the preliminary rounds, the final will also use the Silli system and consist of between 80 and 100 players depending on the size of the qualifying groups. Each player will play 12 games against different opponents. Games will be rated, and depending on the ratings of players, title norms may be available in the final.

Prizes

There will be no cash prizes as 100% of the entry fees will be donated to the COVID-19 Solidarity Fund for the World Health Organisation, however additional prizes may be available depending on sponsorship arrangements. The winner and first two runners up of the final will be presented with medals and certificates.

Frank Geider, ICCF World Tournament Director

Jörg Kracht, ICCF Non-Title Tournament Commissioner

Austin Lockwood, Tournament Organiser