Welsh Correspondence Chess Federation

Rydym yn Ffrindiau - Amici Sumus

4th Chess 960 World Cup

Austin Lockwood  Monday, December 29, 2014

The International Correspondence Chess Federation

Announcement

4th Chess 960 World Cup

The tournament will be played by server and will be organized in three or four stages, depending from the number of the entries. The sections of the preliminary round will have 6 players (10 games) with 2 qualified for the next round. All sections will be with double round robin (players will have the same position with Black and White but all positions will defer from one opponent to another). Time control will be 10 moves for 30 days. The event will be rated for Chess 960 rating system.

Entries

Players may enter in the usual way through their National Federations or, where eligible, via the ICCF Direct Entry system.

All the finalists of the 2nd Chess 960 World Cup can start the 4th Chess 960 World Cup from the Semi-Finals (starting approx. in the first half of 2016), entering via Direct Entry up to 28.02.2015 or via National Federation up to 30.09.2015.

Entries via National Federations should contain player’s name, e-mail address and ICCF ID and should be forwarded by e-mail to the Tournament Organizer, Leonardo Madonia, (e-mail: [email protected]) to reach him before 28th February 2015. It would be appreciated if Federations send entries “as received” and not delay them until closing date.

A player can apply for more than one preliminary group.

Allocation of players to their sections will be made as random as possible; however, geographical distribution as well as an achievement of reasonable equality of the average rating will be taken into account.

Tournament Organization

  • The tournament will start on 15.03.2015.
  • Registration will begin on 1.01.2015 and will close on 28.02.2015 to allow for pairings.
  • All preliminary groups will finish at the latest on 15.06.2016.
  • Any unfinished games that will decide promotional positions in the group will be adjudicated. The players involved will send the record of the game (with the required result –win or draw–) and an analysis to their TD for adjudication no later than 5.07.2016.
  • The adjudication will be organized in such a way that all qualified players will be known by 31.08.2016.
  • The second stage is expected to start on 1.10.2016 at the latest.

Prizes

Prize 1000 € for the first 3 players (500 €; 300 €, 200 €), no tie break.

Qualifications

The first two players of each preliminary section will qualify for the next round.

Although the number of preliminary groups which each player may enter is unlimited, no player will qualify for more than two semifinal groups or more than one place in the final (in the case of four stages the qualification to the second round is unlimited).

In the case of same score in different sections, will be preferred the number of wins (Baumbach tiebreaking), then the best SB, then the highest ELO; to compare sections with different number of players in the preliminary round (in the case the total number of players isn’t a multiple of 6 some section may have 7 players), will be preferred the best %, then cancelling the 7th place in the bigger sections and compiling a new score-table, then highest ELO.

The winner of the 4th Chess 960 World Cup will qualify for a World Championship Candidates (tie break applies);

Member Federations are asked to give the tournament wide publicity to all their players. We wish all participants many interesting games and new connections with CC friends in other countries, based on the spirit of friendship and the ICCF motto AMICI SUMUS.

Leonardo Madonia Central Tournament Leader

Markus Hömske ICCF Non-Title Tournaments Commissioner

Frank Geider World Tournament Director

2014 ICCF Congress Minutes

Austin Lockwood  Tuesday, December 23, 2014

The final version of the 2014 ICCF Congress minutes are now available on iccf.com

https://www.iccf.com/message?message=741

ICCF Thematic Tournaments - 2015

Austin Lockwood  Wednesday, October 29, 2014

The 2015 Thematic Tournaments have been announced by Leonardo Madonia of the ICCF Thematic Office; these are unrated events, starting from a themed position. There are both server and postal options.

For a list of themes, please see here:

http://www.asigc.it/inter/data/ic/tem2015.html

You can enter via Direct Entry from the ICCF website:

https://www.iccf.com/EventsAnnouncements.aspx

Counties & District CC Championships

Russell Sherwood  Thursday, October 23, 2014

Good Luck to the West Wales Team following their promotion to the 1st Division of the Counties & District CC Championships.

https://www.iccf.com/event?id=45571

Good Luck!

Russell Sherwood  Thursday, October 23, 2014

Good Luck to Margaret Baron and Helen Sherwood in the British Ladies Championship 2014-2015

https://www.iccf.com/event?id=48188

Also Good Luck to Helen in the 11th Ladies World Championship

https://www.iccf.com/event?id=48382

ICCF Congress 2015

Austin Lockwood  Wednesday, October 15, 2014

The 2015 ICCF Congress will be held in Cardiff, Wales from 16th to 22nd August.

Congress Diary - Day Two

Austin Lockwood  Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Some very absorbing debate and discussion today, and one or two interesting decisions:

  • A flag fall will automatically end a game as a loss in all ICCF tournaments starting after 1st January 2015. Players will have 14 days to appeal.
  • Players in team matches will be able to claim directly to tournament directors in team games.
  • The "FIDE Laws of Chess" will not apply to correspondence chess from 1st January 2016; these rules will be replaced with "The ICCF Laws of Correspondence Chess".

The traditional blitz tournament was won by FIDE IM Gary Lane (AUS).

More tomorrow,

Austin

Congress Diary Day One Continued...

Austin Lockwood  Monday, October 13, 2014

The day started with the usual formalities and an opening speech by the ICCF President, Eric Ruch. Each delegate was then invited by the General Secretary to introduce himself and accept his voting card.

The morning was taken up with awards, including all title awards, which were moved from later in the week to allow visitors and accompanying people to participate in the full day partner programme offered by CCLA.

Unfortunately still no awards for Wales (maybe next year!...), but as proxy for England and Peru, I collected some medals and certificates, notably the Silver Bertl von Massow Medal for Richard Hall, and medals and certificates for my good friends Andrew Dearnley (IM and SIM), Toni Halliwell (LGM) and Phill Beckett (IA).

The afternoon continued with Qualifications business, including a narrowly defeated proposal from the Qualifications Commissioner to allow title norms in national events, and some special title applications which resulted in some very interesting discussion.

The Financial and Direct Entry reports were presented later in the afternoon.

In the evening there was a very enjoyable banquet in the hotel, with a warm welcome from the CCLA President, Shaun Press.

This morning we will commence with the Services Director's report, presented by yours truly!

Austin Lockwood, Sydney

ICCF Congress 2014 Day One

Austin Lockwood  Sunday, October 12, 2014

I am currently attending ICCF Congress in Sydney, Australia as ICCF Services Director and National Delegate for Wales. I am also representing England and Peru by proxy.

On Sunday there were meetings of the ICCF Executive Board and Management Committees, however the full session of Congress starts today with the opening and award ceremonies.

There are no awards for Wales this year, however I will be proud to collect the IM and SIM title on behalf of my good friend and delegate for England, Andrew Dearnley who is unable to attend this year for health reasons.

I will post any important decisions made by Congress, and maybe some photographs, here on the WCCF website.

The final decision of Congress, on Wednesday, will be the venue for the 2015 event, WCCF have made an offer to host next year's Congress in Cardiff in August, so we keep our fingers crossed for a positive decision this week!

Austin Lockwood, Sydney, 12 October 2014

Welsh Trio 7

Russell Sherwood  Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Welsh Trio Number 7 has started. Good Look All

https://iccf.com/event?id=48164

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