Welsh Chess Union (Undeb Gwyddbwyll Cymru)

Don’t forget….

Feb
23rd	WCPL Round 4 and U1850 Round 2	Bishop Hedley High School, Penydarren, Merthyr Tydfil, CF42 9AN
29th	Welsh Primary Schools Championships	Bishop Hedley High School, Penydarren, Merthyr Tydfil, CF42 9AN	Entry Form
29th	Doubles Chess Event for Secondary School Players 2.30 pm start	Bishop Hedley High School, Penydarren, Merthyr Tydfil, CF42 9AN
29th-1st March	4NCL Division 2 Rounds 7-8	Mercure Daventry Court Hotel and Spa	Info

Saturday 29 February: Doubles chess event for Secondary School players

On Saturday the 29 February there will be a ‘doubles’ chess competition, open to anyone attending a Welsh secondary school. (Doubles is a hugely popular, well-known variant of chess where pieces taken on one board are passed over to another. It is described in detail here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bughouse_chess and can even be played on chess.com).

The competition should provide a fun afternoon of chess. Short time controls will be used, and for each round players will get a random partner and opposition. Over the course of the afternoon, the various wins and losses should create an individual winner.

The games will be played at Bishop Hedley High School in Merthyr Tydfil on Saturday 29 February, from 2:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m (the full address is Bishop Hedley High School, Penydarren, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 9AN).

There is no need to register for this event. However, it would be helpful if those that wish to attend send an e-mail to Richard Stevenson, who can be contacted at: welshsecondarychess@gmail.com

URGENT!! Anyone Over 65 interested in playing in Prague?

A vacancy has suddenly occurred for a place in an Over 65 team to play in the World Seniors Team Championships in Prague between 5th-15th March.

Anyone interested in competing needs to be born in 1955 or earlier. A deposit of £170 would need to be paid to the WCU to cover accommodation and transfers and the cost of air fare would be needed costing about £242 per person.

Anyone interested please contact Peter Bevan urgently on 01792798395 or 074112029282.

First Rank Edition 33

This can be viewed here.

ECU E-Magazine January 2020

This can be viewed here.

A O Jones Rapidplay Results (1/2/20)

The annual West Wales Chess League Rapidplay event began in 1976 and was held this year at Upper Killay Recreational Hall as a 5 round swiss with each player having 30 minutes on the clock (no increments). The event clashed with the first weekend of the 6 nations rugby, which resulted in a few less players than expected.

31 players attended on the day, including 4 players from Gwent and 8 from East Glamorgan.

Jason Garcia & Bill Hewitt shared 1^st place on 4.5/5, sharing the AO Jones trophy.

3^rd = were Moss McCarthy & Chris Boyd on 4/5. Last years winner Ian Jones was among those on 3.5/5. There were grading prizes at U-1900, U-1650 & U-1400 as well as junior prizes. Some prizes were shared so in all, 17 players won a prize! Continue reading A O Jones Rapidplay Results (1/2/20)

2020 Olympiad (Moscow 5 August – 17 August 2020)

Appointment of Non-Playing Captains/Coaches for the Welsh Teams In the Open And Women’s Sections

Expressions of interest, together with details of previous experience and/or other qualifications, are invited for one or other of the two posts – by 31 March to Howard Williams, Chair WCU Selection Committee, Chairmanselectors@welshchessunion.org.uk. The Committee will meet in mid April to take the matter forward.

Background

The event is an eleven-round Swiss held at a rate of one round per day over four boards (though, like other teams, we shall be sending squads of five plus a non-playing captain). Unlike the European Team Championships there will be plenty of teams weaker than Wales taking part and we do not expect to be outclassed in many matches.

Captains’ Duties

Helping as required with players’ opening etc preparation immediately before the event.
Input (via the Chairman of Selectors) on team board order (which is finalised for all teams on arrival in Moscow).
Dealing with team administration, including the duties and responsibilites set out in 6.3.9 of the FIDE Olympiad Regulations. The selection of the team for each round is an important element here.
Helping as required with preparation for each game and going over the games after their conclusion with the players.
Supplying a report on his/her team’s performance to the Chairman of Selectors (by the end of October 2018).

Captain’s Objectives

To ensure –

a. that the team does as well as possible in relation to its seeding;

b. that individual players do as well as possible in relation to their expected score (based on ratings);

c. that they learn as much as possible from the experience.

Captains’ expenses and remuneration

It is expected that the organisers will be supplying full board gratis for each team and its captain in 2 single and 2 double rooms. The WCU team captains will each be entitled to one of these single rooms. Captains with suitable chess qualifications will also have their travelling expenses to Moscow met and be offered a fee. Applicants should give some indication of the level of fee they would expect.

2020 Cardiff and the Vale Schools Chess Championships Results (2/2/20)

This year’s event was on 2^nd February at Cardiff Council Hall. The event, as usual, attracted a large number of entrants all keen to compete in these popular Championships. We sincerely thank Cardiff City Council for once again hosting the Championships.

We also thank Cardiff Bay Rotary Club for their continued support of these Championships.

The prizes were presented by the The Right Honourable, The Lord Mayor of Cardiff, Councillor Dan De’Ath and we thank him for his attendance at the Championships.

Continue reading 2020 Cardiff and the Vale Schools Chess Championships Results (2/2/20)