First Rank Newsletter Edition 25

This can be viewed here.

Welsh Chess Union Ratings

 
I would like to apologise to Welsh chess players for the current slowness in getting your games rated since July 1st.
 
As you probably know, Robert Taylor hung up his boots after 12 years of sterling work as National Rating Officer and was replaced by myself. He also resigned from his job as Gwent rating officer, as did Pete Heaven (East Glam) and Glyn Sinnett (West Wales). Only two of these three zones have found new rating officers (Ben Rowlands in West Wales and Edwin Allen in East Glam) and so we are struggling to cope with the extra workload. The problem is unfortunately most acute in the two zones with the greatest number of players – East Glam and Gwent.
 
I have personally had some fantastic help from Robert and Pete and I can promise that the situation *will* be turned around. In the meantime I hope that you will not find the delays in rating too intolerable – they won’t last for long!
 
We are still, of course, looking for an enthusiastic person to take over the Gwent vacancy. Please get in touch if you are interested!
 
 Paul Orton, National Rating Officer  ratingofficer@welshchessunion.uk 

Three tie for first at 2019 South Wales International Open!

In the 2019 South Wales International Open, GM’s Korneev, Chatalbashev and IM Comacho tied for first place with 7/9. 64 competed.

In the Challengers, Ryan Cheung finished first with 5/7. 9 competed.

Any prizes outstanding will be paid by bank transfer by Monday night (15th July)

Full results and prizes can be downloaded here.

2019 South Wales International

Entries @ 6/7/19  Open     Challengers

Live Games

The 1st Round draw will be available on ChessResults.com from 9pm on 6/7/19.

ECU E-Magazine June 2019

This can be downloaded here.

Tony Gutteridge RIP

Sad news has reached us that Tony Gutteridge passed away on 9th June.

Tony was a member of North Cardiff Chess Club for a few years but before that he was a longstanding member of Penarth Chess Club. Furthermore, Tony was WCU Year Book Editor and printer for a number of years.

The advice comes from Radyr Methodist Church where Tony had been a lay preacher at one time and until fairly recently a regular churchgoer.

He leaves a widow but no children.

The Management Board wish to extend their sincere condolences to Tony’s family and friends at this very sad time.

Tony’s funeral will be a private one. 

There is to be a memorial service for him at 3.00pm on Saturday 13 July in the Whitchurch Methodist Church, Penlline Road, Cardiff CF14 2AA.

(On-street parking is limited in the adjoining streets which are predominantly residential. Penlline Road is on a number of Cardiff Bus/Stagecoach Bus routes.)

2019 North Wales Open

The games for this event are now available on the Games page.

4th North Wales Congress Results

2019 North Wales Open

=1st        FM Adam Ashton, Thomas Carroll, Philip Hayward   (4/5)    £158.33p each

Grading Prize U1887 

David Patrick (3.5/5)    £50

There were 23 competitors.

2019 North Wales Major

=1st    Graham Williamson, Paul Benson  (4/5)   £200 each

=3rd (3.5/5) £18.75 each

Duncan Williams, Robert P Taylor, David Pinch, Paul Carlucci

Junior Prize 

Sam Davies (3.5/5) (top scoring junior across all sections)    £50

Grading Prize U1673 

Richard Szwajkun, Barrie Wells, Joe Hirst, Raymond Williams, Niamh Bridgeman   (3/5)    £10 each

There were 39 competitors.

2019 North Wales Minor

=1st    Ken Gorman, Kate Walker   (4.5/5)  £200 each

=3rd    Chris Fraser, Timothy Allen, Jonathan Jones, Nick Holmes   (3.5/5)    £18.75 each

Grading Prize U100 

Jeff Wilson    (3.5/5)    £50

There were 35 competitors.

 

 

2019 Northumbria Masters

The Welsh Chess Union has received an invitation which is open to all its members to compete in this event, the Entry Form for which can be found here.

Last year, the 2018 Northumbria Masters was a great success, featuring a very strong field of 7 GMs and 11 IMs in a total of 50 players.  
 
This year there is more space at a superb new hotel venue, Novotel Newcastle Airport, where the players and their families can stay and relax. Because of the new, bigger venue, there are no rating restrictions – in fact, there are three FIDE-rated sections (Masters- open to everyone), Challengers (Under 2050) and Major (Under 1850) running from 23-27 August, over the Bank Holiday weekend. 
 
Starting on the morning of Friday August 23, there is also a one-day FIDE-rated Junior Rapidplay, with Under 11 and Under 14 sections.
 
 Our partners Guaranteed Events Ltd have arranged a special room rate of £69 per person (single occupancy), and £79 per person (double occupancy) at Novotel Newcastle Airport. Please note: This is only available when booking through their dedicated website.
 
The hotel has 126 very comfortable rooms, has a spacious playing hall accommodating up to 120 players, a stylish restaurant and bar, and secluded outdoor picnic area. There is ample car parking at the hotel, which is free for all competitors, accompanying persons and spectators. It is also very convenient to get to: literally 300 metres from the A1(M) in Newcastle, just 3 miles from Newcastle Airport, and 4 miles from Newcastle Central railway station. 
 
We aim to provide an enjoyable chess holiday experience for all participants and their families. With this in mind, players can order up to 3 half point byes in Rounds 1-8, and half-day excursions are being organised to the North East’s most iconic tourist destinations: The castles of Northumberland (Alnwick, Lindisfarne & Bamburgh); Exploring Hadrian’s Wall and the Segedenum Roman Fort museum; and a trip to the historic city of Durham, including its Castle and Cathedral. 
 
As the Northumbria Masters is designed to provide title norm opportunities, special assistance to titled players is being offered. Entry for GMs, WGMs, IMs & WIMs is free, and free accommodation is being offered to a number of these players with local chess players in their homes. 
 
(For these and other conditions, titled players are requested to contact the organiser personally).
 

The organiser is 

Tim Wall
Tournament Director
Northumbria Masters
Tel: 0750 372 2366
Twitter: @NorthMasters
 
Accommodation with local hosts will be made available  on a first come, first served basis.

South Wales Blitz Results

The results were as follows:

1st   IM Collados Jose Camacho (Korea)  10.5/11

2nd  GM Matthew J Turner  10/11

3rd   FM Gzregprz Toczek  8/11

There were 24 competitors