 |
News Archive 2015 |
Last updated 18 December 2015
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 |
- 18 Dec 15 | ICCF 2016 World Championship Preliminaries
- ICCF Title Tournaments Commissioner Gian-Maria Tani writes to announce the Preliminaries stage of the 2016 (40th) World Championship. This event will be played in sections of 13 players (or 15/17 at the organisers' discretion), with entries closing on 15th February and play commencing on 20th March. Entry must be made through national delegates and each member federation is allowed to nominate entries - SCCA is once again entitled to 3 places in the 2016 cycle (includes Preliminaries and Semi-Finals). Stuart Graham has achieved pre-qualification for the 2016 Preliminaries following his performance in the 35th World Championship. If you are interested, please contact George Pyrich as soon as possible and before 8th February.
- 10 Nov 15 | Friendly Versus Australia Starts
- Team captains George Pyrich and Brian Jones have finalised their teams and play has now started in a 25-board friendly match against Australia. We've played the Aussies four times previously with mixed results. In an email match started in 1999, we lost 4-8, but we managed a 24-18 win in a combined webserver/postal fixture started in 2005. Australia has won the two most recent encounters, by 34½-13½ (webserver/postal, started 2009) and 23-17 (webserver, started 2012). The new match is taking place on the webserver over 25 boards, and started officially on 24th October. Best wishes to both teams for competitive chess plus new and old acquaintances!
- 09 Nov 15 | ICCF Direct Entry 10th Anniversary Tournament Announced
- Ian Pheby (ENG), ICCF Direct Entry Commissioner, writes to announce that the DE 10th Anniversary Tournament will commence on April 5th, 2016. The event is webserver-based and will be organised in preliminary, semi-final and final stages. Preliminary sections will be 9-, 11- or 13-player, depending on entries received, and play is expected to last 18 months. Time control is 10/30, conditionals are permitted and all games will be rated with Title Norms possible. A prize fund of €1,000 will operate. The event is open to all players who are eligible to enter tournaments via the Direct Entry Programme. The entry fee will be €6.35. Registration closes on March 5th, 2016. For further information please contact George Pyrich.
- 02 Nov 15 | British CC Team Championship 2015-16
- Ian Pheby (ENG) is the TO for this event which starts on December 1st. George Pyrich has selected a strong line-up to represent SCCA:
- SIM Richard Beecham (2464)
- IM Tom Matheis (2451)
- IM Iain Mackintosh (2416)
- SM David Cumming (2400)
- SM Alan Bell (2396)
- SM Gordon Anderson (2325)
- GM David Kilgour (2301)
- IM Alan Borwell (2288)
- 02 Nov 15 | North Atlantic Team Tournament 7 Announced
- Valentín Costa Trillo of AEAC (Spanish CCF) writes to advise that NATT7 will commence on May 1st, 2016. Team registration closes on February 29th. 13 8-player teams are expected to participate and play will be on webserver with 10/50 time controls. Team selection will probably be influenced by the start of the next ICCF Olympiad, due around the same time. For further information and to indicate your interest, please contact George Pyrich.
- 02 Nov 15 | 2016 British Correspondence Chess960 Open
- Austin Lockwood writes to advise that the WCCF are running the 2016 Rritish Chess960 Open. The entry fee is £3. Registration closes on December 15th and play starts on January 1st. Webserver-based, sections will have 5-8 players, each playing two games per opponent. Different start positions will operate across opponents, but the same position will be used for each pair of games against one opponent. For further information and to enter, please contact George Pyrich.
- 07 Oct 15 | ICCF Olympiad 21 Update
- Gian-Maria Tani, ICCF Title Tournament Commissioner, writes to advise on the next Olympiad cycle. The Final of the 20th Olympiad and the Semi-finals of the 21st Olympiad (both played on ICCF webserver) were planned to start in the 4th Quarter of 2015. Unfortunately, the Final of the 18th Olympiad and the Semi-finals of the 20th Olympiad are not yet over and the fight for the qualifications is still open.
- Just one game is running in 20/SF, but it will decide the second qualification from Section 1; now the qualified teams are Bulgaria, Germany, France, USA, The Netherlands, Russia, Austria, Sweden, and Estonia. There are two open games in the 18/F: only Germany (second qualification) and Slovenia are sure to qualify for the next Final; the other qualifying team is still unknown. Obviously, the results of the running games will also decide who will be the best third team(s) who will get the remaining place(s) in 20/F.
- Therefore, it is now impossible to start the 20th Olympiad Final and the 21st Olympiad Semi-finals. They will (I hope) start in the 2nd Quarter of 2016.
- 04 Oct 15 | SCCA 2016 Membership Forms Available
- Membership forms for 2016 are now available for download from the website on the membership page. The forms are in Word format and can be returned by post or email. Please use them whether you're renewing or joining as a new member, and remember to complete the tournament form to say which events you'd like to play in during 2016. For further information, please contact Kevin Paine by email, or use his home contact details provided on the web page.
- 02 Oct 15 | ICCF Grading List 2015/4 Published
- The third quarterly list of 2015 is published on the website today. Look under publications/grading list to see the web page, or go to members/downloads for the pdf version. For further information, please contact George Pyrich.
- 02 Oct 15 | Magazine 131 Published
- The third e-mag of the 2015 set is being distributed by email today. Printed copies are in the post tonight. As usual, members will be asked to download their e-mags from the secure Members' page on the website, while complimentary e-mags will be attached to the email. Download times will be a touch shorter than last quarter. If you have any problems with this edition, please drop me an email at: webmaster@scottishcca.co.uk and I'll do what I can to help. Enjoy the read!
- 09 Sep 15 | Czech Republic versus Rest of Europe
- Marco Caressa, ICCF-Europa Zonal Director, writes to advise that a friendly match has been agreed between the Czech Republic and the Rest of Europe. It will be played over at least 105 boards on the ICCF webserver. Each European Zone country may nominate 3 players to oppose the Czechs and it may be possible for a player to take more than one board. Each board will play two games in friendly match format. The match is expected to start on 31st December, and registration completes on 30th November. Please email George Pyrich before 10th November for further details and to register your interest.
- 18 Jul 15 | ICCF European WS Championship Semi-Finals Announced
- Marco Caressa, ICCF-Europa Zonal Director, writes to advise that the semi-finals of this tournament will start on 20th September in multiples of 11, 13, 15 or 17-player sections, with winners and 2nd places qualifying for the candidates stages. The following players are eligible:
- players rated between 2300 and 2499 at the time of application.
- players who 1st or 2nd in a European Championship Preliminary, regardless of rating.
- the participants of previous or running Candidates who have scored at least 45% of the possible points, if they have not earned a higher qualification.
- the participants of previous or running semi-finals who have scored at least 55% of the possible points, if they have not earned a higher qualification.
- winners of European WS Master Class started during the years 2011-2013.
- Registration completes on 10th September, so please email George Pyrich before end-August, for further details and to register your interest.
- 13 Jul 15 | ICCF European Postal Cup Announced
- Marco Caressa, ICCF-Europa Zonal Director, writes to announce a new European Postal Cup tournament. Each federation is invited to enter one 4-player team with a nominated team captain. Preliminary sections are expected to have around 7 teams, with each player having one game against each opponent on the same board. A 9-team Final is envisaged, and title norms should be available. Games are to be played by post, but email is possible by agreement. Play starts on December 15th this year and registration completes on 30th September. Entry is free. For further information and to register, please contact George Pyrich before mid-September.
- 10 Jul 15 | ICCF Grading List 2015/3 Published
- The third quarterly list of 2015 is published on the website today. Look under publications/grading list to see the web page, or go to members/downloads for the pdf version. For further information, please contact George Pyrich.
- 10 Jul 15 | Magazine 130 Published
- The second e-mag of the 2015 set is being distributed by email today. Printed copies are in the post tonight. As usual, members will be asked to download their e-mags from the secure Members' page on the website, while complimentary e-mags will be attached to the email. Download times will be a touch longer than last quarter. If you have any problems with this edition, please drop me an email at: webmaster@scottishcca.co.uk and I'll do what I can to help. Enjoy the read!
- 08 Jul 15 | Montgomery wins 2014-15 Championship
- Robert Montgomery has won the SCCA Championship for the first time after a tie-break was needed to separate the top three players. Robert finished with 6/10, as did Eoin Campbell and Geoff Lloyd. We haven't had many tied finishes in the Championship over the years, and our practice historically was to share the title. However, in the webserver era, tournament organisers can elect to choose a tie-break method and the Baumbach system (most wins) was employed to decide the outcome. So, many congratulations to the man from Livingston whose performances in this event in recent years make him a deserving winner! Commiserations to Eoin and Geoff, who both played fine chess!
- 07 Jul 15 | ICCF 2015 World Championship Candidates Announced
- Gian-Maria Tani, ICCF Title Tournaments Commissioner, writes to announce the candidates stage of the 35th World Championship which will start on 20th September. The following players are eligible for the 35th candidates:
- the participants of one of the previous or running finals who scored at least 50% of the possible points.
- the participants in one of the previous or running candidates stage who finished in 2nd place (in the exceptional event of only one qualifying place for the final being available), 3rd or 4th place, or scored at least 60% of the possible points but did not qualify for the final.
- the first and second placed players in every semi-final group.
- the first and second placed players in a final of the ICCF World Cup tournament.
- the first and second placed players from the acknowledged Zonal Championships of Category IX or higher.
- all previous World Correspondence Chess champions.
- the holders of the Grandmaster Title with at least 5 Grandmaster norms
- those players who have a fixed rating of 2600 and above, as at July 1, 2015, or from the current FIDE list.
- Candidates sections normally have 13 players with the possibility for the TTC to extend them to 15 or 17 players (or reduce to 11 players) if appropriate in special situations. Normally, only four Candidates sections are started each year with 1st & 2nd qualifying for a final.
- Registration completes on 19th August, so please email George Pyrich before 12th August, for further details and to register your interest.
- 22 Jun 15 | 2014-15 Accounts Published
- 2014-15 Accounts can now be viewed on the accounts page. Follow the links on that page to see 5-year summaries of main financial elements.
- 21 Jun 15 | 2015 AGM Highlights
- At the AGM in Perth on 21 June, the following items were noted:
- Full audited accounts showing a surplus of £272 and net assets of £10,754 were produced by Gordon Anderson.
- Alan Hind was reappointed as auditor.
- The secretary post will continue to be covered by Kevin Paine (enquiries), Jim Anderson (domestic events) and Iain Mackintosh (minutes).
- Professor Alastair Dawson joins our Executive Committee.
- SCCA membership subscriptions and entry fees remain unchanged.
- Some ICCF entry fees may be reduced with effect from January 2016 if voted through at this year's Congress in Cardiff.
- Members can download AGM and Executive Committee minutes from the members download page.
- 06 Jun 15 | SCCA AGM 2015
- This will be held at 7 Tullylumb Terrace, Perth PH1 1BA at 4:00pm on Sunday, 21st June. Skype facilities can be made available for those unable to attend in person (please contact the president). The agenda is:
- Apologies
- Minutes of Previous AGM and Matters Arising
- President's Remarks
- Secretary's Report
- Treasurer's Report
- International Secretary's Report
- Election of Office Bearers
- Appointment of Auditor
- Proposed Subscriptions and Fees
- AOCB
- 27 May 15 | ICCF World Cup 21 Announced
- Mariusz Wojnar, the Polish ICCF Delegate and Tournament Organiser, writes to announce that World Cup 21 will start on 1st October, 2015, with the closing date for entries 1st September. As with previous World Cups, the event will be organised in three stages: Preliminaries, Semi-finals and Final. The Preliminaries will complete on 1st May 2017; the Semi-finals are expected to start on 1st September 2017 and the Finals are expected to start on 1st September 2019. Books and chess materials will be available as prizes for the Preliminaries and Semi-finals, with cash prizes available for the Final. Players may enter for an unlimited number of Preliminary groups, but have no more than two places in the Semi-finals and one in the Final. Players who qualified for World Cup 19 and 20 Finals will be entitled to play in the Semi-final stage of World Cup 21 and the winners of WC 19 and 20 Finals will be eligible to participate in World Cup Final 21. Players may enter through their National Federations (the SCCA entry fee per section is £8.50) or, where eligible, via the ICCF Direct Entry system. For further information and to register, please contact George Pyrich before mid-August.
- 27 May 15 | ICCF 10th Ladies Olympiad Announced
- ICCF Title Tournaments Commissioner Gian-Maria Tani writes to announce the ICCF 10th Ladies Olympiad. Each Federation may nominate one 4-player team for this webserver event which will comprise Preliminary and Final stages. Players may enter with ICCF or FIDE ratings; unfixed grades will be given a provisional 1900 rating. Registration completes on June 30th and play starts on September 1st. For further information and to register, please contact George Pyrich before mid-June.
- 22 May 15 | ICCF Veterans World Cup 8 Announced
- Richard Hall, president of EFCC (the English CC Federation), writes to announce that VWC8 will start on 1st September, 2015, with the closing date for entries 1st August. As with previous VWCs, the event will be organised in three stages, which will allow several players from each group stage to advance to the Semi-finals and Final. The number of promotions will depend on total entries received, but it is envisaged that groups at each stage will comprise 13 players (12 games) played by webserver with a rate of play of 10 moves in 40 days. Playing time in each stage will be 18 months, with a fixed closing date specified at the outset. VWCs are open to all players who are 60 years old or more at the start date of the tournament. Although the number of preliminary groups which each player may enter is unlimited, no player will qualify for more than two Semi-final groups or more than one place in the Final. Players may enter through their National Federations (the SCCA entry fee per section is £8.50) or, where eligible, via the ICCF Direct Entry system. For further information and to register, please contact George Pyrich before mid-July.
- 19 May 15 | 2nd International Clergy Polish CC Championship
- Mariusz Wojnar, the Polish ICCF delegate, writes to invite entries to the 2nd International Clergy Polish CC Championship. This event is open to clergymen worldwide who have a passion for chess. The intention is to run a round-robin format, but this may be modified to a Scheveningen/Swiss if sufficient entries are received. The medium is webserver with an incremental rate of play (initial time: 10 days per game plus increment: 1 move in 3 days with duplication after 20 days; 20 days leave per year, no special leave). Entry is free. Registration closes 31st August; play starts 15th September. If you are interested, please contact George Pyrich before 15th August.
- 07 May 15 | Friendly Versus Netherlands Starts
- Team captains George Pyrich and Joop Jansen have finalised their teams and we now start a 25-board friendly match against the Netherlands. We've played the Dutch three times previously and all have followed seeding - they are one of the top nations. In an all-postal match started in 1996, we lost 16-34; in a postal/email encounter started in 2005, we lost 16½-25½ and in a webserver/postal fixture started in 2012, we went down 23-37. This match takes place on the webserver over 25 boards, with an official start date of 25th May, though games can be started immediately. Best wishes to both teams for competitive chess and good craic!
- 12 Apr 15 | George Pyrich New Email Address
- Following his move to Spain, George now has a new email address: georgepyrich~at~albox-online.net (NB substitute '@' for '~at~').
His SCCA grader and international addresses will forward to the new address with immediate effect.
- 03 Apr 15 | ICCF Grading List 2015/2 Published
- The second quarterly list of 2015 is published on the website today. Look under publications/grading list to see the web page, or go to members/downloads for the pdf version. For further information, please contact George Pyrich.
- 03 Apr 15 | Magazine 129 Published
- The first e-mag of the 2015 set is being distributed by email today. Printed copies are in the post tonight. As usual, members will be asked to download their e-mags from the secure Members' page on the website, while complimentary e-mags will be attached to the email. Download times will be a touch longer than last quarter. If you have any problems with this edition, please drop me an email at: webmaster@scottishcca.co.uk and I'll do what I can to help. Enjoy the read!
- 03 Apr 15 | Friendly Versus Natcor Starts
- Team captains George Pyrich and Philip Drury have finalised their teams and we now start a 9-board friendly match against the National Correspondence Chess Club, aka Natcor. Natcor was founded in 1932 by Tom Morris as 'The Forest and District Correspondence Chess Club', and is a founder menber of the EFCC (formerly BFCC). This is our first match, and takes place on the webserver over 9 boards, with an official start date of 24th April, though games can be started immediately. Best wishes to both teams for enjoyable chess and socialising!
- 06 Jan 15 | ICCF Grading List 2015/1 Published
- The first quarterly list of 2015 is published on the website today. Look under publications/grading list to see the web page, or go to members/downloads for the pdf version. For further information, please contact George Pyrich.
- 06 Jan 15 | Magazine 128 Published
- The fourth e-mag of the 2014 set is being distributed by email today. Printed copies are in the post tonight. As usual, members will be asked to download their e-mags from the secure Members' page on the website, while complimentary e-mags will be attached to the email. Download times will be a touch longer than last quarter. If you have any problems with this edition, please drop me an email at: webmaster@scottishcca.co.uk and I'll do what I can to help. Enjoy the read!
- 03 Jan 15 | Friendly Versus Wales Starts
- Team captains George Pyrich and Russell Sherwood have finalised their teams and we now start a 20-board friendly match against Wales. The Welsh CCA was in abeyance for some years, but has been revived in recent times thanks to the efforts of the Sherwood clan amongst others. They'll be hosting the ICCF Congress in Cardiff during 2015, which marks quite a transformation. We last played them over 2000-03 in a postal encounter with 17 boards, the Dragons winning by 17-13 with 4 boards declared void. This match is all-webserver over 20 boards, with an official start date of 10th January, though most games are now in session and one match is already complete. Best wishes to both teams for enjoyable chess and socialising!
- 03 Jan 15 | ICCF 2015 World Championship Preliminaries
- ICCF Title Tournaments Commissioner Gian-Maria Tani writes to announce the Preliminaries stage of the 2015 World Championship. This event will be played in sections of 13 players (or 15/17 at the organisers' discretion), with entries closing on 15th February and play commencing on 20th March. Entry must be made through national delegates and each member federation is allowed to nominate entries - SCCA is once again entitled to 3 places in the 2015 cycle (includes Preliminaries and Semi-Finals). If you are interested, please contact George Pyrich as soon as possible and before 8th February.
- 03 Jan 15 | ICCF President's New Year Message
- To all Correspondence Chess Friends,
- As 2014 ends, I would like to extend my warmest wishes to you and all those dear to you for a very healthy, happy, and successful New Year. I also wish to extend my sincere thanks to all officials and delegates for their devoted work on behalf of ICCF during the last year.
- In 2014, we have further consolidated our Organisation with an extended offer of tournaments, the further development of the server and on-going agreements with our main sponsors. We also took major steps forward on the road to modern correspondence chess with the first introduction of automated ruling by the server.
- In 2014, more than 2100 payers have used the Direct Entry program, an increase of 20% with respect to last year and 2014 will be another record year for ICCF.
- In 2015, we will continue to develop ICCF in three main directions. The introduction of the Laws of Correspondence Chess will further strength the leading role of ICCF in the field of correspondence chess. The further modernization of the rules, taking advantage of the advanced technology of the server, will help us to increase the services to the players. The work and the role of the Tournament Directors have only slightly evolved since their inceptions during the postal area of correspondence chess, and it is now time to redefine their roles and duties aiming at improving the services to the players.
- While relying on our 60+ years of history, ICCF has to look forward and continuously improve its structure, rules, and offers, and our challenge is to increase the number of players who are very satisfied by our Federation.
- I look forward to meeting you in Cardiff in August for the 2015 ICCF Congress.
- In closing, let me once again extend to you my best wishes for the New Year. I hope that 2015 will bring satisfaction in all your endeavors, personal, professional, and chess!
- Amici Sumus,
- Eric Ruch
- ICCF President