Chess News Welsh Correspondence Chess Federation

2024 WCCF Annual General Meeting

The 2024 WCCF Annual General Meeting will take place online on Sunday 8th December at 10:30am.

No agenda items have been submitted, so the only matter of business for the AGM will be to elect the Executive Committee for 2025.

The following candidates have accepted nominations:

• President: Paul Scott
• General Secretary: Austin Lockwood
• International Secretary: Austin Lockwood

As there is only one nomination for each position, just one vote is sufficient for each candidate to be elected; the new Executive Committee will co-opt a treasurer.

Premium Members not able to attend the meeting may submit their votes to the General Secretary ([email protected]) by email.

The Zoom link for the AGM will be circulated to Premium Members in advance of the meeting.  National and International members wishing to observe the meeting may contact the General Secretary for the link.

SIM Norm for Paul Keevil

To continue a very successful week for Welsh norms, Paul Keevil has achieved an SIM Norm in the 2024 Champions League B3, Board Two.

SIM and IM norms and IM title for Russell Sherwood

Congratulations Russell for achieving IM and SIM norms in Dobri Semov Memorial Elo 2400-2499

Well deserved!

UPDATE!

Russell has now achieved enough norms for the IM title by achieving a second IM norm in the US Invitational 2024/C.  The title will be awarded when confirmed by the Qualifications Commissioner.  Well played Russell!

SIM Norm for Helen Sherwood

Congratulations Helen for achieving a SIM norm in the 16th WCCF Invitational!

AGM delayed

Due to an error in the date, the AGM will be delayed. a new date will be announced.

Im Norm for Glyn Sinnett

Congratulations to Glyn on picking up an IM Norm in Champions League 2024 B3 Board 3

#Iccf #Imnorm #Wccf

WCCF AGM 2024

The WCCF AGM will be held remotely on the morning of the 10th of November. More details will be released a little nearer the date.

#Agm #Wccf

CCM Norm for David Phillip Morgan

Congratulations on picking up a CCM Norm in Cross Table (iccf.com)

#Correspondencechess #Iccf #Wccf

WCCF Seeking Final player for NATT Teams

We currently have a squad of Wakeham, Yeo, Jones,Sherwood, Sherwood, Claridge, Robinson, Sinnett, Scott, Sherwood, Bishop,Bowley, Gunn, Adams and Morgan.

To complete our teams we need a final Welsh player - we are looking for a player rated above 2200.

Below is the last event.

Cross Table (iccf.com)

If you are interested, please get in touch ASAP

***Final Player now confirmed***

#Natt #Wccf

IM Norm for Tom Gunn

Congratulations to Tom Gunn in picking up an IM Norm in WCCF 15th Invitational

#Correspondencechess #Iccf #Wccf

CCM Norm for Matthew Billington

Hot on the hells of the CCE Norm, comes the CCM Norm in the same event

#CcmNorm #Iccf #Wccf

CCE Norm for Matthew Billington

Congratulations on picking up a CCE Norm in PC Gibbs Memorial section 

#CceNorm #Correspondencechess #Iccf #Wccf

Keeping current

My grandfather was known throughout the small village of Port Dinorwic (now Y Felinheli) as Dafydd Engine Bach. He used to drive a small steam engine on a narrow-gauge railway at this once busy slate exporting site , between Bangor, where I was born, and Caernarfon . The railway closed in 1961. 

I drive a car, not very often. The engine I use and rely on daily  is my chess software . I've been using for some time a Komodo14 DVD, on a Stockfish 10 setting, after  learning from Russell that it had a choice of settings. Until recently I was happy with this. My losses have usually been my own careless errors. Perhaps, I  should have picked up earlier that Stockfish 10 is not wholly reliable . 

This has been driven home to me in a current game. Stockfish 10 informed me on a depth of 62 that I had a decisive advantage of 2.67 as Black. My excitement was punctured when I read that Stockfish 16.1 evaluates the position at a depth of 46 as 0.00. The penny rudely dropped that my software is not fit for purpose and it was time to replace it. 'Why not just run Stockfish 16, which is free? Or one of the CC-oriented derivatives such as Brainlearn?', my team captain helpfully suggested. 

I did give this some thought and watched  You Tube video instruction on how to download Stockfish 16. I didn't though follow this journey through.  At some point in listening to the instruction of downloading the Stockfish zipfile, installing the Arena Chess GUI , I began to doubt my ability to apply this and manage the files, folders and my computer. 

At the cost of £80, I felt that I still needed the reassurance of using software in DVD form. My Komodo 14 with Stockfish 10 have been consigned to the dustbin, replaced by Fritz19, the ICGA World Champion Engine, 2023. In time, as new engines develop and supersede this, I can see myself chugging along in correspondence chess , in my grandfather's footsteps, as Dafydd Engine Bach

Phil Morgan

#Correspondencechess #Iccf #Software #Wccf

Look out for Mailings

All,

Two mailings have been sent out in the last few days - one regarding the Cuban Invitational for higher-rated players and one for a Hungarian friendly aimed at more modestly rated players. Please check your inboxes as I would not want anyone to miss out!

#CorrespondenceChess #Iccf #Wccf

WCCF deliver first GM Norm in a Welsh Event

Wojciech Krzyzanowski has achieved a GM Norm in WCCF Invitational 17

Cross Table (iccf.com)

#GmNorm #Iccf #Wccf

ICCF Congress Proposals 2024

All,

The time has now come to review ICCF Rule change proposals for Congress

https://www.iccf.com/Proposals.aspx?id=78

WCCF Premium members please review the list and let me know your views ( For or Against). If you have any strong views on any please let me know and this will be added to the spreadsheet.

For those involved we will then review and debate until a common view is achieved.

It is important this year that we get maximum input as there are some "interesting" proposals this year, which could have significant implications.

Out of interest - my own initial view has 21 for and 11 against!

Closing date for Input 31/7/24

Send your input to Russell Sherwood

IM Norm for Alex Sherwood

Congratulations to Alex Sherwood on picking up an IM Norm in Ubirajara Oliveira Barroso Memorial - B  

and on completing a 1st year at University!

#Correspondencechess #Iccf #ImNorm

4th States and Regions Team Tournament

32 teams entered so far...... don't miss out on your chance to enter the strongest Open Team Tournament, outside the Champions League!

If you don't have a team and would like to take part please get in touch with Russell Sherwood

#StatesAndRegions

British Correspondence Chess Championship 2024-26

The British Correspondence Chess Championship (BCCC) is the premier tournament on the British CC calendar.  Running continuously since 1921 and open to all British players, the BCCC has carried ICCF title norms since 2016.  The BCCC caters for players of all levels and consists of a Championship section, one or more Candidate sections and a number of Reserve sections.

The BCCC is organized jointly by the English Federation for Correspondence Chess (EFCC), the Scottish Correspondence Chess Association (ScoCCA) and the Welsh Correspondence Chess Federation (WCCF).

Further details of the tournament, including the full rules and a list of previous winners, are available on the WCCF website:

Entries close on 31st August 2024 with play due to commence in September 2024.  Entries can be made directly to the Tournament Organizer, Russell Sherwood or via your national federations.  Please note that these are the only entry routes for this event. This event should not be confused with the William Mason Championship

The BCCC is a highly competitive event, and we are unable to confirm a player's final allocation at the time of entry.  Entries and the entry fee of £12 should be received  Russell Sherwood, no later than 30th August 2024.  If you have a qualification to a specific division, please state this at the time of entry.

If you have any enquiries, please direct them to Russell Sherwood, whose email address is [email protected]

#Bccc #Correspondencechess #Iccf #Wccf

WCCF Announces the Fourth States and Regions Correspondence Chess Championship

The States and Regions Correspondence Chess Championship is a biennial team event organized by the Welsh Correspondence Chess Federation (WCCF) and open to representative teams from any country of the world. 

Teams must represent a subdivision of a country; this could be a state, county, province, territory, etc. Eligibility to play for each team is determined by the team captain, however, the WCCF Executive Committee retain the right to reject any individual or team entry. Multiple teams (for example “A” and “B” teams) may be entered from the same state or region.

Entries at now accepted at ICCF.com – New Events/Wales

Structure

Teams will consist of four players; each player will play one game against each of the other players on the same board.

There will be one or more divisions, each division will consist of thirteen to fifteen teams. Allocation to the first division will be:

• The first six placed teams from Division One, Season three
• The first two placed teams from Division Two, Season Three (Promoted)
• Any vacancies will be filled strictly by rating order

The winning team of Division One will be declared the S&RCCC Champion, and the winning team and first runner-up of the lower divisions will be promoted to the next division.

New teams will normally enter at the lowest division, except by agreement of the WCCF Executive Committee. Teams including fewer than three players from the previous season will be considered as new teams.

Rules

All relevant ICCF rules and procedures for international team events current at the start of the tournament will apply.  Team captains are strongly encouraged to arrange boards by rating order and WCCF reserve the right to enforce rating order to correct a detrimental effect on norm availability.  The same player may not represent more than one team in the event or occupy more than one board for the same team.

As the S&RCCC is an ICCF approved tournament, title norms may be available depending on the rating level of each board.

Time Control

The Triple Block time control of 50 days initial time, 50 days bank, and 5 days added for each of the first fifty moves will be used with Guaranteed Time applying after Move 50. 

Entry

The States and Regions Correspondence Chess Championship had been approved by ICCF as an Open tournament; international teams may enter by contacting the organisers directly.

The entry fee for each team is 20.00 Euro Direct Entry. Entry may be made via the ICCF Website only – for teams who wish to enter via their National Federation, contact should be made with them to confirm the necessary payment.

Entries will close on 3rd August 2024; games will commence shortly afterwards.

There are no prizes, however, certificates will be awarded to members of the winning team of each division, and free entry will be offered to the winning team of the first division for the following season.

Qualifications

Division 1

Cardiff A

Bohemia

Windy City

Cardiff B

Quattro Tori Lazio

Donbas

Subcarpathian - Rymanów Cit

Western Ukraine

Division 2

Philippines North

Westhoughton Schemers

Division 3

Volga Moscow

Salzberg 2

#StatesAndRegions #Wccf

Check the ICCF Website!

ICCF is currently having issues with its mailing system.

Several events have been advertised recently which may be of interest to Welsh players.

In addition a mailing was sent to qualified Welsh players with regard to the North Atlantic Team Tournament, a response would be appreciated from those who have already not done so.

Keep an eye our for announcements regarding the British Championships and States and Regions Team tournaments coming soon.

#Iccf

CDCCC 2024

After some less-than-fun issues to deal with , this event should be underway in the next few days, followed by the start of the process for others

#Cdccc2024 #Iccf

Congress Proposals 2024

As we move towards the ICCF Congress 2024, we are calling for any proposals members wish to submit for the review of the WCCF

Any suggestions should be sent to Russell Sherwood

#IccfCongress #Proposals

Friendly Match vs the Netherlands

We have a friendly match planned v the Netherlands, starting late July.

They can match most ratings closely, so we want to field a large team.

If you are interested in taking part, please get in in touch. It may be able to play two boards (4 games total) - if you would like to do this let me know.

Players are reminded that friendly participation is considered in selection criteria for other events. We are particularly interested in players above 2350 taking part.

Russell Sherwood

#Friendlymatch #Iccf #Wccf

Captain for 2nd Rudolf Kolesnikov Memorial Team Tournament Team

We are looking for a non-playing Captain for the 2nd Rudolf Kolesnikov Memorial Team Tournament Team.

The ideal candidate should be rated 2350+, a premium member  and able to work well with a team.

If you are interested, get in touch 

#Iccf #Wccf