Gardiner Chess Newsletter No. 75
1 March 2009

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Calendars for 2009

EDITORIAL: A positive spin - it's not all doom and gloom!

People seem to us to be getting a little fed up with hearing all bad news on the economic front. Whilst we make these comments with a great deal of caution, knowing that things can change very quickly, we'd like to add our little bit to creating a climate with some cause for optimism.


It is the start of the school year, and in the first month, chess has recommenced smoothly at virtually all of our 100+ client schools, with enrolments at a healthy level. Indeed, several new clients have commenced chess programmes.

 In the last fortnight our Tournament Director, Ian Murray, has run Round 1 of the inter-schools competition in Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Gladstone, Bundaberg and Maryborough. Entries show a 7.6% increase over the 2008 Round 1 attendances. Of course, this may only show what we have long held...that adults will always spend more on their children than they ever will on themselves [albeit only $12 for a whole day of chess]! Anyway, the fact is that learning and playing chess is a very inexpensive option for children and the benefits provide a life-long investment. We have our fingers crossed for the future for our economy in general and for chess in particular.

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR YOUR DIARY

Seagulls' Cup
Sat 14 March at Seagulls Club, Gollan Drive, Tweed Heads West

  • Registration from 8.30am, Presentations 5.30pm

  • Advanced and Intermediate divisions

  • Open Swiss 5 rounds 45 mins a side

  • Entry Fee $20

  • Prizes: 1st $100, 2nd $50 in each division

  • Contact Ian Aylward on icaylward@live.com; by mobile 0416 091807
    or via PO Box 6461 Tweed Heads South NSW 2486

  • or contact Milo Tkac 5599 2106.

  • website: www.seagullschessclub.com

Darling Downs Open STOP PRESS - this event has now been cancelled
 Sat/Sun 14-15 March - Toowoomba

We have been advised that there were delays in organising this event due to an illness in the family of one of the main organisers.

It seems that the event will be proceeding on 14/15 March. At this stage we do not have full details, but I understand that full details will be supplied to the CAQ webpage www.caq.org.au within the next 2-3 days. So if you are interested in this event, please go to the CAQ webpage in 2-3 days.

Contact for the event is Ross Mills Ph 4634 0875 Mob 0419 753626 Email darksp@bigpond.net.au  or Alan Thomas Ph 4638 4352


Gold Coast Active Championships

Sunday 29 March

  • 7 rounds, 20 mins a side plus 10 secs Fischer

  • Full details here


Queensland Open - Australian Chess Grand Prix Class 4 Tournament

10-13 April at Bundaberg State High School

  • The increase in the first prize and sponsorship for the Qld Open from $500 to $1000 is thanks to the kind sponsorship of Dr Preshy Varghese. 

     

  • Full tournament details here


Doeberl Cup

9-13 April in Canberra


Sydney International

14-19 April in Parramatta Town Hall


Daytime Chess Camp

at the Gardiner Chess Centre, Mudgeeraba

  • The Easter camp will be held from Tuesday 14th to Friday 17th April.

  • Juniors don't miss out on this great opportunity to improve your chess.

  • Full details here


Gold Coast Junior Championships

on Sat/Sun, 18/19 April

at the Gardiner Chess Centre, Mudgeeraba

  • Several winners of this event over the years have gone on to win Australian Age Titles. So it is a very good stepping stone for the Queensland Junior Championships scheduled for Brisbane from 30 June to 3 July, and the Australian Junior Championships scheduled for Hobart 13-24 January 2010.

  • If you do some kind of junior sport or other activity at the weekend, you can ask for a half point bye to miss round(s) which conflict with your activity.

  • Full details here


Student Free Day Tournaments at the Chess Centre, Mudgeeraba
Monday 20th April

  • the first student free day tournament for 2009

  • [The others are on Mondays 13th July and 19th October]

  • Full details here

Queensland Inter-Club - Round One

  • 26 April at the Chess Centre, Mudgeeraba

  • Contact CAQ President Garvin Gray on 0422 993062 or garvingray@optusnet.com.au if you are interested in entering a team or teams

Peninsula Open, Grace Lutheran College, Redcliffe

2-4 May


Oceania Zonal

20-26 June at the Outrigger Twin Towns Resort, Tweed Heads

  • Full details here 

  • This is the official qualifying event for the World Cup. It is open to all players in the Oceania region.

  • We have selected a great venue at Outrigger Twin Towns Resort, Tweed Heads.

  • We are expecting many of the best players from the Oceania region to participate.

  • We will be providing plenty of live chess, live blogging and live analysis.


Gold Coast Open

27-28 June at Twin Towns, Tweed Heads

  • This tournament follows immediately after the Zonal.

  • Already several Zonal entrants have booked to stay on for the Gold Coast Open

  • This is a 2009 'Yulgilbar-Think Big' Australian Chess Grand Prix event - Category 5.

  • Over $6,000 in prizes!

  • Dr Peter Haron has kindly sponsored over $1,000 in cash prizes for the under 1000 division.
    Full details here


Australian Junior Championships, Hobart

13-24 January 2010

  • This is the first time this event has been held in Tasmania for well over 20 years.

  • Gardiner Chess will be taking a group, and aims to arrive in Tasmania a few days early for some touring and sightseeing.

  • It can be a lot more fun to be part of a group at these events, which also includes access to top level coaching.

  • You can register your interest in being part of our group by sending an email to Graeme Gardiner at ggardiner@gardinerchess.com.

Queensland's Official Inter-Schools Teams Chess Tournaments
 All Regions

For a full calendar, and also to keep in touch with the results from Round 1, to date, visit the Schools' Section on www.gardinerchess.com

For 2009, this event comprises 59 separate days of competition statewide!

Somerville House Invitationals

Patrick Byrom and Connie Pizzato are running their schools competitions as follows:

  • High Schools: Fridays 27th Feb and 6th March

  • Primary Schools: 1st March, 24th May and 23rd August

JOBS

School Chess Coaches Required

We have been very successful in recruiting chess coaches for the start of this school year.

Gardiner Chess employs many coaches (mainly casual part-time) around South East Queensland and Northern NSW. Because increasing numbers of schools are keen to introduce chess programmes we always are on the lookout for more coaching staff. While many of our staff are uni students, others are older and just want to supplement their income. Generally quite strong players are required for high schools, but the playing strength for primary students is not so important, because the vast majority are beginners. The ability to teach and relate well to young people is the most important attribute we are looking for. We provide our coaches with extensive resources plus assistance in training methods and support. Additionally, we hold professional development seminars once or twice a year. Please contact Graeme Gardiner if you are interested: ggardiner@gardinerchess.com  or 5522 7221.

RECENT NEWS

Gold Coast Tin Cup

  • This was won by Elliot Soo-Burrowes, who has been one of the most improved players in Queensland over the last two years. He scored 5/6, winning on countback from Alex Stahnke, Nenad Chelebichanin, Amin Fazel and Amir Karibasic.

  • 54 players participated, and full results and photos can be found here

  • During the Tin Cup we were all very aware that popular chess player Mark Stokes was in hospital, with pneumonia and in an induced coma. I'm pleased to advise that Mark is now out of hospital and improving. We are all hoping that he makes a complete and full recovery, and that we see him back over the chess board in the not too distant future.


World Championship Candidates Match


Veselin Topalov defeated Gata Kamsky in the Candidates Match, and will now play Vishy Anand in the World Championship Match later this year. Dates and venue are yet to be decided.


Australian Juniors

held in Adelaide in January
Just to tidy up on some results that were not available for the last
newsletter:

 

Australian Junior Rapid Champions

  • U18 Open Gene Nakauchi

  • U12 Open Yi Liu

  • U16 Girls Abbie Kanagarajah

  • U14 Girls Leteisha Simmonds

Australian Junior Problem Solving Champions

  • U12 Open Matthew Pyper

  • U10 Open Daniel Lapitan

  • U14 Girls Abbie Kanagarajah
     

INFORMATION

 

The Australian Junior Training Squad

will be held at Nundah State School from 5-11 July

  • Unfortunately, the sponsor of this squad for many years, Dr Henry Ergas, has had to withdraw his sponsorship. Therefore the organisers are looking for potential sponsors. Please email Tracy Gray at tacgray@bigpond.net.au if you are interested in sponsoring or part sponsoring this very worthwhile component of Australian chess.

  • This squad will be organised by AJCL officials Tania Simmonds and Tracy Gray, in conjunction with CAQ President Garvin Gray.

  • Participants will be chosen by the AJCL from those who applied, and any vacant spots will be offered to Queenslanders who were not initially chosen.

  • We understand that four Grandmasters will be involved in training this squad.

  • This promises to be a busy time for our leading juniors, with the Oceania Zonal leading straight in to the Gold Coast Open followed immediately by the Queensland Junior Championships, and followed again by the Training Squad.

 

Chess Blogs

Two good Australian blog sites are:


Want to Find a Chess Club?

  • Go to the CAQ site here

Keen on Chess?


 Here are some sites to visit, where you will find a wealth of information:

Chess Shop at Gardiner Chess

 For a complete range of chess goods, including sets, clocks, books, DVDs etc, please visit us at the chess centre at Mudgeeraba, or online at www.gardinerchess.com. If your school is keen to upgrade their chess resources, check out our 'specials for schools' in the schools' section on the webpage.

Reports and Tournament Notices

Reports and tournament notices are most welcome for inclusion in this bulletin. Please email info@gardinerchess.com.

Webpage

There are a number of upcoming events promoted in this bulletin. Entry leaflets can be downloaded and printed from our webpage at www.gardinerchess.com. All Gardiner Chess events, and some other events, can be entered online with your credit card number using the secure 'pay online' button.

IQ Chess Franchise Opportunities
Our aim is to provide schools throughout Queensland with ongoing chess coaching services. David Cowland-Cooper is already running an excellent franchise in Cairns and due to demand for chess in schools is currently widening his operation into Townsville.

If you are passionate about chess, can teach primary students, have good communication and business skills, then a low cost IQ Chess franchise might be for you. Please contact Graeme Gardiner to discuss. Email ggardiner@gardinerchess.com or phone 5522 7221.

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All the very best in chess


Graeme and Wendy Gardiner
Gardiner Chess Centre
11 Hardys Road
Mudgeeraba Qld 4213
Phone +61 7 5522 7221
Fax +61 7 5522 7760
Email ggardiner@gardinerchess.com

Webpage www.gardinerchess.com

Gardiner Chess Centre's newly-developed safe play area for kids