Arbiter’s Report

(Ian Murray)

A total of 96 players rolled up for the event, a significant improvement on last year despite a local policy discouraging extracurricular activities in school hours. In a reversal of the trend in SEQ, high school teams outnumbered primary schools by 7:2.

High schools

Ignatius Park College, Kirwan High 1, Heatley 1 and Ingham High 2 set the early pace, with only one point separating them after the first two rounds. Kirwan took a handy lead in round three, 1½ ahead of Heatley with Ignatius Park another half-point behind and joined by Cathedral Yr 11 and Thuringowa High 1. By round four it was Kirwan on 13/16 and Ignatius Park and Thuringowa on 12; Cathedral had dropped to 10 and Heatley 9½, nudging out Ingham High 1 and Ayr High 1 on 9. Kirwan held its lead in round five, still one point to the good of Ignatius Park, with Heatley and Thuringowa 2½ points adrift. In the final round however Kirwan could manage only one point; Ignatius Park scored three and took first place, while Heatley scored four to Thuringowa’s three to secure third place.

Results: 2006 NQ High Schools Championship R1

Primary Schools

Pre-post favourites Grammar 1 missed the jump badly, scoring only one point in round one to trail the field, led by Hermit Park State. After round two Hermit Park led Grammar 2 by half a point and Grammar 1 had moved into third a point behind. Weir State, with only one of its three teams at full strength, brought up the rear. By round three it was Hermit Park 8, Grammar 1 7, Grammar 2 6 and Weir each 4. Grammar 1 wrested the lead from Hermit Park in round 4 to lead by half a point and Grammar 2 another point behind. By round five it became a rout – Grammar 1 14, Hermit Park 10, Grammar 2 9½, Weir Wizards 7½, Weir Warriors and Weir Wonders 7. Final round scores were Grammar 1 16½, Grammar 2 12½, Hermit Park and Wizards 11, Warriors and Wonders 7½.

Results: 2006 NQ Primary Schools Championship Rd 1

Riley Thompson (Weir State ) vs Casey Morris (Weir)

Lloyd Hookey (Kirwan) vs Tim Hansen (Ignatius Park)

Joe Foley (Cathedral) vs Stephanie Egan (Ayr High)

TOURNAMENT CONDITIONS

1.   Format

Each tournament will be played as a team event in two divisions, Premier and Open. The number of players per team is normally four but teams of less than four players may enter.

The Premier Division is limited to the top six high school teams and top four primary school teams, with a promotion and relegation system in place. In future rounds the high school teams finishing fourth, fifth and sixth and primary teams finishing third and fourth will be relegated to the Open Division in the next round, replaced by the teams finishing first, second and third (high schools) and first and second (primary) in Open (with any ties broken by countback).  The winning team in Round 2 of the Premier Division qualifies for the Queensland Interschool Championships in October.

This being the inaugural tournament introducing the system, the Premier Divisions, secondary and primary, will be the teams filling the top places in last year’s championships, viz:

Should any eligible school fail to enter a team (or a full complement of qualified teams), the next-qualified school will be promoted to the Premier.

All other players are eligible for the Open Division. The number of Open teams is unlimited.

Should there be insufficient entries for two divisions in a tournament, the event will be conducted as one Open tournament, with the top-finishing teams qualifying for the Premier Division in the next round.

Each division will be played as a six-round or seven-round (seven if time permits) tournament under Swiss pairing rules (which, briefly, pair all players against different opponents from different teams each round so that, as far as possible, players on equal scores play each other and play an equal number of games with the white and black pieces).  Every team plays in every round – win or lose.

Time controls are 30 minutes per game, using chess clocks in the Premier and adjudication if necessary after 30 minutes in the Open to decide game results.

2.  Scoring

Players will score one point for a win, a half-point for a draw and zero for a loss. Team scores are the totals of points scored by team members, accumulating each round.

3.   Prizes

Team prizes – Medals for members of each team finishing first, second and third

4.  Ratings

For pairing purposes the January 2006 issue of the Queensland Junior Rating List will be used, published on the CAQ web site at www.caq.org.au  Results will be submitted for rating.

5.   Entry fee

$10 per player including GST.

Schools unable to pay the full entry fee may apply in writing for a reduced fee, according to circumstances. No teams will be turned away because of cost.

6.   Session times

Roll call commences at 9.00am; play commences at 9.20am.

All events will be completed by 2.30pm, with prize presentations by 2.45pm – finish no later than 3.00pm

7.      Lunches

Players should bring their own lunches and snacks. It is anticipated that tea/coffee facilities will be available for adults..

8.   Closing date for entries

      Closing date for entries is Friday 24 February.  Late entries may be accepted but only by email (Director of Play Ian Murray will be in transit from Brisbane and between tournaments from 26 February till 7 March).

9.   Enquiries/entries

Ian Murray

Gardiner Chess

PO Box 5014

Mt Gravatt East  Qld  4122

Tel/fax: 3349 2745 (up till 25 February)

Mobile: 0412 717 053

email gardinerchess@optusnet.com.au