Get Ready for the 2024 Summer Blitz! Join us at Norths Chess Club for our Summer Blitz, one of the most exciting events of the year! The night will feature fast-paced chess, a prizegiving, and our Annual General Meeting, making it an evening not to miss. Date: Tuesday, 10 December Time: 7:30 pm Location: Norths Leagues Club, 12 Abbott Street, Cammeray Schedule: • Start with the 2024 Prizegiving as the arbiters finalise the draw for the blitz. • Rounds 1-3 of the 7-round blitz tournament. • Break for the AGM, where we’ll discuss plans for 2025. • Finish with Rounds 4-7 to crown the blitz champion. Tournament Details: • Format: 7-round blitz, ACF and FIDE-rated. • Time Control: 3 minutes + 2-second increment. • Prizes: $100 Westfield card to the winner (tiebreaks will be used in the event of a tie). • Entry Fee: Free for club members! • Registration: Members event. No need to pre-register—just head to the desk on the night to have your name added to the draw. This is your chance to play, connect, and wrap up the year with a thrilling evening of chess. See you there! |
Wrap Up the Year with Our Thematic Chess Tournament! Join us on Tuesday, 17 December, for a fun and unique chess experience as we close out the year with our annual novelty blitz. This year’s twist? Thematic openings! Date: Tuesday, 17 December Time: 7:30 pm Location: Norths Chess Club, 12 Abbott Street, Cammeray Tournament Details: • Format: 5-round Swiss • Time Control: 10 minutes + 2 seconds per move • Entry Fee: Free! • Prize: Up for grabs! • Registration: Open event. No need to pre-register—just head to the desk on the night to have your name added to the draw. What Makes It Special? Each round will start with a pre-selected opening based on a secret theme (think Cities, Champions, or Animals). All players will play the same opening for the first few moves, led by organiser Steve Garner, who will guide you through the main ideas of the opening before the games begin. It’s a fantastic way to expand your knowledge and understanding of openings in a relaxed and fun setting, without risking your rating. Steve has assured us he’s not revealing the openings ahead of time—so you’ll have to come along to see what he’s got planned! Join us for an evening of chess, laughs, and learning as we wrap up 2024 in style. See you there! |
Little Board Match Results! The Little Board Match at Harbord Diggers was a closely fought battle, with Norths going down 7-5 on the night. However, thanks to our strong showing in the first leg, we retain the shield on aggregate! Our team of 8 players was bolstered by two late additions, along with two joint members who play most of their chess with us. A big thank you to everyone who stepped up and represented Norths so well. Great effort, team—let’s keep the momentum going! |
Norths Tie the Series Against St George! Full results here: Big Board Results |
Recognising Gary Armstrong for His Incredible Contributions to Norths Chess Club! Gary Armstrong, our dedicated Equipment Officer and Committee Member since 2016, plays a pivotal role in making Norths Chess Club the professional and welcoming environment it is today. Some years ago, Gary saw the need for better equipment management and took on the responsibility, a task that has since grown significantly. His attention to detail ensures that the 120+ players who join us on a Tuesday night walk into a well-organised, professional environment. Gary not only keeps our equipment current and well-maintained but also manages the vital relationship with the Norths Events Team. A Perfectionist in Action: • Arrives three hours before play to set up and is the last to leave, often past midnight. A Benchmark of Excellence: Gary’s hard work and dedication have directly contributed to our club’s growth and its reputation as a benchmark for professionalism among chess clubs. Norths is incredibly fortunate to have someone as hardworking, kind, and committed as Gary. Thank you, Gary, for everything you do—you inspire us all! |
Huge Congratulations to Bibek Thing! We’re thrilled to celebrate with Bibek Thing, who has become the first Nepali to achieve the FIDE Master title by surpassing the 2300 rating! Bibek has held the #1 FIDE ranking in Nepal for the past seven years, and this incredible milestone is a testament to his dedication and hard work. Bibek expressed his gratitude to the Nepal Chess Federation for the opportunity to represent Nepal internationally, to Sydney Academy of Chess for helping him balance work with his chess aspirations, and to all the coaches who have guided him along the way. We’re honoured to have financially supported him in his journey here at Norths Chess Club. Bibek, you inspire us all! Here’s to even greater achievements and contributions to the Nepalese chess community. |
Congrats to Team Happy Cat - Champions of Our First-Ever Team Blitz Tournament! Team Happy Cat clinched victory with an impressive 13 match points, finishing well ahead of 2nd place Nikebears (9 match points). Our first-ever 7-round Team Blitz Tournament saw 8 teams and 46 players competing in a fast-paced, exciting event! This ACF-rated, members-only tournament used a 3+2 time control, with teams carefully balanced based on player ratings to ensure fair competition. Mahesh and Rob put in extra effort (and some delays—thanks for your patience!) to even out the teams’ average strengths. Interestingly, the two winning teams ended up having the lowest average ratings, partly due to some no-shows and unrated players! The winning team—Arthur Huynh, Marcel Lima, Jason Xu, David Stern, and Samuel Klisterner—was led by 8-year-old Joey Su, whose skill and enthusiasm inspired the team to victory! Top Board Scores: • Board 1: Biljana Dekic and Bruce Murray – 5.5 points • Board 2: Joey Su – 6.5 points • Board 3: Linda Qian and Marcel Lima – 4.5 points • Board 4: Ashok Reddy – 5.5 points • Board 5: Daniel Lowe – 6 points • Board 6: Samuel Klisterner – 6 points Thanks to all players who joined this exciting new event! Due to its success, we’re thrilled to announce we’ll be bringing it back next year for more epic team battles! For detailed results of the night click here |
Get ready for the second and final Big Board Match for 2024! Norths Chess Club is gearing up to face St George Chess Club in round two of the annual Big Board Match. The Bears are running behind The Dragons on points after the first match and will have to dig deep in round two! The two powerhouses compete in a two-round, home and away series each year for the John Kellner/Terrey Shaw Trophy. Date: Tuesday, 19th November 2024 Time: Players must be onsite by 7:15 PM. Clocks start at 7:30 PM. Location: Norths Chess Club, 12 Abbott Street, Cammeray NSW 2062 Time Control: Fischer time control of 75 minutes per player, plus 10 seconds increment per move. Forfeit time is 8:30pm. Past Results: https://www.northsydneychess.org/big-board This is more than just a match; it's a fierce rivalry between two of Australia's strongest chess clubs. No blood has been spilt yet, but expect a hard-fought grudge match as both clubs vie for victory and glory! Participation: • Open to all members of the Norths Chess Club*. • Maximum of 40 players from each club. • Players not paired within the 40 players can still play a rated game; however, these results will not count towards the competition score. Let’s bring home the trophy this year! *Members of Norths Chess Club are defined as financial members or players who have played in an event conducted by NCC, including Big Board, within the last two years. |
Mark your calendars for Round 2 of the 2024 Little Board Match! Join us for Round 2 of the annual two-round home and away series against Harbord Diggers Chess Club. This exciting multi-board match is a friendly local derby between the two clubs north of the harbour! Date: Monday, 25th November 2024 Time: Players must be onsite by 7:15 PM. Clocks start at 7:30 PM. Location: Harbord Diggers, 88 Evans Street, Freshwater NSW 2096 Come and cheer on your team as they battle it out for the Centenary Shield, generously donated in 2009 by former Norths Chess Club President, Paul Glissan. Participation: • Open to all members of the Norths Chess Club*. • Players not paired can still play social games. Don’t miss this exceptional evening of chess, community, and competition. See you there to support your players and enjoy a great night of chess! *Members of Norths Chess Club are defined as financial members or players who have played in an event conducted by NCC, including Little Board, within the last two years. |
Congratulations to Our Purdy Champions! A big shoutout to our new Purdy Champion, Greg Canfell, who claimed the title on tie-break with Daniel Wang! An impressive performance from both players. In the Minor, Clara Zhou took the win with a full point lead, with her father Joe finishing in second place after their round 3 draw—a true family showdown! For full results, visit the tournament page: www.northsydneychess.org/Purdy-Memorial Well done to all participants! |
Recognising Rob Watson – Our Outstanding Director of Play! Rob Watson has been a cornerstone of Norths Chess Club since 2018, stepping into the Director of Play role at very short notice—and excelling ever since! His dedication to the club is unmatched. A Master of Organisation: • Oversees club nights and manages tournament pairings with precision. Contributions Beyond the Club: • Serves as Secretary for both the NSW Chess Association and the Australian Chess Federation, keeping Norths connected to the broader chess community. Behind-the-Scenes Commitment: While Rob is a familiar face on Tuesday nights, his unseen work is just as vital. From late-night preparations to ensuring every tournament runs to the highest standard, his efforts make Norths a professional and welcoming chess hub. Thank you, Rob, for everything you do for Norths Chess Club—you’re an inspiration to us all! |
Norths Chess Club Team Blitz Tournament – Tuesday, 12th November, 7:30 pm Join us for our first-ever 7-round Team Blitz Tournament! Teams will be pre-selected based on player ratings, so no need to organise a team—just register and play. This is an ACF-rated, members-only event with a 3+2 time control. Entry deadline: Monday, 11th November. Register here: northsydneychess@gmail.com Location: Norths Chess Club, cnr Abbott & Palmer Streets, Cammeray The winning team will take home Westfield Gift cards. Don’t miss this chance to be part of something new and exciting at the club! |
Round 7 Purdy Tournament Update! Round 7 brought plenty of excitement as Tony Zheng beat Jonathan Sua on the top board, regaining a half-point lead. There was an upset on Board 2, with Aiden Odenthal defeating Greg Canfell, while Lucas Ni and Daniel Wang secured wins over Ethan Chang and Will Wenderoth. That leaves Tony Zheng on 6 points, closely followed by Aiden Odenthal, Lucas Ni, and Daniel Wang on 5.5, with 5 players sitting on 5 points. But here’s the twist—Tony Zheng is heading overseas and will miss the last 2 games! After playing a great tournament, he won’t be able to add to his tally, setting up a thrilling final two rounds. In the Minor, it’s still a two-horse race. Joe Zhou won against Viachesla Korobitsin, and Clara Zhou beat Paul Ventura, leaving them both with a full point lead over Lucas Shi and Marcus Ni. Will either slip up, or are we heading for a tie? |
Round 5 Highlights from the Purdy Major! The top 5 boards of the Purdy Major brought plenty of action! On the top board, Greg Canfell’s two extra pawns were enough to dethrone Tony Zheng, who was leading into the round. Aiden Odenthal ended Justin Dingley’s great run with an exchange sacrifice followed by a pawn break, hunting down Justin’s king. Ethan Chang also claimed victory over Ian Stalker, while Ian Welch defeated Rob Watson. Lucas Ni and Daniel Wang’s game ended in a drawn bishop ending. Now, Canfell, Odenthal, and Chang are tied for the lead with 4.5/5. It’s getting tense at the top! In the Minor, Round 6 looks like it’ll be a family affair as Joe and Clara Zhou both won their Round 5 games (against Marcus Ni and Greg Money) to share the lead. Commentary by our Club President, Peter Abbott. |
Round 4 Update from the Purdy! Round 4 saw sole leaders emerge in both tournaments! Tony Zheng claimed victory over Ian Stalker, while Ethan Chang and Aiden Odenthal drew earlier in the round. Out of the top 6 games, 3 featured Kings Indians, with Greg Canfell outplaying Joey Su, and Justin Dingley continuing his strong tournament with a win over Darryl Ross. There were some big upsets on boards 5 and 6! Kurt Daley, a pawn up in an opposite-coloured bishop ending, overpressed, allowing Jonathan Sua’s pawns to race ahead. Meanwhile, Rob Watson converted a tough endgame against Kristine Quek. In the Minor, Marcus Ni’s win against Leo Sandhu gives him a half-point lead, with Joe and Clara Zhou, along with Greg Money, just half a point back. It’s shaping up to be a thrilling competition! Commentary by our Club President, Peter Abbott. |
Round 3 Update from the Purdy! It was an interesting round in the Purdy Major, with only four players sharing the lead with full points: Aiden Adenthal, Tony Zheng, Ethan Chang, and Ian Stalker, all victorious in their games. Henry Cronin, despite ‘surfing the increment’ for quite a while, managed to hold top seed Greg Canfell to a draw. In the chasing pack, Emmet Murphy bravely declined a repetition against Justin Dingley but walked into a mate — a reminder that fortune doesn’t always favour the bold! We also saw some rating upsets on the top 10 boards with Joey Su defeating Dean Chen, and Darryl Ross winning against Kshrij Bhargava, while Harry Le held Peter Abbott to a draw. In the Minor, Marcus Li and Leo Sandhu are leading with full points, but there’s a pack of six players just half a point behind, making it an exciting race! Next round should be a thriller! |
Exciting Action in the Purdy Major! It was an intense night at the Purdy Major, with many top board players keeping their winning records intact! Some standout moments included Rob Watson’s passed pawn, which combined with Kurt Daley’s weak back rank for a decisive win, and Emmet Murphy defeating Ian Welch. The final games to finish gave spectators a real treat:
Commentary by our Club President, Peter Abbott. |
Big Congratulations to Nestor Chan! |
Join Us for the 2024 John Purdy Memorial Open! Get ready for an exciting chess event at Norths Chess Club as we kick off the 2024 John Purdy Memorial Open! This prestigious tournament is ACF and FIDE rated and promises intense competition across nine rounds. Dates: Tuesdays from 3 September to 5 November (Note: 5 November is reserved as a spare session in case of venue availability issues.) Before we dive into the main event, don’t miss the Purdy Blitz on 27 August, a perfect warm-up for the tournament! Tournament Details: – Purdy Major: For players rated over 1200. Time control: 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move from move 1. – Purdy Minor: For players rated under 1400. Time control: 60 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move from move 1. – Players rated between 1200 and 1400 may choose either tournament. Under 1200 players who scored at least 66% in the 2024 Winter Classic Minor may enter the Major. Prizes: Major Division: – 1st: $1000, 2nd: $500, 3rd: $250 – Rating Groups A & B: 1st $100, 2nd $50 – The highest placed Norths member will be awarded the title of John Purdy Memorial Champion. Minor Division: – 1st: $500, 2nd: $250, 3rd: $125 – Rating Group A: 1st $100, 2nd $50 – Unrated: 1st $50 Entry Fees: – Norths Chess Club Members: $30 – Non-members: $40 – Late entries add $10 – Free for GM, WGM, IM, WIM Eligibility: – Non-Australian citizens or permanent residents must have a FIDE ID. – Adult players must be members of or have paid a Registered Player Fee to the NSWCA. – Juniors (under 18) must be members of the NSWJCL. – Interstate players must be members of the equivalent State or Territory Association. Important Notes: – Entry Deadline: Entries must be received by Sunday, 1 September. Late entries are at the discretion of the arbiter and may not be included in the first round draw. – Half-point Byes: Up to two half-point byes are permitted in rounds 1-7. – Forfeits: Arriving more than one hour late will result in a forfeit. Repeated forfeits may lead to removal from the tournament. – Electronic Devices: Must be completely switched off unless permission is granted by the arbiter. Register Now: Don’t miss your chance to compete in this exciting event! Let’s make this year’s John Purdy Memorial Open a tournament to remember! See you at the board! |
The top board games in the Winter Classic were decided by some dramatic one-move blunders this round. Major Division: • Ian Stalker, the sole leader at the start of the round, looked to be consolidating his exchange up position against Darryl Chan when he hung a rook. • Callan Arav, rushing after a late arrival, dropped a piece early on against Andrew He. • Darryl and Andrew are now joined in the lead by Dean Chen, who beat Aiden Malecki, forming a formidable chasing pack. Minor Division: • On Board 1, Nigel Burley left a bishop undefended and Nick Biscoe capitalised on it. • Jonathan Sua beat Mason Tay on Board 2 to join Nick in the lead. Seniors Division: • Rob Watson found himself a piece down against Paul Glissan and ultimately lost, leaving Paul in the sole lead. • Dennis Wan, with an accurate endgame conversion, beat Paul Pilowsky and is now a full point behind Paul Glissan. It's an exciting tournament with plenty of twists and turns! Stay tuned for more updates as the competition heats up. (Photo by Linden Fennamore) |
Congratulations to our 2024 Club Champion Bibek Thing tournament and division winners. For full Vega results see |
Willoughby City Council will make Chatswood CBD a vibrant chess board from 22 April to 19 May 2024 with its Checkmate Chatswood festival. Open to enthusiasts and novices alike, the festival boasts a packed schedule of interactive displays, educational workshops, and competitive tournaments designed to celebrate the strategic game of chess in all its glory. A highlight of the festival is a Simultaneous Chess Display with Grandmaster Anton Smirnov You can experience the thrill of playing against a chess grandmaster. Grandmaster Anton Smirnov will showcase his extraordinary talent by playing against 24 participants simultaneously. This event is a unique opportunity to observe and participate in a display of high-level chess strategy, reminiscent of scenes from "The Queen's Gambit." Other Festival Highlights Include:
Be Part of the Chess CommunityCheckmate Chatswood is not just a celebration of chess; it's a communal event bringing together individuals through the shared love of the game. Whether you're looking to compete, learn, or simply enjoy the atmosphere, the festival offers something for everyone. Mark your calendars and be ready to join in the festivities.
For further information: Email: info@checkmatechatswood.org |
With his wiin over over GM Darryl Johansen at the Ballarat Begonia, Reyaansh Chakrabarty is the youngest Australian to have ever beaten a GM and sits at number 8 worldwide. For an interesting article about young elite players see The Pandemic Effect: How Young Will Grandmasters Become? Reyaansh has already entered our achievers page three times this year and looks certain to become a regular addition. |
Congratulations Francisco taking the title with a near perfect score, only dropping a half point to the second place taker. 1st: Francisco Plaza-Quinteros 2nd: Reyaansh Chakrabarty; 3rd: Cameron McGowan Rating Group A: =1st Anton Wijaya and Ian Stalker; Rating Group B 1st: Clara Zhou Click here for detailed results |
Exciting News for Chess Enthusiasts: The 2024 Norths Chess Club Championships The Norths Chess Club is thrilled to announce the 2024 Club Championships, an event that promises to bring together the best of strategy, skill, and sportsmanship. This tournament is both FIDE and ACF rated, offering a unique opportunity for players to showcase their talents and improve their rankings. Tournament Schedule:
Special Event - Club Championship Blitz:
Join the Chess Community: This championship is more than just a competition; it's a celebration of the chess community's spirit. Whether you're a seasoned player or a budding enthusiast, the Norths Chess Club Championships offer an excellent platform to learn, compete, and connect with fellow chess lovers. Registrations Open Now: Ready to make your move? Registrations for the tournament are now open so please click here. Contact Us: Please visit our website for more details on the tournament or any other queries. Don’t miss this chance to be part of the 2024 Norths Chess Club Championships. We look forward to seeing you at the board. |
Many members know that Norm Greenwood rarely resigns a game, and rue losing or drawing what they thought was a safe win. After long service to our club Norm has stepped down from his role on the committee. We thank Norm for his hard work over many years. He has written the following letter to members. === Dear Members It is now time to call it a day as a committee member of Norths Chess Club. I want to avoid hearing the old saying ‘there’s no fool like an old fool’ applied to me. It was my mother who taught me to play chess. She had played with her invalid father during the First World War and I still have the over 100-year-old set that they used. I joined Chatswood Chess Club (now our Norths Chess Club) in the late 1980s. It was at a low ebb compared to St George; a win in the Big Board was a rarity. However it was on a sound financial footing through fees from juniors, generated by activities run by Steve Garner. Only a few members acted on the committee. It was not long after I joined that I was asked to take over as Treasurer from Ian Trott. Computers were primitive compared to today’s. In fact I was operating a ‘twin floppy’ in those days (younger members can Google that) and am grateful to the late Dennis Day’s assistance in upgrading my computer and skills. We were all surprised that Dennis did not appear at the AGM in 1999 when he was Vice President, particularly his close friend Peter Lay. It was only later we learnt that Dennis had died suddenly when playing tennis at the young age of 62. His name has been commemorated in the perpetual trophy issued to the winner of the Club Candidates tournament. Over the years we have lost members who were survivors of the Holocaust including George Kepper, Bob Maas and Les Kovacs as well as Horst Bleicher who emigrated to Australia shortly after World War Two. I have it on good authority that Horst and Paul Glissan shared many a bottle of red after a good night’s chess. During the 1990s I was also took over as Treasurer of the Manly Leagues Chess Club (now Harbord Diggers) as well as the New South Wales Chess Association from Jeremy Hirchhorn (then a Chatswood member and now number two in the ATO administration). Later I took over as Treasurer of the Australian Chess Federation; records arrived from Melbourne in a shoebox containing one year's unbanked cheques! It was necessary to reconstruct the records for two years to get things back in order. My efforts in acting for these four entities were recognised in the early 2000s when I received Honorary Life Membership of each of them followed shortly afterwards being awarded the ACF Koshnitsky Medal for chess administration. This was followed few years later by receiving the Norths President’s Shield as the chess club nominee. (Nick Cooper and David Stern have also won this award; no other intra-club nominee has received this award three times which is evidence of our good standing with our host club.) With the accession of Paul Glissan in 2008 as President and with a fully effective committee of members dedicated to specific tasks there was a substantial improvement of the chess club’s position. So much so that in a short time we successfully hosted three Australian Championships as well as a number of FIDE Zonal events. This improvement during Paul’s term as President has carried on under his successor Peter Abbott with active members now exceeding 150. Chesswise I have had some success catching higher rated opponents off-guard including, in the one tournament, Lloyd Fell, Johnny Bolens and Laura Moylan. One year in the Ford/Greenwood Seniors Tournament I also beat Gareth Charles in andthe winner Paul Glissan. I have also managed to beat our budding GMs Max Illingworth and Anton Smirnov, although at a time when their feet did not touch the ground and a kick in the shins was added hazard in the games. After Max and Anton attained the status of Grandmaster the club recognised their achievements with the granting of Emeritus Membership, together with WIM Biljana Dekic who has represented Australia at the Women’s Olympiad a record number of times. Highlights of my years with the Club include Paul Glissan organising an 80th birthday party for me at Norths followed 10 years later with a surprise 90th birthday celebration at my home organised by my son Geoff and daughter Angela with many of my chess friends in attendance at both events. Truly memorable occasions that I cherish. 2023 has been a difficult year for me healthwise with my medical team keeping me going but at the expense of my mobility. I no longer drive after 52 years and am grateful for receiving lifts from various people including Bruce Murray, Peter Abbott, Ian Wechsler and Geoff, with Angela attending to my needs. This enables me to play in club tournaments where hopefully I will remain competitive. I have introduced my granddaughter Jewel to chess and we play one game each week. If she continues to show an improvement in her chess skills and maintains an interest she may start looking for a chess club to join. I am confident Norths Chess Club will continue to maintain its prominent position as the premier chess club in Sydney in the forthcoming years and I am proud to have made a contribution. |
Norths have retained the Little Board, by a five point margin, and in the Big Board unexpectedly won away to overtake St George's' first round lead, winning overall by three points . For detailed results of the Little Board CLICK HERE For detailed results of the Big Board CLICK HERE |
Congratulations to Bibek and Jacob and other prizewinners. Major John Purdy Memorial Trophy: Open: 1st: Bibek Thing; 2nd: Sterling Bayaca. =3rd: Van Vo & Aiden Odenthal Rating Group A =1st Benjamin Tee & Ethan Chang Rating Group B 1st: Ayush Yajaman, =2nd: Nathan He, Marcel Lima, Maxwell Ponza Minor Open: 1st Jacob Mcgruddy; 2nd: Scott Zhou; 3rd: Leo Gong Rating group A =1st Vicky Qian and Emma Zhang Unrated 1st Rahul Gandharva |
Congratulations to 2023 Allegro Champion Sterling, and other prizewinners 1st: Sterling Bayaca 2nd: Cameron McGowan 3rd: Changhao Yu Rating group A (1401 - 1730): Leo Gong =Rating group B (1400 and under): Clara Zhou, Marcus Ni, Deves Manoji, Craig Duker, Jason Gemenis, Michael Tonon Unrated: Winston Bai |
Congratulations Ford-Greenwood Seniors Champion Ton Luchtmeijer and other prize winners: 1st: Ton Luchtmeijer, 2nd: Bruce Murray, =3rd: Peter Abbott & Rob Waton 75 or over: Paul Glissan Rating group A: David Cook Rating group B: Paul Pilowsky |
Congratulations to Arthur and Peter, and other prizewinners Major 1st: Arthur Huynh =2nd/3rd: Terrence Tang & Van Vo Rating group A: Daniel Wang Rating group B: Benjamin Tee Minor 1st: Peter Cai 2nd: Nathan Arav =3rd: Mason Tay and Jacob McGruddy Rating group A: Michael Zhang =Rating group B: Albert Xiong, Nick Harrigan, Lindsay Chegwidden |
Congratulations to 2023 Allegro Champion Sterling, with a perfect score, and other prizewinners 1st: Sterling Bayaca 2nd: Cameron McGowan 3rd: Changhao Yu Rating group A (1401 - 1730): Leo Gong =Rating group B (1400 and under): Clara Zhou, Marcus Ni, Deves Manoji, Craig Duker, Jason Gemenis, Michael Tonon Unrated: Winston Bai |
A Special General Meeting of Norths Chess Club for will be held on 25 July 2023 at 7.30pm, at Norths Leagues Club, Cammeray The meeting is called to vote on adopting a constitution for Norths Chess Club. The constitution put forward by the Committee for adoption may be found at: www.northsydneychess.org/Constitution There are no other items of business. Notes. This meeting is called purely to vote on the constitution, not to debate it so commencement of play should not be unduly delayed. |
Congratulations 2023 Rapid Champion DAniel Gong and all prizewinners 1st Daniel Gong 2nd Samuel Asaka 3rd Ryan Can Rating group A. Joy Liu Rating group B. =1st Marcel Lima, Nathan Arav and Maxwell Ponza Rating Group C. =1st Jonathan Kuba, Mason Tay, Marcus Ni, and Jason Gemenis Unrated. Paul Ventura |
Congratulations 2023 Club Champion Cameron McGowan and all division winners
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Warren Morris, who died on Christmas Day, was a great supporter of Norths Chess. He was a director of Norths Leagues Club for 30 years, and served as secretary its Sports Council for much of that time. Our Treasurer Steve Garner worked alongside Warren inthe 1990s; at the time the chess club met at the hall of Willoughby Uniting Church. The church often complained about our members smoking on the premises. Overnight the rent they charged for using the hall doubled and we were losing money fast. Warren suggested to Steve that we move to Norths Leagues. It took a lot of convincing but eventually we agreed to move. What Warren kept relatively quiet at the time because he couldn’t guarantee it, was that Norths gave grants to its sporting clubs. So, we went from paying rent we couldn’t afford to a much better hall that was rent free. And we were given a monetary grant each year. Initially it was around $400; last year we got $3,000. Warren was more than a supporter of our Club - he helped transform it into the strongest chess club in Sydney, |
Clive Ng won the Summer Blitz with a perfect 9 from 9. 1st Clive Ng, =2nd Robert Sunaryo, Bruce Murray, Benjamin Wise Jiang Here Clive plays Benjamin in the 8th round, prevailing in a King's Indian game. He commented later that Benjamin played well but blundered an exchange in an equal position in the middle game. |
Congratulations to our 2022 Purdy Champion Cameron McGowan and other prizewinners |
Each year, Norths Leagues Club asks each of their affiliated sports and activities clubs to nominate someone special for their President’s Shield - based on their contribution to Norths, their intraclub, their sporting achievements, service to sport or special interest group over the preceding year. Our club committee nominated David Stern who does so much for us. David was adjudged the stand-out nominee by our hosts, Norths, and awarded the Shield at the President’s Shield dinner last Friday. Wonderful recognition for David’s hard work and dedication. |
Congratulations to our 2022 Allegro Champion Anthony Fikh and other prizewinners CLICK HERE for the detailed results. |
Congratulations to our 2022 Classic Champion Alaina Vincent and other prizewinners: CLICK HERE for the full results. |
Congratulations to our 2022 Seniors Champion Denis Wan and other prizewinners 1st: Dennis Wan 2nd: Bruce Murray =3rd: Stephen Garner, Gary Armstrong Over 75: =1st Marek Baterowicz, Paul Glissan Rating Group A: Bob Quek = Rating Group B: Vince Chiara, David Cook CLICK HERE for the detailed results.. |
Norths leads in both of our interclub games. After overwhelming Harbord at home 15 - 2, we travelled to St George expecting a difficult match. However we siurprised the Dragons by taking the night 25 - 13. The 12 point buffer should secure the 2022 title but no doubt St George will come to Norths hungry for revenge in November. For details of the matches see www.northsydneychess.org/little-board and www.northsydneychess.org/big-board |
Congratulations 2022 Rapid Champion Cameron McGowan and all winners Open: 1st Cameron McGowan, =2nd Arthur Huynhand Clive Ng Rating Division A Jared Cheung Rating Division B Jason Xu Rating Division C Lucas Ni Unrated Division Lachlan Kavanagh For full tournament details see http://www.northsydneychess.org/rapid |
Congratulations 2022 Club Champion Cameron McGowan and all division winners
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The federation’s 2022 annual lifetime achievement medal for services to chess as an administrator has been awarded to its former Secretary, Paul Glissan. Paul was Norths Chess Club President during 2008-2018 and guided organisation at the club of numerous major chess events, including two Australian Championships, two Australian Open Championships and Oceania Zonal and Seniors championships. |
The new Club Blitz Champion is Robert Sunaryo, taking the title on tiebreak with Clive Ng. Prizewinners were =1st Robert Sunaryo and Clive Ng; 3rd Arthur Huynh; Rating group A =1st Daniel Seaton, David Stern, and Joy Liu; Rating group B =1st David Miller and Robert Fenton-Lee Click here for detailed results . |
25 January our tournament calendar starts with the Club Championship Blitz. No registration is needed ... come play! The following week 1 February is the first round of the Club Championship on 1 February. Details and entry for the Club Championship are @ www.northsydneychess.org/club- |
2021 It was another unusual year with a number of highs interspersed with some Covid-induced lows. Fortunately, the negatives were few. We had to close the club for a significant part of the year and as a result had to truncate and declare results for our two winter tournaments – Ford-Greenwood Seniors and Winter Classic just after the half way mark. We were also unable to run the 2021 Purdy Memorial which was a pity as the 2021 edition was to incorporate State Championship and State Women’s Championship. The positives were many though. Winning back both the Big Board and Little Board trophies from St George and Harbord was a highlight. Winning both legs of each so emphatically was special. Many thanks to all who supported those fixtures – wonderful results for our club. We have a new club champion in Matthew Bennett. This year we trialled a new format of small swisses across the various sections of our club championship. I personally feel that this was a good innovation that deserves repeating. The sections all proved well contested and the elimination of postponements was welcomed by many. We have also been able to run Rapids and Blitzes and our online club continues twice a week. Congratulations to all of our prize winners in our tournaments this year. The growth in our membership this year was extraordinary and we gained a number of very strong new recruits. All this bodes well for the club but our sheer size makes it tricky when government imposes venue capacity restrictions. In term of our committee, Rob Watson very ably slotted into the Director of Play role. David Stern delivered a new website which gives us a good base for future development. In addition, there was a huge amount of work by some unsung heroes behind the scenes. During the year Tristan Weijermars left our committee due to a move interstate and Pertti Sirkka was unable to stand again as secretary. Thanks to my fellow committee members for their hard work in keeping our club running and developing. We all also appreciate the longstanding support from our hosts at Norths Leagues Club. The running of our large club falls on a small number of people and that creates a risk. Broadening our resources will be a clear focus as we move into, hopefully, a covid-unaffected 2022. Peter Abbott, President Norths Chess Club |
Congratulations to Jack Rodgers, who took the event over 2nd Robert Sunaryo and =3ed Gareth Charles and Dmitry Miscenko Click here for detailed results The next at the club will be the 2022 Club Championship Blitz on 25 January. |
Norths have taken the Little Board, with thirteen point win on 13 Decemer and an overall 2021 result of 27.5 - 11.5. For detailed results of the match CLICK HERE A team of 44 Norths players travelled to St George in November and scored a fantastic 9 point win on the night, and an 18 points overall in 2021 to bring home the John Kellner/Terrey Shaw Trophy. For detailed results of the match CLICK HERE We look forward to retaining the trophies in 2022. Thanks Natalie Chen for thebgroup photo taken at St George. |
We are pleased to be reopening and have the following events to take us to the end of the year. 9 November - Social chess 16 November - Social chess 23 November - Big Board at St George Leagues Club 30 November - Rapid 7 December - Rapid Monday 13 December - Little Board at Harbord Diggers Club 14 December - Rapid 20 December - Blitz (includes prizegivings & AGM) Our return to Norths is under Covid-safe conditions which are set out in the attached Safety Plan which has been approved by Norths, and Safety Guidelines that must be complied with by vistors to the chess club. Note that Norths requires all guests over 16 entering the club to show proof of double-vaccination and check in with the NSW government QR code. For detailed requirements see https://norths.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/SignInRequirements.pdf |
Although we hoped we could return on 19 October, Notths now plan to open their hospitality services first and allow the return of their sporting and social groups a little later. We will stay in regular contact with them and let everyone know as soon as chess can resume. By the time we return they will have completed the finishing touches to their auditorium renovation. |
We will be open on Tuesdays from 19 October. At first this will be social chess; we hope to have an event later in the year. Norths has set the following conditions for entry to the club: --- We will be adhering to the guidelines from the NSW Government which states that all those entering venues over the age of 16 must be fully vaccinated. Upon entry you will need to show proof of double vaccination and to find out how you can download this to your device, please follow this link https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/health-and-wellbeing/covid-19-vaccination-nsw/proof. --- There may be more detail on protocols as government and the club prepare for opening. Watch here for updates. |
Unfortunately we weren't able to complete all rounds of the tournaments. In that case results are based on the scores after round 5. And we congratulate ===== Ford Greenwood Seniors. Seniors Champion Paul Glissan, on tiebreak for 1st with Bruce Murray and George Morgan. Rating Group A. David Stern Rating Group B. Rex Simmonds and Robert Laurie. There were insufficient unrated players to award an unrated prize. For tournament details see www.northsydneychess.org/seniors Winter Classic 1st and Classic Champion. Sterling Bayaca. |
Congratulations to prizewinners: 1st: Jack Rodgers =2nd: Vladimir Chugunov, Henry Cronin U1800: Ethan (Yuze) Li U1510: Peter Creek Unrated: =1st Michael Kyaw, Kurt Daley For full details see www.northsydneychess.org/allegro |
2021 Club Champion: As winner of Tournament 1, Matthew Bennett Tournament 1 Championship: 1st Stirling Bayaca; 2nd Gareth Charles; 3rd Jack Rodgers Tournament 2 A: 1st Chris Taffard; 2nd Pertti Sirkka; 3rd. Toby Huey Tournament 3 C: 1st Thomas Ban; 2nd Ian Case; 3rd Yuze (Ethan) Li Tournament 4 E: 1st Sean McDonald; 2nd Ethan Chang; 3rd James Ford (6.5/9) For full results, see: www.northsydneychess.org/club-championship |
Well done Josh winning our first on-line long-play tournament on chess.com. Silver and bronze went to Jack Rodgers and Dmitry Miscenko Click here for detailed results of the knock-out event go to www.chess.com/tournament/norths-long-play-1 |
Norths Chess is open!! The situation remains fluid though and your committee will keep monitoring Government regulations and our host's instructions. Plus take note of our protocols regarding safe practices, personal hygiene and social distancing to help keep yourself and others COVID-19 safe. We are still running our chess.com tournaments. Access is for members of Norths Chess so first go to www.northsydneychess.org/membership to join and contact northsydneychess@gmail.com for instructions on how to find it. ========== Chess is a game that requires touching shared objects and surfaces, and physical proximity. Attendees of Norths Chess Club meetings must therefore take care for their own and others' wellbeing. Visitors to Norths Leagues Club are required to register on entry, and we encourage you to have the CovidSafe app on your mobile phone. Visitors must comply with the COVID-19 safety plans and instructions of of Norths Leagues Club. At the club the following rules will apply 1. Do not attend if you * have been overseas or in a COVID-19 hotspot in the last two weeks * have a fever, cough, cold or other signs of illness * have been in contact with a COVID-19 positive person until you have had a negative test * are awaiting the result of a COVID-19 test for yourself or a close contact. 2. Wash/cleanse your hands before and after a game, and as needed during a game. If possible bring your own hand sanitiser and use it before touching your face and after touching your face. The chess club will have hand sanitiser only at the entrance of the playing area. If coughing or sneezing, cover your nose and mouth with flexed elbow or a paper tissue. Dispose of tissues hygienically, eg in closed bins. Wash/cleanse your hands before touching shared objects and surfaces. 3. Maintain physical distancing of 1.5 metres from another person. Do not shake hands or have any physical contact with another person other than those in your own household. 4. During play: - At the commencement of the session players’ chairs will be set 1.5 metres apart. Players should try to maintain as much distance from their opponent as practically possible during the game. Respect the personal space of your opponent. - If observing a game, stay at least 1.5 metres from the players and their equipment, and from other observers - More than one game may be required to be played during the session. Should that lead to any item of equipment being handled by more than two players, the Director of Play will determine any additional equipment sanitation protocols required 5. Parents must supervise their children at all times and ensure they are following these measures. 6. You are welcome to use your own standards above these, such as wearing a face mask or gloves. |