Calendar

February 4th - 5th 2012 - Challenge Match, Auckland.
A four game match between Brazilian International Master Herman van Riemsdijk and leading NZ junior Luke Li will take place at the Auckland Chess Centre, 17 Cromwell Street, Mt Eden, on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th of February. Rounds will be played at 9:30 am. and 2:00 pm. each day, with a time control of 60 minutes plus 30 seconds per move increment. Spectators are welcome.
Day one: both games drawn. See them at http://www.chesschat.org/showthread.php?t=13806.

February 17th - 23rd 2012 - Guam International Chess Championship, GUAM.
Provisional. 10-player round robin. Download Oceania Chess Confederation bulletin about the event here (pdf document) and Schedule here (pdf document).

February 25th 2012 - Bay of Plenty Rapid, Tauranga.
Venue: Papamoa Community Centre, 15 Gravatt Road, Papamoa, Tauranga.
Three 6-round swiss-system events, with a time control of 25 minutes each plus an increment of 5 seconds per move. Prizefund: A-grade (1800 and over) 1st $300, 2nd $200, 3rd $100, 4th $50, grade prizes of $60 and $40. B-grade (under 1800): 1st $150, 2nd $100, 3rd $50, grade prizes of $50 and $30. Junior (under 14 and under 1400): 1st $100, 2nd $70, 3rd $40, grade prizes of $40 and $20. Schedule: 9 am Players' Meeting, 9:30 rd 1, 10:45 rd 2, 12:00 rd 3, 14:00 rd 4, 15:15 rd 5, 16:30 rd 6, prize-giving after completion of last round. Contact: Bob Smith, e-mail Caissa@xtra.co.nz. Download entry form here (Word document).
This event is a Myer Tan NZ Chess Grand Prix class 1 event.

March 10th-11th 2012 - Auckland Chess Centre Weekender, Auckland.
Organised by the Auckland Chess Centre. Venue: Auckland Chess Centre, 17 Cromwell, St, Mount Eden, Auckland. An Open tournament, a 7-round Swiss system with a time control of all moves in 60 minutes with an increment of 10 seconds per move from move one. The tournament will be nationally rated and is therefore open only to NZCF-registered players; unregistered players may register at the tournament ($20). Entry fee: $45. No entries accepted after 9th March. Minimum prizefund: 1st $300, 2nd $200, 3rd $100, 4th $75. Grading prizes: U-2100: 1st $150, 2nd $100, 3rd $60; U-1800: 1st $100, 2nd $75, 3rd $50; U-1500: 1st $80, 2nd $60, 3rd $50. Round times: Saturday 10th March, players' meeting 9:00am, rd 1 9:30am; rd 2 1:00pm, rd 3 4:00pm, rd 4 7:00pm; Sun 11th, rd 5 9:30am, rd 6 1:00pm; rd 7 4:00pm. Prizegiving when games have finished. This event is a Myer Tan New Zealand Chess Grand Prix class 1 event. Details from Mike Steadman, steadmanm@hotmail.com. Download entry form here (Word document).

March 18th 2012 - Howick-Pakuranga Annual Latvian Rapidplay, Pakuranga, Manukau City.
Venue: Te Tuhi Centre of the Arts, 13 Reeves Road, Pakuranga. Four sections, open (over 1800), under-1800, under-1500 and D-grade (under 1050 or unrated), 6 round swiss-system, with a time control of 25 minutes each plus an increment of 5 seconds per move. Entry fees $45 for Open and under-1800; $35 for under-1500 and D-grade. Prizefund: see entry form. Schedule: Players' Meeting 9:00 am; 1st Round at 9:30 am. Enquiries: Organiser Tony Booth, 14 Nelson Street, Howick, email tonybooth@ihug.co.nz. This event is a Myer Tan NZ Chess Grand Prix class 1 event. Download entry form here (Word document).

April 5th - 9th 2012 - Doeberl Cup, Canberra, AUSTRALIA.
See http://www.doeberlcup.com.au/.

April 10th - 15th 2012 - Sydney International Open, Parramatta, AUSTRALIA.
See http://parrachessclub.org/SydneyInternationalOpen/.

April 13th - 19th 2012 - Bangkok Open, Bangkok, THAILAND.
See http://bangkokchess.com/events-calendar/12th-bangkok-chess-club-open-2012. Note the regulations: "Players are not allowed to bring mobile phones or other electronic devices to the tournament hall, any violation shall result in loss of game."

April 27th - May 7th 2012 - World School Individual Chess Championship, Iasi, ROMANIA.
Open and girls' sections in age groups under 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17 years old. See www.wscc2012.ro. There are no free places - all players must pay their own entry fee, travel, food and accommodation. Anyone can play but you need to enter (and pay) through NZCF so please let us know if you are interested - email Paul Spiller.

May 5th - 11th 2012 - Fiji International Open, Suva, FIJI.
See www.fijichess.com. Download more information here (Word document). NZ Government recommendations regarding travel to Fiji here.

May 2012 - Asian Team Championship, Hainan, CHINA.
Provisional.

June 2012 - Asian Juniors/Girls Championship, Tashkent, UZBEKISTAN.
Provisional.

1st - 7th June 2012 - Asian Seniors Championship, Sydney, AUSTRALIA.
Venue: Parramatta RSL Club, Sydney. Format: 9-round swiss-system FIDE-rated event, open to all Asian players satisfying the following age limits: Men must reach the age of 55 during 2012 (ie be born before 01.01.1958) and women must reach the age of 50 during 2012 (ie be born before 01.01.1963). Time control: 90 minutes for the game with an increment of 30 seconds per move from move one. Schedule: Friday 1st June: players' meeting at 7pm. Saturday 2nd June: Opening Ceremony 10:15am; Round 1 10:30am; Round 2 4pm. Sunday 3rd June: Round 3 10:30am. Monday 4th June: Round 4 10:30am; Round 5 4pm. Tuesday 5th June: Round 6 10:30am. Wednesday 6th June: Round 7 10:30am; Round 8 4pm. Thursday 7th June: Round 9 10:30am; Prizegiving 7pm. Prizefund: total AUS $7000 with over-70, over-80, and Oceania prizes. IM and Asian Master titles may be awarded, in accordance with FIDE regualtions. Download full details here (pdf file) and download registration form here (Word document).

1st -7th June 2012 - Asian Amateur Championship, Sydney, AUSTRALIA.
Venue: Parramatta RSL Club, Sydney. Format: 9-round swiss-system FIDE-rated event, open to all Asian players with a FIDE rating below 2100 (or unrated). Excluded are all titled players (except cm/wcm) and anyone who has been over FIDE 2100 in the previous two years. Time control: 90 minutes for the game with an increment of 30 seconds per move from move one. Schedule: Friday 1st June: players' meeting at 7pm. Saturday 2nd June: Opening Ceremony 10:15am; Round 1 10:30am; Round 2 4pm. Sunday 3rd June: Round 3 10:30am. Monday 4th June: Round 4 10:30am; Round 5 4pm. Tuesday 5th June: Round 6 10:30am. Wednesday 6th June: Round 7 10:30am; Round 8 4pm. Thursday 7th June: Round 9 10:30am; Prizegiving 7pm. Prizefund: total AUS $7000 with grading, women's, and Oceania prizes. Download full details here (pdf file) and download registration form here (Word document).

9th - 11th June 2012 - NSW Open, Sydney, AUSTRALIA.
Following on from the Senior and Amateur events is a FIDE-rated Open. For full details see nswopen.parrachessclub.org/. More information here shortly.

23rd - 30th June 2012 - Asian Youth Championships, SRI LANKA.
Provisional.

1st - 16th August 2012 - World Junior Championship, Athens, GREECE.
Provisional. The winner of the NZ Junior is normally eligible for the NZ place.

August 27th - September 10th 2012 - Chess Olympiad, Istanbul, TURKEY.
The President of the Turkish Chess Federation, Ali Nihat Yazici, has confirmed by email that these dates are correct, and that the venue is near Ataturk Airport (this is Istanbul's international airport, and lies 23km from the city). Players will be staying in nearby hotels. Three double rooms will be allocated to each team.
See our Olympiad Page.

September 29th - October 7th 2012 - George Trundle NZ Masters Tournament, Auckland.
Sponsored by the Auckland Chess Centre and the late George Trundle. Venue: Auckland Chess Centre, 17 Cromwell, St, Mount Eden (spectators welcome).

10 - 14th October 2012 - South Island Championship, Dunedin.
A 9-round FIDE-rated swiss with the opportunity to score title norms. More information here shortly. This event is a Myer Tan NZ Chess Grand Prix class 1 event and is also part of the Oceania Grand Prix. Download entry form here (pdf document).

3rd - 14th November 2012 - World Senior Championship, Kammena Vourla, GREECE.
Provisional. Open and Women's sections. Winners of the Oceania Open and Women's titles are usually entitled to free accommodation at this event. Any senior can play if they pay their own way (men born 1952 or before; women 1962 or before).

7th - 19th November 2012 - World Youth Championships, Maribor, SLOVENIA.
Provisional. Open and Girls' sections; age groups from under-8 to under-18. Normally one player in each age group (one in the Open and one girl) receives free accommodation from the organisers. Applications should be made to Paul Spiller.

20th - 30th December 2012 - World Cities, Al Ain, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES.
Provisional.

31st December 2012 - 12th January 2013 - 120th New Zealand Congress, Wellington.
Organised by the Wellington Chess Club. Venue: CQ Hotel Cuba Street, Wellington (DDI 04 931 6853 | Fax 04 913 1809 | Reservations 04 385 2156 | Free Ph 0800 888 5 999 | 213-223 Cuba Street, Po Box 27125, Wellington 6141, New Zealand | Email meet@cqwellington.com). The 11 day main event runs Monday 31/12/12 - Thursday 10/1/13, followed by a two-day Rapid tournament, Friday 11/1/13 - Saturday 12/1/13. More details in due course.