Calendar

May 26th 2013 - A-Grade Interclubs, Auckland.
Venue: Stables Café. Rounds start at 6:30pm and players need to be there by 6:25pm. Matches are played on 6 boards.
Round 1.

June 1st - 3rd 2013 - The 36th Trusts Open, Henderson, Auckland.
Organised by Waitakere Chess Club. Venue: Trusts Stadium, 67-85 Central Park Drive, Henderson, Auckland. New Zealand's only SuperClass event in the Myer Tan New Zealand Chess Grand Prix is now also part of the Oceania Grand Prix. Prizefund: $6000. 4 separate tournaments (A - 1800+, B - 1500 to 1799, C - under 1500, Junior - under 12 and under 1200). Time control: 90 minutes plus 30 seconds a move. Discounted accommodation available at the nearby Quality Hotel Lincoln Green (please quote 36th Trusts Chess Open). Enquiries to Bob Smith, email Caissa@xtra.co.nz, or John Francis, email diaries@ihug.co.nz. Download the entry form here (pdf document).

June 5th - 14th 2013 - 14th ASEAN+ Age-Group Championships, Chiang Mai, THAILAND.
Full details are available here (pdf file). Players must not have reached the age-group ages before 1st January 2013: groups are u-8, u-10, u-12, u-14, u-16, u-18, and u-20. There is also a parallel event for Seniors, who must have reached 50 before 1st January 2013. Non-ASEAN players are welcome, and can win the titles on offer in the junior categories. There are no free places for New Zealanders. If you are interested in playing, please contact Paul Spiller.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED

June 9th 2013 - A-Grade Interclubs, Auckland.
Venue: Stables Café. Rounds start at 6:30pm and players need to be there by 6:25pm. Matches are played on 6 boards.
Round 2.

June 9th 2013 - 5th MC Cup, Auckland
Organised by Chess Power, website www.chesspower.co.nz. Venue: Auckland Bridge Club, 273 Remuera Road, Auckland. 6 rounds G15'+0" chess, from 1pm, restricted to players 18 years and younger. Not NZCF rated. Entry fee: $20. 1st in your Age group and Best Girl win prizes and trophies. Certificates for every player. Prizes also for Biggest upset + Puzzle Challenges. Register at www.chesspower.co.nz/webapps/site/88770/218535/events/events.html.

June 12th 2013 - Auckland Girls Chess Championship, Auckland.
Organised by Waitakere Chess Club Inc.. Venue: Mt. Albert War Memorial Hall, 751-761 New North Road, Mt. Albert, Auckland. Format: three separate 6-round tournaments in age groups (over 12, under 12, under 10). Time control: 20 minutes for the game with an increment of 3 seconds per move from move one. Entry fee: $15 per person. Prizes: Auckland age group titles will be awarded for under 18, under 16, under 14, under 12, under 10 and under 8, where the ages are as at 1st January 2013. (At least three players required in each age group for title to be awarded). All players will receive participation certificates. Trophies and medals will be posted to schools for presentation at Assembly. Schedule: Players' meeting 9am, first round 9:10am sharp. The event is expected to end at 2:30pm. Contact: John Francis, phone 626 2213 or 027 2988539, e-mail diaries@ihug.co.nz, fax 627 1412, or Viv or Bob Smith, phone 021 1623342 or 0274 786 282. Download entry form here (pdf document). This is part of a nationwide Chess for Girls Week, an initiative of the New Zealand Chess Federation, to encourage girls to try chess in an all-girl environment.

June 16th 2013 - A-Grade Interclubs, Auckland.
Venue: Stables Café. Rounds start at 6:30pm and players need to be there by 6:25pm. Matches are played on 6 boards.
Round 3.

June 19th - 27th 2013 - Asian Youth Chess Championships, Sari, IRAN.
Official website: www.asianyouth2013.com/. We have just received information about this event (with 15 days to the deadline). Download the information here (pdf document). Categories for Open and Girls are u-6, u-8, u-10, u-12, u-14, u-16, u-18. Board and lodging is provided for one person in each category (and one official/coach, sharing with others in a 4-bed room); players and coach must fund their own travel, registration, and entry fees. Accompanying persons must pay all their own expenses (reminder: players under the age of 15 must travel with a parent or guardian). If you are interested in playing, please contact Paul Spiller. Please take note of www.safetravel.govt.nz/destinations/iran.shtml, and make yourself aware of clothing and travel laws in Iran, particularly for women: see for example wikitravel.org/en/Iran.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED

June 20th 2013 - Bay of Plenty Girls Chess Championship, Auckland.
Organised by Mt Maunganui RSA Chess Club. Venue: Tauranga RSA, 1237 Cameron Road, Tauranga. Format: two 6-round tournaments in age groups (Primary; Intermediate+Secondary). Time control: 20 minutes for the game with an increment of 3 seconds per move from move one. Entry fee: $5 per person. Prizes: Trophies will be awarded for Primary, Intermediate, and Secondary winners, with certificates for 1st, 2nd and 3rd placegetters. These will be presented to schools as soon as practicable after the tournament. Schedule: Players' meeting 9am, first round 9:10am sharp. The event is expected to end at 2:30pm. Contact: Viv or Bob Smith, email Caissa@xtra.co.nz, phone 021 1623342 or 0274 786 282, or Ron Collingwood, email ron.sheryl@kinect.co.nz. Download entry form here (pdf document). This is part of a nationwide Chess for Girls Week, an initiative of the New Zealand Chess Federation, to encourage girls to try chess in an all-girl environment.

June 23rd 2013 - North Island Rapid Championship, Hamilton.
Venue: Saint Paul's Collegiate School, Hukanui Road, Hamilton. A 6-round swiss-system rapid-play tournament, NZCF and FIDE rapid-rated. Time control 25 min + 5 sec/move. Entry fee: $40; $47.50 if after 21st June. Prizefund: 1st $200, 2nd $150, 3rd $100, plus grade prizes totalling $250 (cash and books). Schedule: players' meeting (and entries close) 9:00am. Rounds at 9:30am, 11:00 am, 12:45pm, 2:00pm, 3:15pm, and 4:30pm. This event is a Myer Tan NZ Chess Grand Prix class 2 event. Contact: Hilton Bennett, email hiltonb@wave.co.nz. Download entry form here (pdf file). Enter online at hamiltonchess.net/ni-rapid/.

This is New Zealand's first event to be rated on the new FIDE Rapid Rating list.

June 26th 2013 - Rosehill Intermediate School Chess Fun Competition, Papakura.
Venue: Rosehill Intermediate School, 5 Jupiter St, Papakura. Format: An individual competition open to players from all schools - Primary, Intermediate, or Secondary. 7 games at a time control of 15 minutes per player. Schedule: Term 2 Week 8, 9:30 am to 2:30 pm. Prizes: medals and certificates, and fun prizes for all. Contact: Katrine Metge, phone (09) 298 5827 or 021 1274 922, email kmetge@rosehill.org.nz. Download the entry form here (pdf document).

June 29th 2013 - Upper Hutt Open "25 + 5" Tournament, Upper Hutt.
Organised by Upper Hutt CC. 6-round swiss with a time control of 25 minutes each plus an increment of 5 seconds per move. Prizefund: $500. Entry fee: $39 for Adults and $29 for Juniors. Information: Roger Smith, Upper Hutt CC, 59 Kowhai Avenue, Upper Hutt. This event is a Myer Tan NZ Chess Grand Prix class 3 event.

June 30th 2013 - A-Grade Interclubs, Auckland.
Venue: Stables Café. Rounds start at 6:30pm and players need to be there by 6:25pm. Matches are played on 6 boards.
Round 4.

July 3rd 2013 - West Auckland Inter-Schools Primary competition (yrs 1 – 6), Auckland.
Organised by Waitakere Chess Club Inc.. Venue: Rangeview Intermediate School, Keru Place, Te Atatu South, Auckland. 9.15 am to 2.30pm (approx). Contact Viv or Bob Smith, phone 021 1623342 or 0274 786 282, email Caissa@xtra.co.nz. Download entry form here (pdf document) - for both primary and intermediate events.

July 4th 2013 - West Auckland Inter-Schools Intermediate competition (yrs 7 – 8), Auckland.
Organised by Waitakere Chess Club Inc.. Venue: Rangeview Intermediate School, Keru Place, Te Atatu South, Auckland. 9.15 am to 2.30pm (approx). Contact Viv or Bob Smith, phone 021 1623342 or 0274 786 282, email Caissa@xtra.co.nz. Download entry form here (pdf document) - for both primary and intermediate events.

July 5th - 14th 2013 - Commonwealth Championship, Port Elizabeth, SOUTH AFRICA.
Official website: www.commonwealthchess2013.com. Individual and team titles will be awarded in various age group categories (U10, U12, U14, U16 and U18 as well as open categories). Teams consist of 4 players per team with the total points achieved by the members of a team tallied to achieve the team score for the tournament. Players with a rating below 1800 (or equivalent) may be entered to participate in the B section. Players should expect to pay all their own entry, travel and accommodation costs (there is a complicated arrangement that provides 2 players with local billets if and only if 4 players attend). If you are interested in playing, please contact Paul Spiller.

July 7th 2013 - A-Grade Interclubs, Auckland.
Venue: Stables Café. Rounds start at 6:30pm and players need to be there by 6:25pm. Matches are played on 6 boards.
Round 5.

July 7th 2013 - 2nd Feilding Chess Club Rapid, Feilding.
Venue: Hokowhitu Bowling Club, 279 Albert Street, Palmerston North. Six-round open swiss-system event with a time control of 25 minutes for the game plus an increment of 5 seconds per move from move 1. NZCF rated; players must be registered ($20 for those not yet registered). Entry fee: $30; Feilding/Palmy Knights Chess Club Members $25. Schedule: players are asked to report by 9:45am. Contact: Mark Noble, email xn7223@paradise.net.nz. Download entry form here (pdf document).

July 14th 2013 - 6th MC Cup, Auckland
Organised by Chess Power, website www.chesspower.co.nz. Venue: Auckland Bridge Club, 273 Remuera Road, Auckland. 6 rounds G15'+0" chess, from 1pm, restricted to players 18 years and younger. Not NZCF rated. Entry fee: $20. 1st in your Age group and Best Girl win prizes and trophies. Certificates for every player. Prizes also for Biggest upset + Puzzle Challenges. Register at www.chesspower.co.nz/webapps/site/88770/218535/events/events.html.

July 15th - 19th 2013 - NZ Junior and Junior Rapid Championships, Waitakere, Auckland.
Organiser: Waitakere Chess Club, www.waitakerechess.org.nz. Venue: St. Paul's School, 498 Don Buck Road, Massey, Auckland. The 6-round Rapid Championship will take place on Monday 15th July, and the 7-round NZ Junior Championship over Tuesday 16th to Friday 19th More details will follow. The Junior Championship is confirmed as Myer Tan NZ Chess Grand Prix class 1. Enquiries to John Francis, email diaries@ihug.co.nz.

July 21st - 30th 2013 - World Youth Olympiad, Chongqing, CHINA.
This is an international junior under-16 team event. If you are interested in playing, please contact Paul Spiller. Players need to be aware that they will most likely need to fund their own expenses aside from their entry fee and accommodation which is normally covered by the organisers for representative players (5) and a captain only. Please be aware that it is an NZCF rule that players under the age of 15 must travel with a parent or guardian.
Official website:http://wyco2013.cqyc.org.cn/News/en/. Details can be downloaded here (pdf document). There is now a deadline for applications - we need to know names well in advance in order to arrange for visa letters to be issued by the organisers.

APPLICATIONS BY 17TH MAY!

August 4th 2013 - Junior Interclubs, Auckland.

August 9th - 19th 2009 - 10th IGB Dato' Arthur Tan Open Chess Championship, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA.
Organiser: Dato' Arthur Tan Chess Centre. Venue: CitiTel Mid Valley Hotel, Mid Valley Megamall, Lingkaran Syed Putra, Kuala Lumpur. Main event: 9-round Swiss System open with a time control of all moves in 90 minutes plus an increment of 30 seconds per move from move one. Other events include Under-2000, Seniors, Team Rapid, Blitz, Age Groups. Download entry forms here - with full information about all events (pdf document). Information from Abd Hamid Majid, e-mail aham@pc.jaring.my. Website: malaysianchessfestival.blogspot.com.

August 11th 2013 - Waikato Regional of the Interschools, Hamilton.
10.00am - 3.00pm at Southwell School, 200 Peachgrove Road, Hamilton. Email Gerri Judkins, gerri.judkins@southwell.school.nz, for entry forms and more information.

August 18th 2013 - 7th MC Cup, Auckland
Organised by Chess Power, website www.chesspower.co.nz. Venue: Avondale Community Centre, 99 Rosebank Road, Avondale, Auckland. 6 rounds G15'+0" chess, from 1pm, restricted to players 18 years and younger. Not NZCF rated. Entry fee: $20. 1st in your Age group and Best Girl win prizes and trophies. Certificates for every player. Prizes also for Biggest upset + Puzzle Challenges. Register at www.chesspower.co.nz/webapps/site/88770/218535/events/events.html.

August 19th - 24th 2013 - New Caledonia International Open, Nouméa, NEW CALEDONIA.
Details will be available at www.newcaledoniachessopen.org. This is a 9-round FIDE-rated event with a time control of game in 90 minutes plus an increment of 30 seconds per move from move 1. This event is in the Oceania Grand Prix.

September (no dates yet) 2013 - Asian Seniors and Amateur, Jeddah, SAUDI ARABIA.
I will add further details when available. Meanwhile be aware of http://www.safetravel.govt.nz/destinations/saudiarabia.shtml. See also http://wikitravel.org/en/Saudi_Arabia. For the Seniors, Asian Chess Federation rules are as follows: the participant must have reached his 55th birthday (for women’s championship, 50th birthday) on January 1st of the year in which the tournament is held. For example, each participant in the 2013 Championship must be born on or before 01.01.58 (for women 01.01.63).

September 8th 2013 - 8th MC Cup, Auckland
Organised by Chess Power, website www.chesspower.co.nz. Venue: Auckland Bridge Club, 273 Remuera Road, Auckland. 6 rounds G15'+0" chess, from 1pm, restricted to players 18 years and younger. Not NZCF rated. Entry fee: $20. 1st in your Age group and Best Girl win prizes and trophies. Certificates for every player. Prizes also for Biggest upset + Puzzle Challenges. Register at www.chesspower.co.nz/webapps/site/88770/218535/events/events.html.

September 12th - 27th - World Junior Championship, Hatay, TURKEY.
Provisional.
This is an international junior under-20 event. New Zealand is entitled to one place only, which is usually determined by winning the NZ Junior event. If you are interested in playing, please contact Paul Spiller. Players need to be aware that they will most likely need to fund their own expenses aside from their entry fee and accommodation which is normally covered by the organisers for representative players only.

September 21st - 22nd 2013 - Interschools Finals, Mount Maunganui
Organised by Mount Maunganui RSA CC. Venue: Mt Maunganui College, 564 Maunganui Rd, Mt Maunganui . Contact the Interschools Coordinator, Craig Hall, or the event organiser, Bob Smith.

October 13th 2013 - 9th MC Cup, Auckland
Organised by Chess Power, website www.chesspower.co.nz. Venue: Auckland Bridge Club, 273 Remuera Road, Auckland. 6 rounds G15'+0" chess, from 1pm, restricted to players 18 years and younger. Not NZCF rated. Entry fee: $20. 1st in your Age group and Best Girl win prizes and trophies. Certificates for every player. Prizes also for Biggest upset + Puzzle Challenges. Register at www.chesspower.co.nz/webapps/site/88770/218535/events/events.html.

November 10th 2013 - 10th MC Cup, Auckland
Organised by Chess Power, website www.chesspower.co.nz. Venue: Auckland Bridge Club, 273 Remuera Road, Auckland. 6 rounds G15'+0" chess, from 1pm, restricted to players 18 years and younger. Not NZCF rated. Entry fee: $20. 1st in your Age group and Best Girl win prizes and trophies. Certificates for every player. Prizes also for Biggest upset + Puzzle Challenges. Register at www.chesspower.co.nz/webapps/site/88770/218535/events/events.html.

November 11th - 24th 2013 - World Seniors, Opatija, CROATIA.
Download the regulations here (pdf file). FIDE has confirmed that the Open is open to men and women who reach the age of 60 in 2013. Women who reach the age of 50-59 in 2013 are restricted to the Women's World Seniors, which will be a separate event if there are sufficient entries. The Oceania Seniors in April generated qualifiers for the Open and Women's events: kiwi Helen Milligan qualified for the Women's.

December 15th 2013 - MC Cup Championships, Auckland
Organised by Chess Power, website www.chesspower.co.nz. Venue: Auckland Bridge Club, 273 Remuera Road, Auckland. 7 rounds G25'+5" chess, from 9am, restricted to players 18 years and younger. Not NZCF rated. Entry fee: $40. 1st in your Age group and Best Girl win prizes and trophies. Certificates for every player. Prizes also for Biggest upset + Puzzle Challenges. Register at www.chesspower.co.nz/webapps/site/88770/218535/events/events.html.

December 17th - 29th 2013 - World Youth, Al Ain, UAE.
More information when I receive it. This is an international junior event with several age categories, from under-8 up to under-18, open and girls. If you are interested in playing, please contact Paul Spiller. Players need to be aware that they will most likely need to fund their own expenses aside from their entry fee and accommodation which is normally covered by the organisers for representative players only.