News

A short notice from Craig Hall after the NZCF Council met on Dec 3, “South Island Championship and Congress approved to go ahead as currently scheduled, vaccine passes will be required apart from approved exemptions (under 12 years 3 months old, or approved by Ministry of Health).”

Let’s celebrate this with another team battle! The traditional “random participant lottery prize” is guaranteed.

Congress Ahead 20211210 Team Battle, 3+2 Blitz
Dec 10, 2021, Friday 7:30 PM
lichess.org/tournament/KCNt1Bva

You can join and play any time from 7:30 to 9:30 PM for your club. Some clubs are already added. If you want to add your local club, please let @TimothyHa know.

Also scheduled:
Monday, 10+5 rapid arena, lichess.org/tournament/Qwa4txCq (7:30 PM)
Friday, 1+0 bullet arena, lichess.org/tournament/TerR1FR4 (9:30 PM)

Monday, Nov 29, rapid 10+5 from 7:30 to 9:30 pm, https://lichess.org/tournament/4glsUyWN

Friday, Dec 3, blitz 3+2 from 7:30 to 9:30 pm, https://lichess.org/tournament/U6MEr3Q3
then bullet from 9:30 to 10:30 pm, https://lichess.org/tournament/I4b7dF0Q

These are arenas, very easy to plan and play. You can join now and come play any time in between the start and finish times.

Monday, Nov 22, rapid 10+5 from 7:30 to 9:30 pm, lichess.org/tournament/SzQSnDW1

Friday, Nov 26, blitz 3+2 from 7:30 to 9:30 pm, lichess.org/tournament/B9tkkKgQ
then bullet from 9:30 to 10:30 pm, lichess.org/tournament/PGYadQGs

These are arenas, very easy to plan and play. You can join now and come play any time in between the start and finish times.

Next week’s events are two arenas. They’ll run for exactly two hours each, easier to plan and play. You can join now, then come and play any time between the start and finish of the event. You can also pause the event or leave any time, too.

Monday, 10+5 rapid, 7:30 – 9:30 pm, lichess.org/tournament/WeolfH9q
Friday, 3+2 blitz, 7:30 – 9:30 pm, lichess.org/tournament/yc8zZQYz

This week’s schedule:

Monday, 7:30 pm – rapid 10+5, a six-round Swiss, please join about 10-15 minutes before the start (don’t join too early and then forget about the tournament)

lichess.org/swiss/u4NgWMqW

Friday, 7:30-9:30 pm – an arena team battle between Wellington, NZCF and Auckland (let’s hope the standings won’t be in this order, though). You can join this one now and come play any time between 7:30 and 9:30 pm on Friday.

lichess.org/tournament/0D1jlxky

On another note, the Summit Chess Club will be running an online rapid tournament on Sunday, Nov 21, www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=127670076318732&id=102212905531116

NZ Seniors 2021 (for players born before 1972) will also be online, Nov 26-28, follow the news on newzealandchess.co.nz

We’re on our usual schedule these days, Monday Swiss rapid, 10+5, and Friday blitz arena, 3+2.

Please join the Monday Swiss closer to the tournament start time, as if you’re late, you’re going to forfeit the first game, lose rating points and make your opponent unhappy (or happy, depending on their attitude towards “free” rating points).

Monday, Nov 1, 7:30 pm, https://lichess.org/swiss/DSklDchD – join about 10-15 mins in advance.

Friday, Nov 5, is an arena, you can join in advance, then come play, pause or leave any time between 7:30 and 9:30 pm, https://lichess.org/tournament/3DSwbuuI

The Howick Chess Club is also planning to organise a rapid OTB tournament called “Auckland Christmas Friendship Tournament” on December 21 (Tuesday), please see details on https://newzealandchess.nz/auckland-christmas-friendship-tournament-2021/

Maybe the new traffic light system will allow us to get back to OTB chess sooner? In the meantime, let’s have another team battle on Friday, October 29, https://lichess.org/tournament/qYcnSpvZ — you can join now, then come and play on Friday, any time between 7:30 and 9:30 pm.

The Monday rapid 10+5, six-round Swiss, will happen as usual, too, https://lichess.org/swiss/nHCe0VnF

Next week’s online events are:

Monday, Oct 18, 7:30 pm – Rapid 10+5, Swiss, 6 rounds
lichess.org/swiss/ehT4ReOV

Friday, Oct 22, 7:30 pm – Blitz 3+2 Arena (we’re returning to this time control after three rather wild 5+0 events)
lichess.org/tournament/rVtkhtxn

Please don’t join the Monday event too early, better do it 10-15 mins before the start, so you don’t forfeit the first game and don’t make anybody wait in frustration.

As for the Friday arena, join now and come play any time between 7:30 and 9:30 pm.

Next week’s schedule:

Monday, Oct 11, 7:30 pm – a six-round Swiss of 10+5 rapid, as usual – lichess.org/swiss/a4VazmDW

Thursday, Oct 14, 7:30 – 9:30 pm – an All-Auckland team battle organised by the Waitakere CC – lichess.org/tournament/fByfgUU4 (time control is 5+5, so it’s Lichess rapid)

Friday, Oct 15, 7:30 – 9:30 pm – a 5+0 blitz team battle, “Three Clusters”, between Wellington, Auckland and the NZCF team (for all other cities) – lichess.org/tournament/IDdTkGep

The usual note: you can join team battles and arenas in advance, and are encouraged to do so, to build interest. As for the Swiss events, it’s recommended to join only right before the start, to not forfeit the first game on time and not disappoint people who are paired with you. Thanks!

This week’s online events:

Monday, Oct 4, 10+5 Swiss, https://lichess.org/swiss/RlZW8PCW

Friday, Oct 8, 5+0 Arena, https://lichess.org/tournament/0M3E4n1I

The Waitakere CC is also running two Auckland-specific events:

Thursday, Oct 7, Riff-raff Auckland clubs, arena/battle (ACC can’t play here) https://lichess.org/tournament/P1fjjw3H

Thursday, Oct 14, All Auckland clubs, arena/battle https://lichess.org/tournament/fByfgUU4

The start time for all events is 7:30 pm.

The usual note: please don’t join Swiss tournaments in advance unless you’re sure you’ll be there in time. Your opponent might have to wait in frustration, and you might forfeit a game unnecessarily. As for arena events and team battles, feel free to join them in advance to show interest.