Hamilton Chess Club

Assuming full attendance next week the top five boards will look like this. Start polishing your openings. (Draw finalized on the night)

Club champs at round 4. The field is still wide open

Due to technical difficulties Round 4 will now take place on March 17. Remember the club champs is a members only event and no new players can be added at this stage, so if you are thinking of coming along then April 21 is your first opportunity.

Club Champs are underway. Crosstable at round one is below. Likely draw for the top six games is below that, but is subject to modification on the night based on attendance. Let Ian know if you want a half point bye. Remember members only from round 3, no new entries after round 2.

In order to simplify club record keeping in future all subscriptions will be for the calendar year in which they apply and expire on 31 December. By way of example if your sub is due for renewal in April your $20 fee will keep you in good standing until the end of 2026. New members joining in August will pay $20 for the period August to December. [Members that currently have expiry dates in 2027 will retain those dates].

Previously being a member of the Hamilton Chess Club enabled individuals to play in NZCF sponsored tournaments and receive an NZCF rating. Following a recent change in the NZCF constitution this is no longer the case. New NZCF rules stipulate that to play in NZCF rated tournaments players must now be paid up members of the New Zealand Chess Federation. To become a member of the NZCF individuals need complete an NZCF application form available online and pay the appropriate fee. The cost of NZCF membership is $25 per year. For individuals that might play in only one or two NZCF tournaments each year a more cost-effective option could be to take out a one-month membership as the cost of this is only $5. As an example if you play two tournaments in January and another in September the cost would then only be two single month memberships (January and September) or $10 in total.

Two club members and HBHS pupils recorded notable draws against titled players during the rapid tournament at the 133rd NZ Chess congress held in Invercargill during January. Nathan Sun managed a draw against FIDE GrandMaster Daniel Fernandez in round 2, while Ryan Zhou had a draw against FIDE InternationalMaster Anthony Ker in round 7. Congratulations to both on their stellar performances, and Kudos to HBHS Chess Supervisor Graham Nolan.

20th BoP Rapid 2026 is to be held on Saturday 28th February 2026. The Bay of Plenty Rapid (BoP Rapid) that is held on the last Saturday of February annually is one of most popular weekend rapids in the country.

The 20th BoP Rapid 2026 continues the first and now ubiquitous throughout New Zealand, 25 minutes plus 5 seconds increment rapid time control chess tournament.

Get your entry in here and enjoy playing chess in a pleasant tournament at one of the most beautiful regions in the country.

Remember that our premier event, the club champs, will kick off next week.

Time control will be the same as last year at 60 minutes + 10 seconds per move from move 1.

One game per night over 6 weeks.

The format will be start time 7.15pm, 1 game per night. We will permit non members/prospective members to play in the first few rounds depending on numbers. After that games will be  limited to financial members (or financial members temporarily in arrears) and HBHS pupils. You can check when your sub is due by going to the website – About > Who We Are. Online payments preferred, see the website for details. If you are not currently a member but want to take part then you can join on the first night.

(Adult and Juniors both only $20 per year, — of which $20 is a levy to the national body!!!)

A single division Swiss Style Tournament. The overall winner will be awarded the title Club Champion 2026 and receive all the accolades that are associated with the title. The highest rated junior  will be awarded the title Club Junior Champion 2026.

The draw will be based on Current club ratings. New players without a club rating will be assigned 1500 points for the purposes of the  draw.

Entry permitted in round one two, but round one preferred!.  If you can’t make it on the first night let me know and you will be awarded a half point bye. If you enter in round two without prior notification you will retrospectively receive a zero point bye for round 1. Also if you want to play but might be a little late on the first night let me know and I will include you in the draw. Please don’t turn up after 7:15. Entries will not be accepted after week two.

Usual FIDE laws apply with  the exception of the Hamilton Chess Club Special Rules found on the website. Disputes committee will be club executive (Graham Ian and Richard). If one or two of the disputes committee is/are party to a dispute, the remaining member(s) will constitute the disputes committee.

Please bring a pen if you wish to record your games. Recording is not mandatory, but if you don’t record your game you will not be allowed to claim a draw for the 50 move rule or 3 fold repetition unless agreed by your opponent.

One 1/2 point bye allowed per player, if notified to Ian before the round that it applies.

No half point byes allowed in rounds 5 or 6.

Tie breaks will be according to the NZ  standard  1. Direct Encounter. 2. Cumulative (Sum of Progressive Scores). 3. Total Buchholz. 4. Sonneborn-Berger. 5. Buchholz Cut1.   If still tied the award will be shared.

The club welcomes Caleb Wright as its newest member

Club ratings have been updated to include Summer (1) 

The year has started with an excellent turnout for Summer (1). Four players finished on 4.5 points, with Austin declared the winner on tie break. Club Champs commence next week.

The club welcomes Ray Zhang and Terence Shi as members

The club welcomes Alexander Bourne and Bruce Wang as its newest members, and welcomes Hegan Henare back after an absence

See you in February!

The club is in recess for the Summer. Club nights will resume February 3rd. Watch this space ….

Club ratings have been updated to include Spring Blitz B and close out for the year. 

The final night blitz goes to Ethan, crosstable below

Club ratings have been updated to include Spring Blitz A. 

We will have another 6 round blitz for the final night next week. To keep numbers manageable we will limit participation to members and former members only.