Hamilton Chess Club

Just a quick note that the Waikato Open is starting tomorrow night from 7pm at St Pauls Collegiate School, Hamilton. We have over 35 already registered/paid, with a strong Open/FIDE Rated section (8 of the 16 so far with rating over 2000) and many playing in the under 1800 section.

It is not too late to register – full details of the event are here, and/or how to register.

Yes it is a 3-day event, the largest and longest time control you will find in the Waikato this year. So if you are serious about your chess, or want to grab an NZCF rating or to establish a FIDE rating, or some Grand Prix class 1 points, then get along.

Yes it’s back, and as big as ever! How big? Grand Prix Class 1 big! This is the premier Waikato chess event for 2011. The prize fund is over $1400.

So big it takes 3 days: the Waikato Open runs from 11-13 November this year, held at St Pauls Collegiate. One round Friday night, 3 rounds on Saturday and 2 rounds on Sunday. Up to 4 hours of thinking time per game, so start getting fit for a lot of sit!

The Open is divided into 2 sections: the open event is FIDE & NZCF Rated; the U1800 event is NZCF rated.  Full details are here. Note that registration and payment is required before the event. Discounts for 2 or more from the same family, and for Hamilton chess club members.

To celebrate the new Hamilton Chess Centre (within Hamilton Girls High School), this Rapid is going to be bigger than usual for us.

6 rounds of 20+5 minute rapid chess for all ages. NZCF rapid rated. And Guaranteed Prize money of $500. All the details are here. More importantly – the results are here.

And semi final number 2 of the RWC does not start until 9pm (in Auckland), so there is no excuse to not come out and enjoy some chess!

After 6 months of occupation of the Hamilton Club by the Hamilton Chess Club, and after the 100 year history of the Hamilton Club building, we have had to move due to the building being relocated (a little closer to the river).

We will start up afresh at the Hamilton Girls High School, G Block, Hill St entrance, from 4 Oct. For a map and directions, see the about page. We appreciate the offers of help we received from other schools and groups. We will try to maintain our meeting times and the chess coaching sessions as usual, but there may be some disruption as we settle in.

Well entries are pouring in for this event on this Sunday (11th, from 9am), so the entrants  should have quite a challenging day. A late fee applies from Friday, so register now and pay by direct debit to avoid disappointment! Hamilton chess club members receive a 20% discount on the entry fee – well worthwhile! All the details are here.

Edit 08/09/11:  26 online entries so far, and counting. So a bumper crowd is certain…

What is it with girls not playing chess once they reach adolescence? Chess is the only major sport where the genders encounter each other on equal terms. But many males love the challenge of chess, and they do not like to lose! So girls get this often subliminal message and back off or drop out in their early teens.

Of course, for those ladies that do stick with it, then there is a lot less competition amongst the female ranks, with many potential talented players dropping out.

I think the Hamilton Chess Club can do something about this with some positive discrimination. Either run some girls only events, or have more prizes and/or lower entry fees for females, to encourage them to hang in there with their chess. I am happy to get some feedback or other ideas on this topic.

The North Island Rapid is being organised by the Hamilton Chess Club, for the 11th Sept, so please come along and support this NZCF Nationally Rated and Think Big Stud Grand Prix level 2 event. Full details and how to register is here.

Or warm up for it with the next Hamilton Rapid (13 Aug) or the next Rookies Shield (4 Sept).

The next Hamilton Rapid (6 rounds of 20’+5″ games) will be held on the 13th August, a Saturday, which is a break from the traditional Sunday event. Full details and how to register is here. Be there from 10am please.

A change is as good as a holiday they say, so please let me know if you feel like you are on holiday now with the new web site theme. Yes, a bit edgy, a bit grungy, but hey also more readable I think… but hey I am an engineer, not an artist, so feedback is most welcome!

We had 23 keen players last Sunday, enjoying the large upstairs space. A full report is here. The last round of the Rookies for 2011 in on 4 Sept. How are your cumulative Rookies points going for 2011 ?? – see here for details.

After a few (6?) months of occupation of the Hamilton Club by the Hamilton Chess Club, and after the 100 year history of the Hamilton Club, we have had verbal notice (so far) that we will have to move out of the Hamilton Club in September (yes, this year), due to the building being relocated (a little closer to the river).

I would expect the relocation and refurbishment to take about 1 year to complete, though this is just my guess of the time frame. The large upstairs space would be demolished, not moved (sad face).

For now, nothing has changed, and events such as the Hamilton Rapids and Rookies Shield will continue as normal, up to September. But we need to find a new premise soon.

I would be happy to field any suggestions for where we could move to, that we could afford, etc. Are there any schools with a hall that is available for rent for a few hours a week (cheap cheap rates), with some tables and chairs thrown in? Please use the contact form to get in touch.

I have started a collection of upcoming events for juniors/school age chess players. As well as the Hamilton Chess Club Rookies Shield (for juniors and adult alike), there are other events in the Waikato and beyond that would appeal to different chess playing strengths, that are restricted to under 20 year olds.

See it here: https://hamiltonchess.net/events/juniors/

OK, I am not sure how this post relates to the heading, but hey you managed to read this far, right?

“Be vewwy quiet: I’m hunting wabbits.”

Come and enjoy a day of quiet wabbit and Think Big NZ Chess Grand Prix Class 3 points hunting at the Hamilton Chess Centre 21 Grantham St on Sunday 19 June. It is open season on wabbits.

7 rounds of 20’+5” chess, from 9am. Round 1 starts 9.30am. Lunch break after round 3.

Entry fees: $35 Adults, $25 juniors and Hamilton Chess Club members, payable on the day (cash/cheque only).

Prize money: Guaranteed prize pool of over $400: $125 first, $100 second, rating group prizes $50 for U1800, U1500 and ‘U1200 and under 12 years old’, $30 best unrated player. More prizes based on entry numbers.

For results, cross table and a photo, go here

The Hamilton chess club is now an incorporated society! OK, maybe this is not such thrilling news, but incorporation does mean we are able to apply for more grants that are out there in the community. And incorporation means we have some protection for the committee, and the members.