Our club activity is currently paused until we have a clear update on vaccination/Covid policies. Thanks for your understanding. Please check our website and follow us on Facebook to stay updated!
Some other clubs might have resumed though, so if you’re keen on finding a club in the meantime, please visit the NZCF chess club list.
In light of the evolving Covid-19 situation, we have not yet decided when the Auckland Chess Centre will re-open in 2022 or what measures will be in place.
However, at minimum, access to the Centre (grounds and building) for those aged 12+ will be restricted to those with vaccine passports. This applies to all people visiting the Centre, not just players.
Those aged 5-11 will also be required to be double-vaccinated as soon as possible. Details are still being worked out on how they can visit ACC.
Those aged +12 who are not double-vaccinated should do so as soon as possible if they wish to visit the Auckland Chess Centre in 2022. Thanks!
Merry Christmas to all and happy new year 2022!
P.S.: Online chess games are available in the Lichess teams https://lichess.org/team/new-zealand-chess-federation and https://lichess.org/team/auckland-chess, so please consider joining them. We’ve been running regular Monday night arenas of rapid chess 10+5 for several months now.
A series of tournaments will be run in Christchurch from January 2 to 12, 2022. With the new changes in the Covid restrictions, everybody can travel to this tournament if they’re CVC-compliant. More details from the organisers:
Kia ora chess clubs and chess players,
Please find attached the updated form-fillable PDF entry form/information sheet for the 129th New Zealand Congress to reflect additional Covid tournament regulations and late entry fees have been adjusted (late entry fees will only apply to entries received and paid on or after 20 December). Of particular note is that Congress and the banquet will be run under CVC compliance i.e. vaccine passes are required for all attendees including players, spectators, arbiters and officials unless a legal exemption applies (under 12 years 3 months of age, or approved exemption from the Ministry of Health – a recent negative Covid test is not sufficient).
Canterbury Chess Club and NZCF acknowledge and thank our supporters and sponsors: Respectrum Insurance (specialists in business insurance), Nail Perfect NZ (wholesale beauty supplies), Chessventures (chess coaching, tournament, equipment and books), Kiwi Gaming Foundation, Christchurch City Council and the Racecourse Hotel and Motor Lodge (the hotel directly across the road).
We have negotiated a cheap rate of $120/night from the Racecourse Hotel and Motor Lodge – players should contact them via their website at https://racecoursehotel.co.nz/ and advise that they are attending the chess tournament. Note the while previously this was advertised as a popular time of year for the hotel, the Racecourse Hotel has seen a lot of Covid disruption (like many other hotels), so they ask that when players book, they indicate potential restaurant reservations if possible to help planning of staffing and supplies.
The form can also be downloaded from the NZCF calendar page – www.newzealandchess.co.nz and the calendar link is to the left (Vega links with up-to-date entries are also there for viewing). Other accommodation options are also linked on the Canterbury Chess Club website – www.chess.org.nz/congress .
All events are NZCF and FIDE-rated where possible, with standard NZ classical, rapid and lightning time controls, and master points and serious chess are both available.
Congress will be held at Riccarton Park (www.riccartonpark.nz), 165 Riccarton Racecourse Road, Sockburn, Christchurch, and the events and dates will be:
The prize fund is still $10,000 and the highest-placed NZ players in the official NZCF tournaments are eligible for NZ titles, including the NZ Champion, NZ Major Open Champion, NZ Junior and Age Group Champions, NZ Rapid Champion and NZ Lightning Champion.
If you could bring this to your members’ attention, that would be gratefully appreciated.
All the best,
Craig Hall
Canterbury Chess Club Secretary
Attachment: https://www.aucklandchess.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Congress2022EntryForm-Fillable-Revised-For-Covid.pdf
Next week’s schedule:
Monday, rapid 10+5, 7:30-9:30 pm, lichess.org/tournament/Gex1eO3a
Friday, blitz 3+2, 7:30-9:30 pm, lichess.org/tournament/AM5WbkwI
Friday, bullet 1+0, 9:30-10:30 pm, lichess.org/tournament/Xhwywufm
You can join the arena in advance, then come and play any time between the given times.
Congress 2022 is coming, please register via newzealandchess.co.nz, check the Calendar page for all necessary information.
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)
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/