by Mariusz Wojnar (POL)
Below there is a portion of exciting statistics related to the top ICCF tournaments.
Producing Top ICCF Tournaments list I assumed that tournaments should have at least category 15 (Rav≥2601). From historical point of view it is interesting to know that NPSF-50 (Norwegian Postal Chess Federation 50th Jubilee) was the first tournament in history to reach category 15 strength!
Two events, organized in the frame of ICCF 50 Jubilee (the first one for world champions and the second one for elite) are much more “weaker” than organized by Dutch Federation The Milennium Email Chess Tournament. That last exceptionally strong tournament at category 19 is almost impossible to beat.
Top ICCF tournaments list (updated 2015-04-09):
| N | Cat | R average | Period | Event | TO | TD | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 | 2707,50 | 1999-2002 | The Milennium Email Chess Tournament (NED) | NED | Riet, A.A. (Nol) van ‘t | Elwert, Hans-Marcus (GER) |
| 2 | 17 | 2674,75 | 2002-2004 | ICCF 50-y Jubilee Elite Grandmasters Tournament – 50JEGMT | ICCF | Riet, A.A. (Nol) van ‘t | Elwert, Hans-Marcus (GER) and Oosterom, Joop J. van (NED) |
| 3 | 16 | 2638,46 | 2012-2015 | Witold Bielecki Memorial/ Top players (POL) | POL | Flores Gutiérrez, Carlos/Wojnar, Mariusz | Busemann, Dr. Stephan (GER) & Hoeven, David A. van der (NED) |
| 4 | 16 | 2632,82 | 2008-2010 | Hermann Heemsoth Memorial (GER) | GER | Flores Gutiérrez, Carlos | Chytilek, Roman (CZE) |
| 5 | 16 | 2626,50 | 1999-2002 | CAPA 10 Years Jubilee (ARG) | ARG | Esses, Marcelo Jorge | Rause, Mrs. Olita (LAT) |
| 6 | 15 | 2619,56 | 2001-2004 | ICCF 50-y World Champions Jubilee Tournament – 50WCJT | ICCF | Riet, A.A. (Nol) van ‘t | Umansky, Mikhail (RUS) |
| 7 | 15 | 2616,53 | 1996-2002 | Hans-Werner Von Massow Memorial | GER | Berthelsen, Roald | Anton, Volker-Michael (GER) |
| 8 | 15 | 2615,31 | 2009-2012 | ICCF Olympiad 17 Final board 1 | ICCF | Flores Gutiérrez, Carlos | Lafarga Santorromán, David (ESP) |
| 9 | 15 | 2614,13 | 2003-2005 | World Championship 18 Final | ICCF | Bielecki, Witold | Oosterom, Joop J. van (NED) |
| 10 | 15 | 2611,46 | 2007-2009 | Simon Webb Memorial (ENG) | ENG | Söderberg, Per | Nickel, Arno (GER) |
| 11 | 15 | 2607,20 | 2010-2013 | José Antonio Barrios Memorial – A (ESP) | ESP | Hernáez Fernández, Cecilio | Hoeven, David A. van der (NED) |
| 12 | 15 | 2606,69 | 2004-2007 | World Championship 19 Final | ICCF | Brooks, Dr. Ian S. | Léotard, Christophe (FRA) |
| 13 | 15 | 2606,23 | 2007-2011 | Alfonsino Lannaioli Memorial (ITA) | ITA | Ruch, Eric | Tocháček, Michal (CZE) |
| 14 | 15 | 2606,00 | 2011-2014 | 10 Jahre Schachschule Pirs in Deutschland Gruppe A (GER) | GER | Korže, Dr. Danilo | Fleetwood, Daniel M. (USA) |
| 15 | 15 | 2604,07 | 1995-1998 | NPSF-50 (Norwegian Postal Chess Federation 50th Jubilee) – the first tournament in history to reach Category 15 strength! | NOR | Berthelsen, Roald | Andersson, Ulf (SWE) |
| 16 | 15 | 2602,80 | 2002-2004 | Interzonal Team Tournament 2002 board 1 | ICCF | Flores Gutiérrez, Carlos | Balabaev, Farid (KAZ) |
| 17 | 15 | 2601,14 | 2006-2009 | ICCF Olympiad 15 Final board 1 | ICCF | Hegoburu, Pedro Federico | Bern, Ivar (NOR) |
It is not ruled out, that somebody can find an event at category 15 or higher.