Header images Header presents collection of trees in blossom pictured on 29.04.2012 during my visit in the Botanical Garden in Powsin Warsaw (Poland).
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Statistics
Four months after official start of the World Cup 18 we have 34% completed games. See below more statistics.
==
| Total number of games: |
5058 |
| Completed games: |
1729 |
| Completed games percentage: |
34% |
| |
|
| Completed games with a draw: |
765 |
| Draw percentage: |
44% |
==
Problems
Except of few cases games run smoothly.
For several players time management is very strange part of a chess game and they are experiencing time-troubles, forfeited games on time have happened again.
Withdrawal – silent:
- Lindam, Ingo (GER) from sections 38 and 63
- Gezgin, Burzak (TUR) from section 06
- Tahaoglu, Ugur Barkın (TUR) from section 01
- Farinas Lucas, Juan Antonio (ESP) from section 27
Withdrawal – accepted:
- Proskuryakov, Mikhail Petrovich (RUS) from section 01
- In this specific situation no result has been agreed and number of moves fluctuated between 5 and 14 (average 10), so not so many and adjudication was not possible (adjudication may happen on condition that games are advanced enough – usually more than 24 moves – and some of them are completed). The only solution was to cancel games.
- Player was replaced with Kowalczyk, Ryszard (POL)
Law, Louis (USA) forfeited on time few games and doesn’t answer emails since few weeks. This is potential silent withdrawal.
Reminders
Help
Sometimes is good to read “Online help” or “Tutorial“, accessible in the main window of ICCF webserwer after clicking “Online help” (ICCF Webchess Help). Tutorial with a number of screen shots illustrates how to use the server. There are additional tutorials in other languages (Dutch, Czech, Spanish, German, French). They are out of date a bit, but still you can find useful reference there.
Games to be completed
The system allows many different ways for games to be completed. Players are encouraged to be familiar with these methods, as it may be their responsibility to take action.
The system can automatically detect certain conditions, including checkmate and stalemate. However, some situations require from a player to claim a result via the TD, for example:
- win (if, say, the opponent has exceeded the time limit or taken more than 40 days for his last move)
- draw (if, say, a threefold repetition or the 50-move rule has occurred)
The system automatically stops a game if a player exceeds the reflection time, but will not enter a result. The game needs to be claimed by the opponent, before the TD can manually enter the result. The system will not automatically stop a game if a player takes more than 40 days to respond, players need to be alert of this infraction and claim the game to the TD.
Please remember that claim a draw has to be submitted when you are on move. It is hardly understandable for some players and after rejected claim they are trying to blame server options or playing rules or TD or ICCF as a whole for their failure.
If in doubt, please communicate with the TD in good time.
Time-troubles
There are few solutions to avoid time-trouble or game forfeited on time.
- Better time management.
- Take leave. Each player has 30 day leave per calendar year. So please take it (you can see it in green in your leave calendar window) or use option for special leave – “Request special leave” under Event menu in your game window giving reasonable justification (if confirmed you can see it in red in your leave calendar window).
- Submit “Use 40+ reflection” under Game menu in your game window, if you have spare time and want to use reflection time more than 40 days.
- It is better to inform TD about your problem and that you cannot continue your games instead of being silent. You may avoid suspension from ICCF events for longer period than 6 months if accepted withdrawal (in case of not accepted withdrawal usually 1-year suspension, in case of silent withdrawal at least 2 years).
The biggest match in the world Match Witold’s Friends – Rest of the World was initiated on 08.02.2012 at 261 boards (server part at 252 boards and postal part at 9 boards).
Official start date is 01.03.2012, however most of players started their games, few of them even has been finished.
The first completed game is the game Walczak, Tomasz (POL) – Laureles, Ray (RSA) at board 178 ended on 2012-02-15 17:05 with draw 1/2-1/2.
We have 6 completed games up to now!
The Federal Cross of Merit (Bundesverdienstkreuz) of the Federal Republic of Germany has been bestowed upon Dr. Fritz Baumbach to honour his lifetime achievements. As a player as well as an official, Dr. Baumbach proved to be an outstanding personality. This distinction was conferred upon the proposition of the German Correspondence Chess Federation (BdF).
It is impossible to enumerate all his achievements. Some of them are the following:
- Fritz Baumbach became a grandmaster of correspondence chess in 1973. In 1988, Fritz Baumbach achieved the gold medal as Correspondence Chess World Champion no. 11. Before that, Baumbach already became Vice World Champion no. 9 in 1983.
- The success of the German Olympic Team is also very closely related with Fritz Baumbach. His latest success occurred in the final of the 13th Olympiads in which Germany became the Olympic Champion. Fritz Baumbach performed strongly and finished first at board no. 1.
- Fritz Baumbach and the German team won the Olympic Championship already twice.
- Fritz Baumbach became well known to the general public in Germany in the year 1995, when the team of the former German Democratic Republic achieved a bronze medal in the Final of the 10th Olympiads – more 4 years after the German reunification! The other medallist teams (Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia) did not exist any more, either.
- 18 years –from 1993 – 2010- Dr. Fritz Baumbach was National Delegate to ICCF and President of the German Correspondence Chess Federation BdF. Moreover from 1995 – 1999 he was General Secretary of ICCF. During his tenure as President BdF emerged as a modern sports organization.
- Fritz Baumbach is the author of several books about correspondence chess, chess, and numerous chess articles in chess magazines and newspapers.
- Fritz Baumbach also provided excellent results in over-the-board chess and Fritz has celebrated many tournament victories. In the German Democratic Republic, Fritz was a top player. In 1970, Fritz Baumbach won the Chess Championships of the GDR and he played in the OTB Olympic Chess Team.
- Dr. Fritz Baumbach is Honorary Member of ICCF and of the German Correspondence Chess Federation BdF.
BdF, Dr. Uwe Staroske, 22. February 2012
Three players gained lately GM norms:
- Zbigniew Szczepański (POL) on 09.01.2012 in Andrej Šuštaršic Memorial, this is his 3rd GM norm;
- René-Reiner Starke (GER) on 11.02.2012 in Romanian Chess Federation 85 Years, this is his 1st GM norm;
- Ron Langeveld (NED) on 12.02.2012 in World Championship 26 Final, where he is leading now (9,5+2) and World Champion title is very close; this is his 6th GM norm.
Congratulations!
Short biographical notes and statistics for MT-Bielecki participants have been updated accordingly.
Biographies
| Short biographical notes of participants |
click here (kliknij tutaj) |
updated (zaktualizowano) 19.02.2012 |
| Krótkie notki biograficzne uczestników |
Statistics
| Some statistics for MT-Bielecki participants |
click here (kliknij tutaj) |
updated (zaktualizowano) 19.02.2012 |
| Wybrane statystyki uczestników Memoriału Bieleckiego |
Polish CC Federation organized Witold Bielecki Memorial, Top players section at category 16 (average rating 2639,15) with 13 top players. Bravo section at category 12 with 13 players (see list below) initiated today supplements it. This is server event with rate of play 10 moves in 50 days (with duplication after 20 days is used). The tournament will start on 01.03.2012 with no end date.
International arbiter (IA) Hans-Jürgen Isigkeit from Germany kindly agreed to direct this event.
List of participants (in alphabetical order):
- 169212 SIM Bescós Anzano, Manuel Jesús 2540 ESP
- 940618 GM Bubir, Alex Nikolaevich 2555 UKR
- 141674 SIM Galanov, Sergey Igorevich 2519 RUS
- 360341 GM Haugen, Arild 2545 NOR
- 81305 GM Kögler, Klaus 2524 GER
- 141530 SIM Nekhaev, Andrey Ivanovich 2564 RUS
- 380073 GM Noble, Mark F. 2560 NZL
- 420957 SIM Pierzak, Rafael 2496 POL
- 421337 SIM Sądowski, Marek 2501 POL
- 421145 SIM Schön, Antoni 2479 POL
- 440355 SIM Sferle, Miron 2528 ROU
- 420947 SIM Staniszewski, Jerzy 2500 POL
- 130999 GM Straka, Zdeněk 2544 CZE
Match Witold’s Friends – Rest of the World was initiated on 08.02.2012 at 261 boards: server part at 252 boards and postal part at 9 boards. Official start date is 01.03.2012. Please read an introductory letter below.
=======
06.02.2012
Friendly Match Witold’s Friends – Rest of the World
Start date: 01.03.2012
Dear Chessfriends,
Welcome to the Match Witold’s Friends – Rest of the World!
The Polish Correspondence Chess Federation, with support of ICCF, is the organizer of the friendly match Witold’s Friends – Rest of the World, in tribute to Witold Bielecki (1947-2008) – former president of the Polish Correspondence Chess Federation and Polish delegate to ICCF.
This match is organized in a standard format with one opponent for each player and two games to play (one game with white and one game with black) and will be played on the ICCF webserver with a rate of play of 10 moves in 50 days (with duplication after 20 days) or by post with a rate of play of 10 moves in 30 days (with duplication after 20 days). The event will be rated.
For news on the match please look at a special webpage (http://kszgk.com/bielecki/?page_id=36).
All ICCF Rules, valid for this friendly match as well, are placed at http://kszgk.com/bielecki/?page_id=342.
After verification, there are 523 qualified entries from 511 players from 54 countries, including 93 entries from titled players (15xGM, 43xSIM, 33xIM, 1xLGM, 1xILM), with the highest rating 2579. World Champion Dr. Fritz Baumbach has favoured us as well, in addition twice: by server and by post!
Those countries with 20 or more entries are: Poland 65, Spain 36, Germany 35, USA 34, Brazil 32, Czech Republic 32, Russia 26, England 24, Romania 20.
Please receive my heartiest congratulations for your so broad participation in that event!
One entry was removed to have even number of players. Players were distributed to 252 server boards and 9 postal boards.
Division for two teams Witold’s Friends and Rest of the World is very conventional and artificial. It is rather one team of friends who want to honour the memory of Witold Bielecki. That is why I am Team Captain for both teams and TD at the same time. In more complicated cases I hope to receive support from two international arbiters – Józef Lubas from Poland and Michael Millstone from USA.
Several players are new for ICCF and are playing for the first time. Please be patient and give them necessary attention.
Please remember the ICCF motto ‘Amici sumus!’, meaning ‘We are friends!’. When all participants keep this in mind, we are sure you will enjoy your games. Good luck!
Amici sumus
Mariusz Wojnar
Match Organizer
=======
Registration was closed on 01.02.2012.
Status of the entries as of (Stan zgłoszeń na dzień) 05.02.2012
- Report #8, Entry list verified (Lista zgłoszeń zweryfikowana), 05.02.2012
- Summary (Podsumowanie):
- entries (zgłoszeń) = 523
- countries (krajów) = 54
- players (zawodników) = 511
- from World Champions (od Mistrzów Świata) = 2
- from titled players (od utytułowanych zawodników) = 93
- highest rating (najwyższy ranking) = 2579
Those countries with 20 or more entries are:
-
- Spain 36
- Germany 35
- USA 34
- Brazil 32
-
Czech Republic 32
- Russia 26
-
England 24
- Romania 20
Thank you very much for so huge participation!
Entries were verified and list presented above is basis for pairings on 05.02.2012.
Match will be initiated soon. Official start date is 01.03.2012 with no end date.
Amici sumus
Mariusz Wojnar
Match Organizer
===
PS. See report at ICCF webserver as well.
The Polish Chess Federation, with support of ICCF, is the organizer of the friendly match Witold’s Friends – Rest of the World.
This match is organized in a standard format with one opponent for each player and two games to play (one game with white and one game with black) and will be played on the ICCF webserver with a rate of play of 10 moves in 50 days or by post with a rate of play of 10 moves in 30 days. The event will be rated.
Registration was closed on 01.02.2012.
Status of the entries as of (Stan zgłoszeń na dzień) 02.02.2012
- Report #7, Entry list (Lista zgłoszeń), 02.02.2012
- Summary (Podsumowanie):
- entries (zgłoszeń) = 492
- countries (krajów) = 54
- players (zawodników) = 480
- from World Champions (od Mistrzów Świata) = 2
- from titled players (od utytułowanych zawodników) = 88
- highest rating (najwyższy ranking) = 2579
Those countries with 20 or more entries are:
-
- Spain 36
- Germany 35
- USA 34
-
Czech Republic 32
-
Russia 26
-
England 24
- Romania 20
Thank you very much for so huge participation!
Entry list presented above is assumed to be valid. However national delegates (or responsible national representatives) and/or entrants are asked to verify it and report immediately any inconsistency to match organizer, but not later than 04.02.2012, because pairings will start on 05.02.2012.
Match will start on 01.03.2012 with no end date.
Amici sumus
Mariusz Wojnar
Match Organizer
===
PS. See report at ICCF webserver as well.
The Polish Chess Federation, with support of ICCF, is the organizer of the friendly match Witold’s Friends – Rest of the World.
This match is organized in a standard format with one opponent for each player and two games to play (one game with white and one game with black) and will be played on the ICCF webserver with a rate of play of 10 moves in 50 days or by post with a rate of play of 10 moves in 30 days. The event will be rated.
Match will start on 01.03.2012 with no end date.
Registration will close on 01.02.2012 to allow for pairings.
All players are invited to apply. Players may enter in the usual way through their National Federations (NF) or, where eligible, directly to the match organizer. Entry is free of charge.
After creating possibility to register through ICCF webserver (see New Events) number of entries increased significantly. That’s great!
Several players entered few months ago and it is important for match organizer to be sure that their entries are still valid. National delegates (or responsible national representatives) and/or entrants are asked to verify list presented below and report immediately any inconsistency to match organizer.
===
Status of the entries as of (Stan zgłoszeń na dzień) 25.01.2012
- Report #6, Entry list (Lista zgłoszeń), 25.01.2012
- Summary (Podsumowanie):
- entries (zgłoszeń) = 434
- countries (krajów) = 54
- players (zawodników) = 425
- from World Champions (od Mistrzów Świata) = 2
- from titled players (od utytułowanych zawodników) = 82
- highest rating (najwyższy ranking) = 2579
Those countries with 10 or more entries are:
-
- USA 33
-
Czech Republic 32
-
Germany 32
-
Spain 28
- England 22
- Russia 22
- Romania 19
- Ukraine 15
- Lithuania 10
- Italy 10
In gratitude for Witold’s effort let us participate in this friendly match!
Amici sumus
Mariusz Wojnar
Match Organizer
===
PS. See report at ICCF webserver as well.
In addition to last information from 02.01.2012 one player was substituted, namely GM (OTB) Raj Tischbierek (GER) was substituted by GM Leonardo Ljubičić from Croatia. Witold Bielecki Memorial Top players section still remains category 16 (average rating 2638,46).
Short biographical notes and some statistics for MT-Bielecki participants were updated accordingly.
=============
List of participants (Lista uczestników):
| N |
Title |
Name, First Name |
Nat |
Rating 2012/1 |
| 1 |
GM |
Papenin, Nikolai |
UKR |
2729 |
| 2 |
GM |
Langeveld, Ron A. H. |
NED |
2681 |
| 3 |
GM |
Voss, Maximilian |
GER |
2657 |
| 4 |
GM |
Wunderlich, Dr. Hans-Dieter |
GER |
2655 |
| 5 |
GM |
Lafarga Santorromán, David |
ESP |
2643 |
| 6 |
GM |
Nickel, Arno |
GER |
2643 |
| 7 |
GM |
Hall, Richard V. M. |
ENG |
2640 |
| 8 |
GM |
Ljubičić, Ing. Leonardo |
CRO |
2639 |
| 9 |
GM |
Hoeven, David A. van der |
NED |
2629 |
| 10 |
SIM |
Starke, Dr. René-Reiner |
GER |
2620 |
| 11 |
GM |
Busemann, Dr. Stephan |
GER |
2606 |
| 12 |
SIM |
Wilczek, Tadeusz |
POL |
2597 |
| 13 |
GM |
Szczepański, Zbigniew |
POL |
2561 |
Average rating (Średni ranking): 2638 => 16 cat
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