{"id":2921,"date":"2011-12-21T16:47:40","date_gmt":"2011-12-21T15:47:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kszgk.com\/iccf\/?page_id=2921"},"modified":"2012-07-28T08:34:58","modified_gmt":"2012-07-28T06:34:58","slug":"france","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/kszgk.com\/iccf\/?page_id=2921","title":{"rendered":"France"},"content":{"rendered":"

Name of federation<\/strong>: Association des Joueurs d\u2019Echecs par Correspondance (AJEC)<\/p>\n

Year of foundation<\/strong>: 1937<\/p>\n

ICCF Delegate & E-mail contact<\/strong><\/strong>: Eric Ruch (eric.ruch@iccf.com<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Website<\/strong>: http:\/\/ajec-echecs.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Article provided<\/strong> by<\/strong>: Marc Maumey, updated by \u00a0Pierre Ruiz Vidal and Eric Ruch<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The game of correspondence chess in France from its origin to our days<\/strong><\/p>\n

It was the famous \u201cCaf\u00e9 de la R\u00e9gence\u201d in Paris which was at the origin of correspondence chess games. These games were first played between cities or French or foreign chess clubs. A first match was played between Paris and London 1834-36, followed by another between Valenciennes and Douai in 1837 and the match between Paris and Pest in 1842-45.<\/p>\n

With the creation of the post service and stamps in 1848, the game of correspondence chess developed rapidly.<\/p>\n

In 1882, the newspaper \u201cLa Strat\u00e9gie\u201d organised the first national tournament with only 6 players. But in 1884, the same newspaper organised with great success the first international tournament with 11 players, and in 1887 a second national tournament with 18 players from all over the country, which can be considered as the first national French championship.<\/p>\n

In 1888, \u201cLe Monde Illustr\u00e9\u201d organised the first individual international tournament with 25 players, among which were 15 French players, and this tournament was won by Balschoff from Paris. The telegraph opened a new area and a first match between Paris and St. Petersburg by telegraph was organised in 1894.<\/p>\n

Until 1920 Correspondence Chess tournaments were mainly organized by individual persons and by chess magazines like “La Strat\u00e9gie” or “L\u2019\u00c9chiquier de France” and newspapers like “Le Monde Illustr\u00e9”. From 1919 on, Georges Renaud and Gaston Legrain get the best French players together and organised the first international teams matches, against England (1919) and Spain (1920), then against Italy (1925) and Germany (1929).<\/p>\n

A Correspondence Chess branch was immediately created by the F\u00e9d\u00e9ration Fran\u00e7aise des \u00c9checs (FFE), founded on 22nd May 1921 by Henri Delaire. Moreover the Bulletin f\u00e9d\u00e9ral n\u00b01, published in December 1921, dedicated one from its height pages to the correspondence chess regulations. In 1926 Gaston Legrain organised the first French Championship, whose final was won by Am\u00e9d\u00e9e Gibaud in 1931. Various regional events took place without a break.<\/p>\n

In 1935 France took part in the first correspondence chess Olympiad organised by the Internationaler Fernschachbund (IFSB) created in 1928, with sixteenth other nations. France finished at the third place.<\/p>\n

In November 1938, at the instigation of Dr. Pierre Bos, France set up its first dedicated organisation for Correspondence Chess, with the creation of the Association Fran\u00e7aise des joueurs d\u2019\u00c9checs par Correspondance (AFEC) with about thirty members. Pierre Biscay, FFE President at that time, was alo the AFEC president. Success was such that the number of members grew up quickly (70 in 1939) and the first regional tournaments appeared. The first one was organised by the Bourgogne and Franche-Comt\u00e9. Unfortunately as soon as the organisation phase was over \u2013 and in spite of some tournaments played from 1939 to 1945 thanks to Gaston Legrain \u2013 the AFEC activity was stopped by the World War II.<\/p>\n

In 1945, Gaston Legrain, correspondence chess tournaments\u2019 head for twenty year, decided to retire. Gaston Balbo (international tournaments\u2019 head) took over with a pioneer staff: Pierre Bos (international referee), Jules Delannoy (treasurer), Robert Sutra (chef redactor of the Courrier des \u00c9checs), No\u00ebl-Maurice Boulle (tournaments\u2019 head) and Isidore Bernstein (secretary). Correspondence chess makes a fresh start and the association takes in 1946 a new name, Association des Joueurs d\u2019\u00c9checs par Correspondance (AJEC), under the presidency of Georges Renaud. The membership of 125 new members is to be noted.<\/p>\n

The AJEC takes part, as founder member, in the creation of the International Correspondence Chess Association (ICCA) which did replace the IFSB.<\/p>\n

In January 1947, at the instigation of Gaston Balbo, the Courrier des \u00c9checs n\u00b01 was published. Robert Sutra was in charge of the redaction of the journal.<\/p>\n

As the French Championship becomes annual, in 1949 the Coupe de France was created the Coupe de France, and Dr. Bos was the first winner.<\/p>\n

Internationally, France was present in all the high level events, such as the first individual World Championship, with 6 players. Adolphe Viaud, winner in his preliminary section, was qualified for the Final won by the Australian Cecil John Seddon Purdy.<\/p>\n

In 1951, with the assistance of the AJEC, the ICCA became the International Correspondence Chess Federation (ICCF) and Gaston Balbo was the first delegate representing France.<\/p>\n

The AJEC, with a total of some 700 members in 1954, needs to rank the players for a better management of the tournaments. In 1956, a first system was created by Claude Broutin and the players were divided in five categories.<\/p>\n

In 1959, thanks to his exceptional performances, Dr. Volf Bergraser became the first International Master. There were then more of 900 members of the AJEC.<\/p>\n

In 1961, with the success of the regional tournaments, the management committee does organise the first interleague cup, with teams of 5 players.<\/p>\n

In 1963, AJEC was 18 years old and the 100th issue of the Courrier des \u00c9checs was published.<\/p>\n

But the leaders were getting older and, after Gaston Legrain\u2019s (1951) and Isidore Bernstein\u2019s death (1952), several other deceases were to deplore: Jules Delannoy (1963), No\u00ebl-Maurice Boulle and Henri \u00c9vrard (1964); furthermore Robert Sutra had to retire due to health reasons. AJEC would have never been what it is today without the fifteen years of dedicated work of these pioneers, but the first difficulties do appear to find their replacement.<\/p>\n

A new team was set up, presided by Fernand Supper (International Tournaments), assisted by Gaston Balbo, J. Girard (secretary), F. Ma\u00eetre (treasurer), Fernand Weyand (Tournaments\u2019 head), Roland Jouanisson (rating) and Sylvain Zinser (redaction of the Courrier des \u00c9checs).<\/p>\n

1966 initiated the recovery with the accession to the directory board of Jacques Jaudran and Francis Alozy. To pay tribute to its past leaders, AJEC organised a great inter cities teams\u2019 tournament: the \u00c9vrard-Delannoy Cup. This cup was played by 200 six players\u2019 teams from 19 different countries: 20 teams from France, 28 from the USSR and 50 teams from the DDR! With more than 1200 players, it was the largest tournament at that time.<\/p>\n

In 1967, the Courrier des \u00c9checs became monthly, the number of players increased (turning 1000 adherents in 1968, 1200 in 1969), but charges increased too and a new organisation was needed.<\/p>\n

In 1970, as Fernand Supper was elected as FFE president, Jacques Jaudran became the president of the AJEC. The directory board was now made up of 12 members with one person in charge for each type of tournaments.<\/p>\n

In 1972 a great tournament commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Courrier des \u00c9checs was organised.<\/p>\n

In 1973 a new rating system, created by Pierre Bridier, was selected. More practical and more accurate, it did not have a unanimous support however, because \u2013 for example \u2013 it did not take the draws into account, which stimulate a lot of impassioned debates!<\/p>\n

In 1974, the FIDE, founded in Paris in 1924, turned 50 and to celebrate this event, the XXIst Chess-Olympiad was organised in Nice, where the Presidium of the ICCF met at the same time.<\/p>\n

The number of players of the AJEC was steadily growing up: 1500 in 1974, 1700 in 1975, and French players were present in ever larger numbers in international tournaments.<\/p>\n

A first Women French Championship was started with 12 players, followed by a French Championship for young players..<\/p>\n

In 1977 Jaudran retired from the presidency to devote himself to the Courrier des \u00c9checs, and he was replaced by Pierre Couet. There were then 2100 AJEC\u2019s members!<\/p>\n

The first \u00ab Grand Prix de France d\u2019\u00c9checs \u00bb attracted more then 500 participants.<\/p>\n

In 1979, in association with Europe \u00c9checs, AJEC organises the \u201cTournoi du XXe Anniversaire d\u2019Europe \u00c9checs\u201d: four ICCF Grand Masters and six International Masters took part to the event; five players represented AJEC, including Dr. Bergraser who win the title of Grand Master!<\/p>\n

Andr\u00e9 Giraudet was elected to the ICCF\u2019s Vice-Presidency.<\/p>\n

In 1981, Richard Goldenberg, who was qualified to the final of the XIIIth World Championship, replaced Sylvain Zinser at the redaction of the Courrier des \u00c9checs.<\/p>\n

In 1983 Pierre Couet was replaced by Andr\u00e9 Giraudet at the presidency of the association.<\/p>\n

In 1984, in association with Europe \u00c9checs and the \u00c9chiquier belge, AJEC organised the Memorial O\u2019Kelly which attracted 260 players in an open tournament and 17 titled in two tournaments: a \u201cGrand Master\u201d Tournament with 6 french players and a \u201cMaster\u201d Tournament in which France was represented by 4 players.<\/p>\n

Jacques Bodis was appointed to represent the ICCF at UNESCO and in 1985 he became international arbiter, meanwhile Giraudet and Balbo were both awarded by a Bertl von Massow medal: a golden one for Giraudet and a silver one for Balbo, meritorious work for the ICCF.<\/p>\n

French players did well in all competitions (Latin Cup Europe-America, North Atlantic Cup, and World Championship) and achieved norms and MI-ICCF titles, while 3 women players took part to the Vth Women World Championship.<\/p>\n

In spite of the lost of several great leaders and a slow decreasing number of members, the traditional competitions go ahead. Moreover, AJEC was about to be 50 years old and to celebrate this, the \u201cTournoi du Cinquantenaire\u201d was launched in 1987 with 326 participants.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

In the recently created rating Elo-ICCF, Goldenberg ranks 17th, Lecroq 22nd, and by the Women Claire Martel and Marthe Raimondi are amongst the 70 best of the world!<\/p>\n

In 1989, while Ren\u00e9 Sala\u00fcn was elected to the presidency of the association, the Memorial Bergraser was played 189 players from all levels and 17 guest players (8 GMI and 5 MI-ICCF) in a norms tournament: 3 French players took part to the event.<\/p>\n

In the 1990\u2019s a new players\u2019 generation showed its ambition and won a number of MI-ICCF titles in all high level international tournaments (Latin Cup, Latin Europe-America Cup, North-Atlantic Cup, Europe Teams Championship, feminine and masculine Olympiads, etc.).<\/p>\n

In addition to the usual national Tournaments, the international competitions attracted more and more players: 18 international teams matches tool place simultaneously on 700 chess-boards, with more of hundred players.<\/p>\n

In 1997, after 30 years serving AJEC, Jacques Jaudran retired. Pierre Ruiz-Vidal took over the Courrier des \u00c9checs, the review was 50 old. To celebrate this Jubilee a \u201cGrand Prix du Cinquanti\u00e8me Anniversaire du Courrier des \u00c9checs \u00bb was launched.<\/p>\n

In 1998 the first Mare Nostrum tournament was created, with teams from all Mediterranean countries. This project was dear to Andr\u00e9 Giraudet, who initiated it. There were since these date three other editions.<\/p>\n

France was present in all high level competitions; five French players taking part in the XXIIIrd World championship\u2019s semi-finals. Christophe L\u00e9otard (three times French Champion) and Michel Lecroq (third in the 14th World Championship\u2019s final) are amongst the best players in the world and obtain quickly the GMI title, as Volf Bergraser did.<\/p>\n

L\u00e9otard obtained even the supreme title of Correspondence Chess World Champion (the first for AJEC), winning the 19th final in 2006.<\/p>\n

The game did change. Computers developments and new ways to communicate transformed correspondence chess deeply. Even though some players are still using post, tournaments were played by e-mail and then on the web-server. Games are shorter, strategy changes because of the help of engines which may produce deep positions\u2019 analyses. Correspondence chess player\u2019s profile changes too. AJEC, like all the other European federations, was looking for a new type of competitors. All these changes caused impassionate debates and resulted in the election to the presidency of Olivier Coclet in Aubusson (2001).<\/p>\n

A lot of reforms were realised under his presidency, especially the replacement of the Bridier rating system to by Elo system, more modern and unquestionable reference in the Chess World.<\/p>\n

In 2001 too, thanks to the remarkable work of Olivier Bouverot, AJEC launched a new official website, replacing the first one which was created a few years ago by Frank Geider.<\/p>\n

In spite of a significant decrease in the number of members in the 2000\u2019s, AJEC stays very active in the correspondence chess world and is well represented in the highest level of the ICCF: Franck Geider, tournaments head, Jean-Christophe Chazalette, Direct Entries head (he was elected services director in 2011), Laurent Tinture (archive).<\/p>\n

In 2009 \u00c9ric Ruch replaced Mohammed Samraoui as the ICCF President.<\/p>\n

The 600th issue of the Courrier des \u00c9checs was published in 2011. The review is now one the rare publications dedicated to the correspondence game. Since 2006 it is bimonthly.<\/p>\n

In 2004 France won the NATT V (North Atlantic Team Tournament) launched in 2001. Team composition: \u00c9ric Ruch, Philippe Tombette, Alain Rogemont, Jean De Lagontrie, Michel Pellisseri, Gilles Guidici, Jean-Michel Dijon, Laurent Tinture, Maurice Muneret, Olivier Coclet.<\/p>\n

In 2004 too the AJEC set up new statutes and modifies its electoral system. All the directory board is now elected for four years. Next elections will take place in 2013.<\/p>\n

Several commemorative tournaments were organised in 2007 for the 70 years of the AJEC. Final of this Open is still in progress<\/p>\n

Since 2007 a PDF version of the Courrier des \u00c9checs is on line to download.<\/p>\n

Since 2006 AJEC is presided by GMI Michel Lecroq. The internet web site was in 2011 completely changed (www.ajec-echecs.org<\/a>) and has an open game space available to any internet user. The webmaster is Jocelyn Ferdinand.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Eric Ruch<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Games<\/p>\n

Spitz, Patrick – Rause, Olita [0,5:0,5 ], WC 18 final (2003-2005), [Comments by Patrick Spitz]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\n

Name of federation: Association des Joueurs d\u2019Echecs par Correspondance (AJEC)<\/p>\n

Year of foundation: 1937<\/p>\n

ICCF Delegate & E-mail contact: Eric Ruch (eric.ruch@iccf.com)<\/p>\n

Website: http:\/\/ajec-echecs.org\/<\/p>\n

Article provided by: Marc Maumey, updated by Pierre Ruiz Vidal and Eric Ruch<\/p>\n

The game of correspondence chess in France from its origin to our days<\/p>\n

It was the famous […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":704,"menu_order":11,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kszgk.com\/iccf\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2921"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kszgk.com\/iccf\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kszgk.com\/iccf\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kszgk.com\/iccf\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kszgk.com\/iccf\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2921"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/kszgk.com\/iccf\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2921\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3669,"href":"https:\/\/kszgk.com\/iccf\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2921\/revisions\/3669"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kszgk.com\/iccf\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/704"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kszgk.com\/iccf\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2921"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}