Nine participants, all in good yuletide cheer, are competing this weekend for a Sovereign Hill Hamper and a half dozen local reds.
Nigel Barrow; overall winner, Rob Bailey reserves winner.
Due to the great success of this inaugural tournament, we will be keeping it as a regular part of our yearly programme.

The ACF December ratings have been updated for members.
Patrick now moves back to top seed amongst active club members. more...

The 2008 John Holmes Memorial is now over with a close win by Sharjeel Ansari. It was nearly a four way tie for first place but Sharjeel managed to salvage a losing position in his final game with Tim Commons, gaining the 1/2 point needed to put him ahead of the pack! more...

The 2008 John Holmes Memorial tournament has attracted 8 players. The field includes top seed Jamie Brotheridge and the 2008 Club Champion Patrick Cook. As per usual the tournament is a 7-Round Swiss with standard time controls of 90/40 -30/20. Who do you think will win? more....

Jamie won 6 out of 7 games to clinch the top place in the evening round robin event beaten only by Tim Commons which was a surprise. Patrick Cook gained revenge on Tim for the previous week by defeating him and denying him equal first place with Jamie. This was a good, well contested tournament.

Congratulations Jamie.

Patrick Cook is the 2008 club champion... Congratulations on your 7th occasion as title holder! As for the rest of us, well there's always next year!

The Annual General Meeting will be held on 14th of August. The main item on the agenda will be a proposed move of venue to the library. Come and have your say about that and other matters. Casual lightning play will follow.

Patrick won the first game with white, and then Rob won with white, as well. Still in the air! games database

The first game of two will be Patrick Cook vs Rob Loveband, tied at 71/2 points each, on Sunday.

Some new photos of the 2008 Begonia tournament Photos

Members ratings have been updated on the Members page, or you can view all current ratings on the ACF site. Congratulations to Jamie Brotheridge whose rating has jumped 89 points due to an excellent performance at the Ballarat Begonia! ratings, ACF

Due to an unexpected late entry, the Ballarat Chess Club Annual Club Championship was delayed for one week but begins on the 8th with 11 participants, 11 rounds, and with Scott Stewart as top seed. Games , Crosstable

Last chance for some light-hearted yet deadly earnest skittles on the chessboard; 5 minute Swiss for blitz die-hards. Anything can happen in a 5 minute game; all welcome!

The thematic is to be played over 3 weeks, 2 rounds per night.
Here are the openings and pre-set moves:
03/4/08 Week 1
Round 1. Queen's Gambit Declined 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6
Round 2. Danish Gambit 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3
10/4/08 Week 2
Round 3. Caro-Kann 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5
Round 4. Ruy Lopez 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5
17/4/08 Week 3
Round 5. Scandinavian 1.e4 d5
Round 6. Morra Gambit 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 

Thematic tournaments provide an opportunity to expand your opening repetoire and work with some 'new' positions.

The Ballarat Chess Club Annual General Meeting has been postponed until after the Club Championship. The second lightning tournament will be held in its place; come and spark up those synapses with some speedy high-paced fun.

The Spielvogel Memorial is a 7 Round Swiss, 90 minutes per side + 30 seconds per move. All games submitted for Grading with ACF.
This tournament is a great way to get primed and ready for the all important Begonia Open in March, Everyone is welcome and good luck to all

The Ballarat Chess Club will recommence on the 17th of January 2008 with a lightning tournament or social play. See you all there!