News Update 2022
BCCC Round 3 update
Jules Feinberg took on tournament early leader Jamie Brotheridge in an English Opening. The play was even until Jules gained some dangerous pressure against Jamie's King and won a pawn. He then liquidated to a rooks and pawns endgame that Jamie was unable to hold.....Ballarat Junior Chess Club update
Term 2 of the 2022 Chess Coaching sessions resume on Thursday 28th April in the Humffray Room at the BMI starting at 6.00pm.
Last term we had record numbers and we had to limit places to 30 students. We will be doing that again unless we are able to engage some additional coaches. If places are filled, we will maintain a waiting list until places become available.
Club Championships
The 2022 Ballarat Chess Club Championships is the 57th in our long modern history, and as has been the case in recent years, is in 3 sections. The 'A' group for the Andy Miitel Memorial has 11 players competing in a round robin event, while, in a departure from recent practice, the 'B' (Reserves) for the John Baynham Memorial, and the 'C' for the John Abson tournament, will be a combined 9 round Swiss, with the 'Reserves' title going to the highest scoring player, and the'C' title going to the highest scoring player rated 700ACF or below. More...
The A grade pairing schedule and all results are available here ...Read more...
Barrow-van Riel
The club is looking forward to hosting Bendigo Chess Club for the annual Barrow-van Riel annual chess challenge match on Sunday 22nd May. Last year we were victorious, but they are far stronger this year since our current club champion Ruari Coffey has relocated to Bendigo with his new employment. We thank Ruari for his wonderful contribution to our club at all levels of competition and administration and wish him all the best for his future.
Back in 2019...
Sundays Online
If you are not a member of the online club you can request to join the club here https://www.chess.com/club/ballarat-chess-club and click on the green join button.
Please ensure your name is listed in your profile and you state you are a member of the club or the junior club in the text box and then follow the tournament link above in the hour before the tournament begins.
The tournament rounds begin automatically at 1:30pm and each round begins automatically as soon as the last game of the previous round concludes. Hope to see you there,
Scott Stewart
Chess Coaching 2022
Chess Coaching is available throughout the year. We welcome enrolments at any time from any junior chess player whether they have been part of the program previously or not.
Term Dates:
Term 1 - 3rd Febuary 2022 – 7th April 2022Term 2 - 28th April 2022 – 23rd June 2022
Term 3 - 14th July 2022 – 15th Sept 2022
Term 4 - 6th October 2022 – 8th Decr 2022
BMI venue

To all members and chess players
The Humffray Room at the BMI is now in use for all club activities.
In relation to Covid matters, the Government announced that virtually all regulations which have impacted the club and the BMI have changed. The vaccination mandate has been removed along with the QR code check-in requirement. Wearing a face mask is optional as well.
For info re coaching, junior tournaments, study resources etc.. visit the Ballarat Junior Chess Club pages.
New to Chess?
A great site for learning the basics from a cool video, improving your chess with puzzles, and playing against QWERTY the chess computer, check out ChessKid.com.
How to write down your games - Chess notation made easy here!
Coffee and Chess
Coffee shop chess has taken a hit during the pandemic. However, there is some chess happening in interesting places around the city...
The Lookout at Woowookarung RP is a regular haunt of a couple of members who brave the elements to enjoy chess and the appropriate 'social distancing!"
Bas' Chess Columns
From April 1991 until March 1993, Bas wrote a fortnightly chess column for the Ballarat Courier. Read them here