AUSTRALIAN JUNIOR CHESS LEAGUE BULLETIN
In this Bulletin:
- Ian Rogers reports on the Johns-Putra JETS Camp held in South Australia July 2-6
- The Australian Olympiad Teams head to Tromso, Norway
- 50 Moves Magazine Launches on August 1!
- Selections for 2014 World Youth Chess Championships, Durban, South Africa, September 18-30
Johns-Putra JETS Camp 2014
The 2014 Johns-Putra Australian Junior Elite Training Squad was hosted in Hahndorf and Adelaide from July 2-6 by organisers David and Sabrina Koetsier.
30 of Australia’ more promising juniors, mostly aged between 11 and 14, were coached intensively for three days in the traditional tourist town of Hahndorf by Darryl Johansen, Moulthun Ly, Max Illingworth, Ian Rogers and Chris Wallis.
Lessons, each of 3 hours in length, covered subjects such as winning against the odds, symmetrical openings, how to select the right candidate moves, gaining space and a 100 question endgame examination. (SA’s Punala Kiripitige aced the exam, scoring 90%, far above any other JETS member.)
After the coaching session the juniors participated in a simultaneous exhibition conducted by Max Illingworth, holding the Australian Champion to a score of just over 75%. Students’ games from the simultaneous exhibition were analysed by Chris Wallis.
The camp was brilliantly catered by local church volunteers and featured plenty of subsidiary activities including a chess set exhibition and a tour of local historical buildings around Hahndorf. The JETS camp then moved to Adelaide which JETS members participating in the Checkmate Open at the Adelaide Chess Centre.
Two of the coaches, Johansen and Ly, won the main event (with junior Luis Chan challenging for the top placing until the end) while JETS members Denny Han and Edwin Zou cleaned up in the U/1600 event. JETS members’ games from the tournament were analysed by Max Illingworth.
Thanks are due to David and Sabrina Koetsier, who set new standards for the JETS camp, and of course to Geraldine John- Putra, whose continuing sponsorship has made the JETS programme possible.
The Australian Olympiad Team to participate in the 41st Olympiad Tromso, Norway
The 2014 Australian Olympiad Teams comprise:
Open Team:
- GM David Smerdon,
- IM Moulthun Ly
- IM Max Illingworth
- FM Junta Ikeda
- FM Anton Smirnov
- Captain Manuel Weekes.
**5 of the 6 members of the Open Team and their Captain are playing in the Politiken Cup before the Olympiad.
Women’s Team:
- IM/WIM Irina Berezina
- WFM Giang Nguyen
- WIM Emma Guo
- WIM Bijiana Dekic
- Sally Yu.
Thank you to those whom have already donated to assist the Team with their expenses. Donations are still being accepted and can be made via this link:
http://www.acfappeal.aunz.org. We wish the Teams well in this exciting event.
50 Moves Magazine Launches!
There is so much happening in Australian chess right now, and the future is also looking bright with Australia ready to send its youngest-ever team to an Olympiad, in Tromso next month. For the first time since the 1980’s, Australia’s top players are travelling overseas regularly to compete; so much so that it is hard to keep track of them all!
50 Moves Magazine is launching this month to provide a definitive guide on everything happening in and around Australian chess. The magazine contributors include many of Australia’s top players, headlined by the legendary GM Ian Rogers and current Australian Champion IM Max Illingworth.
The first issue is a bumper Olympiad special and will be released on August 1. We chat to Justin Tan from his new home in England, where he narrowly missed his first Grandmaster norm and relay the thoughts of Olympic team members David Smerdon, Giang Nguyen and Captain Manuel Weeks on the upcoming Olympiad.
The magazine also includes great training content for juniors of all levels. Ian Rogers covers the tactical moments which decided the World Rapid and Blitz Championships in Dubai, Max Illingworth gives us the rundown on the Ragozin Variation, Junta Ikeda shows six studies which readers can solve, and Chris Wallis’ column examines rook and pawn endings all juniors should learn with interactive exercises to test their knowledge at the end!
For more information, and to download a free sample of the first issue, check out our website www.50movesmagazine.com, and don’t forget to like us on Facebook (50 Moves Magazine) and follow us on Twitter @50movesmagazine! Subscribe today!
Official Selections for 2014 World Youth Chess Championships
Congratulations to the juniors listed below who have been selected to represent Australia at the 2014 World Youth Chess Championships to be held in Durban, South Africa 18-30 September.
U/18 Girls: Clarise Koh (NSW)
U/16 Girls: Zhi Lin Guo (Vic)
U/12 Girls: Licia Yao (Vic)
U/10 Girls: Cassandra Lim (Vic)
U/18 Open: Cedric Koh (NSW)
U/16 Open: Tom Maguire (Qld)
U/14 Open: James Kay (Qld)
U/12 Open: Kevin Song (Qld)
U/10 Open: Xander Leibert (NSW)
U/8 Open: Sebastian Bracks (Primary Selection, NSW)
Christopher Lim (additional player; Vic)
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Raelene Zelesco
Bulletin Editor
Australian Junior Chess League
https://australianjuniorchess.org/