World Seniors: Call for expressions of interest

[Kevin Bonham]

The FIDE World Seniors Chess Championship and FIDE Womens World Seniors Chess Championship 2008 will take place in Bad Zwischenahn, Germany, 28 Oct to 8 Nov 2008. Official website: http://www.seniorenschach.de/en/index.php . Entry is restricted to male players born before 1.1.1948 and female players born before 1.1.1958.

FIDE Oceania Zone is entitled to official representation in each event and the appointed representative receives free board and lodging. The ACF will nominate an Australian nominee for each event. The final decision on whether the Australian nominee represents Oceania shall be made by the FIDE Oceania Zone President, but this has historically generally been the case on account of the greater playing strength of our senior players.

Strong senior players (>1700 FIDE or ACF) wishing to express an interest in being nominated on Australia's behalf must contact the ACF Selections Director at k_bonham@tassie.net.au (call 0421 428 775 if necessary to arrange a non-email application, or if an application has not been acknowledged within seven days) by the deadline stated below. An expression of interest must state the player's year of birth. Players who have already advised me of their interest in selection for this event since 1 Jan 2008 do not need to apply and will be ranked automatically.

Players will most likely be ranked solely according to their average of ACF and FIDE rankings (or ACF ranking only for a player possessing only an ACF rating). However, I may invite the ACF Council to determine otherwise should a player with no *active* rating apply.

The deadline for expressions of interest is 21 August 2008, or five days after the publication of this message in the ACF email newsletter, whichever is later.

Please forward this message to anyone who may be interested.

Kevin Bonham
ACF Selections Director

[Kevin Bonham]

WIM Biljana Dekic is the ACF's female nominee for this event.

The male nominee is Phil Viner with reserves (in order) Lachlan Benson, Felix Wyss, Mike Canfell, Oleg Korenevski, Arie Meydan.

Kevin Bonham
ACF Selections Director

[MichaelBaron]

Do not count me out I will be on my way to world seniors...28 years from now!

[Kevin Bonham]

Four Australians are competing in the men's section: Phil Viner, Lachlan Benson, Frank Hutchings and Oleg Korenevski. (A fifth was listed in Viner's column today but I forget the name of the player and whoever he is, if he is playing he must be registered under a different name federation).

At present Viner is on 2.5/4, Benson and Korenevski on 2 and Hutchings on 1.5. Korenevski has defeated a higher-ranked player and drawn with two 2200+ players (one of them an FM) and Benson has also defeated a higher-ranked player. Viner started with an upset loss but is now in about his expected position in the field.

There is no Australian representative in the Women's section (Biljana Dekic expressed an interest several months prior to the event but was unable to compete.)

[Denis_Jessop]

Four Australians are competing in the men's section: Phil Viner, Lachlan Benson, Frank Hutchings and Oleg Korenevski. (A fifth was listed in Viner's column today but I forget the name of the player and whoever he is, if he is playing he must be registered under a different name).

At present Viner is on 2.5/4, Benson and Korenevski on 2 and Hutchings on 1.5. Korenevski has defeated a higher-ranked player and drawn with two 2200+ players (one of them an FM) and Benson has also defeated a higher-ranked player. Viner started with an upset loss but is now in about his expected position in the field.

There is no Australian representative in the Women's section (Biljana Dekic expressed an interest several months prior to the event but was unable to compete.)

That is, under a different Federation. I cannot find any other Australians listed among the players. It's a pretty strong field with several well-known names among the GMs. Phil is the highest ranked Australian and he only manages 122 out of 304.

DJ

[Kevin Bonham]

Viner defeated the 47th seed FM Antonio Rosino (rated 2281 and 15 years Viner's junior) with the black pieces in round 5 and is now on 3.5/5.

Benson and Hutchings drew in round 5 and Korenevski lost.

[MichaelBaron]

Viner defeated the 47th seed FM Antonio Rosino (rated 2281 and 15 years Viner's junior) with the black pieces in round 5 and is now on 3.5/5.

Benson and Hutchings drew in round 5 and Korenevski lost.

[peter_parr]

See SMH for coverage..

News

[Kevin Bonham]

Viner lost in round 6 but Benson defeated a 2166-rated player to join Viner on 3.5. Hutchings and Korenevski had draws and are on 2.5.

[Bill Gletsos]

The 301 player World Senior has been won on tiebreak by IM Larry Kaufman with 9/11.

Of the Australians, Viner finished in 92-133 (119th on tiebreak) with 6, Benson in 134-173 (141st on tiebreak) with 5.5, Hutchings in 174-214 (192nd on tiebreak) with 5 and Korenevski 215-244 (219th on tiebreak) 2ith 4.5.

[MichaelBaron]

We need to send Rujevic and Hamilton next year. I think If Mirko is in his top form, he can finish in top 25.

[Kevin Bonham]

We need to send Rujevic and Hamilton next year.

If they want to go, they need to apply. (Rujevic went in a previous year; Hamilton has never applied in the time he has been eligible.)