- Details
- Written by: TW
- Category: Club News
A report of the MCA AGM
Of 21/07/2021 held at Aigburth Cricket Club
This was a sparsely attended AGM with 3 clubs [Hoylake, PKA, Waterloo not attending, the meeting was however, quorate . St Helens(formally Widnes have withdrawn from the League)
The following items were discussed
1 Lessons from the 2019-20 and 2020-21 season
Every one agreed that the 2019-20 season had been abandoned although Liverpool still have a strong sense of injustice and feel they won the Division 1 title. Their actions after the closure of the season claiming certain matches as forfeiture was condemned by an Atticus representative and their demand that that the Web controller withdraw his email was also rounded on. Discussion was curtailed by the chair and moved onto the next season.
Representatives of Liverpool felt that the time limit set for the on-line league was too long and that this had put off many players from their club which is why they didn’t enter the competition. Discussion ranged around the topic but it was generally agreed that the time limit worked well. All agreed that Martin had done a marvelous job in setting up and running the competition in a very professional manner.
For next season the priority would be to establish over the board [OTB] chess and there were no current plans to run an on-line league, although the possibility of ad hoc on-line tournaments may be run if there is sufficient time, capacity and interest
2 Treasures Report
The bank balance is extremely healthy with £7,000circa in the bank with no outstanding debts
For 2021-2 the ECF have said they would prefer individuals or for preference, clubs pay for membership…the Club should collect the fee and pay in batch. For this reason, the MCA will in future, not be collecting and paying ECF fees
By way of note the current lowest membership [Bronze] is £18 and if paid before August will run until Aug 2021
Action Point for Atticus decide on ECF fee and Club membership fees
For 2021 -22, due to the healthy finances of the MCA there will be no board fees. This should help clubs revitalize their own finances or reduce membership fees
3 Election of Officers
The following decisions were reached
President Russell Cowell
Vice President Tom Webb
Secretary Nick Martin
Treasurer Leon Wolszcak
Website and fixtures Martin Blasczyk [if he is prepared to continue]
Tournament controller Dr Will Cook [if he is prepared to continue]
NCCU Delegate Nick Martin
Junior Organiser Jim Gallagher
Child protection Kevin Sartain
Committee Members The same as this year [if they are prepared to continue] i.e.
Graham Heath [Wallasey], Gareth Ellis [Widnes], Alan Kelly [Wallasey],
Luke Boumphrey [Atticus], Mike Clarke [Liverpool] and Bart McHugh [Skelmersdale]
Grader Vacant Action Point is anyone in the club prepared to take on this role?
4 Leagues and Cup competitions
Main Leagues
Division 1 [7 Boards] Controller Dave Whitby |
Aigburth 1 |
Atticus 1 |
Atticus 2 |
Hoylake 1 |
Liverpool 1 |
Wallasey 1 |
Waterloo |
Division 2 [6 Boards] Controller Leon Wolszcak |
Aigburth 2 |
Atticus 3 |
Liverpool 2 |
PKA 1 |
Southport 1 |
Wallasey 2 |
Division 3 [6 Boards] Controller Jim Moran |
Atticus 4 |
Formby 1 |
Hoylake 2 |
Liverpool 3 |
Skelmersdale 1 |
Wallasey 3 |
Division 4 [6 Boards] Controller Russell Cowell |
Aigburth 3 |
Formby 2 |
Liverpool 3 |
Liverpool 4 |
Skelmersdale 2 |
Wallasey 4 |
600 and 440 Leagues
600 League [4 Boards] Controller Dave Whitby |
Aigburth |
Atticus |
Formby |
Hoylake |
PKA |
Southport |
Waterloo |
All teams play each other once
440 League [4 Boards] Controller Luke Boumphrey |
Aigburth |
Atticus |
Formby |
Hoylake |
PKA |
Wallasey |
All teams play each other once
Knotty Ash Cup and John Ripley Leagues
Both competitions have 10 entries for 2021-2
5 Any other business
Playing and Covid protocols
Quite a broad ranging discussion but in summary
Any ECF guidelines would be adopted
Captains arranging games would confer with their opposite number any specifics
In general the clubs would have to follow the house rules of the venue
Promoting chess across Merseyside
Generally thought to be a good thing! Some discussion on widening across social media
Russel Cowell, the new president, has some initiatives in mind
- Details
- Written by: sjb
- Category: Club News
A report of the MCA AGM
Of 21/07/2021 held at Aigburth Cricket Club
This was a sparsely attended AGM with 3 clubs [Hoylake, PKA, Waterloo not attending, the meeting was however, quorate . St Helens(formally Widnes have withdrawn from the League)
The following items were discussed
1 Lessons from the 2019-20 and 2020-21 season
Every one agreed that the 2019-20 season had been abandoned although Liverpool still have a strong sense of injustice and feel they won the Division 1 title. Their actions after the closure of the season claiming certain matches as forfeiture was condemned by an Atticus representative and their demand that that the Web controller withdraw his email was also rounded on. Discussion was curtailed by the chair and moved onto the next season.
Representatives of Liverpool felt that the time limit set for the on-line league was too long and that this had put off many players from their club which is why they didn’t enter the competition. Discussion ranged around the topic but it was generally agreed that the time limit worked well. All agreed that Martin had done a marvelous job in setting up and running the competition in a very professional manner.
For next season the priority would be to establish over the board [OTB] chess and there were no current plans to run an on-line league, although the possibility of ad hoc on-line tournaments may be run if there is sufficient time, capacity and interest
2 Treasures Report
The bank balance is extremely healthy with £7,000circa in the bank with no outstanding debts
For 2021-2 the ECF have said they would prefer individuals or for preference, clubs pay for membership…the Club should collect the fee and pay in batch. For this reason, the MCA will in future, not be collecting and paying ECF fees
By way of note the current lowest membership [Bronze] is £18 and if paid before August will run until Aug 2021
Action Point for Atticus decide on ECF fee and Club membership fees
For 2021 -22, due to the healthy finances of the MCA there will be no board fees. This should help clubs revitalize their own finances or reduce membership fees
3 Election of Officers
The following decisions were reached
President Russell Cowell
Vice President Tom Webb
Secretary Nick Martin
Treasurer Leon Wolszcak
Website and fixtures Martin Blasczyk [if he is prepared to continue]
Tournament controller Dr Will Cook [if he is prepared to continue]
NCCU Delegate Nick Martin
Junior Organiser Jim Gallagher
Child protection Kevin Sartain
Committee Members The same as this year [if they are prepared to continue] i.e.
Graham Heath [Wallasey], Gareth Ellis [Widnes], Alan Kelly [Wallasey],
Luke Boumphrey [Atticus], Mike Clarke [Liverpool] and Bart McHugh [Skelmersdale]
Grader Vacant Action Point is anyone in the club prepared to take on this role?
4 Leagues and Cup competitions
Main Leagues
Division 1 [7 Boards] Controller Dave Whitby |
Aigburth 1 |
Atticus 1 |
Atticus 2 |
Hoylake 1 |
Liverpool 1 |
Wallasey 1 |
Waterloo |
Division 2 [6 Boards] Controller Leon Wolszcak |
Aigburth 2 |
Atticus 3 |
Liverpool 2 |
PKA 1 |
Southport 1 |
Wallasey 2 |
Division 3 [6 Boards] Controller Jim Moran |
Atticus 4 |
Formby 1 |
Hoylake 2 |
Liverpool 3 |
Skelmersdale 1 |
Wallasey 3 |
Division 4 [6 Boards] Controller Russell Cowell |
Aigburth 3 |
Formby 2 |
Liverpool 3 |
Liverpool 4 |
Skelmersdale 2 |
Wallasey 4 |
600 and 440 Leagues
600 League [4 Boards] Controller Dave Whitby |
Aigburth |
Atticus |
Formby |
Hoylake |
PKA |
Southport |
Waterloo |
All teams play each other once
440 League [4 Boards] Controller Luke Boumphrey |
Aigburth |
Atticus |
Formby |
Hoylake |
PKA |
Wallasey |
All teams play each other once
Knotty Ash Cup and John Ripley Leagues
Both competitions have 10 entries for 2021-2
5 Any other business
Playing and Covid protocols
Quite a broad ranging discussion but in summary
Any ECF guidelines would be adopted
Captains arranging games would confer with their opposite number any specifics
In general the clubs would have to follow the house rules of the venue
Promoting chess across Merseyside
Generally thought to be a good thing! Some discussion on widening across social media
Russel Cowell, the new president, has some initiatives in mind
- Details
- Written by: sjb
- Category: Club News
Thanks to Nick Martin, Tom Webb and Steve Burge for attending tonight's MCA AGM on behalf of Atticus.
Tom was elected the new Vice President and Nick the new Secretary and NCCU Representative.
Dave Peacey stepped down in his role of President and Russell Cowell took up the post. Many thanks must go to Dave for doing such an excellent job in very difficult times.
It is hoped the new season will start sometime in late September.
The new structure is 7 teams in Division 1 and 6 teams in Division 2,3 4( 7 players in Division 1 and 6 players in 2,3,4)
Division 1 will consist of Atticus 1, Atticus 2, Waterloo,Liverpool, Hoylake,Wallasey,Aigburth.
Atticus will have 1 team in Divsion 2 and 1 team in Division 3. Also 1 team in 600 League, 1 Team in 440, 1 team in KA Cup and 2 teams in John ripley Cup.
A more detailed report of the meeting from Tom Webb will be available shortly.
- Details
- Written by: Martin Blasczyk
- Category: Club News
If you want to meet online, simply click on "Atticus Video Meeting", enter your name, join the conference, invite your friends and enjoy the video meeting! Have fun!
No software installation necessary.
- Details
- Written by: Martin Blasczyk
- Category: Club News
Colin Horton won the first
Atticus Online Blitz Championship
Congratulations!
- Details
- Written by: sjb
- Category: Club News
Jim Wiseman an appreciation
It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I have to report that my good friend Jim Wiseman passed away today the 28th April.
Jim’s body had fought off Cancer a couple of years ago but alas the beast returned and despite his best hopes and various treatments he succumbed to the second wave today.
People do not fight Cancer, no more than people fight a broken leg. It is an illness that sometimes your body with the help of medicine and science can overcome. If it were an act of pure will then hardly anyone would die of it. Sometimes the disease just takes you.
Jim knew this and bore the second wave with epic Stoicism and good humour right to the bitter end.
In these comments I won’t go into his many good qualities and deeds but in terms of Chess I will say this…
He loved chess, in fact he was obsessed with it and that passion was infectious. Indeed, his last game was on the Monday night before he died, less than 36 hours before his demise
I won’t embarrass folk by naming them but most of Atticus Chess Club have learnt or been inspired by Jim’s play and attacking ideas on chess.
Over the board he had built up a great wealth of theory and would often bang out the opening at a shocking rate. He was always clever if not downright devious with his moves and his chess imagination was, stunning. Some of the combinations he came out with, over the board, were just works of beauty. His skill with rooks and knights were always something to behold. In later years I even began to develop a feel for a ‘Jimbo’ position. There would be a majority of bits for Jim around/have access to the opponents King, locked centre and ideally his opponent was just about to launch their own attack. You just knew something was about to happen and then bang one sacrifice followed by a minimum of one or two later sacrifices and the opposition were once again in tatters. Fantastic to witness
He loved playing the Kings Gambit with White and sometimes he even played it as Black, the Latvian. It just showed his style, a complete contempt for counting material advantage, ‘Just give me the attack. Let me demolish them’
Over the board you always knew you were in for a game. Jim’s style was always fearless., If he saw the right path he had to take it regardless of his opponents grade, status or supposed superiority. I guess that’s why he took so many scalps, he always played the board as he saw it.
At the end of the game Jim, with a pint [or four] in hand, win or lose would always be decent, funny and self- effacing…even though you might just see that little twingle in his eye when he demonstrated a little marvel or novelty
As for chess achievements well, we could list the tournaments he won, the teams he led to glory in cup and leagues championships and promotions but I just think his legacy will be his eternal enthusiasm for the game and his supportive and sympathetic approach to players just starting out or going through a fall in form. If you spoke with Jim about chess, you always left energised
Jim leaves his lovely wife Sue, many friends and the world a poorer place
To my lifelong brother for all that shared joy much thanks, happy memories and warm reminisces.
You were simply the best friend anyone could ever have had
Tom Webb
28th April 2021
- Details
- Written by: Martin Blasczyk
- Category: Club News
Ian Nepomniachtchi challenges Magnus Carlsen
Ian Nepomniachtchi won the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2020 and will challenge Magnus Carlsen in Dubai, 24th November till 16th December this year.
Only 14 games, time control: 2h for 40 moves + 1h for the next 20 moves + 15 minutes and 30 secondes increment from move 61 onwards.
tie-break: four games rapid chess, 20 minutes + 10 seconds increment. In case of a draw they have to play two blitz games, 5 minutes + 3 seconds increment.
Magnus Calsen became World Chess Champion 2013 after defeating Viswanathan Anand (India). He defended his title World Chess Champion against Viswanathan Anand (India) (6½ - 4½) in 2014, against Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin (Ukraine, Russia) (6 - 6, Tie-break 3 -1) in 2016, against Fabiano Luigi Caruana (Italy, USA) (6 - 6, Tie-break 3 -0) in 2018.
Some regard Magnus Carlsen as the favourite in this match, others are not so sure. He might win the tie-break once again, but this has nothing to do with standard chess.
- Details
- Written by: John Redmond
- Category: Club News
To all members of Atticus CC,
With the recent improvement in the outlook for playing chess, the MCA is considering a resumption of over-the-board competition in September. We would like to gauge the interest of Atticus players in playing over-the-board league chess in the coming season. Please get in touch either with your team-captain or with a member of the committee to indicate your interest in playing. Likewise if you have any concerns please let us know.
Note: The Cross Keys will be available for us to use from May 17th. The playing-area upstairs has been completely refurbished.
John Redmond
Chair, Atticus CC
- Details
- Written by: AF
- Category: Club News
With the knowledge that no over the board matches could take place this year, the MCA decided it should still have an award this season and came up with the brilliant idea of a Chess (Pools) Panel to assess the results of all the matches played.
The MCA Chess Pools Panel used a series of Zoom Conferencing Sessions to thoroughly analyse the results of all the potential games over the whole season. The Individual Team line-ups were based on the previous seasons Squads and the panel used the sophisticated AlphaZero Program and Stockfish 13 engine to make their final judgments.
In the end it was no surprise to see Atticus 2 come out on top once again.
The Silver Rook Trophy will be presented to the Club at the MCA AGM scheduled for late June at Aigburth Cricket Club.
FINAL TABLE 2021
Atticus 2
Atticus 1
Aigburth
Waterloo
Hoylake
Liverpool
Formby
St Helens
- Details
- Written by: Martin Blasczyk
- Category: Club News
You are welcome to watch our games
MCA Online Tournament 2020/21, Round 11 on 29th March 2021
After 10 rounds our four Atticus teams are first, fourth, tenth and eleventh in the table. The fixtures of round 11 are:
Prescot 1 -v- Atticus 3 are fighting for being second in the table.
Prescot 2 -v- Atticus 2 Both may fight for a better ranking in the table: fingders crossed for Atticus 2
Skelmersdale -v- Atticus 1 It would be a miracle, if Skelmersdale would win this match.
Atticus 4 has a bye in this round.
To see who is playing, simply go to: MCA Online Tournament 2020/21, Round 11
All matches are starting at 7:30 p.m..
If you want to watch our games, simply click on Monday, 29th March 2021, after 7:30 p.m. on the name of a player:
See you there on Monday!
- Details
- Written by: Martin Blasczyk
- Category: Club News
The ECF Yearbook 2021 is now available for download for free. The printed version will be soon available too.
- Cavatina Live- Atticus Blooze Brothers 9/2/21
- Phil Hopkins Chess Coaching 19/1/21
- MCA Online Tournament 2020/21 Update
- Happy Xmas-Pachelbel's Canon Live
- British Online Championships 2020
- I can play
- MCA Online Tournament 20/21
- DAVID DOMINIC HURLEY
- MCA Online Tournament 2020/2021
- Atticus v Crewe 18/8/20