THE INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENCE CHESS FEDERATION ...

THE INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENCE CHESS FEDERATION

MINUTES O F 1996 I C C F CONGRESS

BAD NEUENAHR, GERMANY 25th-31st AUGUST 1996

ICCF CONGRESS, BAD NEUENAHR, GERMANY 25th-31st AUGUST 1996 T h e 1 9 9 6 C o n g r e s s , i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h m e e t i n g s o f t h e P r e s i d i u m a n d C o m m i s s i o n s , t o o k place i n t h e S e t a H o t e l , B a d N e u e n a h r , from 2 5 t h - 3 1 s t A u g u s t 1 9 9 6 . T h e C o n g r e s s w a s a r r a n g e d b y t h e D e u t s c h e r F e m s c h a c h b u n d ( B d F ) a n d started e x a c t l y o n t h e day o f i t s 5 0 * A n n i v e r s a r y . F o r t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s o f t h e C o n g r e s s a n d t h e a c c o m p a n y i n g ladies, t h e B d F o f f e r e d s e v e r a l t r i p s a r o u n d t h e v e n u e of B a d N e u e n a h r , w h i c h w a s v e r y m u c h appreciated. To e m p h a s i s e t h e i m p o r t a n c e of t h e I C C F C o n g r e s s , t h e M a y o r r e c e i v e d a l l p a r t i c i p a n t s i n t h e T o w n H a l l of B a d N e u e n a h r . T h e P r e s i d e n t H . J . M o s t e r t ( N L D ) t o o k t h e chair. T a k i n g part i n t h e C o n g r e s s w e r e : S.M. Al-Kuwari (QTR)

as t h e D e l e g a t e f o r Q a t a r .

G. Bassi (ITA) as M e m b e r of t h e I t a l i a n D e l e g a t i o n . Dr. F. Baumbach (GER) as t h e D e l e g a t e f o r G e r m a n y , as I C C F G e n e r a l S e c r e t a r y a n d as M e m b e r of t h e D e v e l o p m e n t C o m m i s s i o n . R. Berthelsen (NOR) as t h e D e l e g a t e Commission.

f o r N o r w a y a n d a s M e m b e r of t h e T o u r n a m e n t

S-A Bessis (FRA) as t h e D e l e g a t e f o r F r a n c e . W. Bielecki (POL) as t h e D e l e g a t e f o r P o l a n d a n d as M e m b e r of t h e T o u r n a m e n t C o m m i s s i o n , and w i t h p r o x y for Belarus. G. Binder (GER) as M e m b e r of t h e G e r m a n D e l e g a t i o n , as C o m m i s s i o n e r f o r R a t i n g s a n d as M e m b e r of t h e T o u r n a m e n t C o m m i s s i o n . J. Bohak (SLO) as t h e D e l e g a t e f o r S l o v e n i a w i t h p r o x y f o r C r o a t i a . A-P. Borwell (SCO) as M e m b e r of t h e S c o t t i s h D e l e g a t i o n , as I C C F D e p u t y P r e s i d e n t ( D e v e l o p m e n t ) , as C h a i r m a n o f t h e D e v e l o p m e n t C o m m i s s i o n a n d as M e m b e r o f the T o u r n a m e n t Commission. L Bottlik (HUN)

as t h e D e l e g a t e f o r H u n g a r y .

G. Bresadola (ITA) as t h e D e l e g a t e f o r I t a l y . H. Brusila (FIN) as t h e D e l e g a t e f o r F i n l a n d , as leader o f t h e W o r l d T o u r n a m e n t O f f i c e a n d as M e m b e r of t h e T o u r n a m e n t C o m m i s s i o n . ICCF

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Dr. T. BuUockus (USA) G. Campos (ARG)

as M e m b e r o f t h e A r g e n t i n a ( L A D A C ) D e l e g a t i o n .

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Dr. J. Canibal (CZE) as t h e D e l e g a t e f o r C z e c h R e p u b l i c . P. Cimmino (ITA) as M e m b e r o f t h e I t a l i a n D e l e g a t i o n . Ing. P. Diaconescu (ROM)

as H o n o r a r y M e m b e r o f I C C F a n d as t h e D e l e g a t e for R o m a n i a .

E. Ditt (GER) as P r e s i d e n t o f t h e G e r m a n C h e s s F e d e r a t i o n . E.M. Essa (QTR)

as M e m b e r o f t h e Q a t a r D e l e g a t i o n .

C. Flores Gutierrez (ESP) as t h e D e l e g a t e f o r S p a i n a n d as M e m b e r o f t h e D e v e l o p m e n t Commission. J. Franzen (SLK) as M e m b e r o f t h e S l o v a k i a n D e l e g a t i o n . R Gillman (ENG) as M e m b e r o f t h e E n g l i s h D e l e g a t i o n a n d as M e m b e r of t h e T o u m a m e n t Commission. H. F. Glaser (SIP) as t h e D e l e g a t e f o r S i n g a p o r e . M. Gluth (GER) F e m s c h a c h I n t e r n a t i o n a l . Dr. C.J. Gon?alves (ARG) as t h e D e l e g a t e f o r A r g e n t i n a ( L A D A C ) v^ith p r o x i e s f o r B r a z i l and Uruguay. G.F. Gottardi (SWZ) as M e m b e r o f t h e S w i s s D e l e g a t i o n . S.Ya. Grodzensky (RUS) as t h e D e l e g a t e f o r R u s s i a w i t h p r o x y f o r U k r a i n e . E. Gromotka (GER) as M e m b e r o f t h e G e r m a n D e l e g a t i o n . O. Halme (FIN) as M e m b e r o f t h e F i n n i s h D e l e g a t i o n . T.D. Harding (IRE) as t h e D e l e g a t e f o r I r e l a n d w i t h p r o x y f o r W a l e s . Dr. R. Incelli (ITA) as m e m b e r o f t h e I t a l i a n d e l e g a t i o n . A. Jonasson (SVE) as M e m b e r o f t h e S w e d i s h D e l e g a t i o n . S-A. Kronberg (SVE) as M e m b e r o f t h e S w e d i s h D e l e g a t i o n . E. Liebert (EST) as t h e D e l e g a t e f o r E s t o n i a w i t h p r o x y f o r L i t h u a n i a .

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R. Lindroos (FIN) as H o n o r a r y M e m b e r o f I C C F . H-E. Luers (GER) as m e m b e r o f t h e G e r m a n d e l e g a t i o n , as Z o n a l D i r e c t o r f o r E u r o p e , as leader o f t h e E u r o p e a n T o u m a m e n t O f f i c e a n d as M e m b e r o f t h e T o u m a m e n t C o m m i s s i o n . F. Madsen (DEN)

as t h e D e l e g a t e f o r D e n m a r k .

M. Manduch (SLK) as t h e D e l e g a t e f o r S l o v a k i a . R Meinert (USA)

as M e m b e r o f t h e U S A D e l e g a t i o n .

J.S. Morgado (ARG)

representing C A P A (Argentina).

H.J. Mostert (NLD) I C C F President.

as H o n o r a r y M e m b e r o f I C C F , as t h e D e l e g a t e f o r t h e N e t h e r l a n d s a n d as

J.A. Nielsen (DEN) as m e m b e r o f t h e D a n i s h D e l e g a t i o n a n d as M e m b e r o f t h e T o u m a m e n t Commission. K-H. Podzielny (GER) as M e m b e r o f t h e G e r m a n D e l e g a t i o n . G. D. Pyrich (SCO) as t h e D e l e g a t e f o r S c o t l a n d , as Q u a l i f i c a t i o n s C o m m i s s i o n e r a n d as M e m b e r o f the T o u m a m e n t C o m m i s s i o n , w i t h p r o x i e s f o r I c e l a n d a n d N e w Z e a l a n d . G. Radosztics (OST)

as the D e l e g a t e f o r A u s t r i a a n d as L i a i s o n O f f i c e r t o F I D E .

A.J.C. Rawlings (ENG) a s t h e D e l e g a t e f o r E n g l a n d a n d as M e m b e r o f t h e D e v e l o p m e n t Commission, w i t h proxy for Portugal. A.A. van't Rlet (NLD) as M e m b e r o f t h e N e t h e r l a n d s D e l e g a t i o n , as D e p u t y P r e s i d e n t ( R u l e s ) a n d as M e m b e r o f t h e T o u m a m e n t C o m m i s s i o n . A. Risdon (ENG)

as M e m b e r o f t h e E n g l i s h D e l e g a t i o n .

H. Rittner (GER) as H o n o r a r y M e m b e r o f I C C F . F. Riva (LUX) as t h e D e l e g a t e f o r L u x e m b o u r g . M s . M. Rotova (EST) as M e m b e r o f t h e E s t o n i a n D e l e g a t i o n . M. Samraoui (ALG) as t h e D e l e g a t e f o r A l g e r i a a n d as Z o n a l D i r e c t o r f o r A f r i c a / A s i a . G. K. Sanakoev (RUS) H. B. Sarink (NLD)

as M e m b e r o f t h e R u s s i a n D e l e g a t i o n .

as M e m b e r o f t h e N e t h e r l a n d s D e l e g a t i o n a n d as I C C F A u d i t o r .

P. Schmidt (GER) as M e m b e r o f t h e G e r m a n D e l e g a t i o n .

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R. Sevecek (CZE) as M e m b e r o f t h e C z e c h D e l e g a t i o n D. Smit (NLD) as M e m b e r o f t h e N e t h e r l a n d s D e l e g a t i o n a n d a s M e m b e r o f t h e T o u m a m e n t Commission. P. Soderberg (SVE) as t h e D e l e g a t e f o r S w e d e n w i t h p r o x y f o r I s r a e l . G.M. Tani (ITA) as M e m b e r o f t h e I t a l i a n D e l e g a t i o n , as l e a d e r o f the T h e m a t i c T o u m a m e n t O f f i c e , a n d as M e m b e r o f t h e T o u m a m e n t C o m m i s s i o n . . M.R. Terteryants (RUS) M.M. Umansky (RUS) Delegation.

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as M e m b e r o f t h e R u s s i a n D e l e g a t i o n . as C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C h e s s W o r l d C h a m p i o n a n d as M e m b e r o f t h e R u s s i a n

Dr. J . Vandorffy (HUN) as H o n o r a r y M e m b e r o f I C C F a n d a s M e m b e r o f t h e H u n g a r i a n Delegation. K. Vitols (LAX) as t h e D e l e g a t e f o r L a t v i a . G. Walker (SWZ)

as t h e D e l e g a t e f o r S w i t z e r l a n d .

R. Wikman (FIN) a s m e m b e r o f t h e F i n n i s h D e l e g a t i o n , as I C C F D e p u t y ( T o u r n a m e n t s ) a n d as C h a i r m a n o f t h e T o u m a m e n t C o m m i s s i o n . S.M. Williams (ENG)

President

as M e m b e r o f t h e E n g l i s h D e l e g a t i o n .

Prof. M. Zavanelli (USA) as t h e D e l e g a t e f o r t h e U S A , a s Z o n a l D i r e c t o r f o r N o r t h A m e r i c a / P a c i f i c , as M e m b e r o f t h e T o u m a m e n t C o m m i s s i o n , w i t h p r o x i e s f o r A u s t r a l i a a n d H o n g Kong.

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In his opening words, the I C C F President c o m m e m o r a t e d w i t h deep feelings, a l l those w h o had passed a w a y since t h e 1 9 9 5 C o n g r e s s . H e m e n t i o n e d e s p e c i a l l y E . N i e l s e n ( D E N ) , t h e D a n i s h delegate. T h e I C C F P r e s i d e n t t h a n k e d t h e B d F f o r t h e e x c e l l e n t a r r a n g e m e n t s f o r t h e Congress. H e e m p h a s i s e d t h a t also i n c o r r e s p o n d e n c e chess w e h a d t o l o o k a n d t o t a k e care f o r t h e q u a l i t y o f l i f e o f t h o s e w e w e r e m e e t i n g i n t h i s sport. H e stressed t h a t n o t t h e " e g o o r status" o f o n e p e r s o n is i m p o r t a n t , b u t t h a t w e a l l h a d t o c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e ideals o f I C C F . I n d o i n g that, h e w a s sure t h a t t h e f u t u r e f o r c o r r e s p o n d e n c e chess a n d I C C F w o u l d be secured. B e f o r e g o i n g i n t o t h e agenda, t h e I C C F P r e s i d e n t gave t h e C o n g r e s s t h e i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t he h a d decided t o r e t i r e a t 3 1 . 1 2 . 1 9 9 6 . E s p e c i a l l y d u r i n g t h e last year, h e c o u l d n o t find t h e c o n f i d e n c e n e e d e d t o c o n t i n u e h i s w o r k i n t h e w a y h e c o n s i d e r e d i t s h o u l d be d o n e .

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T h e Report of the General Secretary g a v e a n o v e r v i e w o f I C C F m e m b e r s h i p t h r o u g h o u t t h e w o r l d a n d , at t h e s a m e t i m e , s h o w e d i n w h i c h parts o f t h e w o r l d I C C F especially h a d t o penetrate, H e i n f o r m e d t h e C o n g r e s s t h a t h e w o u l d a p p r o a c h i n a c t i v e c o u n t r i e s i n t h o s e areas, a s w e l l as chess f e d e r a t i o n s w h i c h are n o t m e m b e r s o f I C C F b u t are m e m b e r s o f F I D E . T h e General Secretary proposed t o Congress that R . G i l l m a n ( E N G ) b e elected a n H o n o r a r y M e m b e r o f I C C F , f o r h i s e x c e l l e n t w o r k i n s e v e r a l o f f i c e s d u r i n g m a n y years. T h e Congress confirmed this proposal unanimously. T h e President congratulated M r G i l l m a n and thanked h i m f o r t h e w o r k d o n e , a n d M r G i l l m a n e x p r e s s e d h i s surprise a n d a p p r e c i a t i o n . Award of Bertl von Massow Medals T h e Bertl v o n M a s s o w medal i n silver was awarded to O. H a l m e ( F I N ) for his meritorious w o r k f o r I C C F f o r m o r e t h a n 10 years. T h e B e r t l v o n M a s s o w m e d a l i n g o l d w a s a w a r d e d t o A . P . B o r w e l l ( S C O ) , H F . Glaser (SEP), G . W . G . L i v i e ( S C O ) and M . Samraoui ( A L G ) for their m e r i t o r i o u s w o r k f o r I C C F f o r m o r e t h a n 15 years. T h e I C C F P r e s i d e n t t o o k a d v a n t a g e o f t h e p r e s e n c e o f M r B o r w e l l , M r Glaser, M r S a m r a o u i a n d M r H a l m e t o t h a n k t h e m p e r s o n a l l y f o r t h e w o r k t h e y h a d p e r f o r m e d a n d h a n d e d o v e r the w e l l deserved m e d a l s , t o g e t h e r w i t h h i s c o n g r a t u l a t i o n s . T h e Report of the Treasurer s h o w e d a s o u n d financial p o s i t i o n f o r I C C F . I n t h e o v e r v i e w o f the D e p u t y P r e s i d e n t ( D e v e l o p m e n t ) a p r o p o s e d financial strategy w o u l d b e presented w h i c h w o u l d enable I C C F t o m a i n t a i n t h i s s o u n d financial p o s i t i o n . F o l l o w i n g a p r i n c i p a l d e c i s i o n o f last y e a r ' s C o n g r e s s , t h e 18 l i s t e d c o u n t r i e s h a d b e e n suspended because t h e y h a d n o t f l i l f i l l e d t h e i r financial r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s b y 3 0 . 6 . 1 9 9 6 . W i t h t h e i r suspension, these f e d e r a t i o n s h a d l o s t t h e i r v o t i n g a n d n o m i n a t i o n rights a n d t h e e n t r y o f t e a m s i n t o a n y I C C F events, u n t i l t h e debts h a v e b e e n p a i d . I t w a s h o p e d t h a t t h e y w o u l d s o o n r e t u r n t o f u l l membership o f ICCF. T h e s e suspensions w e r e a c c e p t e d b y t h e C o n g r e s s , w i t h t h r e e v o t e s against a n d t \ v o abstentions. T h e Report of the Auditor c o n f i r m e d t h a t t h e figures i n t h e R e p o r t a n d S t a t e m e n t p r o v i d e d b y t h e T r e a s u r e r h a d b e e n v e r i f i e d a n d a c c u r a t e l y r e p r e s e n t e d t h e financial p o s i t i o n o f I C C F . T h e r e f o r e ICCF

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the A u d i t o r p r o p o s e d t h e d i s c h a r g e o f t h e T r e a s u r e r f o r t h e y e a r 1 9 9 5 , w h i c h w a s w e l c o m e d b y t h e Congress xmanimously. T h e I C C F P r e s i d e n t u s e d t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o t h a n k t h e I C C F Treaisurer e s p e c i a l l y f o r t h e e x c e l l e n t w o r k h e h a d p e r f o r m e d i n h i s o f f i c e d u r i n g 12 y e a r s a n d w i s h e d h i m m u c h pleasure i n his n e w o f f i c e , w h i c h h e started t h i s y e a r . Election of Treasurer for the period to 31.12,1999, D u e t o p e r s o n a l a n d h e a l t h c i r c u m s t a n c e s , M r F . J . H u y b r e c h t ( B E L ) h a d n o t b e e n able t o start as t h e n e w I C C F T r e a s u r e r a n d f o r h i s w i l l i n g n e s s t o serve I C C F , t h e I C C F P r e s i d e n t t h a n k e d h i m . H o w e v e r , the I C C F President i n f o r m e d the Congress that M r . C . Flores Gutierrez ( E S P ) was a c a n d i d a t e t o t a k e o v e r w i t h e f f e c t from 1.1.1996. T h e C o n g r e s s e x p r e s s e d its t h a n k s t o M r . F l o r e s G u t i e r r e z i n e l e c t i n g h i m u n a n i m o u s l y as t h e I C C F T r e a s u r e r u n t i l 3 1 . 1 2 . 1 9 9 9 . I n a n t i c i p a t i o n o f h i s e l e c t i o n , t h e n e w T r e a s u r e r h a d a l r e a d y started h i s w o r k . T h e Report of the Deputy President (Tournaments) p o i n t e d o u t t h a t t h e n e w m i l l e n n i u m w a s o n l y a f e w years ahead, a n d t h a t I C C F w a s d e t e r m i n e d t o r i s e t o t h e challenges i t presents, a n d t o respond to the rapid advancements i n the field o f n e w technologies. T h e Internet continued t o spread its w e b o v e r t h e w o r l d w i t h i n c r e d i b l e speed, q u i c k l y b u i l d i n g u p t h e " g l o b a l v i l l a g e " , a p l a c e w h e r e e v e r y o n e is ( p o t e n t i a l l y ) v e r y close t o e a c h o t h e r regardless o f p h y s i c a l distance. D u r i n g t h e year, t h e T o u m a m e n t C o m m i s s i o n c o n d u c t e d n o w r i t t e n d e l i b e r a t i o n s , h o w e v e r at t h e C o n g r e s s a s h o r t m e e t i n g w a s h e l d . M e m b e r s o f t h e C o m m i s s i o n w e r e a l l t h r e e D e p u t y Presidents, the t w o C o m m i s s i o n e r s , t h e t o u m a m e n t bureaux leaders a n d some title level t o u m a m e n t secretaries: R. W i k m a n ( F I N ) - Chairman; R. Berthelsen ( N O R ) ; W . Bielecki ( P O L ) ; G. Binder ( G E R ) ; A.P. B o r w e l l ( S C O ) ; H . B m s i l a ( F I N ) ; J.A. Finkelstein ( A R G ) ; H - E . Luers ( G E R ) ; G.D. Pyrich ( S C O ) ; A.A. van't Riet (NLD); D . Smit (NLD); G - M . Tani (ITA); Prof M . Zavanelli (USA). T h e o l d T e l e c h e s s C o m m i s s i o n w a s o f f i c i a l l y d i s c o n t i n u e d at t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e year. Its r e t i r i n g c h a i r m a n D . S m i t ( N L D ) w a s g i v e n t h a n k s f o r h i s e x c e l l e n t w o r k d u r i n g s e v e r a l years, a n d he w a s also a p p o i n t e d a n e w m e m b e r o f t h e T o u m a m e n t C o m m i s s i o n . T h e w o r k o n the d e v e l o p m e n t o f n e w technologies n o w continues w i t h i n the w o r k i n g group for n e w technologies, under the Deputy President (Development). I n h i s r e p o r t t h e D e p u t y P r e s i d e n t ( T o u m a m e n t s ) o b s e r v e d t h a t a t least t h e v a r i o u s t i t l e t o u m a m e n t s w e r e s t i l l a s t r o n g m o t i v a t i o n a l f a c t o r f o r i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y a c t i v e c o r r e s p o n d e n c e chess players. I n t h e a u t u m n o f 1 9 9 5 , t h e ^ ^ - f l n a l o f W o r l d C h a m p i o n s h i p X V I I started w i t h a r e c o r d n u m b e r o f 85 p a r t i c i p a n t s i n 5 sections. A l s o , t h e s i m u l t a n e o u s l y started s e m i - f i n a l o f W o r l d C h a m p i o n s h i p X X I h a d s e e n a r e c o r d n u m b e r o f p a r t i c i p a n t s , 2 1 0 p l a y e r s i n 14 sections. T h e n e w M a s t e r N o r m t o u m a m e n t s h a d also p r o v e d t o be a success - d u r i n g t h e i r first year ( 1 9 9 5 ) a t o t a l o f 2 1 sections w e r e started, a n d b y n o w 1 0 m o r e sections w e r e u n d e r w a y . I n t h e first 18 m o n t h s there t h u s h a d started 3 1 s e c t i o n s w i t h 3 4 1 players. D u r i n g 1 9 9 6 , o n e c h a m p i o n s h i p l e v e l t o u m a m e n t w o u l d b e started, t h e final o f W o r l d C h a m p i o n s h i p X V ( I n M e m o r i a m P r o f D r . V l a d i m i r Z a g o r o v s k y ) w i t h 17 p l a y e r s , i n c l u d i n g t h e r e i g n i n g W o r l d C h a m p i o n M . M . U m a n s k y ( R U S ) a n d the highest rated player G.J. T i m m e r m a n ( N L D ) .

ICCF

Congress,

B a d Neuenahr,

Germany

7

F o r t u n a t e l y , i t s e e m e d as i f t h o s e w h o f e a r e d t h a t t h e r a p i d i m p r o v e m e n t s i n s t r e n g t h o f t h e chessp l a y i n g c o m p u t e r s w o u l d s o o n k i l l o f f c o m p e t i t i v e c o r r e s p o n d e n c e chess w e r e w r o n g - t h e t o p l e v e l p l a y e r s s e e m e d t o be m o r e a c t i v e t h a n e v e r before. The preliminaries o f I C C F C u p X started i n the a u t u m n o f 1994. Since I C C F practice had been to try t o arrange t h e cups i n t h r e e - y e a r i n t e r v a l s , i t w a s t i m e t o b e g i n w i t h I C C F C u p X U X R d u r i n g 1997, t o be o r g a n i s e d b y t h e F e d e r a t i o n o f E n g l a n d . T h e f o r m a t o f t h i s c u p w o u l d b e t h e s a m e as for the t h r e e p r e v i o u s ones, i e . a l l - p l a y - a l l - e v e n t s i n a l l t h r e e stages. I f t h e n u m b e r o f p a r t i c i p a n t s w a s s u f f i c i e n t l y h i g h , t h e final w o u l d be p l a y e d i n t w o g r o u p s o f e q u a l s t r e n g t h . F i n a l X I a n d F i n a l X n . T h e detailed numerical formulae w h i c h were w o r k e d out for I C C F C u p V W I I , and included as a n a p p e n d i x t o t h e p r o t o c o l from t h e I C C F C o n g r e s s i n P e e b l e s 1 9 8 5 , w o u l d be used t o d e t e r m i n e t h e size a n d t h e n u m b e r o f t h e p r e l i m i n a r y sections. W i t h respect t o c o m i n g c h a m p i o n s h i p l e v e l t o u m a m e n t s , i t w a s c o n s i d e r e d l i k e l y t h a t t h e f o l l o w i n g final c o u l d start i n t h e a u t u m n o f 1 9 9 8 o r i n t h e s p r i n g o f 1 9 9 9 . R e g a r d i n g t h e % - f i n a l s , an i n t e r e s t i n g s i t u a t i o n h a d a r i s e n . W o r l d y 4 - f i n a l X V I I started i n t h e a u t u m n o f 1 9 9 5 w i t h 85 p a r t i c i p a n t s , a n d i t w a s l i k e l y t h a t t h e n e x t y 4 - f i n a l c o u l d n o t start u n t i l 1 9 9 8 . H o w e v e r , m o s t o f the q u a l i f i e r s from s e m i - f i n a l X V I I I w e r e a l r e a d y p l a y i n g i n ^ i - f i n a l X V I I . A f t e r d i s c u s s i o n s w i t h v a r i o u s o f f i c i a l s i t h a d b e e n d e c i d e d t o c a n c e l y 4 - f i n a l X V U I , a n d t o start % - f i n a l X I X i n 1998. I t w a s i m p o r t a n t t o n o t i c e t h a t t h e r e w o u l d s t i l l b e a s u f f i c i e n t n u m b e r o f q u a l i f i e r s t o finals X V I , X V I I , a n d X V I I I , e v e n w i t h o u t a y 4 - f i n a l X V i n . S e m i - f i n a l X X I I w a s s c h e d u l e d f o r start i n t h e a u t u m n o f 1 9 9 7 . T h e t o u m a m e n t a n n o u n c e m e n t w o u l d be p u b l i c i s e d i n t h e s p r i n g o f 1997. F o r t h i s t o u m a m e n t t h e C o n g r e s s agreed t o k e e p t h e fixed r a t i n g l i m i t m e n t i o n e d i n §6g o f t h e T o u m a m e n t R u l e s u n c h a n g e d at 2 5 7 0 . T h e c u r r e n t c y c l e o f t h e L a d i e s ' W o r l d C h a m p i o n s h i p started o n 1.1.1993. S i n c e these c h a m p i o n s h i p s s h o u l d be p l a y e d i n five-year c y c l e s , t h e n e x t r o u n d w a s d u e t o start i n e a r l y 1 9 9 8 . The t o u m a m e n t armouncement w o u l d be publicised i n the spring o f 1997. T h e Congress approved the suggested n o m i n a t i o n q u o t a f o r §15c (3 p l a y e r s p l u s 2 r e s e r v e p l a y e r s ) a n d t h e fixed r a t i n g l i m i t o f §15d ( 2 1 5 0 ) . T h e c u r r e n t c y c l e o f t h e C C O l y m p i a d started i n t h e a u t u m n o f 1 9 9 2 , a n d t h e t e a m s q u a l i f y i n g f o r t h e final w e r e d e c i d e d at t h e I C C F C o n g r e s s i n G r a z . O n e o f t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t p r i n c i p l e s c o n c e m e d t h e p r o c e d u r e f o r h a n d l i n g " q u a l i f i c a t i o n s f r o m c o u n t r i e s w h i c h n o l o n g e r exist". I n t h e current cycle there w a s one such country (Czechoslovakia), represented by t w o teams (one i n the final a n d o n e i n t h e s e m i - f i n a l ) . S h o r t l y after t h e G r a z C o n g r e s s t h e C z e c h a n d S l o v a k f e d e r a t i o n s suggested t h e f o l l o w i n g A m i c i S u m u s s o l u t i o n : " s h o u l d o n e t e a m e n d i n a q u a l i f y i n g place, a t e a m f r o m the C z e c h R e p u b l i c w o u l d g o o n t o t h e final, a n d s h o u l d b o t h o f t h e t e a m s e n d i n a q u a l i f y i n g place, a l s o a t e a m f r o m S l o v a k i a w o u l d g o o n t o t h e final". T h i s a g r e e m e n t h a d b e e n p u b l i c l y k n o w n f o r a l o n g t i m e , b e c a u s e i t h a d b e e n m e n t i o n e d i n F e m s c h a c h , so i t h a d t o be c o n s i d e r e d at least m o r a l l y b i n d i n g . N e v e r t h e l e s s , I C C F r e c e i v e d a f o r m a l request, j o i n t l y s i g n e d b y t h e c o r r e s p o n d e n c e chess f e d e r a t i o n s i n t h e C z e c h R e p u b l i c a n d i n S l o v a k i a , a s k i n g f o r t h i s a g r e e m e n t t o b e c o n f i r m e d at t h e 1 9 9 6 C o n g r e s s . T h e precedent e s t a b l i s h e d i n G r a z 1 9 9 2 w a s t h a t " c o u n t r i e s w h i c h h a v e ceased t o e x i s t n o l o n g e r c o u n t f o r q u a l i f i c a t i o n purposes" a n d t h i s w a s s t i l l t h e b a s i s f o r t h e p r o p o s a l . S o , 1) t h e "three first-placed c o u n t r i e s w h i c h s t i l l e x i s t e d from t h e c u r r e n t final" w o u l d q u a l i f y f o r t h e n e x t final. I n addition, 2 ) f r o m each o f the f o u r p r e l i m i n a r y groups " t w o teams [ f r o m still existing countries] w h i c h h a v e n o t a l r e a d y q u a l i f i e d f o r t h e final [ u n d e r p o i n t 1 ) a b o v e ] w o u l d be p r o m o t e d p r o v i d i n g ICCF Congress,

Bad Neuenahr,

Germany

8

t h e y w e r e w i t h i n t h e t h r e e first-placed t e a m s o f t h e i r p r e l i m i n a r y s e c t i o n . " T h i s w o u l d g i v e a final o f a m a x i m u m o f 11 t e a m s . T h e a g r e e m e n t c o n c e r n i n g t h e t e a m s fi-om f o r m e r C z e c h o s l o v a k i a t h u s m e a n t a d d i t i o n a l ( A m i c i S u m u s ) places w o u l d be g i v e n , s h o u l d o n e o r b o t h o f these t e a m s finish i n q u a l i f y i n g p o s i t i o n s , l e a d i n g t o a final c o n s i s t i n g o f 12 o r 13 t e a m s . T h i s p r o p o s a l w a s adopted by the Congress u n a n i m o u s l y . T h e t i m e table f o r t h e n e x t c y c l e h a d t o be l e f t o p e n - t o o m u c h w a s d e p e n d e n t u p o n t h e progress o f t h e u n c o m p l e t e d games. I C C F p o l i c y w a s t o t r y t o a v o i d a d j u d i c a t i n g g a m e s w h i c h d e t e r m i n e q u a l i f i c a t i o n s as far as p o s s i b l e , so p l a y s h o u l d c o n t i n u e u n t i l t h e q u a l i f i e r s w e r e at least " s t a t i s t i c a l l y secure". I t w a s agreed t o c a r e f u l l y m o n i t o r t h e progress o f t h e t o u m a m e n t and, as s o o n as t h e q u a l i f i e r s w e r e at least s t a t i s t i c a l l y secure, t o i m m e d i a t e l y a r m o u n c e t h e n e x t O l y m p i a d cycle, leaving the federations sufficient t i m e to collect their teams. A serious problem w i t h p r e v i o u s O l y m p i a d cycles h a d b e e n t h e i r l o n g d u r a t i o n - since 1 9 8 2 n o t a s i n g l e t o u m a m e n t h a d b e e n finished i n less t h a n 5 years. T h i s w a s e q u a l l y v a l i d f o r t h e c u r r e n t O l y m p i a d , e v e n t h o u g h t h e m e a n s p r o v i d e d b y n e w t e c h n o l o g i e s h a d a l r e a d y b e e n f a i r l y c o m m o n l y used. S i n c e t h e O l y m p i a d r e m a i n e d t h e m o s t p r e s t i g i o u s I C C F t o u m a m e n t - at least o n a par w i t h t h e i n d i v i d u a l W o r l d C h a m p i o n s h i p F i n a l - i t w a s v e r y u n f o r t x m a t e t h a t a n e w c y c l e c o u l d be started o n l y e v e r y fifth y e a r a n d t h i s n e e d e d t o be s h o r t e n e d . After considerable discussion, b o t h i n the T o u m a m e n t C o m m i s s i o n and i n the Congress, i t was agreed u n a n i m o u s l y t o start " o v e r l a p p i n g " O l y m p i a d cycles b e g i i m i n g i n the y e a r 2 0 0 0 . A f t e r t h a t a n e w c y c l e w o u l d be started e v e r y t h i r d year, a n d t h e q u a l i f i c a t i o n s w o u l d be v a l i d f o r the " n e x t b u t o n e " final, g i v i n g t h e p l a y e r s a t o t a l t i m e o f u p t o s i x years t o c o m p l e t e t h e games. T h i s t i m e s h o u l d be m o r e t h a n s u f f i c i e n t , p a r t i c u l a r l y t a k i n g i n t o a c c o u n t t h e e v e r i n c r e a s i n g a v a i l a b i l i t y o f n e w t e c h n o l o g i e s . T h e t o u m a m e n t secretary w a s also g i v e n f u l l a u t h o r i t y t o r e q u i r e n e w t e c h n o l o g i e s t o be u s e d i n a n y g a m e , s h o u l d h e c o n s i d e r i t necessary t o ensure its progress. T h i s p r o p o s a l w a s accepted u n a n i m o u s l y b y C o n g r e s s . T h e c u r r e n t c y c l e o f t h e L a d i e s ' c o r r e s p o n d e n c e chess O l y m p i a d s t a r t e d i n t h e a u t u m n o f 1 9 9 1 , a n d t h e final i n t h e s p r i n g o f 1 9 9 2 . T h u s i t w a s i m p o r t a n t t o finish t h e c u r r e n t c y c l e as s o o n as possible, a n d t o start t h e n e x t o n e i n t h e first h a l f o f 1 9 9 7 , e s p e c i a l l y b e a r i n g i n m i n d t h a t the i n d i v i d u a l L a d i e s ' W o r l d C h a m p i o n s h i p w o u l d start i n e a r l y 1 9 9 8 . P l a y i n t h e p r e l i m i n a r y r o u n d w o u l d be b r o k e n o f f l a t e r i n a u t u m n 1 9 9 6 , a n d p l a y i n t h e final a f e w m o n t h s later. W h e n d e t e r m i n i n g t h e t e a m s q u a l i f y i n g f o r t h e final, o n e last r e f e r e n c e t o t h e " G r a z precedent" w o u l d be needed. I n t h e t o u m a m e n t a r m o u n c e m e n t i t w a s m e n t i o n e d t h a t 4 t e a m s w o u l d q u a l i f y f r o m t h e p r e v i o u s final, a n d 3 f r o m e a c h p r e l i m i n a r y s e c t i o n . A m o n g these, o n l y e x i s t i n g c o u n t r i e s w o u l d be c o u n t e d . B e c a u s e s o m e o f t h e t e a m s w o u l d m o s t l i k e l y a c h i e v e d o u b l e q u a l i f i c a t i o n s t h e 4 + 3 + 3 f o r m u l a w a s l i k e l y t o p r o d u c e 8 t e a m s f o r t h e final. H o w e v e r , i n t h e c u r r e n t cycle w e h a d t h r e e c o u n t r i e s t h a t n o l o n g e r e x i s t , i.e. t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , C z e c h o s l o v a k i a a n d ( o l d ) Y u g o s l a v i a . T h e i r p o s i t i o n s w e r e a l r e a d y q u i t e c l e a r - b o t h t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d C z e c h o s l o v a k i a w o u l d finish a m o n g t h e t o p three i n t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e p r e l i m i n a r y s e c t i o n , w h i l e ( o l d ) Y u g o s l a v i a w o u l d finish f o u r t h i n i t s section. I n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e d e c i s i o n t a k e n i n G r a z , i t w a s decided b y the P r e s i d i u m t o g i v e a d d i t i o n a l ( A m i c i S u m u s ) places t o t h o s e t w o c o u n t r i e s w h i c h w o u l d have finished a m o n g t h e q u a l i f i e r s , h a d t h e y s t i l l e x i s t e d . T h o s e places w o u l d be g i v e n t o R u s s i a a n d t o t h e C z e c h R e p u b l i c . T h i s w o u l d l e a d t o a final o f 10 t e a m s , w h i c h w a s i m p o r t a n t because f o r I L M n o r m s t o b e a c h i e v a b l e at least n i n e t e a m s i n t h e final w e r e r e q u i r e d a c c o r d i n g t o t h e R u l e s .

ICCF

Congress,

B a d Neuenahr,

Germany

9

T h e Report of the World Tournament Office o b s e r v e d t h a t 1 3 1 5 ( 1 9 9 4 - 1 1 2 5 ) p l a y e r s from 4 4 c o u n t r i e s ( 1 9 9 4 - 5 0 ) e n t e r e d f o r n e w sections i n t h e P r o m o t i o n T o u m a m e n t s . T h e T h e m a t i c T o u m a m e n t s h a d a t t r a c t e d 4 3 3 p l a y e r s ( 1 9 9 4 - 5 7 5 ) . T h e leader o f t h e T o u m a m e n t O f f i c e since 1 9 8 5 , J . A . N i e l s e n ( D E N ) r e t i r e d at t h e e n d o f t h e y e a r 1 9 9 5 . H i s d e d i c a t e d w o r k f o r I C C F i n t h i s f u n c t i o n w a s a c k n o w l e d g e d w i t h m u c h g r a t i t u d e . H i s successor G - M . T a n i ( I T A ) m a d e a s h o r t v e r b a l p r e s e n t a t i o n t o t h e C o n g r e s s o f h i s w o r k so far. T h e Report of the Zonal Director for Europe s h o w e d i n i t s statistics t h a t i n 1 9 9 5 , 1 2 5 8 players ( 1 9 9 4 - 1 4 3 7 ) from 3 4 c o u n t r i e s ( 1 9 9 4 - 3 4 ) e n t e r e d f o r i t s t o u m a m e n t s . Four n e w E u r o p e a n C h a m p i o n s w e r e congratulated: EU-FSM EU-FSM EU-FSM EU-FSM

43: 44: 49: 51:

Ing. M . A i g m u l l e r ( f ) ( O S T ) W.J. Mooij (NLD) U . Fremiotti (ITA) A. Vinje (NOR).

T h e Z o n a l D i r e c t o r o b s e r v e d t h a t i n t h e h i g h e r classes t h e n u m b e r o f p a r t i c i p a n t s h a d r e m a i n e d rather constant, whereas there had b e e n a considerable decline i n the n u m b e r o f participants i n the l o w e r classes. H e t h u s suggested t o c o n s i d e r r e d u c i n g t h e n u m b e r o f classes for the f u t u r e , m a y b e b y c o m b i n i n g classes n a n d H I . T h e Report of the Zonal Director for the South American Zone a g a i n p o i n t e d o u t t h a t t h e difficult economic s i t u a t i o n i n the area caused a l o t o f disadvantages f o r the development o f postal chess i n t h e z o n e . T h e m o s t a c t i v i t y i n t h e z o n e o c c u r r e d i n A r g e n t i n a , B r a z i l , C o s t a R i c a , C u b a , E c u a d o r , G u a t e m a l a , P e r n a n d U m g u a y , w i t h s o m e i n d i v i d u a l p l a y e r s t a k i n g part from C h i l e , C o l o m b i a , M e x i c o , N i c a r a g u a a n d t h e D o m i n i c a n R e p u b l i c . A f u r t h e r g o a l f o r t h i s z o n e w o u l d be t o re-establish t h e p o s t a l chess a c t i v i t i e s i n t h e c u r r e n t l y i n a c t i v e c o u n t r i e s . T h e Report of the Zonal Director for the North American/Pacific Zone n o t e d a r e m a r k a b l e increase i n t h e n u m b e r o f p a r t i c i p a n t s since t h e p r e v i o u s year. T h i s w a s due t o t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f t h e p r o m o t i o n a l p r i z e t o u m a m e n t s - t h e r e g u l a r sections h a d a t t r a c t e d e x a c t l y t h e s a m e n u m b e r o f p a r t i c i p a n t s as last y e a r , i.e. 7 7 p l a y e r s . T h e n e w p r o m o t i o n a l s e c t i o n s h a d attracted 125 players. T h e first "interzonal t e a m m a t c h " (100 boards) between the N o r t h American/Pacific zone and the S o u t h A m e r i c a n z o n e h a d m a d e a successful start i n 1 9 9 6 . T h e Report of the Zonal Director for the African/Asian Zone e x p l a i n e d t h a t h e h a d a r r a n g e d f o r assistance f o r A f i i c a a n d A s i a . T h e S o u t h A f r i c a n F e d e r a t i o n w o u l d be r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e first, the F e d e r a t i o n o f Q a t a r f o r t h e second. T h e s e c o n d i n d i v i d u a l A f H c a n C h a m p i o n s h i p h a d started n o r m a l l y d u r i n g 1 9 9 5 w i t h 11 p l a y e r s from 8 c o u n t r i e s . T h e G r a n d m a s t e r t o u m a m e n t C N E C 15 years ( o r g a n i s e d b y t h e A l g e r i a n F e d e r a t i o n ) h a d a l r e a d y p r o d u c e d 3 G r a n d m a s t e r t i t l e s . A n o t h e r Grandmaster t o u m a m e n t w o u l d be arranged b y t h e Federation o f Qatar (see T o u m a m e n t A r r a n g e m e n t s ) . T h e i m m e d i a t e g o a l s are t o e n c o u r a g e t h e f e d e r a t i o n s i n t h e z o n e t o j o i n I C C F , t o start t h e f i r s t A s i a n C h a m p i o n s h i p i n t h e n e x t f e w y e a r s a n d t o start p r e p a r a t i o n s f o r t h e second Afroatin toumament i n co-operation w i t h C A P A .

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Congress,

B a d Neuenahr,

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10

Tournament Arrangements T h e f o l l o w i n g t o u m a m e n t s w e r e approved u n a n i m o u s l y b y the Congress: hidividual Toumaments Italy

Mario Napolitano Memorial G M t o u m a m e n t w i t h 15 p l a y e r s , start 1 9 9 7 o r 1 9 9 8 .

Pern

Esteban Canal M e m o r i a l G M t o u m a m e n t w i t h 15 p l a y e r s , start 1 9 . 4 . 1 9 9 7 .

Qatar

15 years Q a t a r C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C h e s s G M t o u m a m e n t w i t h 15 p l a y e r s , start 1 9 9 7 .

Russia

Vsevolod Kosenkov Memorial G M t o u m a m e n t w i t h 1 5 - 1 7 p l a y e r s , start 1 9 9 7 .

Sweden

S S K K 6 0 years G M t o u m a m e n t w i t h 15 p l a y e r s , start 1 9 9 8 .

L A D A C ( A R G ) Jorge Canale M e m o r i a l I M t o u m a m e n t w i t h 15 p l a y e r s . L A D A C ( A R G ) Hercules P a m p i n M e m o r i a l I M t o u m a m e n t w i t h 15 players. Netherlands

N B C 30 years I M t o u m a m e n t w i t h 1 3 - 1 5 p l a y e r s , start 1 9 9 7 .

Individual T o u m a m e n t s played by E m a i l CAPA (ARG)

Jiri Pelikan M e m o r i a l A G M t o u m a m e n t w i t h 15 p l a y e r s .

CAPA (ARG)

Jiri Pelikan M e m o r i a l B I M t o u m a m e n t w i t h 15 p l a y e r s .

Team Toumaments Russia

V I I B a l t i c Sea T e a m T o u m a m e n t 15 b o a r d s , start 1997.

Sweden i n f o r m e d that the third 5-way t e a m m a t c h (over 25 boards, n o title possibilities) for the N o r d i c c o u n t r i e s w o u l d start i n 1 9 9 7 . T h e Ratings Commissioner r e p o r t e d t h a t t h i s y e a r a l m o s t h a l f o f t h e 1995 r e s u l t s i n c o r p o r a t e d i n t o t h e s y s t e m h a d b e e n sent o n d i s k e t t e , w h i c h c o n s i d e r a b l y e a s e d h i s w o r k l o a d . D u r i n g t h e last y e a r t h e r e s u l t s o f 2 6 , 3 8 9 g a m e s b y 7 , 7 8 2 p l a y e r s i n 1,155 t o u m a m e n t s a n d 1 1 7 c o u n t r y m a t c h e s ICCF

Congress,

B a d Neuenahr,

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11

w e r e rated. T h e n e w m a i n l i s t ( v a l i d from 1/7/96) c o n t a i n e d 5 , 9 2 4 p l a y e r s ( 4 , 2 3 9 w i t h f i x e d r a t i n g s ) o f w h i c h 6 9 2 are t i t l e h o l d e r s . T h e r e w e r e 2 2 2 p l a y e r s o n t h e w o m e n ' s l i s t ( 1 5 6 w i t h f i x e d ratings). T h e c o m p l e t e d a t a b a n k n o w c o n t a i n e d 2 9 , 2 0 2 p l a y e r s ( 1 9 9 4 - 2 2 , 8 7 6 ) . T h e great increase w a s d u e t o a c o n s o l i d a t i o n o f t h e d a t a from t h e R a t i n g s S y s t e m w i t h t h e p l a y e r d a t a from t h e W o r l d a n d E u r o p e a n t o m m a m e n t o f f i c e s . T h e m a i n e f f o r t d u r i n g t h e n e x t y e a r w o u l d be t o f u r t h e r c o n s o l i d a t e t h i s d a t a b a n k , e s p e c i a l l y w i t h r e s p e c t t o c o r r e c t i n g t h e players' n a m e s . Report of the Qualifications Commissioner T h e w o r k o f t h e p r e v i o u s Q u a l i f i c a t i o n s C o m m i s s i o n h a d b e e n d i s c o n t i n u e d , a n d its f u n c t i o n s reallocated. T h e part dealing directly wdth the text o f the T o u m a m e n t R u l e s h a d been transferred to the D e p u t y President (Rules). T h e part dealing w i t h t o u m a m e n t qualifications m e n t i o n e d i n these m l e s ( m ' a i n l y §§6-37) h a d b e e n t r a n s f e r r e d t o t h e D e p u t y P r e s i d e n t ( T o u m a m e n t s ) . T h e r e m a i n d e r o f t h e w o r k w a s m a i n l y c o v e r e d b y t h e s e c t i o n " A w a r d o f t i t l e s " (§§49-57). A c o n s i d e r a b l e p a r t o f t i t l e a w a r d i n g w a s " a u t o m a t i c " , i.e. p r e s c r i b e d i n t h e r u l e s , a n d c o u l d t h u s b e handled w i t h fairly simple routines. Therefore i t was felt that a w e l l qualified (and fully computers u p p o r t e d ) Q u a l i f i c a t i o n s C o m m i s s i o n e r s h o u l d b e able t o d o t h e j o b a l o n e , w i t h o u t t h e assistance o f a full commission. Early i n 1996, G . D . P y r i c h ( S C O ) had taken over this n e w function, and o n his p r o p o s a l , t h e f o l l o w i n g n o r m s w e r e e s t a b l i s h e d : Worid Championship X V I I y4-Final

Section 1

W o r i d C h a m p i o n s h i p X X I !/2-final

Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Section 4 Section 5 Section 6 Section 7 Section 8 Section 9 Section 10 S e c t i o n 11 Section 12 S e c t i o n 13 Section 14

G M title I M title G M title I M title G M title I M title G M title I M title G M title I M title I M title I M title I M title I M title I M title I M title I M title I M title I M title I M title I M title I M title I M title I M title

Master N o r m Toumaments

S e c t i o n 13 Section 14 S e c t i o n 15

I M norm I M norm I M norm

Section 2 Section 3 Section 4 Section 5

ICCF

Congress,

Bad Neuenahr,

Germany

T ' place or 7 points replace 6Y2 p o i n t s V' p l a c e 7 points r ' place 6 points replace 6V2 points 8 points 8 points 8 points 8 points 8 points 8 points 8V2 p o i n t s 7V2 points 8 points 8 points 8 points lYi p o i n t s 8 points 8 points 6 points 6 points 6 points

lOVz

points

12

Master N o r m Tournaments (continued)

S e c t i o n 16

Section 31

I M norm ILM norm I M norm I M norm I M norm I M norm I M norm I M norm I L M norm I M norm I M norm I M norm I M norm I M norm I M norm I L M norm I M norm I L M norm I M norm I L M norm I M norm

6 points 2 Va p o i n t s 6V2 p o i n t s 6 points 6 points 6 points 6 points 6V2 p o i n t s IVz p o i n t s 6 points SVi p o i n t s 6'/a p o i n t s 6V2 p o i n t s 6 points 6'A p o i n t s 2 points 6Y2 p o i n t s 2 V 2 points 6V2 p o i n t s 3 points 6 points

C A D A P Championship

F i n a l 11

I M norm

6 points

European Championship

EU-FSM EU-FSM EU-FSM EU-FSM

IM IM IM IM

8V2 p o i n t s SV2 p o i n t s 8 points 8 points

Section Section Section Section Section Section

17 18 19 20 21 22

Section Section Section Section Section Section

23 24 25 26 27 28

Section 29 Section 30

Invitational toumaments Bartolome Marcussi M e m o r i a l ( A R G - C A P A )

55 56 57 58

title title title title

G M title I M title

10 p o i n t s 6'/2 p o i n t s

I M title I M title

11 points 11 p o i n t s

Lascurain M e m o r i a l ( A R G - L A D A C )

G M title I M title

9 points 6 points

Loeffler M e m o r i a l ( A R G - L A D A C )

I M title

9 points

Pider M e m o r i a l ( A R G - L A D A C )

I M title

9 points

Secchi V i g n e a u M e m o r i a l ( A R G - L A D A C )

G M title I M title

9Y2 p o i n t s 7 points

John F. Cleeve M e m o r i a l ( C A N )

G M title I M title

9 points 6 points

Martinez Acosta Memorial ( A R G - C A P A )

ICCF

Congress,

B a d Neuenahr,

Germany

Group A Group B

13

Per-Erik E k b l o m M e m o r i a l ( F I N )

I M title

SVz p o i n t s

Nordbalt Championship I( I S D )

I M title

10 p o i n t s

Estrin Memorial ( R U S )

G M title I M title

SVi p o i n t s 6 points

Vidmar MemorialH (SLO)

G M title I M title

9 points 6 points

Chepuraoy M e m o r i a l ( U K R )

I M title

9 points

Board 1 Board 2 Boards Board 4 Board 5 Board 6 Board 7

IMnorm IMnorm IMnorm IMnorm IMnorm I M norm IMnorm

6 6 7 7 7 8 8

EU-FFSM 1 Final

I L M n o r m 7 points I M title 10 p o i n t s

North Atlantic Team Toumament I V ( N O R )

Changes to norms (established p r e v i o u s l y ) European Ladies' Championship Peru Cup 2

points points points points points points points

Title Awards T h e P o l i s h F e d e r a t i o n h a d s u b m i t t e d a n a p p l i c a t i o n u n d e r §52f o f t h e R u l e s o f P l a y ( o l d ) f o r t h e award o f t h e title International M a s t e r t o M . M a t l a k o n t h e grounds o f substantial overqualification o n board 2 o f the F i n a l o f O l y m p i a d X I . T h i s was approved unanimously b y the Congress. A p p l i c a t i o n s u n d e r §56c o f t h e R u l e s o f P l a y ( o l d ) f o r t h e a w a r d o f t h e t i t l e I n t e r n a t i o n a l A r b i t e r were submitted b y the D a n i s h Federation o n behalf o f E . Nielsen ( t ) , b y the Federation o f L u x e m b o u r g o n b e h a l f o f T . K l a u n e r , b y t h e F e d e r a t i o n o f A r g e n t i n a ( C A P A ) o n b e h a l f o f J.S. Morgado and b y t h e Federation o f A r g e n t i n a ( L A D A C ) o n behalf o f J.D. Finkelstein. These applications w e r e approved u n a n i m o u s l y b y the Congress. Correspondence Chess Grandmaster U. Andersson ( S V E ) H. Burger ( G E R ) D r . S. B u s e m a n n ( G E R ) H.M. Elwert(GER) A. Gipslis ( L A T )

G.F. Gottardi ( S W Z ) M . W . Johnson ( E N G ) D.A. Kilgour (SCO) T. Kokkila (FIN) V . Normantas ( L T U )

M . Prizant ( E N G ) B. S l i w a ( P O L ) P. Stigar ( N O R ) I. V e i n g e r ( I S L )

International Correspondence Chess Master M.B.K. Al-Thani ( Q T R ) R . F . de A l v a r e n g a ( B R S ) ICCF

Congress,

B a d Neuenahr,

J. A n d e r s e n ( G E R ) H. Berglof (GER) Germany

W. Bielecki (POL) Z. Blak ( P O L ) 14

C. A . B l a n c o ( G U A ) V. Borisov ( R U S ) W. Bricke ( G E R ) H, Bruning ( G E R ) J.E. C l a r i z z a ( A R G ) J A. Enricci ( A R G ) I. Firnhaber ( G E R ) U. Fremiotti ( I T A ) M . Gessat ( G E R ) I. Gosztola ( H U N ) W . Grohde ( G E R ) E. Gromotka ( G E R ) H . Gundersen ( N O R ) L. Gyorkos ( H U N ) T, Hannebauer ( G E R ) K.B. Harman ( E N G ) V. Hefka ( S L K ) Dr. H - 0 . Herr ( G E R ) G. H e y l ( G E R ) R. H i l t u n e n ( F I N ) R. H o l m b e r g ( S V E ) H. Holmsgaard ( D E N ) M . Y u . Jakhkind ( U K R )

S. J a r d o r f ( D E N ) M . Jasinski ( P O L ) A.N. Kashlyak ( R U S ) S.O. K h l u s e v i c h ( R U S ) A.S. K o n e v ( R U S ) V . A . Konstantinov ( R U S ) S.P. K u z n e t s o v ( U K R ) N . Lauritsen ( D E N ) G. Lepikhov ( U K R ) M . Matlak (POL) S.J. M e z h e b i t s k y ( U K R ) J. M u l a r c z y k ( P O L ) S. M u r a v j e v ( U K R ) U . Nebel ( G E R ) A. Oomen ( N L D ) R . Pfretzschner ( G E R ) C.A. Piccon ( A R G ) M . Pichler ( G E R ) T. Pitkaranta ( F I N ) K . Pitksar ( t ) ( E S T ) K. Podzielny ( G E R ) J . M . Pons R i b o t ( E S P ) C. Pragua ( G E R )

C.R. Quaresma ( P O R ) P. R a i v i o ( F I N ) L.S. Reis ( P O R ) J.S. R o s e n s t e i n ( I S L ) T . Saarenpaa ( F I N ) A . G. Savage ( U S A ) R. Sielaff ( G E R ) W . Siewert ( G E R ) E . H . Sprenger ( N L D ) H . Svane ( D E N ) C. T e i c h m a n n ( C Z E ) M . Tettinek ( D E N ) B. Tsoukkerman ( N L D ) M.Voss(GER) G. W a l k e r ( S W Z ) K. Weber ( G E R ) M.W. Wills (ENG) G.A. Yakobson ( R U S ) N . G. Yakovlev ( R U S ) R. Zajontz ( G E R ) J. Z v e r j a k a ( U K R )

2i

International Correspondence Chess Lady Master H. Kubikova (CZE) V . Nejezchlebova ( C Z E )

M . Nemeth (HUN) L P . da C . S i m o n s e n ( B R S )

B . Vandecasteele ( B R S )

T . Klauner ( L U X ) C.A. Macgregor ( S C O )

J. S. M o r g a d o ( A R G ) E. Nielsen ( t ) ( D E N )

International A r b i t e r o f the I C C F C. E s p i n d o l a ( A R G ) J.D. Finkelstein ( A R G )

Report of the Deputy President (Development) T h e D e v e l o p m e n t R e p o r t , w h i c h h a d a l r e a d y b e e n sent t o a l l m e m b e r f e d e r a t i o n s , w ^ s r e v i e w e d . T h e D e v e l o p m e n t Q u e s t i o r m a i r e sent o u t e a r l i e r i n 1 9 9 6 h a d r e c e i v e d a n e x c e l l e n t r e s p o n s e from a l m o s t 6 0 delegates a n d o f f i c i a l s , f r o m 4 0 d i f f e r e n t c o u n t r i e s . A n o v e r v i e w o f t h e responses w a s presented t o C o n g r e s s . A l l ideas a n d suggestions r e c e i v e d w o u l d b e c o n s i d e r e d b y t h e D e v e l o p m e n t C o m m i t t e e , W o r k i n g G r o u p s o r o t h e r a p p r o p r i a t e I C C F o f f i c i a l s . I t w a s proposed that the q u e s t i o n n a i r e process s h o u l d b e r e p e a t e d e v e r y 2 t o 3 years. N e w Technologies F o l l o w i n g the problems w i t h l E C G , it had been decided that I C C F should establish its o w n E m a i l T o u m a m e n t O f f i c e ( T O ) a n d M r J.S. M o r g a d o , a n d h i s C A P A colleagues i n A r g e n t i n a , h a d w i l l i n g l y t a k e n responsibility for this office. I t was the i n t e n t i o n that I C C F should q u i c k l y become s e l f - s u f f i c i e n t f o r a l l aspects o f t h e E m a i l t o u m a m e n t s a n d p u b l i p i t y , i n c l u d i n g e x p l o i t i n g t h e ICCF

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W o r l d W i d e W e b . T h e r a n g e o f E m a i l t o u m a m e n t s agreed at t h e 1 9 9 5 C o n g r e s s w o u l d b e continued and the Deputy President ( T o u m a m e n t s ) and Deputy President (Development) were given delegated authority t o extend the range o f I C C F E m a i l t o u m a m e n t s , i f considered appropriate. I t w a s a l s o n o t e d b y C o n g r e s s t h a t t h e r e m a y be a n e e d f o r a n A u t o r e s p o n d e r a n d a n I C C F E m a i l address l i s t w o u l d b e d e v e l o p e d f o r fast d i s t r i b u t i o n o f i n f o r m a t i o n . I t w a s c o n s i d e r e d essential t h a t e a c h m e m b e r f e d e r a t i o n s h o u l d q u i c k l y e s t a b l i s h i t s o w n E m a i l c o n t a c t address. T h e d i s c u s s i o n paper r e l a t i n g t o C o n g r e s s / P r e s i d i u m m e e t i n g s r e c e i v e d general s u p p o r t a n d t h e f o l l o w i n g f i n a n c i a l p r i n c i p l e s w e r e a g r e e d ( w i t h 1 v o t e a g a i n s t ) , f o r a p p l i c a t i o n from 1.1.1998 as follows: 1. E n c o u r a g e a l l c o u n t r i e s ( l a r g e a n d s m a l l ) t o c o n s i d e r h o s t i n g a n I C C F m e e t i n g , b y r e s t r i c t i n g costs t o a r e a s o n a b l e l e v e l f o r t h e h o s t f e d e r a t i o n . 2. E a c h m e m b e r c o u n t r y s h o u l d be r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e costs o f s e n d i n g its n o m i n a t e d delegate t o a t t e n d Congresses. 3. W h e n a n e l e c t e d I C C F E x e c u t i v e O f f i c e r ( P r e s i d i u m M e m b e r ) is n o t t h e n o m i n a t e d delegate o f a c o v m t r y , t h e n I C C F s h o u l d p r o v i d e s o m e f i n a n c i a l assistance t o enable attendance at Congresses. 4. T h e basis f o r a p p o r t i o n m e n t o f m e e t i n g costs b e t w e e n I C C F a n d h o s t f e d e r a t i o n s s h o u l d be p u b l i s h e d , as a p p r o v e d b y C o n g r e s s . 5. W h e r e a separate P r e s i d i u m m e e t i n g is c o n s i d e r e d e s s e n t i a l , t h e n I C C F s h o u l d subsidise t r a v e l costs, subject t o C o n g r e s s a p p r o v a l . Congress t h e n c o n s i d e r e d t h e p r o p o s e d o v e r a l l F i n a n c i a l S t r a t e g y f o r I C C F , a n d t h e f o l l o w i n g p r i n c i p l e s w e r e agreed ( w i t h 1 v o t e against a n d 1 a b s t e n t i o n ) : 1. E n s u r e o n g o i n g v i a b i l i t y , b y m a i n t a i n i n g at least C H F 5 0 , 0 0 0 i n secure i n v e s t m e n t s . 2. F a c i l i t a t e o n g o i n g d e v e l o p m e n t b y c r e a t i n g a f u n d o f C H F 2 5 , 0 0 0 , t o be used a c c o r d i n g t o a r m u a l budgets a u t h o r i s e d b y C o n g r e s s . 3. C o n g r e s s a n d P r e s i d i u m subsidies t o b e f i n a n c e d f r o m n o n - t o u m a m e n t r e v e n u e s a n d W o r l d C u p surpluses. 4. S p o n s o r s h i p t o be f o u n d f o r T i t l e a n d T e a m t o u m a m e n t s a n d W o r l d C u p s f o r t r o p h i e s / p r i z e s . 5. T o u m a m e n t fees r e v e n u e t o e q u a t e t o e x p e n d i t u r e , i n c l u d i n g c e r t i f i c a t e s / b o o k prizes f o r n o n title (or W o r l d Cup) toumaments. 6. O v e r a l l o b j e c t i v e t o b a l a n c e i n c o m e / e x p e n d i t u r e a n n u a l l y ( w i t h budgets e s t a b l i s h e d f o r t h e following year). T h e D e p u t y President ( D e v e l o p m e n t ) presented proposals for I C C F Sponsorship P o l i c y and the f o l l o w i n g principles w e r e adopted u n a n i m o u s l y : 1. a p o r t f o l i o ( w i t h o p t i o n s ) s h o u l d be p r e p a r e d f o r p r e s e n t a t i o n s t o p o t e n t i a l sponsors. 2. t h e s t y l e o f s p o n s o r s h i p s h o u l d be, f o r e x a m p l e , " I C C F W o r l d C C C h a m p i o n s h i p , s p o n s o r e d by 73

3. a l l sponsors m u s t be acceptable t o I C C F . 4. p r i m a r y targets f o r s p o n s o r s h i p w o u l d b e W o r l d C h a m p i o n s h i p s , O l y m p i a d s , W o r l d C u p s a n d s p e c i a l e v e n t s s u c h as F a x a n d E m a i l t o u m a m e n t s , p a r t i c u l a r l y t h o s e e m b r a c i n g d e v e l o p i n g countries. 5. t h e r a n g e o f events m a y b e e x p a n d e d later.

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T h e f o l l o w i n g changes w e r e announced to the D e v e l o p m e n t W o r k i n g Groups: The Development C o m m i t t e e n o w comprised: A . P . B o r w e l l ( S C O ) - C h a i r m a n ; D r . F . B a u m b a c h ( G E R ) ; S-A. K r o n b e r g ( S V E ) ; J.S. M o r g a d o ( A R G - C A P A ) ; A.J.C. Rawlings (ENG). The W o r k i n g Groups n o w comprised: Documents and Promotions Dr. F. B a u m b a c h ( G E R ) - C h a i r m a n ; W . B i e l e c k i ( P O L ) ; G. Binder ( G E R ) ; big. P. Diaconescu ( R O M ) ; D r . C.J. Gon(?alves ( A R G - L A D A C ) , Y e . P . K a r e l i n ( R U S ) ; M . S a m r a o u i ( A L G ) . External Contacts S-A. K r o n b e r g ( S V E ) - C h a i r m a n ; S - A . B e s s i s ( F R A ) ; C . F l o r e s G u t i e r r e z ( E S P ) ; S . Y a . Grodzensky ( R U S ) ; T . D . Harding ( I R L ) ; G. Radosztics ( O S T ) . Technologies Development J.S. M o r g a d o ( A R G - C A P A ) - C h a i r m a n ; R . G . A l v a r e z ( A R G - C A P A ) ; P . F . H e g o b u r u ( A R G C A P A ) ; J.K. M a c D o n a l d ( C A N ) ; A.J.C. R a w l i n g s ( E N G ) ; B . Sinclair ( N Z D ) ; D . S m i t ( N L D ) ; R. W i k m a n (FIN). Planning Group A . J . C . R a w l i n g s ( E N G ) - C h a i r m a n ; D r . J. C a n i b a l ( C Z E ) ; H - E . L i i e r s ( G E R ) ; V . D . P a n d i t ( I N D ) ; G.D. P y r i c h ( S C O ) ; P. Soderberg ( S V E ) ; A . A . v a n ' t R i e t ( N L D ) ; P r o f M . Zavanelli ( U S A ) . T h e f o l l o w i n g c h a n g e s / a d d i t i o n s w o u l d be m a d e t o t h e D e v e l o p m e n t S t r a t e g y (as a p p e n d e d t o the 1995 D e v e l o p m e n t R e p o r t ) a n d w o u l d b e p r o g r e s s e d d u r i n g t h e n e x t year. 3.2.3 a d d t h e w o r d s "... p a r t i c u l a r l y t o e n s u r e t h e i r c o m p l e t i o n w i t h i n a 3-year t i m e s p a n . " (Planning Group) 3.2.4 F u r t h e r d e v e l o p t h e r a n g e o f I C C F t o u m a m e n t s o f f e r e d f o r p a r t i c i p a t i o n u s i n g e l e c t r o n i c mail, including team toumaments. (Planning and Technologies Groups) 3.4.5 C o n s i d e r t h e m o s t s u i t a b l e a r r a n g e m e n t s f o r a l l t y p e s o f I C C F D o c u m e n t a t i o n a n d A r c h i v e s , i n c l u d i n g a l l possibilities for preservation o f gamescores. ( P l a n n i n g G r o u p i n conjunction w i t h o t h e r g r o u p s , as a p p r o p r i a t e ) . T h e D e v e l o p m e n t Q u e s t i o n n a i r e s h a d r e v e a l e d a n e e d f o r m o r e c o r r e s p o n d e n c e chess n e w s i n t h e E n g l i s h language. C o i n c i d e n t a l l y , a n e w C C m a g a z i n e i n t h i s language h a d b e e n i n i t i a t e d p r i v a t e l y i n I r e l a n d ( C h e s s M a i l ) . T h e I C C F P r e s i d e n t w i s h e d success t o t h i s n e w m a g a z i n e . H e e x p l a i n e d that, i n t h e i m m e d i a t e f u t u r e , special p r e f e r e n c e s c o u l d n o t be g i v e n b y I C C F . T h e I C C F P r e s i d e n t w a s p l e a s e d t h a t h i s e x t e n d e d e x p l a n a t i o n w a s a c c e p t e d b y t h e E d i t o r o f Chess M a i l . I t w a s r e p o r t e d t h a t s l E d i t r i c e h a d n o t f u l f i l l e d its o b l i g a t i o n s u n d e r t h e A g r e e m e n t s i g n e d last year. I t w a s r e c o m m e n d e d b y t h e D e p u t y P r e s i d e n t ( D e v e l o p m e n t ) t h a t f u r t h e r e n d e a v o u r s s h o u l d be m a d e w i t h t h i s p u b l i s h e r t o t r y t o a c h i e v e c o m p l i a n c e w i t h t h e A g r e e m e n t i n t h e n e x t f e w m o n t h s . I f t h i s p r o v e d t o be u n s u c c e s s f i i l , i t w o u l d b e r e c o m m e n d e d t o C o n g r e s s t h a t t h e A g r e e m e n t b e d i s c o n t i n u e d , a n d t h e r i g h t t o use t h e I C C F l o g o . P r e s i d e n t ' s l e t t e r a n d r e p r o d u c t i o n o f I C C F documents w o u l d be w i t h d r a w n . ICCF

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A n e x c e l l e n t p r o p o s a l from t h e A u s f r a l i a n f e d e r a t i o n t h a t I C C F s h o u l d p u b l i s h a n " I C C F 2 0 0 0 " book was not yet ready for discussion b y Congress but i t w o u l d b e taken f o r w a r d b y t h e Development Committee. T h e D e v e l o p m e n t C o m m i t t e e i s t o g i v e u r g e n t c o n s i d e r a t i o n t o fiiture a r r a n g e m e n t s f o r I C C F A r c h i v e s , i n c l u d i n g c o p i e s o f C C p u b l i c a t i o n s , m e m o r a b i l i a , g a m e s c o r e s , etc. I n t h e m e a n t i m e , m e m b e r f e d e r a t i o n s s h o u l d s e n d c o p i e s o f m a g a z i n e s , etc. t o : Alan Rawlings 9 Hemes Road Oxford 0 X 2 7 P X England i n d i c a t i n g t h a t t h e y are f o r I C C F A r c h i v e s . T o u m a m e n t Secretaries s h o u l d r e t a i n copies o f a l l g a m e scores u n t i l m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n i s p r o v i d e d ; n o fiirther g a m e scores s h o u l d be f o r w a r d e d t o slEditrice until future intentions have been clarified. T h e Deputy President ( D e v e l o p m e n t ) thanked members o f the Development C o m m i t t e e and W o r k i n g G r o u p s f o r t h e i r ideas a n d c o n s i d e r a b l e e f f o r t s d u r i n g t h e last year. H e c o n c l u d e d b y t h a n k i n g a l l delegates a n d o f f i c i a l s f o r t h e i r p a r t i c i p a t i o n a n d h e expected t h e i r c o n t i n u e d contributions to this important w o r k . Fees (from 1 . 1 . 1 9 9 7 ) I t w a s a g r e e d ( w i t h 3 a b s t e n t i o n s ) t h a t t h e r e s h o u l d b e n o e n t r y fees f o r f u t u r e W o r l d Championship Finals (code 106) and Ladies C h a m p i o n s h i p F i n a l s (code 109). T h e f o l l o w i n g changes i n e n t r y fees w e r e a g r e e d u n a n i m o u s l y : Code 107 108 111 112 116 117 125 127 128

Toumament W o r l d I n d i v i d u a l ^/4-Final W o r l d Individual Vi-Final W o r l d Individual 7-player W o r l d I n d i v i d u a l 15-player World Thematic Master N o r m European Individual Championship European Individual 7-player E u r o p e a n Individual 15-player

New CHF CHF CHF CHF CHF CHF CHF CHF CHF

Fee (1.1.1997) 20 30 5 8 6 25 10 7 10

T o e n c o u r a g e greater p a r t i c i p a t i o n , n o i n c r e a s e s w e r e p r o p o s e d f o r L a d i e s ' T o u m a m e n t fees. A p r o p o s a l f r o m t h e R a t i n g s C o m m i s s i o n e r t o p r o v i d e e x t r a c o p i e s o f t h e r a t i n g lists, e i t h e r w r i t t e n o r o n d i s k e t t e ( o n p a y m e n t o f fees t o c o v e r t h e c o s t ) w a s a c c e p t e d u n a n i m o u s l y . A n order f o r m w o u l d be sent t o e a c h m e m b e r f e d e r a t i o n at t h e b e g i i m i n g o f e a c h year. Report of the Deputy President (Rules)

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T h e Deputy President (Rules) reported that i n his w o r k i n g field four commissions had been formed: the T o i m i a m e n t Rules commission, the R a t i n g Rules commission, the Playing Rules commission and the w o r k i n g group Guidelines. There was still a vacancy for the chairmanship o f the w o r k i n g g r o u p G u i d e l i n e s . C o n g r e s s i n d i c a t e d t h a t a n A p p e a l s C o m m i s s i o n m u s t be i n s t a l l e d as s o o n as possible. R u l e s f o r t h i s m u s t be d e v e l o p e d i n s u c h a w a y t h a t a n a r b i t e r deals w i t h a n appeal m u s t a l w a y s b e i n d e p e n d e n t . W i t h i n t h e T o u m a m e n t R u l e s c o m m i s s i o n , a s m a l l e r g r o u p w o u l d be f o r m e d t o w o r k o n a draft f o r the r e v i s i o n o f t h e " R u l e s o f P l a y " ( o l d ) . Congress c o n f i r m e d t h r e e changes t o t h e R u l e s o f P l a y ( o l d ) . T h e f i r s t o n e w a s t o establish a n e w t h r e e - y e a r l y c y c l e f o r t h e O l y m p i a d s . T h e f i n a l r o i m d o f e a c h c y c l e w o u l d start s i x years after t h e c o r r e s p o n d i n g P r e l i m i n a r y sections ( o n e v o t e against). T h e s e c o n d c h a n g e w a s t h a t i n t h e f u t u r e , t i t l e h o l d e r s w o u l d n o l o n g e r h a v e a fixed r a t i n g a u t o m a t i c a l l y ( 1 a b s t e n t i o n ) . A n d finally, a n e w paragraph a b o u t t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e t i t l e C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C h e s s L a d i e s G r a n d m a s t e r w a s accepted u n a n i m o u s l y , ft w a s also d e c i d e d t h a t t h i s t i t l e w o u l d be a w a r d e d t o t h o s e l a d y players w h o w o u l d h a v e q u a l i f i e d f o r t h i s t i t l e i n t h e past i f t h i s m l i n g h a d e x i s t e d p r e v i o u s l y . After m o r e than three years o f hard w o r k by the R u l e s C o m m i s s i o n , Congress accepted ( w i t h 2 votes a g a i n s t ) t h e n e w P l a y i n g R u l e s t o r e p l a c e t h e T o u m a m e n t R u l e s ( o l d ) . T h e s e n e w P l a y i n g R u l e s w o u l d be o p e r a t i o n a l f o r a l l t o u m a m e n t s s t a r t i n g from 1.4.1997. T h e P l a y i n g R u l e s are appended t o t h e s e m i n u t e s . T r a n s l a t i o n s i n t o F r e n c h , G e r m a n , R u s s i a n a n d S p a n i s h h a v e already b e e n p r e p a r e d . T h e n e w P l a y i n g R u l e s w o u l d be sent t o t h e p l a y e r s t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e start lists. A s u m m a r y o f t h e m a j o r changes w o u l d be p r e p a r e d t o s e n d t o t h e f e d e r a t i o n s as s o o n as possible i n order t o i n f o r m t h e i r p l a y e r s . I t w a s t h e i n t e n t i o n t h a t t h e n e w P l a y i n g R u l e s w o u l d n o t be c h a n g e d imtil 1.1.2001. T h e D e p u t y President (Rules) heartily thanked M r R . G i l l m a n under whose e x c e l l e n t guidance t h e P l a y i n g R u l e s ( n e w ) h a d b e e n c o n s t m c t e d . Commission members Toumament Rules commission A . A . van ' t R i e t ( N L D ) - C h a i r m a n ; G. B i n d e r ( G E R ) , S.Ya. Grodzensky ( R U S ) ; H - E . Luers (GER); G.D. Pyrich (SCO); A.J.C. Rawlings ( E N G ) ; C.A. Rinaldi ( A R G ) ; M : Samraoui (ALG); R. W i k m a n (FIN); Prof M . Zavanelli (USA). Rating Rules commission G. B i n d e r ( G E R ) - C h a i r m a n ; J . W . A l i n g h P r i n s ( N L D ) ; H - E . L i i e r s ( G E R ) ; G . D . P y r i c h ( S C O ) ; A . A . R e z v y a k o v ( R U S ) ; A . A . v a n ' t R i e t ( N L D ) ; J.A. W h a r r i e r ( E N G ) . Playing Rules commission D r . J. C a n i b a l ( C Z E ) - C h a i r m a n ; R . B e r t h e l s e n ( N O R ) ; S - A . Bessis ( F R A ) ; B . V . B r a m b u r g (RUS); T . D . Harding (IRL); D. Smit (NLD); E. Winkler (GER). Working Group Guidelines W . Bielecki ( P O L ) ; A . P . B o r w e l l ( S C O ) ; J.A. Nielsen ( D E N ) ; N . Pafrici ( A R G ) ; B . A . R o z m o v (RUS); G.M. Tani (ITA).

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Changes in the Rules of Play (old) §20 T h e C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C h e s s O l y m p i a d s h a l l b e p l a y e d i n a t h r e e y e a r l y c y c l e . T h e n u m b e r o f p l a y e r s i n a t e a m s h a l l b e set o u t i n t h e a r m o u n c e m e n t . §21 T h e t o u m a m e n t s s h a l l c o n s i s t o f a p r e l i m i n a r y r o u n d a n d a f i n a l r o u n d . T h e p r e l i m i n a r y r o i m d s h a l l n o t c o n t i n u e l o n g e r t h a n f i v e years. T h e f i n a l r o u n d s h a l l n o t ©ensist o f m o r e t h a n 11 t e a m s . §23 T h e f i r s t t h r e e t e a m s o f e a c h f i n a l q u a l i f y f o r t h e n e x t b u t o n e f i n a l r o i m d . T h e r i g h t t o b e p r o m o t e d from t h e p r e l i m i n a r i e s s h a l l b e d e t e r m i n e d b y t h e I C C F P r e s i d i u m a t t h e start o f the t o u m a m e n t . T h e I C C F P r e s i d i u m shall decide o n any application n o t covered b y this regulation. §47 [ C h a n g e s ] S t r i k e t h e w o r d s " o r i f he has a t i t l e " i n t h e second sentence a n d s t r i k e t h e f o u r t h sentence " T i t l e h o l d e r s h a v e a f i x e d r a t i n g i n a n y case". R e n u m b e r §§53-63 as §§54-64. §53 [ N e w ] T h e t i t l e o f " C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C h e s s L a d i e s G r a n d m a s t e r " i s n o t l i m i t e d i n t i m e a n d i s awarded to: a) t h o s e p l a y e r s w h o g a i n places 1-3 i n t h e W o r l d L a d i e s ' C h a m p i o n s h i p ; b) those p l a y e r s w h o i n t h a t t o u m a m e n t w i t h as m a n y p o i n t s as t h e t h i r d placed, s o l o n g as t h i s d o e s n o t e x t e n d b e y o n d t h e f i f t h place; c) t h e p l a y e r w h o has t h e b e s t r e s u l t o n B o a r d 1 i n t h e F i n a l o f the C o r r e s p o n d e n c e Chess L a d i e s ' O l y m p i a d ( t i e b r e a k i n g b y p o i n t e v a l u a t i o n ) as w e l l as a n y o t h e r p l a y e r o n t h i s b o a r d w h o scores a t least 7 5 % o f t h e p o s s i b l e p o i n t s d) those p l a y e r s w h o g a i n a L a d i e s ' G r a n d m a s t e r R e s u l t i n a W o r l d L a d i e s ' Championship Final e) those players w h o gain one or m o r e Ladies' Grandmaster Results i n international title t o u m a m e n t s w i t h a t o t a l o f at least 12 g a m e s f) those players w h o gain a Ladies' Grandmaster R e s u l t i n a n international title t o u m a m e n t w i t h a t least e i g h t g a m e s , p r o v i d e d t h e y h a d a f i x e d r a t i n g o f at least 2 2 5 0 prior to c o m m e n c e m e n t o f the t o u m a m e n t g) those players f o r w h o their national federation makes a n appropriately qualified application. F o r this a t w o - t h i r d s m a j o r i t y vote o f Congress must be obtained. L a d i e s ' G r a n d m a s t e r R e s u l t s u n d e r d ) , e ) a n d f ) a b o v e are n o t v a l i d w h e n f e w e r t h a n onet h i r d o f t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s are L a d i e s ' G r a n d m a s t e r s o r p l a y e r s w i t h a fixed r a t i n g o f at least 2300. Commissions A s a c o n s e q u e n c e o f t h e n e w S t a t u t e s a l l p r e v i o u s l y e s t a b l i s h e d C o m m i s s i o n s h a d n o w been replaced b y t h e C o m m i s s i o n s a n d W o r k i n g G r o u p s m e n t i o n e d i n these M i n u t e s . T h e I C C F President thanked a l l m e m b e r s o f these C o m m i s s i o n s for their valuable contributions for I C C F i n e a r l i e r years. T h e I C C F Liaison O f f i c e r to FIDE r e p o r t e d t h a t h e h a d v i s i t e d t h e F I D E C o n g r e s s 1995. Because t h e r e w a s m u c h c o n f u s i o n i n F I D E a t t h a t C o n g r e s s i t h a d n o t b e e n p o s s i b l e t o discuss ICCF

Congress,

B a d Neuenahr,

Germany

20

officially the participation o f a n I C C F t e a m i n t h e 1996 FEDE O l y m p i a d . There still was a probability that such a t e a m could compete i n the F I D E O l y m p i a d i n 1998 and the Liaison Officer, t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e I C C F P r e s i d e n t , w a s a l r e a d y w o r k i n g o u t s o m e necessary d e t a i l s i n p r e p a r a t i o n f o r s u c h p a r t i c i p a t i o n . I n t h a t r e g a r d , t h e I C C F P r e s i d e n t i n f o r m e d C o n g r e s s t h a t he h a d f o u n d a sponsor f o r t h o s e e x p e n s e s t h a t c o u l d n o t b e b o r n e b y I C C F . T h i s n e w s w a s w e l c o m e d e n t h u s i a s t i c a l l y b y t h e delegates. A l s o , a n a g r e e m e n t c o u l d n o t b e r e a c h e d at t h e 1995 F I D E C o n g r e s s t o d e f i n e w h i c h p a r t o f chess by "data h i g h w a y s " belonged to F E D E o r t o I C C F . Matters pertaining to Internal Affairs T h e I C C F P r e s i d e n t i n f o r m e d t h a t M r R . L i n d r o o s w a s t r a v e l l i n g t o C h i n a after t h e Congress, c a r r y i n g g r e e t i n g s fi-om t h e I C C F P r e s i d e n t i n o r d e r t o t r y t o e s t a b l i s h c l o s e r contacts w i t h a u t h o r i t i e s o f t h e C h i n e s e o v e r t h e b o a r d chess f e d e r a t i o n . D u r i n g the year, there had been correspondence about the maintenance o f the grave o f M r s Bertl von M a s s o w and I C C F ' s Honorary President M r Hans-Werner v o n Massow. I C C F was informed t h a t d i f f i c u l t i e s i n p a y m e n t o f t h e fees h a d a r i s e n a n d n o o t h e r sources c o u l d be f o u n d t o p a y those fees. U n a n i m o u s l y , t h e C o n g r e s s a c c e p t e d a p r o p o s a l fi-om t h e I C C F P r e s i d e n t a n d t h e B d F t o m a k e a n a r r a n g e m e n t f o r t h e fees t o b e p a i d j o i n t l y b y t h o s e f e d e r a t i o n s . F o r p r a c t i c a l reasons, i t was arranged that the payment w o u l d be made b y B d F and reimbursed b y I C C F for 5 0 % for the n e x t p e r i o d o f 10 years. T h e C o n g r e s s w i s h e d t o discuss t h e r e t i r e m e n t o f t h e P r e s i d e n t , w h o v o l u n t a r i l y left t h e m e e t i n g at this point. T h e r e w a s a d i s c u s s i o n a b o u t t h e m o t i v a t i o n s f o r t h e P r e s i d e n t ' s r e t i r e m e n t . A p e t i t i o n h a d been signed b y a m a j o r i t y o f t h e delegates, r e q u e s t i n g t h e P r e s i d e n t t o r e c o n s i d e r h i s d e c i s i o n . T h e o u t c o m e h a d b e e n s h o w n t o t h e P r e s i d e n t , w h o h a d e x p r e s s l y a s k e d n o t t o see t h e n a m e s , f o r o b v i o u s reasons. T h i s p e t i t i o n d i d n o t l e a d t o t h e g o a l d e s i r e d b y t h e s i g n a t o r i e s . T h e r e w a s t h e n d i s c u s s i o n a b o u t t h e f u t u r e , p a r t i c u l a r l y c o n c e r n i n g t h e I C C F Statutes a n d procedures f o r b y - e l e c t i o n s , w h i c h w e r e n o t c l e a r l y d e f i n e d . H o w e v e r , n o c o n c l u s i o n s w e r e r e a c h e d b u t t h e n e c e s s a r y a r r a n g e m e n t s w o u l d be c o n s i d e r e d l a t e r b y t h e P r e s i d i u m . T h e President returned t o t h e meeting. M r A . P . B o r w e l l , D e p u t y President (Development), requested p e r m i s s i o n t o address t h e C o n g r e s s . W i t h sincere w o r d s o f a p p r e c i a t i o n , h e p a i n t e d a p o r t r a i t o f t h e r e t i r i n g I C C F P r e s i d e n t . H i s c o n t r i b u t i o n t o i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o r r e s p o n d e n c e chess a n d t o I C C F h a d b e e n i m m e n s e f o r o v e r 4 0 y e a r s , w i t h m o r e t h a n 2 5 o f t h e m as a m e m b e r o f t h e Presidium. H e h a d great p l e a s u r e i n a d v i s i n g t h a t C o n g r e s s h a d d e c i d e d u n a n i m o u s l y a n d w i t h great acclamation t o offer the H o n o r a r y Presidency to M r H . J . Mostert. I n h i s r e p l y t h e I C C F P r e s i d e n t stated t h a t h e w a s r a t h e r r e l u c t a n t t o accept t h i s h o n o u r , r e f e r r i n g t o h i s m e n t i o n e d reasons f o r h i s r e t i r e m e n t . A t t h e s a m e t i m e , h e e x p r e s s e d h i s w i s h t o be h e l p f u l t o I C C F i n t h e f i i t u r e a n d t h e r e f o r e a c c e p t e d t h e a w a r d w i t h h a p p y m e m o r i e s f o r t h e past years a n d friendships. ICCF

Congress,

B a d Neuenahr,

Germany

21

Matters pertaining to External Affairs There were no matters pertaining to E x t e r n a l Affairs. Matters pertaining to the Statutes T h e r e w e r e n o m a t t e r s p e r t a i n i n g t o t h e Statutes. Meeting 1997 T h e P r e s i d e n t o f t h e h o s t i n g f e d e r a t i o n L A D A C p r o v i d e d i n t r o d u c t o r y i n f o r m a t i o n . T h e Congress date h a d b e e n c h a n g e d t o t a k e place d u r i n g t h e w e e k 6 * t o 1 3 * S e p t e m b e r 1 9 9 7 i n B u e n o s A i r e s because o f m o r e f a v o u r a b l e t r a v e l costs. F o r E u r o p e a n delegates M r C. F l o r e s G u t i e r r e z ( E S P ) d e c l a r e d h i s w i l l i n g n e s s t o act as t h e c o n t a c t m a n w i t h L A D A C f o r q u e s t i o n s r e g a r d i n g t h e 1997 Congress.

Meeting 1998/9 R e g r e t t a b l y t h e F e d e r a t i o n o f S l o v a k i a h a d b e e n o b l i g e d t o c a n c e l i t s p r e l i m i n a r y o f f e r t o host the 1998 Congress. H o w e v e r , i n t h e m e a n t i m e , t h e I C C F President h a d received a n official c o n f i r m a t i o n that the Congress c o u l d take place i n L a t v i a i n 1998, probably i n R i g a or Jurmala. T h e I C C F President i n f o r m e d that t h e Schweizer Femschachvereinigung (Switzerland) h a d o f f i c i a l l y c o n f i r m e d its o f f e r t o h o s t t h e 1 9 9 9 C o n g r e s s . B o t h F e d e r a t i o n s h a d b e e n i n f o r m e d a b o u t t h e I C C F r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r o r g a n i s i n g a C o n g r e s s b e f o r e t h e i r c o n f i r m a t i o n s h a d been received.

A t the end o f the Congress the I C C F President thanked a l l I C C F officials for their valuable w o r k , as w e l l as t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s f o r t h e i r c o o p e r a t i o n d u r i n g t h e m e e t i n g s . W i t h w o r d s o f c o r d i a l t h a n k s to the host federation, especially M r E . G r o m o t k a for the excellent arrangements the I C C F P r e s i d e n t c l o s e d t h e 1 9 9 6 Congress.

President H.J. Mostert

G e n e r a l Secretary Dr. F. Baumbach

31st A u g u s t 1996 Bad Neuenahr, Germany ICCF

Congress,

B a d Neuenahr,

Germany

22

Playing Rules (for i n d i v i d u a l t o u r n a m e n t g a m e s p l a y e d n o r m a l l y b y p o s t ) 1

Play and Control (*) G a m e s s h a l l b e p l a y e d i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e F I D E L a w s o f C h e s s w h e r e applicable. (•) A T o u r n a m e n t D i r e c t o r ( T D ) s h a l l b e a p p o i n t e d w h o s h a l l b e r e s p o n s i b l e for t h e c o n d u c t o f t h e t o u r n a m e n t a n d p r o g r e s s o f t h e g a m e s .

2

Transmissions (*) M o v e s s h a l l b e n u m b e r e d a n d s e n t (•) i n t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l N u m e r i c (or a m u t u a l l y a g r e e d ) N o t a t i o n (c) o n p o s t c a r d s ( o r l e t t e r s ) ("» b e a r i n g t h e n a m e a n d a d d r e s s a n d s i g n a t u r e o f t h e s e n d e r a n d (E) a c o r r e c t r e p e t i t i o n o f t h e o p p o n e n t ' s l a t e s t m o v e a n d c o n f i r m a t i o n o f t h e p o s t m a r k d a t e , (F) T h e s e n d e r s h a l l r e c o r d o n t h e p o s t c a r d «») t h e d a t e o n w h i c h t h e o p p o n e n t ' s l a t e s t m o v e w a s d e l i v e r e d a n d («) t h e a n t i c i p a t e d p o s t m a r k d a t e o f t h e reply. (') F a i l i n g t h i s , r e a s o n a b l e d a t e s s h a l l b e a s s u m e d b y t h e recipient a n d notified w i t h t h e reply m o v e . ( J ) W h e n t h e a n t i c i p a t e d p o s t m a r k d a t e d o e s n o t a g r e e w i t h t h e p o s t m a r k , t h i s s h a l l b e con-ected b y t h e r e c i p i e n t a n d t h e s e n d e r i n f o n n e d w i t h t h e reply m o v e , w T h e t i m e u s e d f o r t h e m o v e [cf P a r a 6 D ] a n d a c c u m u l a t e d t i m e f o r t h e g a m e s h a l l a l s o b e r e c o r d e d . (»-) Intercontinental g a m e s shall be played by air mail but a tournament a n n o u n c e m e n t c a n m a k e it m a n d a t o r y f o r o t h e r g a m e s a l s o t o b e p l a y e d b y a i r m a i l . ( " ) If b o t h p l a y e r s a g r e e , m o v e s m a y b e t r a n s m i t t e d b y E m a i l o r F a x but t h e s e r u l e s s h a l l apply.

3

Failure to Reply (*) S h o u l d t h e r e b e n o reply t o a n y m o v e w i t h i n 1 4 d a y s p l u s t h e a v e r a g e t i m e in t h e p o s t b o t h w a y s , t h e full d e t a i l s s h a l l b e r e p e a t e d b y r e g i s t e r e d o r r e c o r d e d d e l i v e r y ( R o r R D ) m a i l . (") W h e r e t h e a v e r a g e t i m e in t h e p o s t is s e v e n d a y s o r less, t h e r e p e t i t i o n m a y be s e n t b y o r d i n a r y a i r m a i l in t h e first i n s t a n c e p r o v i d e d t h i s i s d o n e a s s o o n a s it b e c o m e s d u e . If n o reply i s r e c e i v e d after a f u r t h e r 1 4 d a y s p l u s t i m e in t h e post, a r e p e a t m u s t b e s e n t by R o r R D m a i l , (c) S h o u l d t h e r e b e n o reply t o a n R o r R D repeat, t h e T D s h a l l b e i n f o r m e d e n c l o s i n g t h e p o s t office receipt. («>) G a m e s i n w h i c h n o m o v e h a s b e e n s e n t f o r s i x m o n t h s m a y b e s c o r e d a s lost t o p l a y e r s u n a b l e t o p r o d u c e a r e g i s t r a t i o n receipt.

4

Moves and Continuations (*) N o l e g a l m o v e s h a l l b e r e t r a c t e d after p o s t i n g - clerical e r r o r s a r e binding if t h e y a r e l e g a l m o v e s . A c o r r e c t r e p e t i t i o n o f t h e latest m o v e is n e c e s s a r y for t h e s e n d e r ' s reply m o v e t o b e v a l i d , (B) Illegible o r illegal m o v e s s h a l l b e r e f e r r e d b a c k t o t h e s e n d e r f o r i m m e d i a t e c o r r e c t i o n b u t w i t h o u t a n y o b l i g a t i o n t o m o v e t h e piece i n q u e s t i o n , (c) A b l a n k c a r d o r a c a r d p o s t e d w i t h o u t a r e p l y m o v e s h a l l b e t r e a t e d a s a n illegible m o v e , m T h e o m i s s i o n o r a d d i t i o n o f c h e s s i n d i c a t i o n s ( s u c h a s "check", "captures", " e n p a s s a n t " ) is w i t h o u t significance, (E) P r o p o s a l s o f c o n d i t i o n a l c o n t i n u a t i o n s a r e binding until t h e r e c i p i e n t m a k e s a different m o v e f r o m t h a t p r o p o s e d , (F) A n y a c c e p t e d c o n t i n u a t i o n m o v e s h a l l b e correctly r e p e a t e d w i t h t h e reply. (O W h e n n o r e p l y i s m a d e t o a n a c c e p t e d c o n d i t i o n a l c o n t i n u a t i o n it s h a l l b e t r e a t e d a s a n illegible m o v e .

5

Records and Reports (*) A l l t r a n s m i s s i o n s f r o m t h e o p p o n e n t c o n c e r n i n g t h e g a m e a n d a r e c o r d o f t h e m o v e s a n d d a t e s s h a l l b e k e p t until t h e e n d o f t h e t o u r n a m e n t a n d s e n t t o t h e T D u p o n r e q u e s t . ( " ) If a p l a y e r d o e s n o t a n s w e r e n q u i r i e s f r o m t h e T D , t h a t p l a y e r m a y b e d e e m e d t o h a v e w i t h d r a w n f r o m t h e t o u r n a m e n t , (c) C h a n g e s o f p e r m a n e n t a d d r e s s s h a l l b e notified t o t h e T D a n d o p p o n e n t s , (D) T h e T D m u s t b e notified i m m e d i a t e l y o f a n y disagreement between competitors about the game.

6

Time Allowed and Penalties (*) E a c h c o m p e t i t o r i s a l l o w e d 3 0 d a y s f o r e v e r y 1 0 m o v e s .