End of year 2016

It’s been quite a big year for the club, with increased membership, an expanded NQ Open, a new Facebook page, a few appearances at the Cotters Markets, some media presence (including local ABC radio and the Townsville Bulletin), an updated website (yes, this one), a new club logo, and a couple of successful Bunnings sausage sizzle fundraisers (the funds from which will make a big difference for the next NQ Open). So thanks to all who played a part in 2016 (on and off the board) and made the year a good one!

Congratulations must go to our 2016 club champion Ken Stark, who cleaned up the tournament with a nearly perfect score of 5.5/6. Congratulations also go to Hossein Ghodosi and Mark Vucak who both shared player of the year with consistent tournament entry and equally strong performances. Acknowledgement must also go to Charles Fotinos, who has just stepped down as treasurer after many years keeping the books in order and the ship afloat.

For the coming year we are of course looking forward to the NQ Open, but also to some new initiatives such as official club events for juniors (to be announced), junior chess afternoons on Saturdays, and also the possibility of making club payments online (eventually there will be something in the online shop). We will also see club membership fees reduced next year, as tournament prize money (for regular club events) has been voted out.

That’s all for this year, except for this message from Géza Maróczy (from around 1929);

And of course, here is the game. Merry Christmas!

[pgn]
[Event “Vienna King’s Gambit Tournament”]
[Site “Vienna AUT”]
[Date “1903.05.05”]
[EventDate “1903.05.02”]
[Round “3”]
[Result “1-0”]
[White “Géza Maróczy”]
[Black “Mikhail Chigorin”]
[ECO “C37”]
[PlyCount “47”]

1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. Bc4 g4 5. Nc3 gxf3 6. Qxf3 d6 7. d4 Be6 8. Nd5
$1 c6 9. O-O cxd5 10. exd5 Bf5 11. Bxf4 Bg6 12. Bb5+ Nd7 13. Rae1+ Be7 14. Bxd6
Kf8 15. Rxe7 $1 Nxe7 16. Re1 Kg7 17. Bxe7 Qa5 18. Qe2 Nf8 19. Bf6+ Kg8 20. Qe5
h6 21. Bxh8 f6 22. Qe7 $1 Kxh8 23. Qxf6+ Kg8 24. Re7 1-0
[/pgn]