Coming up Classic Championship 2026 21 Jul 2026 Did you know Most decisive WCC tournament: 2025 January Holiday Rapid, 1% of games drawn (1 of 84). Did you know 101 WCC tournaments are catalogued on this site. Winner 2026 Winter WonderBlitz Kumaresan, Aditya Did you know Across all 6,654 rated games at WCC, White wins 48%, Black wins 46%, and 6% end in a draw. Did you know Busiest year at the board: 2023 saw 1822 rated games played at WCC. Coming up Blitz Championship 2026 8 Sep 2026 Did you know In Round 1 at WCC, the lower-rated player has won 13% of decisive games (87 of 649). Did you know Marathon night: 158 rated games were played in a single evening at the 2025 Blitz Ladder on 9 September 2025, the club's busiest night at the board. Winner 2026 June Swiss Soutter, Jake Did you know WCC has hosted 6,654 rated tournament games on file. Did you know Prefers Black (≥50 games as each colour): Jye Giddings, 61% as Black vs 41% as White (19-point edge). Coming up 960 Classic 2026 15 Sep 2026 Did you know Drawing-circle tournament: 2023 Summer Classic, 19% of games drawn (11 of 59). Did you know No quarter given: Steve Ascic and Matthew Sweeney have played 25 times, never a draw. Winner Wollongong Rapid June Planiden, Chayne Did you know Longest WCC tournament by round count: 2023 Quick March (12 rounds). Did you know Largest WCC tournament by field size: 2026 January Classic (39 entrants). Coming up Classic Championship 2026 21 Jul 2026 Did you know Most decisive WCC tournament: 2025 January Holiday Rapid, 1% of games drawn (1 of 84). Did you know 101 WCC tournaments are catalogued on this site. Winner 2026 Winter WonderBlitz Kumaresan, Aditya Did you know Across all 6,654 rated games at WCC, White wins 48%, Black wins 46%, and 6% end in a draw. Did you know Busiest year at the board: 2023 saw 1822 rated games played at WCC. Coming up Blitz Championship 2026 8 Sep 2026 Did you know In Round 1 at WCC, the lower-rated player has won 13% of decisive games (87 of 649). Did you know Marathon night: 158 rated games were played in a single evening at the 2025 Blitz Ladder on 9 September 2025, the club's busiest night at the board. Winner 2026 June Swiss Soutter, Jake Did you know WCC has hosted 6,654 rated tournament games on file. Did you know Prefers Black (≥50 games as each colour): Jye Giddings, 61% as Black vs 41% as White (19-point edge). Coming up 960 Classic 2026 15 Sep 2026 Did you know Drawing-circle tournament: 2023 Summer Classic, 19% of games drawn (11 of 59). Did you know No quarter given: Steve Ascic and Matthew Sweeney have played 25 times, never a draw. Winner Wollongong Rapid June Planiden, Chayne Did you know Longest WCC tournament by round count: 2023 Quick March (12 rounds). Did you know Largest WCC tournament by field size: 2026 January Classic (39 entrants).

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Deep Thinkers

28 April 2024 · Illawarra

Find out all about what the Wollongong Chess Club is up to.

ANZAC Rapid

With 77 participants the inaugural Wollongong Chess ANZAC Rapid Open Chess Tournament was a resounding success! In the final round there was still everything to play for with Grandmaster Anton Smirnov and Women’s Candidate Master Bayasgalan Khishibaatar, both at 5.5 points, squaring off. Anton was the clear favourite and it was a moment of brilliance as he clinched victory with thematic sacrifice against the Sicilian Defence.

The excitement didn’t end there! The title of Best Illawarra-Shoalhaven player was shared by WCC members Robert Raposio and Vincent Qiang. Robert’s score won on tie-break but Vincent’s triumph over FIDE Master Jason Hu in the final round was something he will cherish for sometime. Employing the Dutch Defence, or as some fondly call it, ’the reverse Bird,’ added a thrilling twist to the narrative.But the celebration didn’t stop with the winners! Club members Greg Kurrell, Alan Morrow, and John Robeille also claimed their well-deserved prizes, adding to the jubilant atmosphere of this monumental event.

Easter Classic

Our Easter Classic tournament was complete last week before we got into the ANZAC Rapid. Thank you all for playing and congratulations to our prize winner. Full results will be posted on Tuesday night.

Prizes are as follows:

Overall 1st= ($80): Martin Hill, Jeff Suptut (4/5)

Under1700 1st ($70): Steve Ascic (3/5)

Under1700 2nd= ($25): Brendan Bermingham, Mile Romic (2.5/5) Under1500 1st= ($60): Fernando Barasoain, Craig Curtin (2.5/5)

Next Tournament

Following the success of our ANZAC Rapid we are running a tournament at the same time control. Tuesday night will give us three rounds of 15min + 10sec per move. Please arrive by 6:45pm on Tuesday night to register for the tournament.