Coming up Classic Championship 2026 21 Jul 2026 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 Biggest tournament upset by seed: Edmund Esterbauer entered the 2022 Champs Warmup as the #10 seed and won outright. Winner 2026 Winter WonderBlitz Kumaresan, Aditya Did you know Biggest final-round flip: at the 2023 Top and Tail Rapid 2, Steve Ascic took a 1-point lead into the last round, lost to Vincent Qiang, and watched the title walk away. Did you know In Round 1 at WCC, the lower-rated player has won 13% of decisive games (87 of 649). Coming up Blitz Championship 2026 8 Sep 2026 Did you know Busiest year at the board: 2023 saw 1822 rated games played at WCC. Did you know No quarter given: Steve Ascic and Matthew Sweeney have played 25 times, never a draw. Winner 2026 June Swiss Soutter, Jake Did you know 247 distinct players have appeared in a WCC tournament. Did you know Prefers White (≥50 games as each colour): Siyuan Wu, 63% as White vs 42% as Black (22-point edge). Coming up 960 Classic 2026 15 Sep 2026 Did you know Largest WCC tournament by field size: 2026 January Classic (39 entrants). Did you know Most decisive WCC tournament: 2025 January Holiday Rapid, 1% of games drawn (1 of 84). Winner Wollongong Rapid June Planiden, Chayne Did you know Drawing-circle tournament: 2023 Summer Classic, 19% of games drawn (11 of 59). Did you know Highest ACF rating ever recorded at a WCC tournament: Jordan Morris at 2204, first at the 2024 Wollongong Blitz Championship. Coming up Classic Championship 2026 21 Jul 2026 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 Biggest tournament upset by seed: Edmund Esterbauer entered the 2022 Champs Warmup as the #10 seed and won outright. Winner 2026 Winter WonderBlitz Kumaresan, Aditya Did you know Biggest final-round flip: at the 2023 Top and Tail Rapid 2, Steve Ascic took a 1-point lead into the last round, lost to Vincent Qiang, and watched the title walk away. Did you know In Round 1 at WCC, the lower-rated player has won 13% of decisive games (87 of 649). Coming up Blitz Championship 2026 8 Sep 2026 Did you know Busiest year at the board: 2023 saw 1822 rated games played at WCC. Did you know No quarter given: Steve Ascic and Matthew Sweeney have played 25 times, never a draw. Winner 2026 June Swiss Soutter, Jake Did you know 247 distinct players have appeared in a WCC tournament. Did you know Prefers White (≥50 games as each colour): Siyuan Wu, 63% as White vs 42% as Black (22-point edge). Coming up 960 Classic 2026 15 Sep 2026 Did you know Largest WCC tournament by field size: 2026 January Classic (39 entrants). Did you know Most decisive WCC tournament: 2025 January Holiday Rapid, 1% of games drawn (1 of 84). Winner Wollongong Rapid June Planiden, Chayne Did you know Drawing-circle tournament: 2023 Summer Classic, 19% of games drawn (11 of 59). Did you know Highest ACF rating ever recorded at a WCC tournament: Jordan Morris at 2204, first at the 2024 Wollongong Blitz Championship.

Deep Thinkers

15 July 2024 · Illawarra

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

School Holiday Rapid

Our school holiday rapid got underway last week with 29 players including 7 juniors. Well done to Chayne who is leading the tournament of 4/4 and to Flynn who is our leading junior on 3/4. We will be back for the remaining four rounds tomorrow night. It’s not too late to join in if you want to play! Full scores and crosstable can be found at the end of this email.

NSW Rapid - 21st July

This coming Sunday the NSW Rapid runs in Burwood. Jordan and Koe have decided to travel up to play in it. If you would like to play, please speak to Koe on Tuesday. Information and entry for the NSW Rapid can be found on the NSWCA website. Best of luck to all our players who decide to head up there to play in it! Early entries close this Friday. Sign up before Friday for $35.

NSWCA Website