Coming up Classic Championship 2026 21 Jul 2026 Did you know Prefers White (≥50 games as each colour): Siyuan Wu, 63% as White vs 42% as Black (22-point edge). Did you know Most decisive WCC tournament: 2025 January Holiday Rapid, 1% of games drawn (1 of 84). Winner 2026 Winter WonderBlitz Kumaresan, Aditya Did you know Biggest tournament upset by seed: Edmund Esterbauer entered the 2022 Champs Warmup as the #10 seed and won outright. 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 Drawing-circle tournament: 2023 Summer Classic, 19% of games drawn (11 of 59). Did you know Prefers Black (≥50 games as each colour): Jye Giddings, 61% as Black vs 41% as White (19-point edge). Winner 2026 June Swiss Soutter, Jake Did you know Largest WCC tournament by field size: 2026 January Classic (39 entrants). 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. Coming up 960 Classic 2026 15 Sep 2026 Did you know 247 distinct players have appeared in a WCC tournament. Did you know Across all 6,654 rated games at WCC, White wins 48%, Black wins 46%, and 6% end in a draw. Winner Wollongong Rapid June Planiden, Chayne 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 The Returner, biggest gap between two WCC tournaments by an active regular: Mehmed Ceylan sat out 31 months between the Wollongong 2023 Spring Holiday Rapid and the 2026 April Holiday Rapid. Coming up Classic Championship 2026 21 Jul 2026 Did you know Prefers White (≥50 games as each colour): Siyuan Wu, 63% as White vs 42% as Black (22-point edge). Did you know Most decisive WCC tournament: 2025 January Holiday Rapid, 1% of games drawn (1 of 84). Winner 2026 Winter WonderBlitz Kumaresan, Aditya Did you know Biggest tournament upset by seed: Edmund Esterbauer entered the 2022 Champs Warmup as the #10 seed and won outright. 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 Drawing-circle tournament: 2023 Summer Classic, 19% of games drawn (11 of 59). Did you know Prefers Black (≥50 games as each colour): Jye Giddings, 61% as Black vs 41% as White (19-point edge). Winner 2026 June Swiss Soutter, Jake Did you know Largest WCC tournament by field size: 2026 January Classic (39 entrants). 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. Coming up 960 Classic 2026 15 Sep 2026 Did you know 247 distinct players have appeared in a WCC tournament. Did you know Across all 6,654 rated games at WCC, White wins 48%, Black wins 46%, and 6% end in a draw. Winner Wollongong Rapid June Planiden, Chayne 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 The Returner, biggest gap between two WCC tournaments by an active regular: Mehmed Ceylan sat out 31 months between the Wollongong 2023 Spring Holiday Rapid and the 2026 April Holiday Rapid.

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Deep Thinkers - Wollongong Chess Club News

8 November 2024 · Illawarra

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

End of Year Calendar

Open Classic

Louis brought his A game and had an advantage against Steve! In a tough battle it fizzled out to an opposite coloured bishops ending where Steve was able to hold a draw.

Brendan has taken a strong position as the sole leader on 3/3. He played a very strong game against Greg, gaining the exchange early and able to hold it into the endgame.

Division I Classic

Lots of tension coming into the final two weeks with 3 players on 2.5/3 and Jordan having to play both Hai and Joerg!

Pawn Endgame Study

White to move. Hint: It is vital to use distant opposition.

Click the board to play it out with the computer!

Doeberl Cup 2025

This is one of Australia’s biggest tournaments of the year held in Canberra. It’s a great opportunity for many players to get classic games outside of the WCC. This takes place over the Easter long weekend.

Looks like Ethan has signed up to the mini!

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