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 No quarter given: Steve Ascic and Matthew Sweeney have played 25 times, never a draw. Winner 2026 Winter WonderBlitz Kumaresan, Aditya 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. Did you know Prefers Black (≥50 games as each colour): Jye Giddings, 61% as Black vs 41% as White (19-point edge). Coming up Blitz Championship 2026 8 Sep 2026 Did you know Highest ACF rating ever recorded at a WCC tournament: Jordan Morris at 2204, first at the 2024 Wollongong Blitz Championship. Did you know Busiest year at the board: 2023 saw 1822 rated games played at WCC. Winner 2026 June Swiss Soutter, Jake 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. Did you know 247 distinct players have appeared in a WCC tournament. Coming up 960 Classic 2026 15 Sep 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 WCC has hosted 6,654 rated tournament games on file. Winner Wollongong Rapid June Planiden, Chayne Did you know Largest WCC tournament by field size: 2026 January Classic (39 entrants). Did you know Busiest month at WCC: April, 898 rated games played across all years on file. 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 No quarter given: Steve Ascic and Matthew Sweeney have played 25 times, never a draw. Winner 2026 Winter WonderBlitz Kumaresan, Aditya 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. Did you know Prefers Black (≥50 games as each colour): Jye Giddings, 61% as Black vs 41% as White (19-point edge). Coming up Blitz Championship 2026 8 Sep 2026 Did you know Highest ACF rating ever recorded at a WCC tournament: Jordan Morris at 2204, first at the 2024 Wollongong Blitz Championship. Did you know Busiest year at the board: 2023 saw 1822 rated games played at WCC. Winner 2026 June Swiss Soutter, Jake 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. Did you know 247 distinct players have appeared in a WCC tournament. Coming up 960 Classic 2026 15 Sep 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 WCC has hosted 6,654 rated tournament games on file. Winner Wollongong Rapid June Planiden, Chayne Did you know Largest WCC tournament by field size: 2026 January Classic (39 entrants). Did you know Busiest month at WCC: April, 898 rated games played across all years on file.

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Deep Thinkers - Wollongong Chess Club News

14 February 2026 · Illawarra

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

Classical Tournament

When: 17th of February 7pm-10pm

Location: Wollongong Collegians Auditorium (3A Charlotte Street)

Cost: $5 each week

Time Control: 60+30

Number of Rounds: 6 rounds (1 round per week until 3rd of March)

This week we will continue a 6 week Classical Tournament. If you can’t make it to any rounds, let us know so we can adjust the pairings. If you miss up to two rounds, you will be allocated a half point bye for each round besides the last two rounds. You can join the tournament at any time. Below is a provisional pairing for round 4.

Casual Rapid

When: Every Tuesday 6pm-7pm. Games must begin before 6:30pm.

Location: Wollongong Collegians Auditorium (3A Charlotte Street)

Cost: Free entry

Time Control: 10+5

Former World Chess Champion Free Chess Lecture In Sydney

Below is a flyer with more information. Bevan will be attending.

The Pirtek Newcastle Open

Date: Saturday 21St & Sunday 22nd February

First prize is $1000 thanks to our sponsors with at least 3 divisions depending on numbers The Pirtek Newcastle Open will also be the tournament that will decide this years NSW Country Champion with a prize of $250 thanks to the NSWCA

Details: Registration 1: Pirtek Newcastle Open Registration and information Registration 2: 10am on the Saturday prior to play. Location: Nex (Wests Newcastle) 309 King St, Newcastle West NSW 2302 Format: 1 hour with 10 second Fischer Style increment Entry fee: $60 full entry, $50 concession

Saturday Rounds (21st February) 10:30am; 1:30pm; 4:30pm Sunday Rounds (22nd February) 10:00am; 1:00pm & 4:00pm Prize giving 6:30pm

More info Tournament Information

Join us on Facebook!

We have a full calendar up on Facebook now. Follow our Facebook Page for further information on calendars and upcoming events.

Join our Facebook Group if you have anything you’d want to discuss!

We are looking for games or content you want included in this newsletter. If you have had an interesting position in a game, let us know. If there is something you would like to see at the club or in the newsletter, let us know.