New Zealand Chess Federation

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[edit] New Zealand Chess Federation Inc

The first chess club in New Zealand was formed in September 1863 in Dunedin.

The New Zealand Chess Association came into being in the 1870s. The association, refounded in 1892, conducts the annual championship, usually held in the Christmas – New Year period. The Australian master, C. J. S. Purdy, stated in 1955 that New Zealand holds the record for annual tourneys for a national chess championship.

New Zealand was one of the earliest countries to make use of telegraphic interclub chess as a method of play. Christchurch beat Nelson in two consultation games in 1866. The first interclub match was played between Canterbury and Otago in 1869. The Bledisloe Cup, presented by the Governor-General in 1933, was until recently competed for annually in this way.

Officers of New Zealand Chess Federation Inc.

Postal Address: PO Box 216, Shortland Street, Auckland, New Zealand
Patron: Dr Ray Thomson
Vice-patrons: Graham Haase, Bill Poole
Life Members: Peter Stuart
President: Bob Smith
Vice-president: Hilton Bennett
Secretary: Bob Mitchell
Treasurer: Anthony Whitehouse
Councillors (Auckland): Vivian Smith, Felicity Timings, Paul Spiller, Michael Steadman
Councillors (Regional): Duncan Watts, Michael Freeman, Craig Hall, Cedric Backhouse
Rules Revision: Bob Smith, Bob Mitchell, Craig Hall
Tournament: Bob Smith, Hilton Bennett, Paul Spiller
Junior: Felicity Timings, Vivian Smith, Michael Steadman, Gary Judkins, Quentin Johnson, Jacinta Buist
Sponsorship and Publicity: Paul Spiller, Bob Smith, Michael Steadman
Ratings: Vivian Smith (Rating Officer), Bob Gibbons, Rowan Wood(Rating Administrator)
Grand Prix: Bob Smith, Hilton Bennett, Alexei Kulashko
Women's Chess: Vivian Smith, Jacinta Buist
Registrar of Master Points: Bob Mitchell
Editor, NZ Chess Magazine: Graeme Trass
Selectors: Michael Freeman, Bob Gibbons, Scott Wastney, Richard Sutton
Delegate to FIDE: Michael Freeman