Chess Arbiters' Association

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14th August - Congratulations go to Graham Mill-Wilson who passed the Arbiters' Exam at Torquay.

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1st July - The new Laws of Chess come into force today. Comments about the Laws are available elsewhere on this website.

 

There are now standardised pairing rules in use across Britain.  See the page on Swiss pairing regulations for more details.

 

A course for trainee arbiters is planned to take place during the British Championships in Torquay.

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13th May -  FIDE issue slight ammendments to the Laws which come into force in July.  There are no changes just a tidying of English and corrections in Article numbering.

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2nd May - Training Arbiters: The ECF has appointed its first Training Arbiters.  The following are experienced and have the necessary skills to run a weekend training course for arbiters in conjunction with the Chief Arbiter and Manager of Arbiters. They are now designated as Training Arbiters.
David Welch, Lara Barnes & Alex McFarlane, Geoff Jones, Adrian Elwin & John Shaw, Peter Purland.

 

If anyone else wishes to be considered for this list, could they please contact Cyril Johnston (ECF Home Director). The ECF would expect successful candidates to have at least 8 years experience as an arbiter.
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12th March -  New Laws of Chess which come into force from 1st July 2009 are now available for downloading.

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9th March 2009 - Peter Devenny has passed the Chess Scotland Arbiters' exam and now requires satisfactory reports before being fully qualified.

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17th December -  Bob Wade's funeral took place yesterday.  It was well attended, a tribute to his contribution to the chess world.

 

Donations to the Bob Wade Memorial Fund can be made through HSBC Bank plc, 122 Finchley Road, London NW3 5JD, 40-03-02 Acc # 71555863
This will in the first instance be used for the Funeral and Memorial Service and at the request of the family any remaining funds will be donated to a Junior Chess Charity to be determined.

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5th December - Bob Wade's Funeral
The funeral will be on Tuesday December 16th at 10.15am at
Eltham Crematorium,
Crown Woods Way,
Eltham
London SE9 2AZ
It will be followed by a reception to be announced and in due course there will be a Memorial Service in central London.

All will be most welcome at all of these.

No flowers please.

Donations to the Bob Wade Memorial Fund care of the Executors of Robert Wade.
The full details will be announced in the next few days (hopefully during the week starting December 8th).

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30th November - 

It is with great regret that we inform members of the CAA of the death of International Arbiter Robert Graham Wade.

Bob, who died in London on Saturday 29th November following a short period in hospital, was aged 87.   In a career that lasted seven decades he was not only a professional player but also a prolific writer, editor and researcher as well an administrator, arbiter and coach.

Born on April 10 1921 in Dunedin, New Zealand where he was taught the game by his father at the age of 8 it was there that his real interest in chess developed in his late teens.

He eventually settled in England, and soon became one of the country's most active players. In 1950 he was awarded the title of International Master.

His interest in chess was not restricted to just playing and he became an important presence in FIDE and was a member of the committee that drew up the first official laws of the game in 1949.  He achieved the International Arbiter title in 1958.

 

In 1979 he was awarded the OBE for his services to chess and was also made an Honorary Member of FIDE.

 

Amongst his arbiting achievements were Olympiads, the 1993 (unofficial) World Championship match and the Staunton Memorial events where he continued as an arbiter until 2007.

 

The chess world has lost a fine servant.

 

Many fuller obituaries are available.

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22nd November - The Arbiters' course at Hartlepool on 15th and 16th of November was a success for all 5 ECF exam takers!  3 trainees passed the full exam and another 2 passed the laws section making them all eligible for the new ECF title of Referee. Chris Wardle, formerly of Whitley Bay, but now residing in Edinburgh has had his pass recognised by both the ECF and Chess Scotland, enabling him to qualify as an Arbiter in both countries.  Peter Devenny, only 13, of Glasgow also took the course and an oral exam is being arranged for him in Scotland. 

Congratulations to: Mike Evans, Bernie Price, Norman Stephenson, Chris Wardle and Bill Wilson.  Thanks to Graham Marshall, The Hillcarter Hotel in Hartlepool and the Atheneum Chess Club for providing the venues.

 Trainee Arbiters, Norman Stephenson, Mike Evans

 and Bernie Price listening to Alex McFarlane

 Mike and Chris Wardle taking the exam

 Alex demonstrating a law

 

If anyone else would like to take part in a similar course please contact any of the CAA officials. There is already interest from one person in the Nottingham area.
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2nd October, 2008 - Stewart Reuben informs us of the following
 

From 15 to 18 January 2009 ECU organises a seminar for arbiters in the FIDE Trainer Academy in Berlin . The seminar is especially for national and international arbiters, the main content will be:

 

-          laws of chess, including the changes by FIDE Congress in Dresden

-          FIDE title regulations

-          FIDE rating regulations

-          tournament organisation

-          Swiss pairing

-          tie-break systems

 

Arbiters who are interested in appointments for chief arbiter or deputy chief arbiter of European championships should pass such a seminar. The participation fee is 100 Euro, nominations by ECU federations can be sent to ECU office in Berlin.

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30th September 2008 - The CAA website attracts its 1000th unique visitor.

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27th September - The final draft of the new Laws, effective from July 09, are now available. See links on left.
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22nd September - Trainee Arbiter Course
ECF Senior Arbiters and International Arbiters, Alex McFarlane & Lara Barnes will be holding a Chess Arbiter's Training Course and the opportunity to take the ECF Arbiter's Exam on the weekend of 15th-16th November in Hartlepool, Cleveland.
 
The cost will be £20 for the course, including exam and refreshments / lunch.
 
The venues are The Hillcarter Hotel and Atheneum Chess Club (within 2 minutes walk of each other in Hartlepool Town Centre, opposite the train station).  Hotel rooms are available from £25 B&B in a nearby guesthouse and £40 per double room at The Hillcarter.
 
Participants and enquiries to larabarnes@btinternet.com or ahmcfarlane@yahoo.co.uk
 
For information on the type of exam please see www.chessarbiters.co.uk and www.englishchess.org.uk/organisation/advice/index.htm
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5th August - Jack Rudd gains third International Master norm and title subject to ratification.
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3rd August - Stewart Reuben alerts all arbiters to the likelihood that anyone seeking an IA or FIDE Arbiter title in the near future will be required to pass an exam.  Therefore anyone seeking these titles should do so asap.
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26th July 2008 - ECF Board approve Lara Barnes promotion to ECF Senior Arbiter. Also Ewart Smith as an Senior Arbiter and Jack Rudd, Tony Tatam and John Ariss as arbiters subject to CRB clearance