Established in 1959
Contents
Arved Wasser
Memorial Tournament
Club Lightning
Handicap Tournament
New members are very welcome
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Venue: |
Drabble House, Webster Street, Nedlands WA 6009, Perth, Australia |
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Time: |
Thursday at 7:30 PM |
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Enquiry: |
Garry Taylor, Phone 92778559 (H) or 92737565 (W) |
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General: |
This club is currently
the largest (membership) senior chess club in Western Australia with over 50
members. The playing strength of members range from former WA state
Champions, State Junior Champions and Women's State Champions to adult
beginners and juniors. Naturally, the
Metro Club is affiliated with the CAWA (Chess Association of Western
Australia) which in turn is affiliated with the ACF (Australian Chess
Federation). Club members must therefore be financial members of the CAWA to
enjoy the benefit of participating in Australian rated tournaments held at
the club. Many members
support the club through representation in the Harris/Edwardes Trophy
inter-club competition. The competition usually has three divisions based on
the average ACF rating of its players. The Metro Club has won the Premier
Division on 16 occasions since the competition began in 1958. Our members are also keen to play in the WA Grand Prix events that are held at the Perth Chess Center over selected weekends. These six round tournaments are run as a Swiss with three games per day (60 minutes each player). |
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Annual
Subscription:
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Seniors: |
$75.00 |
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Concessions: |
$60.00 |
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Students (under 18): |
$45.00 |
Club
activities include:
- Varied chess tournament/program
- Chess instruction/lectures by way of
demonstration board
- Inter-club competition
- Social chess and social activities
Provisions
include:
- Chess boards
- Chess pieces
- Chess clocks
- Score sheets
- Tea and biscuits
- Vehicle parking
- Friendship
Other
attractions include:
- Central location
- Good club rooms
- Good range of player strength
This is regarded as
the major tournament of the club.
The Club
Championship Tournament is the first event on the Metro Club calendar in the
New Year, commencing early February. The format of this tournament is an
all-play-all, round robin event, run in three or four divisions depending on
participant numbers.
The allocation of
players into divisions is normally on the basis of their published ratings, as
these are factual. An exception is that the winners of the previous B and C
grades are usually promoted to the next division.
Time limit in
this tournament is generally 36 moves in 90 minutes and 24 moves per hour
thereafter. It should be noted that these games (scores) will be forwarded to
the CAWA for rating of the players (ACF).
Named after Allan
Respini, first Club President, 1959.
Metropolitan
Chess Club developed from chess games played in his office before work and
during the lunch hour. The tournament remembers his contribution and efforts in
developing club activities. The tournament was first established in 1973.
The format of
this tournament is the same as the Club Championship; however, the time limit
is usually 90 minutes for each player, guillotine finish. It should be noted
that these games (scores) will be forwarded to the CAWA for rating of the
players (ACF).
Arved Wasser Memorial Tournament
This competition
began in 1973 as a social event (not rated) to be played at Club nights while
the WA State Championships and the WA Inter-Club Competition are being
conducted.
Originally called
the Fixed Opening Tournament, it was renamed in 1998 to honor the passing of a
regular Club member, Arved Wasser.
The openings to
be selected will be less than usual openings from world championship games. At
present the format of this tournament is as follows:
- Nine fixed openings are set by the Tournament Officer
- Each fixed opening runs for two weeks; therefore, the tournament
lasts 18 weeks.
- Any player may challenge any other participant; however, points are
awarded according to places attained within two divisions.
- Normally a player plays two games on the night against the same
player, once as white and the other as black.
- A player may play only one set of games against the same opponent
during the tournament.
- The time limit is 40 minutes for each player for all moves.
Entrants are divided
into groups of about 8-10 players so that the groups are of even strength. The
groups then play off. The leaders (top 3) in each group advance to the final.
The final should have approximately 6-9 players.
Participants have
5 minutes each for their games. This event is currently held in May immediately
after the Club Championship.
Aggregate points
are awarded for performance in-group Play.
Club Lightning Handicap Tournament
The format of
this event is similar to the Lightning Tournament except that handicaps are
placed on each player as assessed on their performance in the Lightning
Tournament. This event is therefore held on the week after the Lighting
Tournament.
The handicaps are
the differing amounts of time that each player has for all of their moves in
each game they play. This time might vary between 3.5 minutes and say 10
minutes.
Aggregate points
are awarded for performance in-group Play.
Following the
success of an open swiss tournament at Metro to celebrate the Club's 40th
year of continuous operation, it was decided to continue this concept.
The first Metro
Open Tournament was therefore established in 2000. The competition has seven
rounds with each player having 90 minutes on their clock. Prizes are allocated
to the overall winners (1st to 3rd) and the winner and
runner-up in various rating divisions.
Allan Respini
Allan Respini was
the first Club President, 1959.
Metropolitan
Chess Club developed from chess games played in his office before work and
during the lunch hour. Allan worked in the Medical Department of the State
Government where he was the Stores Requesting Officer for all hospitals
statewide.
He was a gifted
artist with the pen and well known for his printing and sign writing. He was
crippled from polio and had a leg deformity. Allan and his wife, Ivy, lived in
Riverton and had no family. He passed away some years ago.
Robert Pilgrim
Bob was born in
Fremantle on 25 January 1931 and was educated at Kensington State School and
Wesley College. He had a distinguished career in the State Public Service.
Bob's chess career
started in 1947, and in 1948 he and Allan Respini began the Chief Secretaries
Chess Club. In 1959 this club became known as the Metropolitan Chess Club.
Highlights of Bob's chess achievements include three Club Championships
(Metropolitan 1959 and 1960, and South Perth 1960). He also gained a third
place in the 1961 WA State Championships.
The Club honored
Bob with Life Membership some years ago in recognition of his significant
contribution to chess administration of WA. In 1991 he was awarded the Garry
Koshnitsky medal for services to Australian Chess Administration.
Victor Allan Smyth
Vic was born in
1933 in Belfast, Northern Ireland to an Irish father and Scottish mother. He
trained as a Medical Technologist at the Institute of Pathology at the Royal
Victoria Hospital Belfast, qualifying in 1956. Vic learned to play chess at the
age of 18 during his training period.
In 1959 Vic
migrated to Perth WA to take up a post at the old medical school in Victoria
square. He travelled to Australia on the P & O ship Orsova and met
his wife-to-be who was returning to her home in Tasmania, from a European
holiday. They were married in 1960 and have three adult children.
In 1963 Vic moved
to a senior position at the King Edward Memorial Hospital laboratories (Perth)
and worked there until 1994, retiring as Chief Technologist. 1963 was also the
year that Vic was invited to join the Metro Chess Club. Currently President of
the Club, he has given valuable administrative service to the Club over many
years. Vic won the B Grade Club Championship in 1980 and 1986. Vic was made a
Life Member of the Club in 1999.
Last Revised:
August 2000, Girma Orssengo