Check is in the Mail: USCF Absolute Championship Updates

USCF Absolute Championship Updates

The 2023 edition finished play on February 28, 2024. ICCF CCM John Millett won his first Absolute championship with a win over three-time Absolute champion and ICCF SIM Harry Ingersol. Millet’s other eleven games were all draws. Millett also garnered $75 graciously donated by two of his competitors.

Draws are becoming very prevalent in upper-level ICCF events, and the Absolute was no exception. Of the 78 games, 77 were draws.

The lone decisive game saw a fine miniature essayed by Millett. Dr. Siegbert Tarrasch said: "A knight on the rim is dim.” Ingersol accommodates, placing his Knight on the rim on move eleven, never to move it for the remainder of the game

The 2024 Absolute began play on April 1, 2024. Competing for the title are:

The games can be found on the ICCF website here. 

From the Front Office

Michael D. Buss, US Chess Correspondence Coordinator

Chess engines – A reminder

Although the Electronic Knights, Walter Muir and Victor Palciauskus tournaments are played on the ICCF webserver (which allows engine use) these events are organized and conducted by US Chess. The use of a chess engine, computer programs or chess playing algorithms to generate moves are not allowed in US Chess correspondence chess tournaments!

The only event that allows the use of engines is the Absolute tournament which is also played on the ICCF webserver.

In Passing

We have received notifications that Robert Pisciotta (1948), Doylestown, PA passed away on October 26, 2023; Tracey Norris (1391), Anaheim, CA passed away on December 2, 2023; Martin Svensson (1312), Burlington, NC passed away on March 7, 2024; and Luis Salinas (2007), Dallas, TX passed away on March 11, 2024.

Recent Event Winners

Victor Palciauskas

23VP03, Ryan Berhar, 5½–½  

23VP12, Douglas DeGroff, 5–1

John W. Collins Memorial

21C17, Mark Colvin, 6–0

21C17, William Baumer, 6–0

22C01, Theron Douglas, 4–2