Isle of Lewis Chess Piece

The Campbell Report
Correspondence Chess
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Webmaster J. Franklin Campbell (USA)
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(29-Nov-2005) Added logo above linking to the CC.COM store
(29-Nov-2005) Updated crosstable 1st WS USCCC P02
(28-Nov-2005) Updated crosstable 1st WS USCCC P03, P04
(27-Nov-2005) Added FIDE World Chess Cup 2005 to Sites of Note
(27-Nov-2005) Updated crosstable 1st WS USCCC P02
(26-Nov-2005) Updated crosstables US17P02, 2nd USCCC/EM-Final
(21-Nov-2005) Updated crosstables NAPZ M-75, US17P08
Rudolf G. Katzl wins US17P08
(19-Nov-2005) Updated crosstable 2nd USCCC/EM-Final
(18-Nov-2005) Updated crosstables US17P02, US17P03, 2nd USCCC/EM-Final
(18-Nov-2005) Posted The path to self-damnation: the dangers of self-publishing, by Olimpiu G. Urcan
(15-Nov-2005) Posted Wanted: Opponents by Neil Brennen
(12-Nov-2005) Updated crosstables US17P04, 1st WS USCCC P03
(10-Nov-2005) Updated crosstables US17P02, US17P03
(10-Nov-2005) Posted The Reverend Charles Edward Ranken and Mid-Victorian Correspondence Chess by John S. Hilbert
(9-Nov-2005) Updated crosstable US17P07
(8-Nov-2005) Updated crosstables US17P04, US17P05, US17P06
(7-Nov-2005) Posted "The Queen of Chess": The Correspondence Chess of Ellen Gilbert by Neil Brennen
(6-Nov-2005) Posted Interview of IM Michael Millstone
(5-Nov-2005) Updated crosstable 1st WS USCCC P05
(2-Nov-2005) Updated crosstable 1st WS USCCC P04
(1-Nov-2005) Updated crosstable US15F
(31-Oct-2005) Updated crosstable US17P01
(30-Oct-2005) Updated crosstable 1st WS USCCC P06
(29-Oct-2005) First reports published on ICCF Congress Web Site
(29-Oct-2005) First result crosstable 2nd USCCC/EM-Final
(28-Oct-2005) Posted The Campbell Report for Sept-Oct 2005
(27-Oct-2005) Added Dawg List to Chess Links
(25-Oct-2005) Updated crosstables 1st WS USCCC P03, P06
(23-Oct-2005) Updated crosstable US17P07
(20-Oct-2005) Updated crosstable US17P09
(18-Oct-2005) Updated crosstables 1st WS USCCC P03, P04

(29 Nov 2005): CorrespondenceChess.Com Store

I have added a link above to the CC.COM store. Purchases made from the store provide funds to pay the bills at CC.COM, home of this site plus many other useful cc web sites. Please check out John Knudsen's store to help us pay our bills. Many thanks! -- Franklin Campbell

(21 Nov 2005): Alex Dunne Column on Webmaster

FIDE Master Alex Dunne has written about this webmaster in his Chess Life column "Check is in the Mail". Check out his November 2005 column.

(18 Nov 2005): Review by Olimpiu Urcan

I have just posted an interesting book review by Olimpiu Urcan, a chess historian living in Singapore. But it is more than a review ... it is a commentary of the work and dedication required of a historian who does a proper job of documenting important chess events of the past. The book simply provides a specific example of historical research to illustrate the important principles set forth by the author, himself a recognized chess historian. Read The path to self-damnation: the dangers of self-publishing.

(15 Nov 2005): Wanted: Opponents by Neil Brennen

When you want a cc opponent these days there are many possible resources. But back in 1876, before cc organizations were established, it wasn't so simple. Read chess historian Neil Brennen's article on one player who found a solution to this dilemma. Read Wanted: Opponents by Neil Brennen in the "On the Square" collection.

(10 Nov 2005): John S. Hilbert article on cc history

John S. Hilbert has contributed more articles to this site than any other author. Eight of his articles published here were later published in his book "Essays in American Chess History" (2002, Caissa Editions). His latest article The Reverend Charles Edward Ranken and Mid-Victorian Correspondence Chess has just been posted here in the "On the Square" collection of articles.

(7 Nov 2005): New article on the history of cc

One of our regulars here at The Campbell Report is Neil "The Historian" Brennen. He has provided something special this time with "The Queen of Chess": The Correspondence Chess of Ellen Gilbert in the "On the Square" collection of articles.

(7 Nov 2005): ICCF Award

ICCF has announced that The Campbell Report (webmaster Franklin Campbell) has been awarded the "Friend of ICCF" award during the 2005 ICCF Congress in Argentina. Congratulations to the other two sites to receive this award in 2005:

ICCF Meetings (webmaster Maurizio Sampieri)

AJEC National cc site of France (webmaster Olivier Bouverot)

(7 Nov 2005): Congratulations to Chess Today on 5th!

Congratulations to GM Alex Baburin and the entire Chess Today team on reaching their 5th birthday! GM Baburin relates that he sent his first material for publication during the Istanbul Chess Olympiad using a slow Internet Cafe connection described as "pathetic". I strongly recommend this excellent on-line publication delivered by email each day. Check the Chess Today web site to subscribe, and please mention my name (Franklin Campbell) so I can get an extra month added to my subscription!

(6 Nov 2005): Interview of Michael Millstone, ICCF FD & DE

One of the major accomplishments of the ICCF Congress in Argentina was to find a new Financial Director to fill the vacant office. Many thanks to the NAPZ Director Ruth Ann Fay (USA) for doing much valuable work with the financial records to prepare them for the new FD. You can read a number of reports from congress at the ICCF Congress Web Site, including a list of newly elected officials.

Many people aren't familiar with the new ICCF Financial Officer and Direct Entry Coordinator Michael Millstone (USA). I have just posted my Interview of Michael Millstone to the Interviews section. Read it and I think you will agree with me that this was a superb choice for this very important office.

(28 Oct 2005): The Campbell Report for Sept-Oct 2005

I just posted my Sept-Oct 2005 column "The Campbell Report" from the magazine APCT News Bulletin. For all the on-line versions of my columns see Archive of The Campbell Report.

(29 Oct 2005): ICCF Congress ... first reports

As Congress time approaches (it starts tomorrow) the first reports have trickled in. South African delegate Dinand Knol and Scotland delegate George Pyrich have sent some early comments. The President's opening speach (to be delivered by Max Zavanelli) will appear on the site tomorrow about noon Eastern Time.

See the ICCF Congress Web Site for the Congress Agenda and all reports received. A number of delegates have promised to try to send reports during Congress.

(17 Oct 2005): New home for "Meetings of ICCF"

ICCF has announced that the web site "Meetings of ICCF" has a new, permanent home at the ICCF domain This excellent web site by SIM Maurizio Sampieri (ITA) contains a wealth of information on past ICCF congresses, very beautifully presented.

The separate ICCF Congress Web Site (which is hosted here at the CC.COM domain) concentrates of the most recent congresses with reports from Congress, complete minutes and photos.

(1 Oct 2005): Site reaches 200,000 hits

Yesterday the hit counter on this web page reached the 200,000 mark. Thanks for visiting, everyone.

(24 Sept 2005): FIDE World Championship

The FIDE World Championship (OTB) tournament will start in a few days, with the first games to be played on 28.09.2005. Eight top players will contest a double round robin to determine the FIDE champion. For more information see Sites of Note entry.

(12 Sept 2005): ICCF Server Tutorial in French

The French version of the ICCF Server Tutorial is now available. Thanks to Marc Smet & Charles Moeykens of the Belgium Association for Correspondence Chess for creating this new tutorial, using the English version as a guide. See: Manuel d'emploi pour le serveur ICCF.

(4 Sept 2005): ICCF Champions League Progress

The ICCF Champions League is making good progress. Nine months after the official start date 45% of the 4000+ games have finished. All games are by email or server. For a report see Champions League web site.

(2 Sept 2005): ICCF Server Tutorial in German

A German version of the ICCF Server Tutorial is now available at the BdF web site. Uwe Bekemann (GER) has performed the translation and set up the web pages. See: Benutzungshilfe für den ICCF-Webserver.

The Tutorial is now available in five languages: English, Dutch, Czech, Spanish and German. A French version is also being prepared.

(25 Aug 2005): ICCF Congress Web Site Update

I recently overhauled the ICCF Congress Web Site to give it a better look and reorganized it to give each Congress its own page. Also, thanks to Ruth Ann Fay (ICCF-U.S. office and ICCF NAPZ Zonal Director) for providing a complete list of ICCF meetings since the first one in London in 1951.

Some preliminary information about the upcoming Congress in Argentina is also given. As more information becomes available it will be added, and when Congress is underway I plan to provide reports from Argentina. One reporter is already lined up.

(2 Sept 2005): May-June 2005 APCT Column Posted

I just posted my July-Aug 2005 column "The Campbell Report" from the magazine APCT News Bulletin. For all the on-line versions of my columns see Archive of The Campbell Report.

(10 Aug 2005): Chess Journalists of America Awards

The annual CJA competition winners for 2005 were announced today. This awards program recognizes the best chess journalism published in the USA. Once again this site was named the "Best Correspondence Chess Web Site", and Neil Brennen was recognized with an Honorable Mention in the "Best Historical Article" category for his article at this site "The Process of Creation: Correspondence Play and the Growth of Chess in Texas a Century Ago". Also, congratulations to CCLA and the editor Joseph Ganem for once again winning "Best Correspondence Chess Magazine" with The Chess Correspondent.

(10 Aug 2005): ICCF Server Tutorial Reaches 1000 hits

The hit counter for the ICCF Server Tutorial posted here on 30.06.2005 has just reached 1000, making it possibly the most popular item ever posted at this site. Thanks to everyone for the input you have provided. It is serving as a model for tutorials at other sites in Czech, Spanish, Dutch and French. Hopefully, the server itself will soon provide some non-English content.

(4 Aug 2005): New web site for ICCF Africa / Asia Zone

Zonal Director Mohamed (Med) Samraoui (ALG) (currently living in Germany) has announced the creation of a new web site to serve the ICCF Africa/Asia Zone. The webmaster is Giorgio Ruggeri Laderchi (ITA), who is also webmaster for the European Zonal site.

(4 Aug 2005): Candidates for ICCF Positions

Zonal Director SIM Med Samraoui (ALG) and IM Dr. Claudio Javier Goncalves (ARG) have announced they will be candidates for the open position of President of ICCF. At this time of transition to using the ICCF server (not only for playing chess but also for administrative functions) it is important to have candidates of this caliber step forward to serve.

No candidates have yet come forward to run for the open position of World Tournament Director.

(25 July 2005): IA Maurice Carter on Chess.FM Radio

IA Maurice Carter (USA), a long-time cc organizer and tournament director in the USA, will be the guest on the show Fred Wilson's "Chess & Books".Check out the Chess.FM site for full information. The show will be broadcast on the Internet on Tuesday evening, July 26 at 8:00pm ET.

(30 June 2005): May-June 2005 APCT Column Posted

I just posted my May-June 2005 column "The Campbell Report" from the magazine APCT News Bulletin. For all the on-line versions of my columns see Archive of The Campbell Report.

(28 June 2005): ICCF Server Tutorial now available

I just finished a tutorial on how to use the ICCF Webserver. If you are planning to play on the ICCF server for the first time (or even if you are already an experienced server player) you may find something of interest in ICCF Server Tutorial. I have place a link in my short link list at the top of this site and added an entry in the menu system under "Special Features".


Editor R. Boger

(21 June 2005): ICCF Amici vol. 5

GM Raymond Boger (NOR) has replaced Alex Dunne (USA) as editor of the ICCF on-line magazine ICCF Amici. Though GM Boger has been publishing ICCF Amici since the first issue and has served as webmaster, the 5th issue is his first as editor (Alex Dunne served as editor for the first four issues, but he has now taken on the USCF position of CC Director).

This 5th issue has just been published and can now be found at the ICCF Amici web site. You can read the issue on-line in your browser or download a PDF or DOC file, plus the games files can be downloaded separately in various database formats.

You can also visit GM Raymond Boger's interesting personal web site.

(20 June 2005): GM Arno Nickel Interview by Chessfriend.com

Reimund Lutzenberger of the Chessfriend.com chess server has provided an interview of GM Arno Nickel titled "Adams can beat Hydra". This is of particular interest now since GM Michael Adams (ENG) will be playing the Hydra computer in a large prize-fund 6-game match June 21-27, 2005. See the announcement below. They say that Hydra has never been defeated by a human GM at regular time limits, but cc GM Anro Nickel has recently won the first two games of a projected four-game correspondence chess match. See what GM Nickel has to say about how to beat the Hydra computer.

(19 June 2005): OTB Player Web Sites

A number of top OTB chess players now have their own web sites. Following is a list for a few of the top players.

    Vladimir Kramnik
    Vishwanathan Anand ... dated, still interesting
    Garry Kasparov ... site for ‘My Great Predecessors’
    Peter Leko
    Ponomariov ... still under construction
    Alexander Morozevich ... hosted by GM Square
    Judit Polgar ... a fan site
    Peter Svidler
    Teimour Radjabov ... fan site


(click image)

(18 June 2005): Adams vs. Hydra Match

GM Michael Adams (ENG) will be playing the Hydra computer in a 6-game match June 21-27, 2005. See Hydra Web Site. They claim that Hydra (a multi-processor computer using both special hardware and software for chess) has never lost an OTB game to a Grandmaster, though GM Arno Nickel recently won two games in correspondence chess (see ChessFriend.Com). June 24 will be a rest day. The games will be shown live on the Internet. Prize fund is $150,000. Hopefully, the game will be prettier than the logo!

For news items posted earlier in 2005, go to Index2005.htm
For news items posted in 2004, go to Index2004.htm
Snapshot taken from end of December 2004
For news items posted in 2003, go to Index2003.htm.
Snapshots of site from September 1999, April 2001, June 2001.

Webmaster: J. Franklin Campbell
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