Blayney Chess Club 2007 NSW Country Reserve Team Champions   

Ian Rogers Retires

Appeared in the Blayney Chronicle 12th July 2007

In perhaps the biggest surprise to Australian Chess fans in decades, Grandmaster Ian Rogers has announced that he is retiring from all tournament chess due to health problems. He explained it in his column in the Sun-Herald (Sun 15/7/07),

"Last Sunday, following the final round of the Checkmate Open in Adelaide, I announced my retirement from all forms of tournament chess.
The decision, made six days earlier, was not voluntary but was based on unanimous medical opinion that the stress of tournament chess had caused, and would continue to cause, serious health problems unless I stopped permanently.”

The overwhelming response to this announcement was one of surprise, as Grandmaster Rogers had dominated the Australian Chess scene for 25 plus years, and many thought he would continue to do so forever. He was Australian Junior Champion in 1976 and by 1980 had won the Australian Championship, which he won a further four times. He also won the Australian Open Championship in 1993 and the Australian Grand Prix 7 times, the first in 1989 and the most recent in 2004. His “premier event” was the Doeberl Cup, which he won 12 times from 1980 to 2007. Ian was awarded the ACF Steiner Medal as Player of the Year on 5 occasions and the Purdy Medal for chess journalism, which can be won only once, in 1989.

Ian Rogers attained the title of International Master in 1980, and the rank of Grandmaster in 1985, becoming the first Australian to achieve this distinction and only being joined by Daryl Johansen in that illustrious group of players. He has represented Australia at 13 Chess Olympiads, 11 of them as our Nr 1 player.

It is indicative of Ian’s quality of play, that upon gaining the title of Grandmaster in 1985 he remained above the 2500 rating needed to attain that title and retires with his rating at 2547. Ian retires as Australia’s Nr 1 player and may retain the title of highest rated player for a few years yet, as those behind him have some ground to make up.

While the Australian chess playing scene will sorely miss Ian Roger’s presence at the numerous events he participated in. His presence in the writing and coaching fields will compensate for this, two areas where Ian excelled in lifting the standard of chess throughout the country. I am sure that the Australian Chess Federation will be courting Ian as to how and where he would like to be involved in the administration of chess in the country. Adding a player of Ian’s stature and experience to those that control the direction of chess participation in Australia may just be sufficient compensation for the loss of one of the all time playing greats.

Locally, junior players Garry Mann and David Rogerson competed in the Dubbo Winter Junior Chess Tournament and returned good performances. Garry finished 3rd winning 8/10 games and David finished 9th with 5 wins and one draw from his 10 games. Garry was a little disappointed not to have won the event, but considering that he is now one of the Western District’s premier juniors and that other players will be preparing to face him, plus the uncertainty that rapid chess contains,  his effort is still consistent with the high standard he has achieved. David continues to improve, and with a little more work and the subsequent luck that comes with work, he will surely soon be registering his name upon the prize-winners at these and similar events.

As always, please come along to the Bowling Club on a Thursday at 6pm to enjoy a game or a chat with fellow chess players.

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Last modified: 24/10/2008