Echesspedia

The Australian Chess Federation (ACF) was founded in 1922 but chess was already a long tradition. The first Championship was won by F. Esling in 1885. The country became a full member of FIDE in 1939. Australia made a first appearance at the 1964 Olympiad in Tel Aviv. In 22 participations its best achievement was 15th in 1970. In 2009 Australia was ranked 57^th among the countries (average of 2435) with 3 IGMs, 8 IMs and a total of 36 titled players. Known representatives are the World Correspondence Champion Cecil John S. Purdy and IGMs Ian Rogers, Darryl Johansen and Zong-Yuan Zhao.

The national champions were:
1885 F.K Esling; 1887 H. Charlick; 1888 W. Cane; 1893 A.E.N Wallace; 1895 A.E.N Wallace; 1896 A.E.N Wallace; 1897 W. Crane; 1906 J.L Jacobson; 1912 W.S Viner; 1913 W.S Viner; 1922 C.G.M Watson; 1924 W.S Viner; 1926 S. Crackanthorp; 1929 S. Crackanthorp; 1931 C.G.M Watson; 1933 G. Koshnitsky; 1935 C.J.S Purdy; 1937 C.J.S Purdy; 1939 G. Koshnitsky & L. Steiner; 1947 L. Steiner; 1949 C.J.S Purdy; 1951 C.J.S Purdy; 1953 L.Steiner; 1955 J.Purdy; 1957K. Ozols & S. Lazare; 1959 L. Steiner ; 1960 L. Endzelins ; 1963 J. Purdy ; 1965 D. Hamilton; 1969 W. Browne: 1970 A. Flatow; 1972 M. Fuller & T.Hay; 1974 R. Jamieson; 1976 S. Rubanraut; 1978 R. Jamieson; 1980 I. Rogers; 1982 D. Hamilton; 1984 D. Johansen; 1986 I. Rogers; 1988 D. Johansen; 1990 D. Johansen; 1992 A. Wohl; 1994 J. Wallace; 1996 G. West; 1998 I. Rogers; 2000 D. Johansen; 2002 D. Johansen; 2004 G. Lane; 2006 I. Rogers; 2008 S. Salomon, 2010 Zhao Zong.

The four times champion of Australia Ian Rogers watching the new 2010 champion Zhao Zong.