Dear Endgame Study Friends,
One month ago we received the shocking news that our good endgame study friend Iuri Akobia (Georgia) had passed away. His contribution to our art is immense: not only his marvellous endgame studies and his books, but also his terrific website. Especially the awards section became a valuable news source for endgame study composers. >>Read more/less…
In addition, Iuri’s site hosted a couple of “Study of the Year” selections, including the Study of the Year 2013 (SOY2013), which had a deadline of December 1st 2014. I am happy to be able to announce that the board of the Dutch Endgame Study Society ARVES has responded positively to my request to host the SOY2013 on their website. I obviously also consulted the Endgame Study Committee of the WFCC proposing: 1) to host the SOY2013 on the ARVES website, and: 2) to extend the submission deadline to December 31st, 2014. I only got positive responses. Further, I will direct the SOY2013 instead of Akobia (although there would not be a real objection to do so, I will not submit one of my own studies).
This is the SOY2013 link:
http://www.arves.org/English/StudyOfTheYear2013.htm
Further, I am also happy to announce that ARVES will try and continue the awards website of Akobia. Of course, the PDF/PGN-content is there, but ARVES will try and add both new awards and also wants to add historical awards. They hope that tourney organizers as well as individual composers and other endgame enthusiasts will contribute by providing new and historical award files.
Here is the award website:
http://www.arves.org/Awards/Recent%20Awards%20of%20Endgame%20Study%20Tourneys.htm
Another relevant service of Akobia’s website to our art was the (endgame study) tourney calender. ARVES has also promised to undertake continuation of this service, and will soon announce its launch.
Please do forward this e-mail to others that might be interested in this news. Thank you! In case you are hosting a website yourself, please add the links mentioned above!
Best Regards,
Dr. Harold van der Heijden, spokesman of the Endgame Study Committee of the WFCC
