WBCA To "Retire"

This is the e-mail message that Walter Browne sent on Nov 12. He offers various type of compensation for members whos membership expires after 8/1/2003. As for Arlington Chess Club, in the future Blitz events I direct, I will manage and update the ratings myself. Next year was announced as the final year for the Blitz series so it is fitting that the WBCA would retire as well. Those members who joined this past Friday night (11/14), I will return your money so you do not have to deal with the compensation. Those who joined in October or earlier need to pay attention to the expiration date and just how much compensation you have coming. I sent Walter an e-mail about the possibility of doing a simul associated with the Virginia Open next June as an easy way for local WBCA members to get their compensation and will let you know about the status of this.

Below is the letter:

Dear WBCA members,
When I grew up in the 1960’s it seemed that almost everybody loved to play Blitz, but there were very seldom any Blitz events and certainly not rated. In the 1980’s I sought to change that by forming the World Blitz Chess Association which thrived with thousands of events all over the globe. Today rated Blitz events are held at almost every major event including the Internet 24 hours a day!

Despite the fact that this has brought about Chess boom in the last 15 years the USCF never sponsored or condoned Blitz Ads. As a result organizers including Bill Goichberg were loath to promote Blitz large scale, although the two events he held each year were appreciated. The National Open was the best attended and it all started in 1986 when Fred Gruenberg kindly took a chance, which to this day continues to be a hit the night before each National Open. Jerry Hanken tried a WBCA event at the 1987 American Open, which had a great turnout of around 80 players, and continues as a popular event to this day! In the early 90’s Jerry Weikel started a WBCA Blitz event just after Larry Evan’s inspiring lectures at the Western State’s Open, which has been a welcome addition.

Thanks to all the clubs who ran events especially the Rochester, Arlington, Manhattan, Marshall and Bakersfield who ran hundreds of events over the last 15 years. Last but not least to Ralph Bowman who gave great support in the early days and more recently Toshio Imai for his encouragement and very generous support.

Attempts to rate international events had some fleeting success. Unfortunately many players resented paying membership dues although they love to play Blitz.

The initial wave of interest and support when the WBCA started from 1988 to 1990 was inspiring but then interest slowly subsided. I created a much better magazine in 1993 with many in-depth GM annotations with several well-paid contributors. Additionally a website was created, but maintaining it was a thankless task. Due to competition from rated online Blitz, membership fell off to a point where I not only worked for free, but I was at a loss. Despite the fact that Blitz Chess sold well in stores, I couldn’t get enough distributors and advertising waned.

In 2002 AOL swallowed up my website and due to a hard drive crash several programs were lost irretrievably. After 4 months and a new program I’ve recovered the addresses. The cost of producing, not to mention the incredible effort of putting out a slick magazine, besides doing all the ratings single handedly is unbearable, forcing me to retire the WBCA at this time. I will continue to compete in chess events and hope to do a book of my life in the near future. I will play in The National Open and CCA International in 2004 and will give lessons.

I will rate any events properly reported and postmarked by 12/31/03. I want to thank personally all the individuals, Affiliates and sponsors who believed in the WBCA with their undying support. I believe the compensation I’ve offered is very fair and well thought out, but welcome your E-mails: WBKINGCHESS@nospamAOL.COM

Attention: IF YOUR WBCA MEMBERSHIP EXPIRED PRIOR TO 8/1/03 YOU HAVE NO CREDIT DUE.
ITEMS WILL GO QUICKLY ORDER EARLY! ALL REDEMPTION MUST BE POSTMARKED or E-mailed by January 31,2004
(Except for simuls and lessons where credit is valid til 1/1/2011)
Only those who’s WBCA membership was still valid after 8/1/2003 will have $1.20 credit for each month(4 cents per day) for the first year (till 8/1/04)and $1 credit per month thereafter.
For example if you expire 1/1/2004 You have $6.00 credit If you expire 5/14/04 you have $11.32 credit. If you expire 8/1/04 $14.40 credit,etc.
Life members all will get $150(-$5 for each full year they were a member) credit. For example if you became a Life member in July,1993 you have $100 credit.If you joined July,1999 you have $130 credit,etc.

TEN POINTS OF COMPENSATION
1) Back issues of Blitz Chess 1988-2003 (Prices listed in the final issues)
2) Historical Chess bulletins 1972-1985 (Pricelist in Fall & Winter 2002-2003 Blitz Chess)
3) Karpov Vol. 1-4 videotapes $38 each or Shirov Vol.1-5 videotapes $41 each
4) Browne Najdorf or anti-Najdorf videos $30 each
5) Browne’s best games from US ch. 1974-1983 Vol.1 or Vol.2 videos $33 each
6) Chess World Title contenders & their styles by Danny Kopec and Craig Pritchett $11
7) Blitz Theory by J. Maxwell $13
8) Chess master 5000 $30, 5500 $40, 6000 $50
9) Private one hour Chess lessons with Walter Browne a 6-time US champ $100
10) Credit in future simultaneous exhibitions up to 50% off each simul regular EF.
IF YOU WISH TO REDEEM FOR MORE THAN YOUR CREDIT PLEASE PAY THE DIFFERENCE BY CHECK OR MONEY ORDER
--- -ALL ORDERS ARE POSTPAID! Please allow 4-6 weeks mailing and handling