Geriatric Weekend Warriors' Society (80+)

[Bob Armstrong]

Seniors' CHESS Bulletin
(25/12/11)

Published by
Geriatric Weekend Warriors Society (80+)



“FIDE Senior Categories

The primary FIDE World Senior Championships are held annually in the following four categories:

• Open 50+: For all players aged 50 or older in the calendar year of the tournament.
• Women 50+: Exclusively for female players aged 50 or older in the calendar year of the tournament.
• Open 65+: For all players aged 65 or older in the calendar year of the tournament.
• Women 65+: Exclusively for female players aged 65 or older in the calendar year of the tournament.

The 75+ Recognition

While there isn't a dedicated 75+ competitive section, FIDE and tournament organizers recognize players in this age group through special awards. For example, at the 2025 World Senior Championships, the total prize fund was increased to include specific prizes for the best performers aged 75 and above.”

FIDE – Seniors - AI Overview – 25/12/9

Our GWWS(80+)

Given the FIDE prize recognition structure, it is now on our group's agenda, whether we should change our organization name to: Geriatric Weekend Warriors' Society (75+).

This would align us with the FIDE prize structure, and in future, any corresponding change in Canada to prize or section structures.

Stay tuned!

Publisher Notes:

1. Contact: Bob Armstrong (Communications Secretary): bobarm111 at gmail dot com.
   
   2. Members (As shown on our flyer)

Name............................................Age.........CFC No...CFC...FQE..FIDE

1600+

U 1600

1. Monné, John...........................94 y.o......193130...(1096)...---....----....2025/12/9

2. Armstrong, Robert (Bob) J....80 y.o.......100034....1599...1517.....1499.......2025/12/9

Note: Dater = Last date stats checked

3. Please draw this thread to the attention of all 80+ active Canadian seniors. To be on our List of 80+ active players, they can contact us at the above email.

Or write me about them and we will contact them.

4. We have a Members' Waiting/Supporters List. This is how it appears on our flyer:


Name..........................................Age...............CFC No..CFC.....FQE....FIDE

…....................................................................................Rating.Rating.Rating


1. Finlay, Ian …......................79 y.o...................101866..1831....-----... 1809... 2025/12/9

2. Leblanc, Paul......................76 y.o...................104186..1707....----......1687....2025/12/9

3. Teram, Eli...........................76 y.o..... ….........107314 .1252... -----...... ----.....2025/12/9

4. Gillanders, Bob..................69 y.o...................108202..1645....1243....1656....2025/12/9

5. McKim, Fred......................67 y.o......….........100145..1885... 1960. …----.....2025/12/9

6. Parakin, Don......................65 y.o...................106488..1642....1173....1540....2025/12/9

[Date: The day the Member's Stats were last checked]

Explanatory Note:

These players receive copies of our public emails - to know what we're up to from time to time.

Our waiting/supporting seniors get some preference in our senior team creation.

If you are 79 y.o. (or close), and are considering joining on your 80th birthday, contact us and you will be added to our list.......get all the latest poop immediately.

Same goes for those who would like to "support" our effort by lending their name publicly (goes on our flyer).......just let us know you'd like to be added to this list.

Don't be shy - Contact us!

Subscriptions Contact: Bob Armstrong: bobarm111 at gmail dot com - Current Subscribers: 34

To Subscribe: It's free; you don't have to be a senior.

To Unsubscribe: Reply to this email and so advise.

Thanks.

Bob Armstrong (Communications Secretary/ Ontario Coordinator)

[Bob Armstrong]

GWWS(80+)
[National Canadian Organization]



New Membership Issue

1. Question/Motion:

Will our national "Canadian" 80 + group accept as full members, foreign nationals 80+ y.o. who have a current CFC membership, and play regularly in Canada?

2. Our Terms of Membership (As set out in our seniors' group flyer):

C. Membership Conditions

1. 80 y.o. or older as of date of joining; must be fully paid up CFC member;
2. Membership is Canada-wide.
3. Will do something beyond what they are currently doing to try to raise their rating;
4.. Have played at least one rated (Regular/Standard) Tournament (CFC; FQE; FIDE) in the 12 months prior to joining.

3. Source of Issue:

We have received an application for membership from an active 82 y.o. resident of the USA who plays regularly in the Maritimes!

4. Group Procedure

Our group is a not-for-profit, unregistered cooperative. Thus each member has 1 vote on all issues (Though we have a "Communications Secretary", this position is technical only, and has no additional group power). We are two members, as set out in our flyer:

D. Members

Name..........................Date...........Age..................CFC No...CFC.....FQE.....FIDE

Rating..Rating..Rating

Notes:

1. Date: The day the Member's Stats were last checked.
2. [Proposed] * - Foreign National who plays regularly in Canada = Honorary 80+ Canadian for 80+ group purposes

1600+

U 1600

1. Monné, John...........................94 y.o......193130...(1096)...---....----....2025/12/9

2.. Armstrong, Robert (Bob) J....80 y.o.......100034....1599...1517.....1499.......2025/12/9

5. Members' Waiting/Supporters List

This group acts as a pool of advisors to our 80+ group. These players do not have any formal vote, but we do have an open request for input from them on any issue, and they do have long chess experience behind their recommendations. Here is the list (As per our current flyer):

Name.......................................................Age......CFC No..CFC....FQE..FIDE

…......................................................................................Rating.Rating.Rating

1. Finlay, Ian …......................79 y.o...................101866..1831....-----... 1809... 2025/12/9

2. Leblanc, Paul......................76 y.o...................104186..1707....----......1687....2025/12/9

3. Teram, Eli...........................76 y.o..... ….........107314 .1252... -----...... ----.....2025/12/9

4. Gillanders, Bob..................69 y.o...................108202..1645....1243....1656....2025/12/9

5. McKim, Fred......................67 y.o......….........100145..1885... 1960. …----.....2025/12/9

6. Parakin, Don......................65 y.o...................106488..1642....1173....1540....2025/12/9

[Date: The day the Member's Stats were last checked]

Explanatory Note:

These players receive copies of our public emails - to know what we're up to from time to time.

Our waiting/supporting seniors get some preference in our senior team creation.

If you are 79 y.o. (or close), and are considering joining on your 80th birthday, contact us and you will be added to our list.......get all the latest poop immediately.

Same goes for those who would like to "support" our effort by lending their name publicly (goes on our flyer).......just let us know you'd like to be added to this list.

Don't be shy - Contact us!

6. Recommendations

One member of our pool of advisors, so far, has now recommended that John & I vote "yes" on the motion.

We are open to CT viewers giving us their opinions here as well, or email us directly: Contact: Bob Armstrong: bobarm111 at gmail dot com.

7. Vote Call

The deadline for John and I to vote is Monday night at 6 PM (Dec. 15).

Our current two voting protocols are:

1. Tie vote - motion is deferred, put on the shelf for the time being, and can be brought back for future discussion after a short interlude, or earlier if new factors arise.
2. Failure to vote by the deadline - will be treated as an abstention vote (So decisions can be made in a timely way).

Bob A (Communications Secretary/Ontario Coordinator)

[Bob Armstrong]

GWWS(80+)

Motion (See post # 92 above)

Recommendation: Today a 2nd of our pool of mentors chimed in to recommend John & I vote "Yes".

Vote: It is unanimous - 2 "Yes" votes.

So my motion passes! Whoohoo!

I'll now formally join Lance as a full member.

So our membership just grew by 50 % just before the end of the year (If my math is good). Just growing like a bad weed....a staggering membership now of 3!!

GWWS(80+) has had a good evolution in its 1st 1/2 year of existence!


Bob A (Communications Secretary/Ontariò Coordinator)

[Bob Armstrong]

GWWS(80+)
[Canadian National Organization/Unincorporated Not-For-Profit Cooperative]



Membership

We're growing!! We just increased our membership by 50% (If our math is right)!

Addition: Lance Beloungie

Members' List:

Name....................................Age.....CFC No...CFC.....FQE.....FIDE

.......................................................................Rating..Rating..Rating

Notes:

1. Date: The day the Member's Stats were last checked.
2. * - Foreign National who plays regularly in Canada = Honorary 80+ Canadian for our group purposes

1600+

1. *Beloungie, Lance....................82 y.o. ...170713... .1690...------.....1841........2025/12/12

U 1600

2. Monné, John...........................94 y.o......193130...(1096)...---....----....2025/12/9

3. Armstrong, Robert (Bob) J....80 y.o.......100034....1599....1517.....1499.......2025/12/9

Now a staggering 3 members!!

Bob Armstrong (Communications Secretary/Ontario Coordinator)

[Bob Armstrong]

Geriatric Weekend Warriors' Society (80+)
Canadian National Organization/Unincorporated Not-for-Profit Cooperative



2026 GTCL Team Championship (Regular Time Control)
(Jan. - March)

GWWS(80+), team organizer, now has a spot reserved in this 10 team, 9 round round-robin, subject to formal registration when we have a full roster.

A team consists of 4 players, with unlimited substitutes.

Registration Deadline: Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026.


1. Team: Old Pharts

(25/12/14)

Captain – Bob Armstrong


4-Player Team (So Far)


1. Dougherty, Michael (FM)...65 y.o...CFC No.: 100294...CFC: 2211...FIDE: 2135...(25/12/14)


2. Chamberland, Luc...........62 y.o...CFC No.: 107346 ...CFC: 1848...FIDE: 1684.. (25/12/14)


3. *Armstrong, Robert (Bob) J., 81 y.o.. CFC No.: 100034.CFC: 1599.FIDE: 1499..(25/12/14)


4. **Teram, Eli......................77 y.o...CFC No.: 107314..CFC: 1252..FIDE:----....(25/12/14)



Notes:

1. Age (FIDE Definition): Oldest age during the year of the tournament

2.(Date) = last date players' stats were checked.

3. * - GWWS(80+) Member

4. ** - On the GWWS(80+) Member Waiting/Supporters List.


2. Invitees: We have 3 invitations to join the team outstanding, and are awaiting reply.

Bob Armstrong (Communications Secretary/Ontario Coordinator)

[Bob Armstrong]

Geriatric Weekend Warriors' Society (80+)
Canadian National Organization/Unincorporated Not-for-Profit Cooperative




25/12/18 Update

a. Tournament: 2026 GTCL Team Championship (Regular Time Control)
(Jan. - March)

b. Team Organizer: GWWS (80+) - Building a team, one player at a time!

c. Advance Registration: GWWS(80+) now has a spot reserved in this 10 team, 9 round round-robin, subject to formal registration when we have a full roster.

d. Team Composition: 4 players, with unlimited substitutes.

e. Registration Deadline: Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026.

f. Addition: Ian Finlay

g. Team: Old Pharts
(As of 25/12/14)

Captain – Bob Armstrong

4-Player GWWS(80+) Team (So Far)

1. Dougherty, Michael (FM)...65 y.o...CFC No.: 100294...CFC: 2211...FIDE: 2135...(25/12/14)


2. Chamberland, Luc...........62 y.o...CFC No.: 107346 ...CFC: 1848...FIDE: 1684.. (25/12/14)


3. *Armstrong, Robert (Bob) J., 81 y.o.. CFC No.: 100034.CFC: 1599.FIDE: 1499..(25/12/14)


4. **Teram, Eli......................77 y.o...CFC No.: 107314..CFC: 1252..FIDE:----....(25/12/14)

Back-Up/Substitutes (No Limit)

5. **Finlay, Ian......................... 80 y.o.......CFC No.: 101866. CFC: 1831...FIDE: 1809...(25/12/14) - Limited

Notes:

1. Age (FIDE Definition): Oldest age during the year of the tournament

2.(Date) = last date players' stats were checked.

3. * - GWWS(80+) Member

4. ** - On the GWWS(80+) Member Waiting/Supporters List.

h. Invitees: We have 3 invitations to join the team outstanding, and are awaiting reply (Deadline: 6 PM, Sat., Dec. 20). If, by the deadline, we still do not have a full roster, we will start issuing additional invitations, and it will be that the first responder gets the position. We wish to have 6 players as regular, and each will play the 6 out of 9 rounds. One player will also be "designated back-up" for each round, and they must remain available to play in case of a last minute emergence where a scheduled player is not going to be able to play.

Bob Armstrong (Communications Secretary/Ontario Coordinator)

[Bob Armstrong]

GWWS(80+)
[Canadian National Organization/Unincorporated Not-for-Profit Cooperative]



Members' Waiting/Supporters' List - Revision

Addition: Shankar Balakrishnan - Building support, one at a time.

List (As in Our Revised Flyer):

Notes:

1. Age (FIDE Def.): Oldest age during the year

2. Date: The day the player's stats were last checked.


Name....................................Age............CFC No..CFC....FQE..FIDE

….........................................................................Rating.Rating.Rating

1. Finlay, Ian …......................79 y.o...................101866..1831....-----... 1809... 2025/12/19

2. Leblanc, Paul......................76 y.o...................104186..1707....----......1687....2025/12/19

3. Teram, Eli...........................76 y.o..... ….........107314 .1252... -----...... ----.....2025/12/19

4. Gillanders, Bob..................69 y.o...................108202..1641....1243....1656....2025/12/19

5. McKim, Fred......................67 y.o......….........100145..1861... 1960. …----.....2025/12/19

6. Parakin, Don......................65 y.o...................106488..1642....1173....1540....2025/12/19

7. Balakrishnan, Shankar......61 y.o....................147024..1790....-----.....1607....2025/12/19

Explanatory Note:

These players receive copies of our public emails - to know what we're up to from time to time.

Our waiting/supporting seniors get some preference in our senior team creation.

If you are 79 y.o. (or close), and are considering joining on your 80th birthday, contact us and you will be added to our list.......get all the latest poop immediately.

Same goes for those who would like to "support" our effort by lending their name publicly (goes on our flyer).......just let us know you'd like to be added to this list.

Don't be shy - Contact us!

Bob Armstrong (Communications Secretary/ Ontario Coordinator)