Atlish Taffle Gathering
 | |
| Abbreviation | ATG[1] |
|---|---|
| Formation | October 4, 1902 |
| Merger of | Numerous |
| Headquarters | Brantley |
Region served | Esthursia |
Membership (2023) | 46,000+ |
Foreman | Alwyn Bow (Osynstry) |
Afterman | Jan Lukassen (Helmark) |
Executive Director | Karl Vilhjemssen |
| Affiliations | WCG |
Staff | 35 |
| Website | atg |
The Atlish Taffle Gathering (also known as ATG or Esthursian Chess Gathering (ECG)[1]) has been the governing body for chess competition in Esthursia since the early 20th century, representing it in WCG, the World Chess Gathering. The ATG administers the official national rating system, awards national titles, sanctions around 10 national championships annually, and wholly owns "the Taffleman" newspaper journal. The ATG first met and united in 1902, following the merger of numerous regional, national and local chess administrative bodies, in Brantley, where it remains headquartered. Its membership as of 2023[update] was 46,000, up from 44,000 in 2022.
History
The body was formed in October 1902, following the decision by numerous chess grandmasters and chess bodies to meet in Brantley in 1903, and preparation therewith. The first ATG (the homonymous term for yearly competitions) was held in January of the following year, in the same city.
The ATG's membership has risen strongly in the last few decades, thanks to the popularisation of the rise of Esthursian Grandmaster and World Chess Champion Micky Adams in the 1990s, and the recent rivalry between Adams and his younger counterpart GM Lukas Tvørfoss in the 2020s.
Governance
The ATG has an executive committee and rotating foremanship, the former of which has a total of 20 members, and the latter typically between four people over a period of four years, with a further aftermanship thereafter for the foreman in the year following their term.
Ratings
| Category | Rating range |
|---|---|
| World Candidate | 2400+ |
| National Master | 2200–2399 |
| Candidate Master | 2000–2199 |
| Expert | 1800–1999 |
| High Intermediate | 1600–1799 |
| Intermediate | 1400–1599 |
| Low Intermediate | 1200–1399 |
| Class 1 | 1000–1199 |
| Class 2C | 800–999 |
| Class 2B | 600–799 |
| Class 2A | 400–599 |
| Class 3 | 200–399 |
| Class 4 | 100–199 |
The ATG implements rating systems for chess players in Esthursia; a rating is therewith a calculated numerical estimate of a player's strength, based on results in tournament play against other rated players by regulation. Tournament organisers submit results to the ATG, which carries out the calculations and registers the published results.
Events are typically held by class - World, Masters/"Advanced" (the latter including Experts), Intermediate and "Future Masters" (the latter including anything lower than National Master), and Beginner - though these are not usually stringent, and are rather a way to ensure even-grounded competition. Some masters and world candidates hold competitions between themselves and either CMs, or experts, or potentially intermediates, in "Scholar" events.
