The ACC Winter Swiss is a five-round ACC club tournament running from January 6 to February 3. It’s a CFC-rated tournament, divided in three sections, Crown, U1800, and U1400. Time control is 90 min/side with a 30-s increment.

New players can register on site each round by 7 pm. Email registration or bye requests before 6 pm.

Round One – January 6

A new year, and a new tournament gets under way with 30 players registered.

Round Two – January 13

Some additional players join, and 40 players total participate in Round Two. When the dust settles, it’s Michael Humphreys and Saimir Shabanaj tied for first in the Crown with 2.0/2; Ian Greig, Colton Belanger and Sihao Chen tied for first in U1800 with 2.0/2; and Alex Niestrawski alone in first in U1400 with 2.0/2.

Round Three – January 20

With the cold and the snowfall over the weekend it feels much more like winter now. When the games are done, Saimir Shabanaj is alone in first in the Crown with 3.0/3; in U1800, Colton Belanger and Sihao Chen are tied for first with 3.0/3; and in U1400 Alex Niestrawski holds onto his lead with 2.5/3.

Here’s a quick Evans Gambit game from the middle section:

Round Four – January 27

In the Crown, Saimir Shabanaj keeps an undisputed hold on first with a perfect score of 4.0/4. In U1800 Sihao Chen defeats rival Colton Belanger with lightning-fast play to take sole first with 4.0/4. And in U1400, Christopher Charles defeats the leader to take a share of first with Bill Randle at 3.0/4.

Anything can happen in the last round!

Meanwhile, here’s a decisive Danish Gambit game from the top section

Round Five – February 3

With Michael Humphreys defeating Saimir Shabanaj in the last round, both players finished tied with Ruth Joy Vinuya at 4.0/5. On the fourth tie-break (Bucholz Cut 1) Saimir Shabanaj takes first place.

Congratulations, Saimir!

See full results below.

Don’t miss the ACC February Blitz next week. Register on site by 7 pm. Email registration before 6 pm.

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Ranking Cross-tables after Round 5

ACC Winter Swiss – Crown section

Rk.	Name	Rtg	FED	1.Rd	2.Rd	3.Rd	4.Rd	5.Rd
1	Shabanaj Saimir	2133	ALB	6b1	2w1	5b1	9w1	3b0
2	Vinuya Ruth Joy	1857	PHI	9b1	1b0	4w1	5w1	14b1
3	Humphreys Michael	2325	CAN	11b1	15w1	-½	-½	1w1
4	Southam David	2216	CAN	5w0	8b1	2b0	13w1	-1
5	Gao Lucy	1795	CAN	4b1	12w½	1w0	2b0	11w1
6	Furrow Matthew	1782	CAN	1w0	13b1	12b1	-½	0
7	Struthers Matthew	2052	CAN	8w1	0	-½	-½	0
8	McSherry Peter	1776	CAN	7b0	4w0	9w0	11b1	-1
9	Ugodnikov Arkadiy	1766	CAN	2w0	11w½	8b1	1b0	0
10	Chen Sihao	1658	CAN	13b1	0	0	0	0
11	Fines John	1822	CAN	3w0	9b½	-½	8w0	5b0
12	Sobrevilla Ruben	2045	USA	-½	5b½	6w0	0	0
13	Balal Niaki Sadegh	0	CAN	10w0	6w0	-1	4b0	0
14	Sutton Michael	1700	CAN	-½	-½	0	0	2w0
15	Belanger Colton	1673	CAN	0	3b0	0	0	0

See full Crown results on the Chess-results server.

ACC Winter Swiss – U1800 section

Rk.	Name	Rtg	FED	1.Rd	2.Rd	3.Rd	4.Rd	5.Rd	Pts.
1	Chen Sihao	1658	CAN	-1	4w1	14b1	2b1	3w1	5
2	Belanger Colton	1673	CAN	23w1	-1	3b1	1w0	4b1	4
3	Greig Ian	0	CAN	7w1	12b1	2w0	6b1	1b0	3
4	D’Souza Carina	1502	CAN	22w1	1b0	12w1	10b1	2w0	3
5	Patton Mark A.	1375	CAN	13w0	23b1	24w-	15w1	12b1	3
6	Moiseev Alex	1256	CAN	17w½	19b1	11b½	3w0	14b1	3
7	Jevtic Dragan	1496	CAN	3b0	-½	-½	21w1	9b1	3
8	Hillier Paul	0	CAN	-½	18w1	10b0	-½	17w1	3
9	Lambert Peter	1471	CAN	12w0	22b1	17w½	11b1	7w0	2.5
10	Schyngera Eli	1428	CAN	-½	21b1	8w1	4w0	0	2.5
11	Helwig Frank	1715	CAN	-½	17b½	6w½	9w0	18b1	2.5
12	Ali Shafkat	1647	CAN	9b1	3w0	4b0	18w1	5w0	2
13	Costales Dan	1571	CAN	5b1	0	0	0	22w1	2
14	Diemer Ulli	1574	CAN	-½	24b1	1w0	17b½	6w0	2
15	Schneider Terra Arthur	1698	CAN	-½	-½	0	5b0	19w1	2
16	Phillips Arthur	1546	CAN	-½	-½	0	0	21b1	2
17	Supol George	1536	CAN	6b½	11w½	9b½	14w½	8b0	2
18	Tuchow Ryan	1419	CAN	-½	8b0	19w1	12b0	11w0	1.5
19	Armstrong Robert J.	1597	CAN	-½	6w0	18b0	22w1	15b0	1.5
20	Donegan Lawrence	1110	CAN	0	0	0	23b1	0	1
21	Angelinos Panagiotis	0	CAN	-½	10w0	22b½	7b0	16w0	1
22	Guo Richard	1249	CAN	4b0	9w0	21w½	19b0	13b0	0.5
23	Dixon Javier	1490	CAN	2b0	5w0	-½	20w0	0	0.5
24	Teodorosyon Aras	1149	CAN	-½	14w0	5b-	0	0	0.5

See full U1800 results on the Chess-results server.

ACC Winter Swiss – U1400 section

Rk.	Name	Rtg	FED	1.Rd	2.Rd	3.Rd	4.Rd	5.Rd	Pts.
1	Stefanovich-Thomson Alexis	1239	CAN	2w1	3b0	11w1	4w½	9b1	3.5
2	Charles Christopher	1286	CAN	1b0	10w1	7b+	5b1	6w0	3
3	Randle Bill	1275	CAN	-½	1w1	4b1	-½	0	3
4	Teram Eli	989	CAN	-½	6w1	3w0	1b½	-1	3
5	Niestrawski Alex	1244	CAN	10b1	7w1	8b½	2w0	0	2.5
6	Donegan Lawrence	1110	CAN	-½	4b0	10w0	-1	2b1	2.5
7	Fuller Chris	1269	CAN	9w1	5b0	2w-	0	10w1	2
8	Lau Joshua	1081	CAN	-½	11b1	5w½	0	0	2
9	Lillico Margarita	1036	CAN	7b0	-½	0	10b1	1w0	1.5
10	Souchko Larissa	826	CAN	5w0	2b0	6b1	9w0	7b0	1
11	Harvey Paul	749	CAN	-½	8w0	1b0	-½	0	1

See full U1400 results on the Chess-results server.

Feature image by Andre Gaulin on Unsplash – The frozen Don River. Eastend Toronto, Canada.

Ted Winick is the founder of Annex Chess Club, as well as Chess Institute of Canada. In honour of what would have been Ted’s 75th birthday on Thursday, and the club’s 9th anniversary this October, we are dedicating this tournament to his memory.

The Ted Winick Memorial Swiss is a five-round ACC club tournament running from September 30 to November 4. (No round on Oct 14.) It’s a CFC-rated tournament, divided in three sections, Crown, U1800, and U1400. Time control is 90 min/side with a 30-s increment. New players can register on site each round by 7 pm. Email registration or bye requests before 6 pm.

Round One – September 30

The tournament gets under way with 37 players registered.

Here’s the game from the top board:

Round Two – October 7

After two rounds, Richard Guo already has clear first in U1400, the only player with 2.0/2. In U1800, it’s a three-way tie with Peter McSherry, Bob Armstrong, and Colton Belanger all tied at 2.0/2. And in the Crown, it’s a two-way tie at 2.0/2 between Dave Southam and Kevin Ozuna Ramos.

Off week – October 14

We’re CLOSED for Thanksgiving.

Round Three – October 21

Some are away from the club to watch the election results. Among those who came out to play their weekly chess game, Dave Southam leads in the Crown section with 3.0/3. In U1800, Peter McSherry and Colton Belanger are tied for the lead with 3.0/3. In U1400, Richard Guo draws but still holds first place with 2.5/3.

Round Four – October 28

Halloween is coming. We missed our annual Halloween Rapid this year, so we’ll have to schedule another Club Rapid soon! Through four rounds, Dave Southam is still perfect with 4.0/4. In U1800 Colton Belanger also has the lead with a perfect 4.0/4. And in U1400, it’s Richard Guo alone in first with 3.5/4. One more round!

Round Five – November 4

When the dust settles, the Ted Winick Memorial U1400 winner is Richard Guo, dominating with 4.5/5. In U1800, it’s Colton Belanger with a perfect 5.0/5. And taking the Crown, it’s Dave Southam with a perfect 5.0/5.

Congratulations, winners, and thanks to everyone who participated!

New club tournament – November 11

We’re starting a new club tournament next week – running on Mondays November 11 to December 9. New players are welcome to join any round. Club and CFC membership can be purchased on site if you don’t already have it. Please arrive by 7:00 pm, or email before 6:00, to let us know you’re coming. If you’ve already entered and you need a bye, please email before 6:00 pm.

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Final Ranking Cross-tables after Round 5

ACC Ted Winick Memorial Swiss – Crown section

Rk.	Name	Rtg	FED	1.Rd	2.Rd	3.Rd	4.Rd	5.Rd	Pts.
1	Southam David	2168	CAN	5b1	2w1	3b1	6w1	8b1	5
2	Humphreys Michael	2334	CAN	14w1	1b0	11w1	7b1	5w1	4
3	Schwartz Lorne	1680	CAN	6b0	5w1	1w0	-½	7b1	2.5
4	Ozuna Ramos Kevin	1935	MEX	11b1	13w1	0	0	0	2
5	Ab-Barin Hooshang	1769	CAN	1w0	3b0	-1	11w1	2b0	2
6	Malmsten Erik	1959	CAN	3w1	-½	-½	1b0	0	2
7	Furrow Matthew	1851	CAN	-½	10b1	-½	2w0	3w0	2
8	Ivanov Venci	1737	CAN	-½	9w0	10b1	-½	1w0	2
9	Ferreira Alex T.	2084	CAN	-½	8b1	0	0	0	1.5
10	Gao Lucy	1718	CAN	-½	7w0	8w0	-1	0	1.5
11	Ali Shafkat	1647	CAN	4w0	-1	2b0	5b0	0	1
12	Gao Raymond	2034	CAN	-½	-½	0	0	0	1
13	Fines John	1834	CAN	-½	4b0	0	0	0	0.5
14	Cohen David	1883	CAN	2b0	0	0	0	0	0

See full Crown results on the Chess-results server.

ACC Ted Winick Memorial Swiss – U1800 section

Rk.	Name	Rtg	FED	1.Rd	2.Rd	3.Rd	4.Rd	5.Rd	Pts.
1	Belanger Colton	1536	CAN	24w1	6b1	11w1	4b1	5w1	5
2	Dixon Javier	1496	CAN	15b1	7w0	25b1	10w1	4w1	4
3	Grisar Charlie	1479	CAN	7b0	-½	16w1	8w1	9b1	3.5
4	McSherry Peter	1780	CAN	9b1	5w1	7b1	1w0	2b0	3
5	Supol George	1523	CAN	13b1	4b0	6w1	7w1	1b0	3
6	Schyngera Eli	1366	CAN	8b1	1w0	5b0	23w1	10b1	3
7	Armstrong Robert J.	1618	CAN	3w1	2b1	4w0	5b0	12w1	3
8	Jevtic Dragan	1512	CAN	6w0	21w1	-½	3b0	11b1	2.5
9	Lambert Peter	1485	CAN	4w0	24b1	-½	19w1	3w0	2.5
10	Chen Sihao	1683	CAN	-½	11b½	12w1	2b0	6w0	2
11	Ugodnikov Arkadiy	1594	CAN	-½	10w½	1b0	16b1	8w0	2
12	D’Souza Carina	1505	CAN	-½	-½	10b0	15w1	7b0	2
13	Lang Nick	1400	CAN	5w0	16w0	24b1	14b0	-1	2
14	Gao Lucy	1718	CAN	-½	-½	0	13w1	0	2
15	Patton Mark A.	1349	CAN	2w0	19b½	21w½	12b0	24w+	2
16	Tuchow Ryan	1412	CAN	17w0	13b1	3b0	11w0	20b½	1.5
17	Saltat Michael	1612	CAN	16b1	-½	0	0	0	1.5
18	Ali Shafkat	1647	CAN	-½	22w1	0	0	0	1.5
19	Niestrawski Alex	1229	CAN	21b½	15w½	-½	9b0	0	1.5
20	Liu Ricky	1379	CAN	-½	-½	0	0	16w½	1.5
21	Kalmanson Evgeny	1272	CAN	19w½	8b0	15b½	0	0	1
22	Vigneswaramoorthy Vinorth	1636	CAN	-½	18b0	-½	0	0	1
23	Gao William (zhimao)	1545	CAN	-½	-½	0	6b0	0	1
24	Banville Cole	1400	CAN	1b0	9w0	13w0	-1	15b-	1
25	Phillips Arthur	1587	CAN	-½	-½	2w0	0	0	1
26	Tanasijczuk Justin	1455	CAN	-½	-½	0	0	0	1

See full U1800 results on the Chess-results server.

ACC Ted Winick Memorial Swiss – U1400 section

Rk.	Name	Rtg	FED	1.Rd	2.Rd	3.Rd	4.Rd	5.Rd	Pts.
1	Guo Richard	1184	CAN	12w1	2w1	4b½	6b1	5w1	4.5
2	Stefanovich-Thomson Alexis	1252	CAN	3w1	1b0	7w1	4b0	9w1	3
3	Moiseev Alex	1163	CAN	2b0	-½	11b1	-½	4w1	3
4	Teram Eli	1000	CAN	-½	10b1	1w½	2w1	3b0	3
5	Lillico Margarita	1136	CAN	6w1	7b0	10w1	-½	1b0	2.5
6	Harvey Paul	663	CAN	5b0	12b+	-½	1w0	10w1	2.5
7	Denning Keith	1159	CAN	-½	5w1	2b0	-½	0	2
8	Lau Joshua	987	CAN	-½	-½	0	9b0	11w1	2
9	Osten Jordan	715	CAN	-½	-½	0	8w1	2b0	2
10	Guo Rainyee	921	CAN	-½	4w0	5b0	11w1	6b0	1.5
11	Yin Lucas	972	CAN	-½	-½	3w0	10b0	8b0	1
12	Souchko Larissa	855	CAN	1b0	6w-	0	0	0	0

See full U1400 results on the Chess-results server.

As the city endures a heat wave, downtown Toronto players set fire to the board in the ACC Summer Heat Swiss.

The tournament runs on Monday nights in the summer from July 8 to August 12. (No round on August 5.) New players can register on site each round by 7 pm. Email registration or bye requests before 6 pm.

Round One – July 8

A number of new players – some new to the club, some new to competitive chess – join in on Round One. Welcome, all!

Round Two – July 15

Lucy Gao returns to the club from the CYCC, top under-10 girl in Canada. Congratulations, Lucy!

When our club tournament games wrap up for the night, Lucy Gao making a cameo in the Crown section, wins her game and ends up in a four-way tie for the lead with John Fines, Syed Ibrahim Ahmed, and Michael Bitton, all at 1.5/2.

In U1400 it’s a tie for first in U-1400 between Mark Patton and Richard Guo with 2.0/2.

And in U1800, Vinorth Vigneswaramoorthy is the last one to finish, but he comes up with a victory to take sole first in his section with 2.0/2.

Round Three – July 22

When the dust settles in the Crown section, there is a seven-way tie for first place with 2.0/3. In U1800, Vinorth Vigneswaramoorthy takes a bye, and William Gao catches up to him to tie for first with 2.5/3. Finally in U1400, Mark Patton is alone in first with a perfect 3.0/3.

See full results below

Round Four – July 29

One round to go!

Off week – August 5

We’re closed for the August holiday – and it’s Caribana weekend in Toronto!

Round Five – August 12

Final round. When the games end, Shafkat Ali takes the U1800 with 4.0/5, Mark Patton takes the U1400 section with 4.5/5. In the Crown section, Lucy Gao gives Dave Southam a tough challenge on top board, but in the end Dave wins to take the tournament with 4.0/5. Congratulations, Dave, Shafkat, and Mark!

A new club tournament starts next week, August 19. New players are always welcome to join! The round starts at 7:30 pm. Register on site by 7 pm. Email registration or bye requests before 6 pm.

Good luck to Lucy, Raymond, Carina, Roger and all the young Canadian players participating in the upcoming North American Youth Chess Championship in Kingston!

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Final Ranking Cross-tables after Round 5

ACC Summer Heat Swiss – Crown section

Rk.	Name	Rtg	FED	1.Rd	2.Rd	3.Rd	4.Rd	5.Rd	Pts.
1	Southam David	2169	CAN	7w0	11b1	2w1	6b1	3w1	4
2	Ahmed Syed Ibrahim	2085	CAN	14b1	7w½	1b0	9b+	6w1	3.5
3	Gao Lucy	1637	CAN	-½	14w1	-½	7b1	1b0	3
4	Malakhovets Sergey	2068	CAN	-½	12w½	7b½	11w½	15b1	3
5	Furrow Matthew	1760	CAN	11b1	8w0	12b1	0	0	2
6	Mcsherry Peter	1831	CAN	12b½	13w½	14b1	1w0	2b0	2
7	Fines John	1829	CAN	1b1	2b½	4w½	3w0	0	2
8	Bitton Michael	1956	CAN	-½	5b1	-½	0	0	2
9	Pham Tam	0	CAN	-½	-½	13b1	2w-	0	2
10	Munro Allan	2214	CAN	-½	-½	0	0	14w1	2
11	Li Yun Hong (kevin)	1947	CAN	5w0	1w0	-1	4b½	12b½	2
12	Ivanov Venci	1741	CAN	6w½	4b½	5w0	14b0	11w½	1.5
13	Bzikot Robert	2041	CAN	-½	6b½	9w0	-½	0	1.5
14	Ab-Barin Hooshang	1803	CAN	2w0	3b0	6w0	12w1	10b0	1
15	Ugodnikov Arkadiy	1611	CAN	-½	-½	0	0	4w0	1

See full Crown results on Chess-Results.

ACC Summer Heat Swiss – U1800 section

Rk.	Name	Rtg	FED	1.Rd	2.Rd	3.Rd	4.Rd	5.Rd	Pts.
1	Ali Shafkat	1648	CAN	-½	11b1	-½	9w1	3w1	4
2	Liu Ricky	1300	CAN	5b½	6w0	13b1	4b1	9w1	3.5
3	Vigneswaramoorthy Vinorth	1674	CAN	19w1	9b1	-½	10w1	1b0	3.5
4	Ugodnikov Arkadiy	1611	CAN	9b0	5w1	14b1	2w0	-1	3
5	Belanger Colton	1546	CAN	2w½	4b0	-½	14w1	10b1	3
6	Gao William (zhimao)	1529	CAN	-½	2b1	12w1	-½	0	3
7	Saltat Michael	1608	CAN	8w1	10b½	-½	-½	0	2.5
8	Chandra Ambarish	1397	CAN	7b0	-½	9w-	-1	17w1	2.5
9	Dixon Javier	1428	CAN	4w1	3w0	8b+	1b0	2b0	2
10	Tuchow Ryan	1354	CAN	13w1	7w½	16b½	3b0	5w0	2
11	Armstrong Robert J.	1517	CAN	-½	1w0	-½	17b1	0	2
12	Supol George	1381	CAN	-½	13w1	6b0	-½	0	2
13	Jevtic Dragan	1557	CAN	10b0	12b0	2w0	-½	18w1	1.5
14	D’souza Carina	1247	CAN	-½	-½	4w0	5b0	15w½	1.5
15	Ogunlana Ayo	1744	CAN	-½	-½	0	0	14b½	1.5
16	Gao Lucy	1637	CAN	-½	-½	10w½	0	0	1.5
17	Stroganov Victor	1431	CAN	-½	-½	0	11w0	8b0	1
18	Ben-Avraham Marc	1538	CAN	-½	-½	0	0	13b0	1
19	Grisar Charlie	1496	CAN	3b0	0	0	0	0	0

See full U1800 results on Chess-Results.

ACC Summer Heat Swiss – U1400 section

Rk.	Name	Rtg	FED	1.Rd	2.Rd	3.Rd	4.Rd	5.Rd	Pts.
1	Patton Mark A.	1310	CAN	6w1	2b1	4w1	5b½	9w1	4.5
2	Moiseev Alex	1146	CAN	15w1	1w0	7b1	4b1	-1	4
3	Niestrawski Alex	0	CAN	13w1	4w0	12b1	0	6b1	3
4	Guo Richard	1170	CAN	7w1	3b1	1b0	2w0	-1	3
5	Kalmanson Evgeny	1229	CAN	12b1	-½	-1	1w½	0	3
6	Guo Rainyee	909	CAN	1b0	7w0	13w1	12b1	3w0	2
7	Alexandroff Shemaya	0	CAN	4b0	6b1	2w0	13b½	8w½	2
8	Lee Tommy	1291	CAN	-½	9w0	0	15b1	7b½	2
9	Zuo Zichen (roger)	1235	CAN	-½	8b1	-½	10w0	1b0	2
10	Chandra Ambarish	1397	CAN	-½	-½	0	9b1	0	2
11	Kar Anindya	963	CAN	-½	-½	0	0	13w1	2
12	Ahmed Syed Mustafa	653	CAN	5w0	13b½	3w0	6w0	14b1	1.5
13	Souchko Larissa	941	CAN	3b0	12w½	6b0	7w½	11b0	1
14	Chan Mitchell	0	CAN	-½	-½	0	0	12w0	1
15	Teram Eli	1024	CAN	2b0	0	0	8w0	0	0

See full U1400 results on Chess-Results.

Feature Photo “Summer Nights Toronto” by Eugene Aikimov on Unsplash