August is a great time to relax and unwind. Chess can be a stressful game, but the opportunity to completely focus on the flow (and stress) of the game, while setting everything else aside, can also be very relaxing.

ACC Relax and Unwind Swiss is a five-round CFC-rated tournament in three sections, Crown, U1800, and U1400. Time control is 90 min/side with a 30-s increment. The round starts at 7:30 pm on Monday nights July 30 to September 10. (Off August 6 for Simcoe Day and September 3 for Labour Day.) New players can register on site each round by 7 pm. Email registration or bye requests before 6pm.

Round One – July 30

In Round One U1400 action, Carina d’Souza gets her first draw since joining the club, sacking a rook to get a perpetual. Way to go, Carina! In U1800, unrated Josh Scott scores his first victory in an official game. And in the Crown, the last game of the night is a tough match between David Cohen and Josh Guo.

Off-week – August 6

We’re off for Simcoe Day. Get away from the city to “relax and unwind” for the long weekend. Or alternatively, stay and take part in Toronto’s annual Caribana festival – where di gyal dem whine up! A million tourists can’t be wrong. The Grand Parade is on Saturday August 4.

Round Two – August 13

Big thanks to Keith Denning for filling in behind the desk, and Vinorth Vigneswaramoorthy for helping out! Results may not be available till next week.

Round Three – August 20

In the Crown section, Dave Southam has sole first with a perfect 3.0/3.
In U1800, Bharath Ramesh is defeated on top board, leaving a tie for first between Charlie Grisar and Dragan Jevtic with 2.5/3.
Meanwhile, in U1400, Peter Lambert is alone in first with a perfect 3.0/3.

Round Four – August 27

Through four rounds, it’s Dave Southam in the lead with 4.0/4, after we apparently missed his opponent’s bye request. In U1800, it’s Dragan Jevtic in clear first with 3.5/4. And in U1400, it’s Peter Lambert in the lead with 4.0/4. One more round to go, after a break for the 2018 Toronto Open.

Round Five – September 10

The final results see Dave Southam taking another ACC tournament, with a perfect 5.0/5. In U1800, Dragan Jevtic coasts into the lead with 3.5/5 and a better second tie break (more wins) than Arthur Terra Schneider. And in U1400, Peter Lambert posts a perfect 5.0/5 and gains almost 150 rating points. Congratulations to all the winners!

See full results below!

Next week is Round One of the ACC Changing Leaves Swiss

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Final Ranking cross-tables after Round 5

ACC Relax and Unwind Swiss – Crown section

Rk.	Name	Rtg	FED	1.Rd	2.Rd	3.Rd	4.Rd	5.Rd	Pts.
1	Southam David	2108	CAN	9b1	14w1	6b1	-1	8w1	5
2	Noritsyn Sergey	2282	CAN	11w1	-½	5b0	13w1	3b1	3.5
3	Fines John	1885	CAN	6w0	15b1	16w1	4b1	2w0	3
4	Malakhovets Sergey	2158	CAN	8w1	7b½	-½	3w0	9b1	3
5	Munro Allan	2229	CAN	-½	-1	2w1	-½	0	3
6	Ab-Barin Hooshang	1692	CAN	3b1	-½	1w0	-½	15b½	2.5
7	Guo Josh	2234	CAN	12b1	4w½	-½	-½	0	2.5
8	Ugodnikov Arkadiy	1727	CAN	4b0	-½	-½	15w1	1b0	2
9	Tavana Joseph	1721	CAN	1w0	-½	-½	11b1	4w0	2
10	Malmsten Erik	1938	CAN	15w1	-½	0	-½	0	2
11	Bitton Michael	1882	CAN	2b0	12w0	15b½	9w0	17w1	1.5
12	Cohen David	1872	CAN	7w0	11b1	-½	0	0	1.5
13	Ferreira Alex T.	2090	CAN	-½	-½	-½	2b0	0	1.5
14	Baki Shaumik	1730	CAN	-½	1b0	-½	-½	0	1.5
15	Daldal Erdem	1684	CAN	10b0	3w0	11w½	8b0	6w½	1
16	Subramanian Arun	1981	CAN	-½	-½	3b0	0	0	1
17	Sivapathasundaram Manojh	1833	CAN	-½	-½	0	0	11b0	1

Updated results are also available on the Chess-Results server.

ACC Relax and Unwind Swiss – U1800 section

Rk.	Name	Rtg	FED	1.Rd	2.Rd	3.Rd	4.Rd	5.Rd	Pts.
1	Jevtic Dragan	1588	CAN	-½	3w1	8b1	4w1	0	3.5
2	Terra Arthur Schneider	1539	CAN	-½	19b1	10w½	8w1	14b½	3.5
3	Scott Josh	1500	CAN	10w1	1b0	6b0	17w1	11b1	3
4	Grisar Charlie	1337	CAN	-½	22b1	14w1	1b0	5w½	3
5	Belcadi Salim	1653	CAN	11w1	-½	-½	-½	4b½	3
6	Dixon Javier	1445	CAN	-½	16b½	3w1	14b+	0	3
7	Wagner Robert	1608	CAN	9w1	-½	-½	-½	15b0	2.5
8	Ramesh Bharath	1624	CAN	16w1	12b1	1w0	2b0	0	2
9	Stroganov Victor	1445	CAN	7b0	10b0	20w1	18w1	0	2
10	Bathaie Sina	1618	CAN	3b0	9w1	2b½	-½	0	2
11	Gao Lucy	1509	CAN	5b0	-½	19w½	20b1	3w0	2
12	Saltat Michael	1602	CAN	-1	8w0	0	0	21b1	2
13	Ogunlana Ayo	1577	CAN	-½	-½	0	0	18b1	2
14	Tran Dennis	1519	CAN	-½	18w1	4b0	6w-	2w½	2
15	Minhas Usman Afzal	1300	CAN	-½	-½	0	0	7w1	2
16	Bentley Robert	1643	CAN	8b0	6w½	18b½	-1	0	2
17	Gao William (zhimao)	1529	CAN	-½	-½	-½	3b0	0	1.5
18	Kalmanson Evgeny	1417	CAN	-½	14b0	16w½	9b0	13w0	1
19	Armstrong Robert J.	1530	CAN	-½	2w0	11b½	0	0	1
20	Supol George	1445	CAN	-½	-½	9b0	11w0	0	1
21	Dong Yiwei	1423	CAN	-½	-½	0	0	12w0	1
22	Na Kevin	0	CAN	-½	4w0	0	0	0	0.5

Updated results are also available on the Chess-Results server.

ACC Relax and Unwind Swiss – U1400 section

Rk.	Name	Rtg	FED	1.Rd	2.Rd	3.Rd	4.Rd	5.Rd	Pts.
1	Lambert Peter	1173	CAN	5b1	14w1	3b1	6w1	4w1	5
2	Belanger Colton	1298	CAN	10b1	3w½	6b0	12w1	13b1	3.5
3	Davies Philip	1267	CAN	7w1	2b½	1w0	17b1	11w1	3.5
4	Chandra Ambarish	1120	CAN	18w1	-½	15b1	24w1	1b0	3.5
5	Souchko Larissa	966	CAN	1w0	18b1	10w½	-½	23b1	3
6	Stroganov Valery	1117	CAN	14b½	16w1	2w1	1b0	0	2.5
7	Teram Eli	999	CAN	3b0	24w1	13b1	-½	0	2.5
8	Baguinat Danilo	0	CAN	-½	15b1	0	0	20w1	2.5
9	Moiseev Alex	1199	CAN	-½	-½	19w1	-½	0	2.5
10	Noritsyn Ivan	1045	CAN	2w0	-½	5b½	11b0	19w1	2
11	Huang Justin	780	CAN	-½	-½	12b0	10w1	3b0	2
12	Lau Joshua	985	CAN	-½	-½	11w1	2b0	0	2
13	Huang Ivan	825	CAN	-½	-½	7w0	18b1	2w0	2
14	D’souza Carina	655	CAN	6w½	1b0	0	-½	21w1	2
15	Terra Enzo Schneider	1350	CAN	-½	8w0	4w0	19b1	0	1.5
16	Supol George	1445	CAN	-½	6b0	0	-1	0	1.5
17	Parkes Daniel	0	CAN	-½	-½	-½	3w0	0	1.5
18	Bentley Grigoris	0	CAN	4b0	5w0	24b1	13w0	0	1
19	Guan Marie	617	CAN	-½	-½	9b0	15w0	10b0	1
20	Rogers John A	1218	CAN	-½	-½	0	0	8b0	1
21	Kamnitzer Benjamin	1001	CAN	-½	-½	0	0	14b0	1
22	Patton Mark A.	1167	CAN	-½	-½	0	0	0	1
23	Wang Jaden	758	CAN	-½	-½	0	0	5w0	1
24	Brent-Hurst Liam	785	CAN	0	7b0	18w0	4b0	0	0

Updated results are also available on the Chess-Results server.

June is the Strawberry Moon – Dewmin-Giizis (or Ode’min-Giizis) in the local Nishnaabe language. It’s strawberry season in Ontario, and farms outside the city will soon have pick-your-own available. Meanwhile, downtown Toronto chess players are playing in the ACC Strawberry Season Swiss.

ACC Strawberry Season Swiss is a five-round CFC-rated tournament in three sections, Crown, U1800, and U1400. Time control is 90 min/side with a 30-s increment. The round starts at 7:30 pm on Monday nights June 11 to July 23. (Off June 18 for the GTCL Cup and July 2 for Canada Day.) Register on site each round by 7 pm. Email registration or bye requests before 6pm.

Round One – June 11

We’re off and running. Dave Southam gives up a Rd-1 draw to fall to third behind the top two seeds, Sergey Noritsyn and Sergey Malakhovets. See full results on the cross-table.

Off-week – June 18

Don’t miss the GTCL Cup, Toronto’s Rapid Team Chess Championship. $20 per team, or $5 per player – free for ACC players. Put your team together and email it in, or we’ll put teams together between 6 pm and 7 pm on site.

Round Two – June 25

Sergey Malakhovets wins with black on top board to take a lead in the Crown section with 2.0/2 as Southam and Liao are tied for second at 1.5/2.

In U1800, it’s Robert Wagner and Hooshang Ab-Barin who are tied for the lead at 2.0/2.

And finally, in U1400, as one game runs late, nobody is perfect, but there’s a big tie for the lead at 1.5/2.

Off-week – July 2

It’s a Canada Day long weekend! The club will be closed.

Round Three – July 9

We’re back up and running on July 9. It’s a bit of a strange night as many of our regulars are away for one reason or another, while quite a few new players drop in, especially in the casual section. If you’re in Toronto for whatever reason this summer, come check us out on a Monday night!

In the Crown, Dave Southam scores a win on Board 1 to take a share of the lead at 2.5/3 with Sergey Malakhovets.

In U1800, Toy Chack Kwan scores a win to take a share of the lead at 2.5/3 with Hooshang Ab-Barrin.

And in U1400, there’s a three-way tie for the lead with Ivan Noritsyn, Charlie Grisar, and Peter Lambert all sharing first with 2.5/3.

Round Four – July 16

In U1400, Charlie Grisar takes sole possession of first place, rising to 3.5/4 with a win over Peter Lambert.

In U1800 play, Bharath Ramesh is proud of his miniature against the higher-rated Arkadiy Ugodnikov, while Hooshang Abbarin with a win over Toy Chack Kwan who takes sole first with 3.5/4.

And in the Crown, it’s Sergey Noritsyn in first with 3.0/4 with a win over Dave Southam.

Round Five – July 23

With a win on top board, Sergey Noritsyn takes the tournament with a score of 4.0/5.
In U1800, Hooshang Ab-Barin wins his last-round game to take the section with 4.5/5.
And in U1400, Charlie Grisar scores a final win to take the section with 4.5/5.

Congratulation to the winners! See full results below.

Join us for a new club tournament starting July 30 – next week! New players are always welcome. Please email before 6:00, or register on site before 7:00 pm to sign up. You need both CFC and club membership, but both can be purchased from us, and we have a variety of club membership options available. If you’re already signed up, but you can’t make it, again please email before 6:00 pm to let us know so we don’t put you in the pairings.

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Final Ranking cross-tables after Round 5

ACC Strawberry Season Swiss – Crown section

Rk.	Name	Rtg	FED	1.Rd	2.Rd	3.Rd	4.Rd	5.Rd	Pts.
1	Noritsyn Sergey	2284	CAN	8b1	2w0	10b1	4b1	5w1	4
2	Malakhovets Sergey	2122	CAN	3b1	1b1	-½	5w0	4w1	3.5
3	Bitton Michael	1726	CAN	2w0	8w1	5b0	9b1	10w1	3
4	Southam David	2176	CAN	9w½	5b1	6b1	1w0	2b0	2.5
5	Subramanian Arun	1959	CAN	-½	4w0	3w1	2b1	1b0	2.5
6	Liao Run Ming	1761	CAN	-½	9b1	4w0	-½	0	2
7	Guo Josh	2232	CAN	-½	-½	0	0	8b1	2
8	Fines John	1907	CAN	1w0	3b0	9w1	10b½	7w0	1.5
9	Tavana Joseph	1739	CAN	4b½	6w0	8b0	3w0	-1	1.5
10	Gao Raymond	1762	CAN	-½	-½	1w0	8w½	3b0	1.5

Updated results are also available on the Chess-Results server.

ACC Strawberry Season Swiss – U1800 section

Rk.	Name	Rtg	FED	1.Rd	2.Rd	3.Rd	4.Rd	5.Rd	Pts.
1	Ab-Barin Hooshang	1545	CAN	5b1	13b1	-½	10w1	3w1	4.5
2	Wagner Robert	1568	CAN	15b1	18w1	10b0	-½	8w1	3.5
3	Daldal Erdem	1705	CAN	18b0	9w1	19b1	11w1	1b0	3
4	Ugodnikov Arkadiy	1689	CAN	19w0	14b1	15w1	6b0	10b1	3
5	Supol George	1331	CAN	1w0	11b0	14w1	13b1	16w1	3
6	Ramesh Bharath	1591	CAN	21b1	-½	-½	4w1	0	3
7	Gao William (zhimao)	1465	CAN	-½	-½	0	18w1	11b1	3
8	Saltat Michael	1626	CAN	10w0	22b1	-½	9w1	2b0	2.5
9	Gao Lucy	1576	CAN	14w½	3b0	21w1	8b0	15w1	2.5
10	Kwan Toy Chack	1505	CAN	8b1	-½	2w1	1b0	4w0	2.5
11	Jevtic Dragan	1630	CAN	20b0	5w1	16b1	3b0	7w0	2
12	Moiseev Alex	1182	CAN	-½	-½	18b1	0	0	2
13	Li Yun Hong (kevin)	1741	CAN	22b1	1w0	0	5w0	21b½	1.5
14	Kalmanson Evgeny	1447	CAN	9b½	4w0	5b0	22w1	0	1.5
15	Belanger Colton	1281	CAN	2w0	21w1	4b0	-½	9b0	1.5
16	Stroganov Victor	1297	CAN	-½	-½	11w0	-½	5b0	1.5
17	Randle Bill	1094	CAN	-½	-½	0	21b½	0	1.5
18	Schwartz Lorne	1542	CAN	3w1	2b0	12w0	7b0	0	1
19	Armstrong Robert J.	1529	CAN	4b1	0	3w0	0	0	1
20	Terra Arthur Schneider	1518	BRA	11w1	0	0	0	0	1
21	Dixon Javier	1483	CAN	6w0	15b0	9b0	17w½	13w½	1
22	Stefanovich-Thomson Alexis	1329	CAN	13w0	8w0	-½	14b0	0	0.5

Updated results are also available on the Chess-Results server.

ACC Strawberry Season Swiss – U1400 section

Rk.	Name	Rtg	FED	1.Rd	2.Rd	3.Rd	4.Rd	5.Rd	Pts.
1	Grisar Charlie	1232	CAN	2w½	13b+	3b1	6w1	5b1	4.5
2	Noritsyn Ivan	969	CAN	1b½	4w1	7b1	5w0	6b½	3
3	Davies Philip	1298	CAN	12b1	6w½	1w0	4b½	10w1	3
4	Teram Eli	989	CAN	11w½	2b0	10w1	3w½	7b1	3
5	Shogilev Sandon	1125	CAN	-½	7w1	-½	2b1	1w0	3
6	Lambert Peter	1185	CAN	9w1	3b½	-1	1b0	2w½	3
7	Souchko Larissa	963	CAN	13w1	5b0	2w0	10b1	4w0	2
8	Stroganov Victor	1297	CAN	14w1	-½	0	0	0	1.5
9	Brent-Hurst Liam	0	CAN	6b0	12w-	-½	-1	0	1.5
10	D’Souza Carina	0	CAN	-½	-½	4b0	7w0	3b0	1
11	Wadhwa Rymn	902	CAN	4b½	-½	0	0	0	1
12	Moiseev Alex	1182	CAN	3w0	9b-	-½	-½	0	1
13	Patton Mark A.	1192	CAN	7b0	1w-	0	0	0	0
14	Kamnitzer Benjamin	1003	CAN	8b0	0	0	0	0	0

Updated results are also available on the Chess-Results server.

As summer comes to Toronto, we have fond memories of summer street chess from the past. The spot in the 1970s and 80s used to be beside Sam the Record Man on Yonge, and one of the celebrities from those days was Josef Smolij. His favourite opening was the “Smash-Crash Gambit.” So our current club tournament is named Smash Crash in his honour.

ACC Smash Crash Swiss is a five-round CFC-rated tournament in two sections, Top and U1400. (We usually have three sections, but many of our top players are currently participating in the concurrent Toronto Closed Chess Championship.) Time control is 90 min/side with a 30-s increment. The round starts at 7:30 pm on Monday nights April 30 to Jun 4. Register on site each round by 7 pm. Email registration or bye requests before 6pm.

Round One – April 30

Round One players include a four-player contingent from Ryerson Chess Club, and Ryerson’s Tony Yueh (1390) scores an upset victory over Bharath Ramesh (1638) to join the U1800 lead group at 1.0/1.

In U1400 action, father-son team Valery Stroganov and Victor Stroganov are both victorious, joining the 5-way tie for first with 1.0/1.

Round Two – May 7

The leader group in the Top section is down to four players as Arkadiy Ugodnikov, Dragan Jevtic, Salim Belcadi, and Erdem Daldal all win their games.

In U1400, only two players are still perfect. Dennis Tran and Valery Stroganov have 2.0/2.

Round Three – May 14

In the Top section, just two players are perfect through 3 rounds, Salim Belcadi and Dragan Jevtic.

In U1400, Dennis Tran wins the playoff on Board 1 to take sole possession of the lead at 3.0/3. Six players trail him at 2.0/3.

Off week – May 21

The tournament is taking a break for the Victoria Day long weekend – but don’t miss the 2018 Ontario Open.

Round Four – May 28

As the U1400 leader takes the night off, Alex Moiseev climbs to a share of first place with 3.0/4.

Meanwhile, in the Top section show-down, it’s the “young up-and-coming player,” Dragan Jevtic over Salim Belcadi to take sole first at 4.0/4.

Round Five – June 4

In the final round, Dragan Jevtic loses his game, but he still finishes with 4.0/5, and with the best tie-break, to take the tournament. Congratulations, Dragan! In U1400, it’s Alex Moiseev with the win, to take clear first with 4.0/5. Congratulations, Alex!

See full results below.

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Ranking cross-tables after Round 5

ACC Smash Crash Swiss – Top section

Rk.	Name	Rtg	FED	1.Rd	2.Rd	3.Rd	4.Rd	5.Rd	Pts.
1	Jevtic Dragan	1442	CAN	13b1	14w1	4b1	3w1	2b0	4
2	Ugodnikov Arkadiy	1720	CAN	27b1	11w1	3b0	17w1	1w1	4
3	Belcadi Salim	1388	CAN	15b1	20w1	2w1	1b0	9w1	4
4	Daldal Erdem	1764	CAN	-1	10b1	1w0	5b+	8b1	4
5	Liao Run Ming	1671	CAN	-½	-1	21b1	4w-	10w1	3.5
6	Ramesh Bharath	1638	CAN	25b0	7w1	8b0	11w1	14b1	3
7	Kalmanson Evgeny	1368	CAN	21w0	6b0	24w1	22b1	13b1	3
8	Belanger Colton	1113	CAN	10w0	24b1	6w1	21b1	4w0	3
9	Bitton Michael	0	CAN	-½	-½	14b1	13w1	3b0	3
10	Kwan Toy Chack	1556	CAN	8b1	4w0	11b½	20w1	5b0	2.5
11	Wagner Robert	1544	CAN	24w1	2b0	10w½	6b0	23w1	2.5
12	Stefanovich-Thomson Alexis	1285	CAN	14b0	15w½	-½	23b½	21w1	2.5
13	Saltat Michael	1656	CAN	1w0	27b1	23w1	9b0	7w0	2
14	Schwartz Lorne	1564	CAN	12w1	1b0	9w0	15b1	6w0	2
15	Armstrong Robert J.	1605	CAN	3w0	12b½	-½	14w0	20b1	2
16	McSherry Peter	1831	CAN	-½	22b1	-½	0	0	2
17	Hanratty Brian	1683	CAN	-½	-½	27w1	2b0	0	2
18	Li Yun Hong (kevin)	1730	CAN	-½	-½	0	0	24w1	2
19	Vigneswaramoorthy Vinorth	1670	CAN	-½	-½	0	0	26w1	2
20	Ab-Barin Hooshang	1598	CAN	-½	3b0	22w1	10b0	15w0	1.5
21	Guo Haotong Hazel	1569	CAN	7b1	-½	5w0	8w0	12b0	1.5
22	Stroganov Victor	1319	CAN	-½	16w0	20b0	7w0	27b1	1.5
23	Supol George	1343	CAN	-½	-½	13b0	12w½	11b0	1.5
24	Chen Sihao	1597	CAN	11b0	8w0	7b0	27w1	18b0	1
25	Yueh Tony	1390	CAN	6w1	0	0	0	0	1
26	Lambert Peter	1160	CAN	-½	-½	0	0	19b0	1
27	Dixon Javier	1517	CAN	2w0	13w0	17b0	24b0	22w0	0

Updated results are also available on the Chess-Results server.

ACC Smash Crash Swiss – U1400 section

Rk.	Name	Rtg	FED	1.Rd	2.Rd	3.Rd	4.Rd	5.Rd	Pts.
1	Moiseev Alex	1119	CAN	5b½	12w1	7b½	3w1	9b1	4
2	Tran Dennis	1265	CAN	14b1	10w1	6b1	0	0	3
3	Tuchow Ryan	1168	CAN	7w0	14b1	5w1	1b0	13w1	3
4	Lambert Peter	1160	CAN	-½	-½	13b1	0	-1	3
5	Souchko Larissa	954	CAN	1w½	6b0	3b0	8w1	7w1	2.5
6	Stroganov Valery	1064	CAN	8b1	5w1	2w0	-½	0	2.5
7	Noritsyn Ivan	955	CAN	3b1	-½	1w½	-½	5b0	2.5
8	Kalniev Stefan	1166	CAN	6w0	9b0	14w1	5b0	15b1	2
9	Kamnitzer Benjamin	965	CAN	11b0	8w1	10b0	14w1	1w0	2
10	Bar-Natan Itai	1285	CAN	15w1	2b0	9w1	0	0	2
11	Stroganov Victor	1319	CAN	9w1	0	0	0	0	1
12	Spahic Matthew	1296	CAN	-½	1b0	-½	0	0	1
13	Patton Mark A.	1228	CAN	-½	-½	4w0	0	3b0	1
14	Wadhwa Rymn	1040	CAN	2w0	3w0	8b0	9b0	0	0
15	Pancer Jeff	1062	CAN	10b0	0	0	0	8w0	0

Updated results are also available on the Chess-Results server.

The feature image is from a photograph of Joe “Kill as you Go!” Smolij by Norman A Bolduc. Click the link to see the original and more of his work.