Tweet Mark Bluvshtein
David Cohen, chess historian and author of the Canadian Chess Info files (which now form much of the content of the new CFC website), has announced the Canadian Chess Player of the Year – GM Mark Bluvshtein!
Fan favourites (based on an online vote)
1. Melissa Giblon (won Canadian Girls’ U-12 at CYCC)
2. Nikolay Noritsyn (won Québec Open, Toronto Thanksgiving Open, =1st at Toronto Labour Day Open, etc.)
3. Mark Bluvshtein (the official winner; see above)
After many years as a strong amateur chess player, Canadian GM Mark Bluvshtein spent the last year trying out the life of a chess professional – devoting the year to training for (and playing in) major international chess events, ending with the recent World Cup. Near the end of that experimental year, he reached a decision: to hang up his chess skates and apply his competitive chess skills to the world of investment banking.
During this year as a chess pro, he also helped launch the Annex Chess Club. Thanks for your support, Mark. We wish you well in your new endeavours!
Dozens of ACC members were among the hundreds of players competing in the tournament.
Here are some highlights:
In the end, it is the Annex Chess Club women who are taking home most of the prizes for the club: Aleksandra Milicevic tied for top female in the U1600 section, with 5.0/9; and Manuela Renteria, Adie Todd, and Zhanna Sametova – all from ACC! – split top female in U2000, with 4.0/9. We even get a prize in the Open section – thanks to Liza Orlova, who wins the best dresssed prize!
The men are not completely unrepresented, though – Jason Waugh takes the best dressed prize in U1600. What fine players we have in our club!
A couple ACC players just miss prize money: Hugh Siddeley, with 6.5/9, is half a point out of a 4-way tie for first in the U2000 section; and George Supol, with 6.0/9, is one point out of a 3-way tie for second in the U1600 section.
In round 7, Rolando Renteria takes on his second GM – this time it’s Israeli GM Vitali Golod (2576)
2011.07.11 Pinnacle 48th Canadian Open (7)
Toronto, ON
AO7 Reti: KIA
After 6 rounds, Rolando Renteria, with 4.0/6, is the top ACC player in the Open section. He’s tied with 14 other players (including three GMs) for 22nd to 36th, a point and a half out of first place. Brian Fiedler and FM Brett Campbell are half a point behind him with 3.5/6.
After 6 rounds, Jack Maguire is tied for third (5-way) in the U1600 section with 4.5/6. George Supol and Aleksandra Milicevic are half a point behind him with 4.0/6.
After 5 rounds, Hugh Siddeley is tied for first (3-way) in the U2000 section with 4.5/5. Zehn Nasir and Nick O’Bumsawin are half a point behind with 4.0/5.
Here is Hugh’s round-4 game:
White: Siddeley, Hugh (1996)
Black: Strugach, Alexander (1963)
2011.07.12 Pinnacle 48th Canadian Open (4)
Toronto, ON
C43 Petrov
Liza Orlova receives her WCM certificate from the CFC – but they misspell her name! WCM Liza 'Ortlova' with new CFC president, Michael von Keitz
Daniel Zotkin defeats Dalia Kagramanov (2027) in round 3
Rolando Renteria takes on American GM Joel Benjamin (2641) in round 3
White: Renteria, Rolando (2346)
Black: GM Benjamin, Joel (2641)
2011.07.11 Pinnacle 48th Canadian Open (3)
Toronto, ON
B10 Caro Kann: 2.d3
Geordie Derraugh defeats IM Arthur Calugar (2437) in round 2.
White: Derraugh, Geordie (2140)
Black: IM Calugar, Arthur (2437)
2011.07.10 Pinnacle 48th Canadian Open (2)
Toronto, ON
B22 Sicilian: 2.c3
Lots to see and do…
The Canadian Open was not just a tournament, but a celebration of chess in Canada. Visitors, whether they were playing in the tournament or not, found lots to see and do:
watch grandmaster games
register kids for the children’s day camp
watch free chess lectures
play grandmasters in simultaneous exhibitions
play blitz, double chess, and chess 960 championships
shop for books and equipment
attend the closing dinner and awards ceremony
Here’s some of what was on offer: More events (including free grandmaster lectures!) are listed on the official schedule
GM Mark Bluvshtein Simul – Fri July 8 @ 8:00 pm – players $10 ($20 for the public)
Chess 960 Championship Tournament – Sat July 9 @ 1:00 pm – $10 ($20)
GM Ben Finegold Blindfold Simul – Sun July 10 @ 10:00 am – $10 ($20)
Blitz Chess Championship Tournament – Sun July 10 @ 12:00 pm – $20 ($30)
GM Shabalov / WIM Zenyuk Tandem Simul – Mon July 11 @ 12:00 pm – $10 ($20)
GM Bator Sambuev Simul – Tue July 12 @ 12:00 pm – $10 ($20)
GM John Fedorowicz Simul – Wed July 13 @ 12:00 pm – $10 ($20)
IM Meszaros / IM Macak Tandem Simul – Thu July 14 @ 12:00 pm – $10 ($20)
Double Chess Championship – Sat July 16 @ 8:00 pm – per team: $20 ($40)
Closing Dinner – Sun July 17 @ 4:00 pm – players & guests: $35 ea. ($75 for the public)
This one-night six-round tournament was played in one big section, at a time control of 9 min each with a 3-s increment.
We got off to a slow start, due to issues with the new CFC site (slowing down registration) and problems with our projector (we had wanted to show the video of a Global News special on Canadian grandmaster Mark Bluvshtein). But once we got rolling, the speed tournament was a lot of fun.
In the end, Geordie Derrraugh finished in a three-way tie for first with 5.0/6 and won the tie-break.
Fellow Canadians, Liam Henry (3.5), Shiyam Thavandiran (4.5), Leonid Gerzhoy (5.0), Mike Yuan, Victor Plotkin (5.5), and Arthur Calugar (5.5) also played in the open.
