Jun 08, 2010 22:57 ET
Canadian Open Chess Championship
returns to Toronto after 15 years, open to players of all ages returns to Toronto after 15 years, open to players of all ages
TORONTO–(Marketwire – June 8, 2010) – The 47th Canadian Open Chess Championship will be held at the Westin Harbour Castle July 10-19. The first Canadian Open was held in 1956 and since 1970 it has been the biggest annual event on the Canadian chess calendar. When it was last held in Toronto in 1995 it attracted 303 players.
There is a substantial prize fund, in excess of $32,000, thanks to our sponsors including Deloitte, Manulife Investments, and Don Valley North Lexus/Toyota. This has attracted a number of world class players. We are excited to have nine International Grandmasters (from USA, Cuba, England, Georgia, India, Lithuania, Ukraine, and Russia) and a dozen players with other recognized master titles including members of Canada’s chess Olympiad team. Competition will be fierce through the nine rounds of play.
A few average chess club players will also win $1,000 prizes. Any chess player can enter this open event and all play in the same section together with the grandmasters. Participants are male or female, 8 to 80 years old, even blind, or in a wheelchair. Players come from many ethnic backgrounds as chess is played around the world.
There will be prizes for Top Junior, Top Bantam, Top Lady and Top Senior. Chess has expanded rapidly throughout the school systems in Canada and captured the imagination of gifted youngsters, many of whom will be participating. The recent passing of the first wave of “baby boomers” into retirement has also rekindled the interest of those who grew up in the “Fischer generation” of the 1960-70’s, and these too are well represented.
Those unable to attend in person will be able to follow the games live over the internet as players on the top boards will be entering their moves on handheld wireless devices developed by MonRoi Inc., a Montreal based company.
Rounds start at 6:00pm Sunday July 10, and at 6:00pm through the week, 2:00pm Saturday July 17 and 10:00am Sunday July 18. Spectators welcomed. Photos are only allowed during the first five minutes of play. In the daytime there will also be events the public can play in. On Sunday July 11, 11:00am Toronto Grandmaster Mark Bluvshtein will give a simultaneous to raise money for the Canadian Chess Olympiad team. There will also be a demonstration of Chess960 (Fischer chess) a blindfold exhibit, lectures, and a Blitz tournament.
Further details of this event can be found on the website http://monroi.com/2010-cocc-home.html.
For further information:
Organizers:
Michael Barron, President, Greater Toronto Chess League
416 739-6257 barron045@yahoo.com
Brian Fiedler
416 733-3199 fiedlerbrian@yahoo.com.au
Eric Hansen is the favorite to win this.