2011 January TNT starts January 4

Location: University of Winnipeg - Rm 4CM42
4CM42 <-click here for map
4 rounds - January  4, 11, 18, 25 - (This is not a knockout tournament, players will play all 4 rounds)
Please note that we intend to start the first round at 7:00 p.m. sharp.

Tuesday Night Tournaments are held every month of the year, (except for November and December when things are organized a little differently).

There is one game per week.

All of the TNTs are Swiss (pairing) style tournaments with a time control of G /110 minutes [Each player has 1 hour 50 minutes  to complete their moves, the game will be be 3 hours and 40 minutes maximum]

The TNTs are typically 4 round events (one game for 4 consecutive Tuesdays in the month).

Start time is 7:00 pm and the TD will confirm costs
( $ 15 entry fee, and CFC membership required[$ 20 for a one-tournament membership or $ 49 for 12 months- new members pay only $ 36 for the year])

Registration for tournament -Tuesday, Januaary  4  - approximately 6:35 pm to 6:50 pm

Registration will be cut off at 6:50 pm. (If you think you may be late, please send an email to
chessmanitoba 'at' gmail.com) before 5 pm (you can try later, but the wireless access at the U may be problematic)

Location: University of Winnipeg - Rm 4CM42
4CM42 <-click here for map

This is very near our old room of 5L24 and is in fact on the same floor.

Easiest way to get there is the same way to 5L24 - take the elevator at the north end (Ellice) to the 5th Floor(if that Elevator is operating) Otherwise, there is an elevator just to the west of the Bookstore.
Our goal is to start the first round at 7:00 p.m. sharp.

From Les Mundwiler's archives

Les Mundwiler sends along this photo of himself and the late Rick Evans playing speed chess at the storefront on Notre Dame.(Former Highbrow site) The photo is dated to January 2000.

.

Zaczek in Europe - Part 3

Jonathon writes:

"Anyways I continued to play like "crap" in the Rapid. I felt I played my best by far on the 2nd day even though I missed winning a clear exchange out of the opening against a WGM. Missing that exchange was a blunder cause she lifted the rook to eventually do me in.

Immediately the next day I was set to travel to the Ukraine with my Grandfather, as he wanted to see his Ukrainian roots. So we hop aboard a plane to Lvov (or Lviv) and what do you know, there's Ivanchuk (GM Vassil yIvanchu,k UKR 2754). 

 When we got off the plane all the people entered the airport through one door and the luggage was being towed to a door close by. Ivanchuk saw his bag on the cart and requested if he could just grab it. One of the officers let him and he went for it but then a 2nd officer was like "No no no! Put it back!" and so Ivanchuk went and put it back. The first officer looked at the 2nd and said "He's Ivanchuk! Rank still had its privileges as Ivanchuk was allowed to just pass through security ahead of the long line behind him.

Cecil's Saturday Puzzle - December 18, 2010

from the Saturday Winnipeg Free Press

White to mate in 3 (Wurzburg)

1. Kd7 (please see some lines in the comments provided by an anonymous conttributor).

Zaczek in Europe - Rapids

http://www.poloniachess.pl/amplico2010/rapid/card_z$835.html

Looks like he scored 7/13 with few unexpected results

Zaczek in Europe

Jonathon writes from Warsaw:
Blitz tournament started great.  I beat (GM Viktor)Bologan with black and narrowly lost with white.
 (Editor - check out board 10 http://www.poloniachess.pl/amplico2010/blitz/pairing&1.html)
But then it went way downhill from there. I hung way too many mates in won positions to count. I'm sure I made a lot of kids happy :P I think 50% of my opponents were girls as well...

All clocks face the same direction and colors are always on the same side. You are required to physically get up from the board and walk around the long tables to start the 2nd game.
 ------
Zaczek finished in 232nd place
Standings here:
http://chess.co.uk/twic/chessnews/events/european-rapid-and-blitz-championships-2010
http://www.poloniachess.pl/amplico2010/blitz/card_z$426.html

Cecil's Saturday Puzzle - December 4, 2010

from the Saturday Winnipeg Free Press

 White to mate in 3 (Loyd)

1. Kc5

1...e5 

2.Qh1

2011 ChessNuts Challenge October 1,2 Fargo

Brian Thompson writes:

Well, after considering about a dozen sites for the 2011 ChessNuts Challenge Open, I've made a firm commitment to the Fargo Howard Johnson's for the weekend of October 1 & 2 of next year.  With Concordia remodeling the Grant Center into a new business college, I was forced to look at all of my options for a "best fit" for the tournament.  While the HoJo is not perfect, it was the best all-around site for all of our tournament needs and I am excited to be able to move forward with the planning stages of our next great tournament.  

2011 Manitoba Championship Candidates

Here is how the candidates qualified for the 8 player knockout:


1. Previous Year's Champion (TREVOR VINCENT)
     2. Winner of the Reserve (2010 Albert Boxer Memorial) (ARVIN DAWA)
     3. MB Junior Champion (if rated above 1900) to be decided November 21= (AARON GREEN)
     4. Top Manitoban in AY Memorial (JONATHON ZACZEK)
  5. 2 Winners from 2 Qualifying tournaments (NOT HELD this year)
     5,6. Top 2 finishers in the Tournament of Champions (Nov-Dec) JONATHON ZACZEK, SAM LIPNOWSKI
     7,8. Top 2 CFC rated (established) players who have played at
     least 10 CFC rated games in 2010. (JEFF BABB, ROLANDO BINCE)
     9. 2nd Manitoban in the AY Memorial (SAM LIPNOWSKI)
     10. 2nd place in the first Qualifying Tournament (NOT HELD)
     11. 2nd place in the second Qualifying Tournament (NOT HELD)  
10. Third highest CFC rated player who have played at least 10 CFC
     rated games in the previous year. (GUSTAVO MELAMEDOFF)
     11. Fourth highest CFC rated player who have played at least 10 CFC
     rated games in the previous year. (ALEXANDER NIKOULINE)
     12. Second place in the 2010 Albert Boxer Memorial Open Section (SAM LIPNOWSKI)


So, the first eight qualifiers (in rating order) are:


Trevor Vincent
Jonathan Zaczek
Sam Lipnowski
Jeff Babb
Arvin Dawa
Rolando Bince
Gustavo Melamedoff
Aaron Green


First Alternate: Alex Nikouline


Please review and let me know if I made in error and identifying the Candidates. I will be contacting them shortly to determine their interest in participating. I am targeting the last three Tuesdays in February as potential first round dates.

World Blitz played at 3 2

No chaos, no major incidents. Enjoy.

http://gambit.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/19/aronian-wins-world-chess-blitz-championship/

http://www.chessvibes.com/reports/videos-from-the-world-blitz-part-1/

2010 Winnipeg Blitz Championship - Tuesday, December 14

Jonathon Zaczek has indicated that he will be defending his Winnipeg Blitz Chess Championship.

Last year, as you may recall, the winner was determined through a knockout format.

http://www.chessmanitoba.com/content/view/1381/5/

The tournament will be at the University of Winnipeg, Room 4CM42.

Registration from 6:45 to 7:00- and we will start right after.

$ 10 for the evening - no memberships required % 80 returned as prizes - 20% to the club for wear and tear on the clocks.

As GM Boris Alterman says in his lectures on ICC, "Now, pay attention".

Last year, we played 'old school' 5 minute.  This year we will play with a time control of 3 minutes with a two-second increment.  This is the time control used at the World Blitz Championship and the European Championship, etc.

And it will be a double round-robin. Perhaps two, if there are enough players. We have time for 9 double-rounds (18 games) plus perhaps a few if required.

$ 10 for the evening - no memberships required % 80 returned as prizes - 20% to the club for wear and tear on the clocks.

The Rules:

http://www.chessmanitoba.com/tournaments/2009/Blitz_rules.htm

Substitute 3 minute with 2 second increment, for 5-minute.

2010 TOC and Shpan rated by CFC

2010 TOC and Shpan have been rated by the CFC

Congratulations to the following who achieved new peak ratings:

Jonathon Zaczek   2300 (!)
Gustavo Melamedoff 2084
Perfecto Joven 1995
Leor Wasserman 1846
Gary Campbell 1684
Bruce Reimer 1640
Sashika Kumaragamage 1443

and several other who achieved new high provisional ratings.

Cecil's Saturday Puzzle, November 20, 2010

from the Saturday Winnipeg Free Press

White to mate in 2 (Chepizhni)

1.Ne4

Peter Biyiasas - 60

Stephen Wright, who edits (I think he actually writes 90% of it also) the BCCF E-MAIL BULLETIN,  writes in issue #203:

PETER  BIYIASAS

We note that Peter Biyiasas turned sixty on November 19 (incidentally also Capablanca's birthday).  Born in Athens, Greece, Biyiasas first played competitive chess in Winnipeg: he participated in the 1966 Manitoba - Minnesota match and also won the Winnipeg Inter-High School championship.  By May of 1967 Biyiasas had moved to Vancouver, placing sixth in that year's B.C. Championship.  He improved rapidly, winning the tournament the following year and repeating as champion in 1969, 1971 and 1972.  Unsurprisingly he also won various junior events he was eligible for, including the 1967 and 1968 B.C. High School championships and the 1971 U.S. Junior Open.  Biyiasas participated in four Canadian Championships, winning the title in 1972 and 1975 and tying for third in 1978.  Team competitions seem to have brought out his best: Biyiasas played second reserve for the bronze medal winning Canadian team at the 1971 Mayaguez Student Olympiad, while in four full olympiads he won three individual medals, two bronze (Skopje 1972 and Haifa 1976) and a silver (Buenos Aires 1978).  Biyiasas became Canada's third (and B.C.'s second) grandmaster in 1978 through results achieved at the Haifa Olympiad, Lone Pine 1978, and the GHI International (New York, 1978).  He played in a number of international events including two interzonals (Petropolis 1973 and Manila 1976) and three times at the annual Hastings tournament.  His best results, in addition to those already mentioned, were a tie for first at Norristown 1973, third in the Marshall Chess Club International 1977, tying for first in the 1978 World Open, a tie for fourth at the 1980 Hoogovens tournament behind Browne, Seirawan and Korchnoi, and tying for second at Zrenjanin 1980. 

However, by this point Biyiasas had emigrated to California; he won a number of weekend events in the next few years, but increasingly transferred his attentions to a career as a computer programmer (paralleling to some degree the path of B.C.'s other grandmaster, Duncan Suttles).  His last competitive event appears to have been in 1986.  Biyiasas was married to WIM Ruth Haring; the couple had three children, the youngest of which, Theodore, has recently taken up tournament chess. 

Suttles, Duncan - Biyiasas, Peter [B24] CAN ch Pointe-Claire (1), 10.08.1969

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 e6 4.Bg2 Nf6 5.d3 Be7 6.Nh3 d5 7.exd5 exd5 8.Nf4 Bg4 9.f3 Bc8 10.0-0 0-0 11.Bd2 Nd4 12.Re1 Re8 13.a4 Ne6 14.a5 c4 15.dxc4 dxc4 16.Ra4 Nxf4 17.Bxf4 Bc5+ 18.Kh1 Rxe1+ 19.Qxe1 Be6 20.Bg5 Bd4 21.Ne2 h6 22.Bc1 Qd7 23.Ra1 Bc5 24.Bf4 Rd8 25.Be5 Qd2 26.Nf4 Qxe1+ 27.Rxe1 Bf5 28.Bf1 Bxc2 29.Bxc4 Bb4 30.Bxf6 gxf6 31.Re3 Bc5 32.Re1 Bb4 33.Re3 Bc5 34.Re1 Bd1 35.Rf1 Rd2 36.Bd5 b6 37.axb6 axb6 38.Bc4 Ba4 39.b4 Bxb4 40.Nd5 b5 41.Nxf6+ Kg7 42.Nh5+ Kf8 43.Rb1 bxc4 44.Rxb4 Bc6 45.Kg1 c3 46.Rc4 Bxf3 47.Rc8+ Ke7 48.Ng7 c2 49.Nf5+ Kd7 50.Rc3 Bc6 51.Nxh6 Rd1+ 52.Kf2 c1Q 53.Rxc1 Rxc1 54.Nxf7 Rc2+ 55.Ke3 Ke6 56.Nd8+ Ke7 57.Nxc6+ Rxc6 0-1

Zuk, Robert D. - Biyiasas, Peter [C71] CAN ch Toronto (10), 19.06.1972

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.c4 Bd7 6.d4 Nf6 7.Nc3 Be7 8.d5 Nb8 9.Bc2 0-0 10.0-0 Ne8 11.Rb1 Bg4 12.b4 g6 13.h3 Bxf3 14.Qxf3 Ng7 15.Bh6 Nd7 16.Ba4 Nb6 17.Bb3 Nd7 18.Qe3 f5 19.c5 f4 20.Qd3 Nf6 21.c6 b6 22.g4 Nfe8 23.f3 Bg5 24.Bxg7 Kxg7 25.Bc4 Qc8 26.Qe2 Bh4 27.Rb3 a5 28.bxa5 Rxa5 29.Bb5 h5 30.a4 Nf6 31.Nb1 Nh7 32.Nd2 Ng5 33.Kg2 Rh8 34.Rh1 Rh6 35.Rbb1 Ra8 36.Nc4 Qh8 37.Qb2 Kf6 38.Qa3 Qf8 39.a5 bxa5 40.Ba4 Qe7 41.Rb7 Rd8 42.Qc3 hxg4 43.hxg4 Rdh8 44.Qxa5 Bg3 45.Rxh6 Rxh6 46.Rxc7 Rh2+ 47.Kf1 Nxf3 48.Qa7 Qxc7 0-1

Biyiasas,Peter - Geller, Efim [B52] Petropolis izt Petropolis (10), 1973

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5.0-0 Nc6 6.b3 Nf6 7.Re1 g6 8.Bb2 Bg7 9.c4 e5 10.Nc3 0-0 11.d3 Nh5 12.Nd5 Ne7 13.Bc1 Nxd5 14.cxd5 Nf4 15.Bxf4 exf4 16.Rc1 Rae8 17.Qd2 f5 18.Ng5 fxe4 19.dxe4 Qg4 20.Nf3 Qh5 21.h3 b6 22.b4 Be5 23.a4 g5 24.Nxe5 Rxe5 25.f3 Qg6 26.Kf2 h5 27.Rh1 Qg7 28.bxc5 bxc5 29.Qc3 Rb8 30.Rb1 Ree8 31.Qxg7+ Kxg7 32.Ke2 Kf6 33.Kd3 Ke5 34.Kc4 Rh8 35.a5 Rhc8 36.Rhg1 Rb4+ 37.Rxb4 cxb4+ 38.Kb5 Kd4 39.Ka6 b3 40.Rd1+ 1-0

Biyiasas, Peter - Spraggett, Kevin [B50] CAN ch Calgary (4), 08.08.1975

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nc3 a6 4.g3 Nc6 5.Bg2 Nf6 6.0-0 d6 7.d3 Be7 8.Bf4 0-0 9.e5 Nd5 10.Nxd5 exd5 11.exd6 Bxd6 12.Qd2 Bg4 13.Rae1 Qc7 14.Bxd6 Qxd6 15.h3 Bd7 16.Kh2 Rad8 17.d4 cxd4 18.Nxd4 Nxd4 19.Qxd4 Bb5 20.Rg1 Qg6 21.Qd2 Qf6 22.b3 Bc6 23.Re3 Qb2 24.a4 d4 25.Rd3 Bxg2 26.Kxg2 Rc8 27.Rc1 Rfd8 28.Rd1 Rxc2 29.Rxd4 Rxd4 30.Qxd4 Qxd4 31.Rxd4 Rc8 32.Rd7 Rb8 33.b4 Kf8 34.b5 axb5 35.axb5 b6 36.Kf3 Re8 37.Rd6 Rb8 38.Ke4 Ke7 39.Kd5 h5 40.h4 g6 41.f4 f6 42.Re6+ Kf7 43.Rc6 Rd8+ 44.Rd6 Rc8 45.Rxb6 Rc3 46.Ra6 Ke7 47.b6 Rxg3 48.Ra7+ Kd8 49.Ra8+ 1-0

Speelman, Jonathan - Biyiasas, Peter [A42] Lone Pine 8th Lone Pine (6), 04.1978

1.c4 g6 2.e4 d6 3.d4 e5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Nc3 Bg4 6.d5 Nf6 7.h3 Bc8 8.Be3 0-0 9.Be2 Nbd7 10.g4 Nc5 11.Nd2 a5 12.h4 c6 13.h5 Ne8 14.Nf1 cxd5 15.cxd5 gxh5 16.gxh5 Kh8 17.Rg1 Bf6 18.Qd2 Bd7 19.Bh6 Ng7 20.Qe3 Rg8 21.Qf3 Qe7 22.Bb5

22...Nf5 23.Rxg8+ Rxg8 24.exf5 Bxb5 25.Nxb5 e4 26.Qe2 Nd3+ 27.Kd2 Qe5 28.Ke3 Rg5 29.a4 0-1

Biyiasas, Peter - Vasiukov, Evgeni [A07] Hastings Hastings (4), 1978

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 c6 4.0-0 Bg4 5.d3 e6 6.Nbd2 Nbd7 7.e4 Be7 8.Re1 0-0 9.h3 Bh5 10.e5 Ne8 11.Nf1 Nc7 12.N1h2 a5 13.Bf4 a4 14.Qd2 a3 15.b3 Nb5 16.c4 Nc7 17.h4 Bxf3 18.Nxf3 Na6 19.Red1 Bb4 20.Qc2 Qa5 21.Rac1 d4 22.Qe2 Bc3 23.Ng5 g6 24.h5 Nac5 25.Qg4 Rfe8 26.Qh4 Nf8 27.Ne4 Nxe4 28.Bxe4 Bb4 29.Kg2 Qd8 30.Qg4 Ra5 31.hxg6 fxg6 32.Rh1 Qd7 33.Rh6 Re7 34.Rch1 Rg7 35.Bg5 Rxe5 36.Bf6 Ra5 37.Bxg7 Qxg7 38.Rxh7 Nxh7 39.Qxe6+ Kf8 40.Bxg6 Qe7 41.Qc8+ 1-0

Biyiasas, Peter - Timman, Jan [B50] Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee (6), 01.1980

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Nc3 a6 4.g3 Nc6 5.Bg2 Bg4 6.h3 Bxf3 7.Qxf3 g6 8.e5 dxe5 9.Qxc6+ bxc6 10.Bxc6+ Qd7 11.Bxd7+ Kxd7 12.Na4 Kc6 13.b3 e6 14.Bb2 f6 15.0-0-0 Bd6 16.Rde1 Ne7 17.Re4 Nf5 18.Rc4 Rab8 19.Re1 Rb4 20.Ree4 Rhb8 21.Ba3 R4b5 22.c3 Bf8 23.Re2 Kd5 24.g4 Nd6 25.Rxc5+ Rxc5 26.Bxc5 Bh6 27.Kc2 Bf4 28.Be3 g5 29.d4 exd4 30.Bxf4 gxf4 31.c4+ Nxc4 32.bxc4+ Kxc4 33.Rxe6 d3+ 34.Kd2 Rb4 35.Re4+ 1-0

If you wish to subscribe to the newsletter, send an e-mail (swright2@telus.net) or sign up via the BCCF webpage (www.chess.bc.ca)

2010 Manitoba Junior has been rated

2010 Manitoba Junior has been rated.

Congratulations to the following who achieved new peak ratings:

Aaron Green 2021
Leor Wasserman 1824
Alex Iomdina  1421
Henry Li     1447

2011 Manitoba Championship Qualifying

Manitoba Closed 2011

     8 player knockout

     Qualifiers -
     In order of preference - if the qualifying player does not want to
     participate or the winner is redundant we continue down the list
     until there are 8 participants.

     1. Previous Year's Champion (TREVOR VINCENT)
     2. Winner of the Reserve (2010 Albert Boxer Memorial) (ARVIN DAWA)
     3. MB Junior Champion (if rated above 1900) to be decided November 21= (AARON GREEN)
     4. Top Manitoban in AY Memorial (JONATHON ZACZEK)
     5. 2 Winners from 2 Qualifying tournaments (NOT HELD this year)
     5,6. Top 2 finishers in the Tournament of Champions (Nov-Dec) TBD
     7,8. Top 2 CFC rated (established) players who have played at
     least 10 CFC rated games in 2010. (Currently SAM LIPNOWSKI, JEFF BABB)
     9. 2nd Manitoban in the AY Memorial (SAM LIPNOWSKI)
     10. 2nd place in the first Qualifying Tournament (NOT HELD)
     11. 2nd place in the second Qualifying Tournament (NOT HELD)   
10. Third highest CFC rated player who have played at least 10 CFC
     rated games in the previous year. (currently ROLANDO BINCE)
     11. Fourth highest CFC rated player who have played at least 10 CFC
     rated games in the previous year. (currently WALDEMAR SCHULZ)
     12. Second place in the 2010 Albert Boxer Memorial Open Section (SAM LIPNOWSKI)

     etc. from the rating list

     In Canadian Closed years - Game scores will not be published until
     after the Canadian Closed.

Manitoba Active Ratings

These are the ratings the MCA has been calculating for performance in Active events (typically our G/25 events).

Name New CHANGE Bince, Rolando 2124 -36 Boron, Anthony 1981 -55 Campbell, Jamie 1646 +74 Crawford, Gary 1466 +36 Czypinski, Jaroslaw 1927 +20 Dawa, Arvin 2091 -27 De Groot, Steven 1800 -6 Evans, Brian 1599 +11 Gannon, Keith 1597 +21 Green, Aaron 2001 -3 Green, Jim 1838 +46 Greenberg, Harley 1771 38 Iomdina, Bella 1780 64 Joven, Perfecto 1891 64 Kaptsan, Aron 2129 51 Lauritson, Jim 1878 -32 Letain, Cory 1631 24 Li, Devon 1567 ---- Li, Henry 1410 20 Lipic, Stephen 1870 54 Lipnowski, Samuel 2252 1 Magnusson, Saul 1793 13 Manicdao, Tomas 1780 31 Melamedoff, Gustavo 1955 -43 Milord, Frank 1646 -16 Milward, Dave 1717 -1 Mousseau, Chuck 1846       2 Nikouline, Alexandre 2056      -44 Ochate, Edward 1521 Ott, Richard 1463 -19 Pang, Charles 1800      ---- Pang, Michael 1781 22 Pottinger, Carl 1715 -41 Raihman, David 1498     -2 Raihman, Igal 1988      +20 Rutter, Blair 1875     -6 Schulz, Manfred 1842     -33 Schulz, Waldemar 1969     -48 Swift, Ryne 1778 13 Trueman, Francis 1520       60 Van Wyk, Joseph 2054 -55 Villeneuve, Justin 1292 15 Vincent, Trevor 2318 -11 Wasserman, Arie 1727 20 Wasserman, Jerry 1973      -23 Wasserman, Leor 1789 14 Yung, Dustin 1172      -10 Zaczek, Jonathon 2150 -12
		Chess in Winnipeg

Cecil's Saturday Puzzle - November 6, 2010

from the Saturday Winnipeg Free Press

                                                                     Chess in Winnipeg

1. Ba4  with 2.Nc3 to follow after most

Cecil's Saturday Puzzle - October 23, 2010

from the Winnipeg Free Press

 White to Mate in 2 (Easter)

1. Ne8

2010 October TNT has been rated by the CFC

2010 October TNT has been rated by the CFC

Congratulations to the following who achieved new peak ratings !

Jonathon Zaczek  2272
Leor Wasserman 1776
Saul Magnusson 1804

Theo Wolchock 1551 provisional

2010 November Tournaments

 Tuesday nights -  6 Tuesdays from Nov 2 - Dec 7
Tournament of Champions
Mike Shpan Memorial

Sunday, November 14, 2010 - Winnipeg Active Championship  Game / 25

GM Alex Yermolinsky Simul

  On Friday, October 22nd following the traditional Subway catered "Meet & Greet" social, GM Alex Yermolinsky conducted a simultaneous exhibition match against all comers.  Beginning at 7pm, Yermo  faced-off against chess fans off all strengths and experience levels, giving a rare opportunity for these players to experience the royal game when played at the highest level of skill.  One of America's premier players, GM Yermolinsky has claimed the US Championship title TWICE, and won the Philadelphia World Open three times.  For a tournament chess player, there is no greater challenge than to match wits with a GrandMaster of the game.

"Yermo" went a perfect 18-0 in this simul challenge !

Cecil's Saturday Puzzle - October 9, 2010

From the Winnipeg Free Press

White to Mate in 2 (Funk)
1.Bf4

Ride to Moorhead - space available

Francis Trueman contacted me - he apparently has a space available for a passenger , to the ChessNuts Tournament in Moorhead, and potentially hotel space.  If interested, please contact me and I will let Francis know.

Also Carl Pottinger is looking for passengers.  If interested, please contact me and I will let Carl know.

chessmanitoba  at gmail

Chess Books

Your blogger is clearing his shelves of a few books -

see the list here.

Mark Jarmasz

Published in the Winnipeg Free Press

MARK JARMASZ (published on September 30, 2010)

MARK JARMASZ

It is with immense sadness that our family announces the death of Mark on Saturday, September 25, 2010. Left to mourn Mark's memory is his wife Kristina; daughters Jessica and Sam; sister Dorothy (Doug) Kasia and brother Peter (Karen). Mark was a University of Manitoba graduate and holder of a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering. He began working for Manitoba Hydro, moving on to Sysmon and finally NRC, IBD. Vacations were spent at his two favourite destinations: one, only an hour away in beautiful St. Malo and the other, five hours away in quixotic Puerto Vallarta. A marathon runner, Mark had a strong passion for mathematics, chess and opera. As he spent countless hours reading books from his extensive home library he became a walking encyclopedia for all of us to partake in. His quick-wit and unique sense of humour filled our home with laughter. Respecting Mark's wishes, a private family celebration of his life will be held at his home. We wish to thank Dr. Bhanot and the 3rd floor Unit 5 staff at Seven Oaks Hospital. In lieu of flowers, if friends so desire, donations in Mark's memory may be made to Seven Oaks Hospital Foundation. Goodbye to our brilliant and beautiful mind.

CFC history  Mark was the surprise winner of the U2000 section in the (first) 2003 Abe Yanofsky Memorial with a 2138 performance, despite being rated only 1759 going into the tournament. He followed that up with another excellent performance in the 2004 AY.  Although he was not active in tournament chess lately, he will be remembered and missed by those who had met him.

Cecil's Saturday Puzzle - September 25, 2010

from the Winnipeg Free Press

Mate in 2 (Funk)

1. Kf2

2010 September TNT has been rated by the CFC

2010 September TNT has been rated by the CFC

See the crosstable here

Congratulations to the following for achieving new peak ratings.

Gustavo Melamedoff  2055
Saul Magnusson 1803

Cecil's Saturday Puzzle - September 11, 2010

from the Winnipeg Free Press

White to mate in 3 (Loyd)

Ok, this should be easy, but I was looking a bit deep.

Hint: Don't spend all night thinking about the a-file.
1.bxa8(N) Kxg2 2.Nb6 ....

2010 ChessNuts Challenge dates and details announced

Our friend Brian Thompson has posted details of the 4th Annual ChessNuts Challenge in Fargo, ND. October 22-24, 2010 (Games on Saturday and Sunday).

Lots of my time for advance planning for this excellent event !

(repost from February !)

Bent Larsen

Les Mundwiler writes:
 
Bent Larsen has just died, I visited the Danish Chess Union's site and 
found the attached jpeg, from last Jan. 1st. Here's the caption: Bent 
Larsen fotograferet i januar 2010 af Peter Heine Nielsen.
 

 From ICC newsletter:

  En Passant: Bent Larsen, 1935-2010

One of the world's best grandmasters of his day, Danish legend Bent Larsen, has died in Buenos Aires, Argentina after a short illness. He was 75.
The six-time Danish Champion and four-time world championship candidate (in 1965, 1968, 1971, and 1977) won three Interzonal tournaments and many, many other international tournaments. His five consecutive first prizes at Havana 1967, Winnipeg 1967, Palma de Mallorca 1967, Sousse 1967 and Monte Carlo 1968 set a record for anyone who was not actually world champion. In 1967 he was also awarded the first Chess Oscar for player of the year.
Larsen was the first player in the western hemisphere to challenge the dominance of Soviet chess after the second world war. In the years leading up to Bobby Fischer's 1972 world title victory, Larsen was often considered a stronger candidate for the championship match than was Fischer.
And indeed when FIDÉ organized a match in 1970 pitting the Soviet Union's best players against the top players from the rest of the world, Larsen protested when Fischer was initially selected for board one. In a rare display of humility Fischer acquiesced, allowing Larsen the top spot and a match-up with world champion Boris Spassky.
However, in an outstanding career with many highs, his most famous low has to have been his 6-0 loss to Fischer in their 1971 Candidates match - the psychological blow from which many believe signaled the beginning of the end for Larsen's ambitions to become world champion; and indeed, it was often said he was never quite the same player after such a demolition job by Fischer.
Since the early 1970s Larsen has lived in Buenos Aires, with his Argentinian-born wife. One of his lasting legacy's to chess will be his outstanding collection of 50 games published in his book, Larsen's Selected Games of Chess 1948-69 (also known as Bent Larsen: Master of Counter-Attack) - a truly superb book and one that should be in everyone's library.
In a further tribute to Bent Larsen here on ICC, next week three Chess.FM shows - Chess Talk with John Watson, Attack with LarryC, and Game of the Week with Joel Benjamin - will be dedicated to the life and times of this truly remarkable chess giant.

Photo © Peter Heine Nielsen

Note: Why Larsen on the chessmanitoba blog ? 

Well, he played in the 1967 

Grandmaster Chess Tournament in Winnipeg.

2010 Abe Yanofsky Memorial has been rated

See the crosstables here:

Open

U1800

Congratulations to the following who achieved new peak established ratings:
Jonathon Zaczek   2246
Jim Green   1822
Steven de Groot 1831
Michael Pang 1774
Leor Wasserman 1758
Arie Wasserman  1742
Richard Ott 1728
Henry Li 1438
Sashika Kumaragamage 1414
Alex Iomdina 1296
Justin Villeneuve 1246

Cecil's Saturday Puzzle August 28, 2010

from the Saturday Winnipeg Free Press

 White to mate in 3

Shinkman
1. Qd4! cd4 2.Rf7, etc.

2010 AY Satellite Results

Eighty-one year old Aron Kaptsan warmed up for the Abe Yanofsky Memorial by defeating Manitoba Champion Trevor Vincent, and  Manitoba's newest Master, Jonathon Zaczek, enroute to winning the AY Satellite with a 4-0 score.

Aron Kaptsan, Samuel Lipnowski, Trevor Vincent, Perfecto Joven, Saul Magnusson, Arie Wasserman, Michael Pang, and Cory Letain all won entries to the Abe Yanofsky Memorial tournament. 

Cory Letain and Trevor Vincent in turn registered for the tournament; Sam Lipnowski and Arie Wasserman are likely to do as well. I am not sure about Saul or Perfecto.   Pang and Kaptsan already had entered; I know Kaptsan is looking to sell his ticket for somewhere between $ 30 and $ 40. If interested, please contact me @ chessmanitoba at gmail.com with an offer.

#	Name	Rtng	Rd 1	Rd 2	Rd 3	Rd 4	Tot	Prize
1	Aron Kaptsan	2031	W15	W14	W3	W5	4.0	ticket
2	Samuel Lipnowski	2244	W18	W11	D5	W7	3.5	ticket
3	Trevor Vincent	2329	W8	W4	L1	W11	3.0	ticket
4	Perfecto Joven	1963	W20	L3	W16	W9	3.0	ticket
5	Jonathon Zaczek	2228	W19	W13	D2	L1	2.5	chop
6	Rolando Bince	2160	W12	D16	L7	W15	2.5	chop
7	Stephen Lipic	1816	D17	W22	W6	L2	2.5	chop
8	Ryne Swift	1802	L3	D15	W17	W12	2.5	chop
9	Gustavo Melamedoff	2002	L16	W17	W20	L4	2.0
10	Jim Lauritson	1910	L14	L12	W18	W16	2.0
11	Saul Magnusson	1798	W21	L2	W13	L3	2.0	ticket
12	Arie Wasserman	1707	L6	W10	W14	L8	2.0	ticket
13	Michael Pang	1706	W22	L5	L11	W20	2.0	ticket
14	Cory Letain	1607	W10	L1	L12	W19	2.0	ticket
15	Dave Milward	1718	L1	D8	W21	L6	1.5
16	Leor Wasserman	1682	W9	D6	L4	L10	1.5
17	Henry Li	1388	D7	L9	L8	W21	1.5
18	Carl Pottinger	1766	L2	L21	L10	B---	1.0
19	Richard Ott	1694	L5	L20	B---	L14	1.0
20	Frank Milord	1662	L4	W19	L9	L13	1.0
21	Justin Villeneuve	1277	L11	W18	L15	L17	1.0
22	Joseph Van Wyk	2062	L13	L7	U---	U---	0.0

Abe Yanofsky Active Satellite Tournament Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Abe Yanofsky Active Satellite Tournament
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
7 p.m.

Location: University of Winnipeg - Rm 4CM42
4CM42 <-click here for map
 (This is not a knockout tournament, players will play all 4 rounds)
Please note that we intend to start the first round at 7:00 p.m. sharp.

Abe Yanofsky Active Satellite Tournament
Four rounds of Game / 25
Swiss System
 $ 10 Entry Fee  (CFC Membership not required for this tournament, however it is required for the Abe Yanofsky Memorial)

Prizes:  An Entry to the  Abe Yanofsky Memorial Tournament for every three paid entries !
There will be at least one U1800 entry ticket awarded.
For example - if there are 18 entries - 6 tournament entries to the Abe Yanofsky tournament will be awarded.
(If you win a "ticket", it must be used for tournament entry to the Abe Yanofsky Memorial - a $ 40 value). If you do not wish to play in the Abe Yanofsky Memorial, or have already entered, it will be up to you to sell your 'ticket'.)

Start time is 7:00 pm

Registration for tournament -August 31  - approximately 6:35 pm to 6:50 pm

Registration will be cut off at approximately 6:50 pm.

Location: University of Winnipeg - Rm 4CM42
4CM42 <-click here for map

This is very near our old room of 5L24 and is in fact on the same floor.

Easiest way to get there is the same way to 5L24 - take the elevator at the north end (Ellice) to the 5th Floor(if that Elevator is operating) Otherwise, there is an elevator just to the west of the Bookstore.
Our goal is to start the first round at 7:00 p.m. sharp.

Questions ? Please email Chessmanitoba@gmail.com

Cecil's Saturday Puzzle - Saturday, August 14

from the Winnipeg Free Press

White to Mate in 4 (Anderssen)

1. Bh5 ! 

...Kxh5 2.Kg7

Schnellschach ist Nervenkitzel!

2010 August TNT has been rated.

See the crosstable here

Congratulations to the following who achieved new high ratings:

Jonathon Zaczek  -  2228   +39  and now a Master !
Aaron Green - 2005  +40 and now an Expert !
Alexander Nikouline 2149  +27
Michael Pang   1725  +19
Justin Lin   1543
Justin Villeneuve   1277

Recording of game scores - repost by request

 Reposted by request -

As many of you know, the game scores of virtually all standard time control games are available in pgn format at the chessmanitoba.com website. This is a great tradition, which requires the cooperation of the players handing in legible scoresheets and volunteers entering the games.
Some players enter their own games and email the pgn file to me or whomever is 'responsible' for the game file.

With the high participation figures at the TNTs this year and the Yanofsky coming up, I am asking on behalf of current and future pgn compilers that the players help out a bit if they can by submitting their games when they are able. For those familiar with programs such as ChessBase or Chess Assistant this is likely not a problem. For others, the following is a relatively simple tool I found:
http://members.shaw.ca/lapides/pgnedit/pgnedit.html
note: it may be sluggish on some older systems

One can enter a game, "save" and then cut and paste the results into an email.
There are some instructions in the upper right of the page referenced above.

Give it a try and email the results to chessmanitoba@gmail.com
Don't worry about details for the header - the names of the two players is enough.

Cecil's Saturday Puzzle - July 31, 2010

from the Saturday Winnipeg Free Press

 Mate in 3 (Berger)

1.Rf1

2010 August TNT starts Tuesday, August 3

From Tuesday, August 03 2010 To Tuesday, August 24 2010 7:00pm - 11:00pm Tuesday of each week

Location: University of Winnipeg - Rm 4CM42
4CM42 <-click here for map
4 rounds -one on each of  August 3, 10, 17, 24 - (This is not a knockout tournament, players will play all 4 rounds)
Please note that we intend to start the first round at 7:00 p.m. sharp.

Tuesday Night Tournaments are held every month of the year, (except for November and December when things are organized a little differently).

There is one game per week.

All of the TNTs are Swiss (pairing) style tournaments with a time control of G /120 minutes [Each player has 2 hours to complete their moves, the game will be be 4 hours maximum]

The TNTs are typically 4 round events (one game for 4 consecutive Tuesdays in the month).

Start time is 7:00 pm and the TD will confirm costs
( $ 15 entry fee, and CFC membership required [$ 20 for a one-tournament membership or $ 53 for the entire year])

Registration for tournament -August 3  - approximately 6:35 pm to 6:50 pm

Registration will be cut off at 6:50 pm. (If you think you may be late, please send an email to
chessmanitoba 'at' gmail.com) before 5 pm (you can try later, but the wireless access at the U may be problematic)

Location: University of Winnipeg - Rm 4CM42

This is very near our old room of 5L24 and is in fact on the same floor.

Easiest way to get there is the same way to 5L24 - take the elevator at the north end (Ellice) to the 5th Floor(if that Elevator is operating) Otherwise, there is an elevator just to the west of the Bookstore.
Our goal is to start the first round at 7:00 p.m. sharp.

Who will be the next Master ?

Will it be
Jonathon Zazcek  ? - knocking on the door at 2189,
Arvin Dawa ? - a few points away at 2186,
or Rolando Bince ? -  one good tournament away at 2160.

Your chance to play spoiler in the August TNT which starts Tuesday, August 3.

AY 2010 Pre-Registrations as of July 27

		CFC	FIDE
Zaczek	Jonathon	2189	2066
Nikouline	Alex	2122
Schulz	Waldemar	2066	2021
Raihman	Igal	2015	1974
Rutter	Blair	1942
Swift	Ryne	1794

  

2010 July TNT has been rated

2010 July TNT has been rated

Congratulations to the following who achieved new peak ratings:

Rolando Bince 2160
Richard Ott 1716
Steven de Groot 1830
Michael Pang 1706
and Justin Lin starts with a provisional rating of 1512

I hope you also notice who had the second highest performance rating after the winner Jeff Babb. :-)

Cecil's Saturday Puzzle - July 17, 2010

from the Winnipeg Free Press

 White to mate in 2 (Blake)
1. Qe2

2010 Canadian Open - Round 8 videoblog - by Nikachu

See it here  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkn0TBvDuwI

Caution - Coarse language !


Register early for the
8th Annual Abe Yanofsky Memorial Chess Tournament September 3-5, 2010

2010 Manitoba Championship has been rated

The 2010 Manitoba Championship has been  rated.
Congratulations to the repeating champion Trevor Vincent, who also gained 25 rating points to achieve a new peak of 2329 !

Jonathan Zaczek is now at 2189 after getting so tantalizingly close to Master after the Canadian Open (2199)

Arvin Dawa also has a new high at 2186.

(PS - Dezheng Kong, now of BC, gained 106 points at the Canadian Open to now sit at 2089)

Canadian Open - Round 7 - Video Blog by Nikachu

See it here

Register early for the
8th Annual Abe Yanofsky Memorial Chess Tournament September 3-5, 2010

2010 Canadian Open Round 9

Another great day for the players we are following:
FM Jack Yoos defeated GM Harikrishna (2678)  to end at 7
FM Kevin Gentes drew GM Friedel to finish at 6
Zaczek won to finish at 6
Kong won to finish at 6
Wiebe Lipic lost to finish at 4.5
Lipic lost to finish at 3.5

I haven't seen the prize award list, but I would think Yoos got himself around $1,500, while Zaczek and Kong probably cashed for a little over $200.