Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Update: Manitoba Chess Championship (match knockout) qualification

Update:
The following qualifiers have confirmed their participation (at least tentatively) for the 8 -player knockout: Trevor Vincent, Paolo Araullo, Jay Khedkar, Sam Lipnowski.
Rolando Bince has declined, and Kevin Gentes is believed to be residing in Ontario.
So that leaves 4 spots, including one from the qualifier this weekend.
That means at least 3 spots will be filled from the rating list on May 5.
Nothing substantive has changed from the rating listed below, other than Babb and Dawa pulling further ahead of the followers.
I would say Jeff Babb is unlikely to be fall out of the top 3, so is very likely a lock. Dawa, Zaczek and Nikouline could all change positions depending on who plays on the weekend, and the results of course. Boron or Kaptsan could catch Zaczek or Nikouline with good performances.

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Here is approved regulations for the the 2010 Manitoba Chess Championship (match knockout), approved at the April 11 board meeting. The new format gives everyone a chance to compete for the championship regardless of most time constraints/commitments. The previous format, where the winner of the Albert Boxer Memorial is deemed the champion, is quite restrictive.

I want to mention that one of the provisos for qualifying is that all candidates must have played at least 8 standard rated CFC games between Jan 1,2009 - May 3, 2010. There are 8 rounds of play available before May 3; the April TNT and the May 1-2 qualifier.

The 2010 cycle is not terribly important as there does not appear to be a Canadian Closed scheduled in 2010. The 2010 winner however would be one of the players seeded into the final 8 in 2011. The 2010 Albert Boxer, effectively becomes a qualifier for 2011, not the championship it has been in the past few years.

Just a word on the below - it is not 'scientific'; I was basically making it up as I went along - with no reference to actual results.
I then went back and penciled in the 2010 qualifiers to see what it would look like. Of course, it is quite retroactive, but I don't think anyone can legitimately complain.
I think you will agree it is a system that should qualify the best player.

Manitoba Closed 2010 Championship

8 player knockout

3 rounds of 2 game matches to be played at G/120 , no increment.
Tiebreaks at 2 games at G - 25 plus 10 second increment. Further tiebreaks at Blitz 5 minutes plus 3 sec increment


Matches to be played at player's convenience (they will submit dates they are available)

approximately:
Round 1 - Approx May 6 - June 7
Round 2 - Approx June 8 - July 15
Final -Approx Jul 15 - Aug 15

(I would prefer that these days be compressed - but I don't think there is any hurry for 2010. 2011 will be a different story.)

Qualifiers -

All players must have played at least 8 standard rated CFC games between Jan 1,2009 - May 3, 2010. and be a full CFC member at time of knockout start.


2010 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

2. Winner of the Reserve (2009 Albert Boxer Memorial top section - the Boxer top section will be a qualifier going forward)

3. MB Junior Champion (if rated above 1900)

4. Top Manitoban in 2009 AY Memorial top section

5. Winner of Grand Prix A

6. Winner of Qualifier May 1,2 (tiebreak required if necessary)

7,8. Top 2 CFC rated (established) players who have played at least 8 CFC rated games in the previous year (after May 2 qualifier)

9. 2nd Manitoban in the 2009 AY Memorial top section

10. Third highest CFC rated player who have played at least 8 CFC rated games in the previous year.

11. Fourth highest CFC rated player who have played at least 8 CFC rated games in the previous year.

12. Second place in the 2009 Albert Boxer Memorial top section

13. Fifth highest CFC rated player who have played at least 8 CFC rated games in the previous year.

14--onward. 6th etc. highest CFC rated player who have played at least 8 CFC rated games in the previous year.


So now, let's see who is eligible as of this moment.
1. Previous Year's Champion [Trevor Vincent]

2. Winner of the Reserve (2009 Albert Boxer Memorial) [Trevor Vincent]

3. MB Junior Champion (if rated above 1900) [Paolo Araullo]

4. Top Manitoban in 2009 AY Memorial [Trevor, Paolo, Rolando Bince]

5. Winner of Grand Prix A [Sam Lipnowski]

6. Winner of Qualifier in April [TBD]

7,8. Top 2 CFC rated (established) players who have played at least 8 CFC rated games in the previous year (after May 2 qualifier) Trevor Vincent, Kevin Gentes

9. 2nd Manitoban in the 2009 AY Memorial [Trevor, Paolo, Rolando Bince] n/a

10. Third highest CFC rated player who have played at least 8 CFC rated games in the previous year.Sam Lipnowski

11. Fourth highest CFC rated player who have played at least 8 CFC rated games in the previous year. Paolo Araullo

12. Second place in the 2009 Albert Boxer Memorial [Sam/Jay Khedkar]

13. Fifth highest CFC rated player who have played at least 8 CFC rated games in the previous year. Jeff Babb (2193)

I understand Gentes is not residing in Manitoba and may be unlikely to play in the knockout.

So I will list the next few potential qualifiers:
14--onward. 6th etc. highest CFC rated player who have played at least 8 CFC rated games in the previous year.

14. Bince (has already qualified)
15. Dawa (2135)
16. Zaczek (2101)
17. Nikouline (2092)
18. Kaptsan (2045)
19. Khedkar (has already qualified)
20. B
oron (2024)

So, with the possible exception of the one qualifying spot remaining to be filled from the qualifier May 1-2; all other contestants are likely to be rated at least 2040.

The 2011 tentative scheme is weighted toward more qualifiers from tournaments and less from the rating list.

For the 2010, the entry fee will be $ 10 and there will be a small prize for the winner, in addition to automatic qualification to the 2011 final 8 (provided they play 8 CFC games in 2010)

1 comment:

Charles "Alpha Lackey" Mousseau said...

I like it a *lot*. I think that every club should have a formal championship "path". This results in big games with big consequences, and it's something that can inspire us plebian chess players in our every day lives. As in, I will most likely never get a GM norm but I certainly can see myself having one good year where I win a round or two in a championship event. Maybe I can be like Smyslov in his Candidates glory run -- get a lucky break one round, play just out of my tree to score an upset in round two only to lose to the eventual champion.

To me, I'd hold that as a great chess memory. So yes, I heartily approve this message.