2010 Canadian Open Chess Championship

The 2010 Canadian Open is taking place in Westin Harbour Castle,
Downtown Toronto, from July 10 to 18 (final round, awards dinner). It is a nine-round Swiss System, Single Section, CFC and FIDE rated event, with accelerated pairings used in early rounds. Time controls are 40 moves in 90 minutes, 30 minutes for remainder, with 30 second increments from move one. The prize fund is a guaranteed $32,000, with the winners receiving $6,500 for first place, $3,500 for second, $2,500 for third, up to $500 for tenth. There are also class and category prizes for below 2400, below 2200, etc., top bantam (under 14 years), top junior, top senior, top lady, and for brilliancy, biggest upset, best dressed, trivia contest, etc.

Visitors can attend the tournament at Westin Harbour Castle, 1 Harbour Square, Toronto, Ontario M5J 1A6, which is within walking distance from Union subway/VIA/GO train station. Parking available at hotel and nearby lots. Telephone: 416 869-1600 Fax: 416 869-0573.

Colorful: Downtown Toronto in the late evening

Standings after five rounds (3.5 points or higher)

1	Gagunashvili,M	2596	4.5/5
2	Mulyar,M	2405	4.5/5
3	McShane,L	2624	4.5/5
4	Shabalov,A	2578	4.5/5
5	Noritsyn,N	2401	4.5/5
6	Rozentalis,E	2631	4.0/5
7	Harikrishna,P	2646	4.0/5
8	Gerzhoy,L	2471	4.0/5
9	Pechenkin,V	2345	4.0/5
10	Friedel,J	2527	4.0/5
11	Hambleton,A	2131	4.0/5
12	Haessel,D	2243	4.0/5

13	Martchenko,A	2138	4.0/5
14	Sapozhnikov,R	2248	4.0/5
15	Puri,V	2239	3.5/5
16	Samsonkin,A	2401	3.5/5
17	Wang,Richard	2190	3.5/7
18	MacKinnon,K	2140	3.5/5
19	Ashton,A	2328	3.5/5
20	Cummings,D	2375	3.5/5
21	Walton,A	2147	3.5/5
22	Calugar,A	2144	3.5/5
23	Egorov,M	2038	3.5/5

One of the five leaders at the Canadian Open: British GM Luke McShane

Georgian GM Merab Gagunashvili with 4.5/5

GM Alexander Shabalov, USA

Canadian IM Nikolay Noritsyn

IM Michael A. Mulyar from Westminster, Colorado

IM Lawrence Day, author, journalist, who represented Canada at 13 Chess Olympiads

Genadi Medvedev

WIM Dina Kagramanov

An unidentified participant at the Canada Open

A very young player...

... and another only slightly older

During the day, there are many side events: grandmaster simultaneous exhibitions and lectures; 960 chess simultaneous exhibition introducing Starter Dice by Q-Workshop.com; double chess tournament; National Federation Meeting, FIDE Arbiter Seminar; and a children's chess day camp. Still to come are the speed chess tournament and a blindfold simultaneous exhibition by FM Hans Jung.

A simultaneous exhibition by GM Mark Bluvshtein

Two of his opponents enjoying their games

Another ponders the position more seriously

A Shabalov simul with a difference. Michael Sutton of Toronto, Canada, tells us that
Alexander Shabalov's simultaneous was actually a first time 960 simultaneous.
"He told me he had never worked harder in his life, but it was a lot of fun."

... and one by GM Merab Gagunashvili

The grandmaster with some of his younger opponents

Links

Official tournament site (by MonRoi)
All available games in PGN

The games are being broadcast live on the official web site and on the chess server Playchess.com. If you are not a member you can download the free PGN reader ChessBase Light, which gives you immediate access. You can also use the program to read, replay and analyse PGN games. New and enhanced: CB Light 2009!