Nikolay Noritsyn and Li Yunshan are 2025 Canadian chess champions

by ChessBase
5/4/2025 – The 2025 Canadian Chess Championships took place in Toronto on 17-22 April, bringing together 90 players from across nine provinces. IM Nikolay Noritsyn (pictured) claimed his third national title in the open section, while WIM Li Yunshan secured her first women’s title on tiebreak. The championships featured strong performances from both established and emerging players in two parallel 9-round Swiss tournaments. Close contests in both events led to final-round deciders. | Photo: John Upper

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Ninety players from nine provinces

Information provided by FA Heidi Gay for FIDE

The 2025 Canadian Chess Championships concluded in Toronto on 22 April, with IM Nikolay Noritsyn and WIM Li Yunshan winning the open and women's titles respectively. Noritsyn secured his third national championship, while Li earned her first.

Both the 89th Canadian Championship and the 22nd Canadian Women's Championship were held on 17-22 April at a single venue in Toronto. Each event followed a 9-round Swiss format with classical time control. The joint competition brought together 90 of the country's top players from nine provinces, including 3 GMs, 13 IMs and 3 WIMs.

FM Tymur Keleberda led the open event early, beginning with four straight wins. He drew in round 5 with GM Bator Sambuev, setting up a crucial round-6 clash with IM Nikolay Noritsyn. Noritsyn won that game to take the sole lead, which he held through to the end. He finished unbeaten on 7½/9, with six wins and three draws.

The only other player to remain undefeated was GM Shawn Rodrigue-Lemieux, who scored 7 points and finished in clear second place. Third place was shared by GM Razvan Preotu and IM Raymond Kaufman, both on 6½/9, with Preotu taking bronze on tiebreaks.

Canadian Chess Championships 2025

The final round in progress | Photo: John Upper

Canadian Chess Championships 2025

The winners in both categories, women's and closed: WFM Morgen Mills (3rd), WIM Svitlana Demchenko (2nd), WIM Li Yunshan (1st), IM Nikolay Noritsyn (1st), GM Shawn Rodrigue-Lemieux (2nd) and GM Razvan Preotu (3rd) | Photo: John Upper

Final standings - Closed

Rk. Name Pts. TB1
1 Noritsyn, Nikolay 7,5 44
2 Rodrigue-Lemieux, Shawn 7 46
3 Preotu, Razvan 6,5 44
4 Kaufman, Raymond 6,5 43
5 Yang, Jingyun (Ryan) 6 43,5
6 Mendes, Aaron Reeve 6 41,5
7 Song, Ethan 6 39
8 Sambuev, Bator 5,5 47,5
9 Plotkin, Mark 5,5 44
10 Kalinin, Dzmitry 5,5 43
11 Kot, Emanuel 5,5 41,5
12 Ng, Gary 5,5 40,5
13 Jaferian, Koosha 5,5 39
14 Cummings, David H. 5 43,5
15 Atanasov, Anthony 5 40

...55 players

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1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bf5 6.Ne5 c6 7.Bc4 e6 8.g4 Bg6 9.h4 Nbd7 10.Nxd7 Nxd7 11.h5 Be4 12.0-0 Bd5 13.Nxd5 cxd5 14.Bd3 Bd6 15.a4 g6 16.h6 Qd8 17.Kg2 0-0 18.f4 Rc8 19.c3 Nb6 20.Qf3 Bb8 21.Bd2 Nc4 22.Bxc4 Rxc4 23.Kh3 Qd6 24.Be1 a5 25.Bh4 f6 26.Qe2 Kf7?! 27.Rae1 Rxa4?? 28.f5 exf5 29.gxf5 g5 30.Rf2 Kg8 31.Qh5?? Rc4?? 32.Re6 Qd8 33.Rfe2 Rc6 34.Re8 Qd7 35.R2e7 Qxf5+ 36.Kg2 Qc2+ 37.Bf2 Qg6? 38.Qxg6+ hxg6 39.h7+ Kh8 40.Rxf8# 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Rodrigue-Lemieux,S2505Wu,N-1–0 B01Canadian Closed 20251
Zhong,R-Preotu,R24700–1 C07Canadian Closed 20251
Noritsyn,N2450Barron,M2062½–½ A85Canadian Closed 20251
Joseph,J2035Sambuev,B24290–1 A06Canadian Closed 20251
Atanasov,A2413Darvekar,Y20251–0 B90Canadian Closed 20251
Gao,H2002Ivanov,M24020–1 C18Canadian Closed 20251
Teodoro,E2350Hoekman,S19941–0 C01Canadian Closed 20251
Cummings,D-Rodrigue-Lemieux,S2505½–½ A33Canadian Closed 20252
Preotu,R2470Song,E-½–½ A15Canadian Closed 20252
Wang,H-Noritsyn,N2450½–½ D37Canadian Closed 20252
Sambuev,B2429Kaufman,R2216½–½ A15Canadian Closed 20252
Lin,L-Atanasov,A2413½–½ B00Canadian Closed 20252
Ivanov,M2402Marchand,C21041–0 B40Canadian Closed 20252
Joseph Benher,S2109Teodoro,E23501–0 B43Canadian Closed 20252
Plotkin,M2349Sambuev,B2429½–½ A08Canadian Closed 20253
Atanasov,A2413Jaferian,K2293½–½ B13Canadian Closed 20253
Keleberda,T2325Ivanov,M24021–0 E68Canadian Closed 20253
Rodrigue-Lemieux,S2505Joseph Benher,S21091–0 A15Canadian Closed 20253
Wang,H-Preotu,R24700–1 D81Canadian Closed 20253
Noritsyn,N2450Moses,N21481–0 B41Canadian Closed 20253
Dhaliwal,J2109Yang,R-½–½ B47Canadian Closed 20253
Preotu,R2470Keleberda,T23250–1 C11Canadian Closed 20254
Jaferian,K2293Rodrigue-Lemieux,S25050–1 D30Canadian Closed 20254
Cummings,D-Noritsyn,N24500–1 A29Canadian Closed 20254
Sambuev,B2429Atanasov,A24131–0 A06Canadian Closed 20254
Yang,R-Plotkin,M23491–0 B06Canadian Closed 20254
Ivanov,M2402Mutyalapati,M19851–0 A05Canadian Closed 20254
Mendes Aaron Reeve2334Kalinin,D2119½–½ C07Canadian Closed 20254
Keleberda,T2325Sambuev,B2429½–½2025D38Round 5: Keleberda, Tymur - Sambuev, Bator5.1
Rodrigue-Lemieux,S2505Yang,J23501–02025C50Round 5: Rodrigue-Lemieux, Shawn - Yang, Jingyun (ryan)5.2
Noritsyn,N2450Ivanov,M24021–02025C18Round 5: Noritsyn, Nikolay - Ivanov, Mike5.3
Kaufman,R2216Lin,L21191–02025D70Round 5: Kaufman, Raymond - Lin, Leo5.4
Ng,G2210Mendes Aaron Reeve2334½–½2025B12Round 5: Ng, Gary - Mendes Aaron Reeve5.5
Moses,N2148Preotu,R24700–12025A30Round 5: Moses, Neil - Preotu, Razvan5.6
Atanasov,A2413Windram,J19531–02025B56Round 5: Atanasov, Anthony - Windram, James5.7
Keleberda,T2325Noritsyn,N24500–12025D20Round 6: Keleberda, Tymur - Noritsyn, Nikolay6.1
Sambuev,B2429Rodrigue-Lemieux,S2505½–½2025A13Round 6: Sambuev, Bator - Rodrigue-Lemieux, Shawn6.2
Yang,J2350Kaufman,R2216½–½2025C26Round 6: Yang, Jingyun (ryan) - Kaufman, Raymond6.3
Preotu,R2470Plotkin,M2349½–½2025A15Round 6: Preotu, Razvan - Plotkin, Mark6.4
Ng,G2210Atanasov,A2413½–½2025E06Round 6: Ng, Gary - Atanasov, Anthony6.5
Jaferian,K2293Kalinin,D21190–12025D37Round 6: Jaferian, Koosha - Kalinin, Dzmitry6.6
Ivanov,M2402Bao,T19801–02025B20Round 6: Ivanov, Mike - Bao, Tony Bohan6.7
Noritsyn,N2450Rodrigue-Lemieux,S2505½–½2025B13Round 7: Noritsyn, Nikolay - Rodrigue-Lemieux, Shawn7.1
Kalinin,D2119Sambuev,B2429½–½2025E39Round 7: Kalinin, Dzmitry - Sambuev, Bator7.2
Kaufman,R2216Keleberda,T23251–02025D35Round 7: Kaufman, Raymond - Keleberda, Tymur7.3
Preotu,R2470Ng,G22101–02025B12Round 7: Preotu, Razvan - Ng, Gary7.4
Atanasov,A2413Mendes Aaron Reeve2334½–½2025B12Round 7: Atanasov, Anthony - Mendes Aaron Reeve7.5
Plotkin,M2349Ivanov,M24021–02025C16Round 7: Plotkin, Mark - Ivanov, Mike7.6
Duong,T2182Yang,J23500–12025A01Round 7: Duong, Thanh Nha - Yang, Jingyun (ryan)7.7
Kaufman,R2216Noritsyn,N24502025A07Round 8: Kaufman, Raymond - Noritsyn, Nikolay8.1
Rodrigue-Lemieux,S2505Plotkin,M23491–02025C50Round 8: Rodrigue-Lemieux, Shawn - Plotkin, Mark8.2
Sambuev,B2429Preotu,R24700–12025A04Round 8: Sambuev, Bator - Preotu, Razvan8.3
Yang,J2350Kalinin,D2119½–½2025C10Round 8: Yang, Jingyun (ryan) - Kalinin, Dzmitry8.4
Kot,E2103Atanasov,A2413½–½2025C70Round 8: Kot, Emanuel - Atanasov, Anthony8.5
Mendes Aaron Reeve2334Keleberda,T23252025C07Round 8: Mendes Aaron Reeve - Keleberda, Tymur8.6
Ivanov,M2402Duong,T21822025C45Round 8: Ivanov, Mike - Duong, Thanh Nha8.7
Noritsyn,N2450Preotu,R24702025B90Round 9: Noritsyn, Nikolay - Preotu, Razvan9.1
Rodrigue-Lemieux,S2505Mendes Aaron Reeve2334½–½2025A11Round 9: Rodrigue-Lemieux, Shawn - Mendes Aaron Reeve9.2
Kalinin,D2119Kaufman,R22160–12025A56Round 9: Kalinin, Dzmitry - Kaufman, Raymond9.3
Sambuev,B2429Yang,J2350½–½2025D31Round 9: Sambuev, Bator - Yang, Jingyun (ryan)9.4
Plotkin,M2349Kot,E2103½–½2025D41Round 9: Plotkin, Mark - Kot, Emanuel9.5
Duong,T2182Song,E22910–12025A06Round 9: Duong, Thanh Nha - Song, Ethan9.6
Moses,N2148Jaferian,K22930–12025B12Round 9: Moses, Neil - Jaferian, Koosha9.7

The women's event was also closely contested. WCM Ashley Qian started strongly, winning her first five games. In round 6, she drew with top seed WIM Li Yunshan, retaining a half-point lead. From round 4 onward, WIM Svitlana Demchenko and WFM Morgen Mills remained near the top of the standings.

Demchenko entered the final round with a half-point lead but was defeated by Li, while Mills won her game against WFM Oksana Golubeva. This left Li, Demchenko, and Mills tied for first on 7/9. Li was awarded the title on Buchholz Cut 1 tiebreak, with Demchenko taking silver and Mills bronze.

Li Yunshan, Svitlana Demchenko

Li Yunshan and Svitlana Demchenko | Photo: John Upper

Final standings - Women's

Rk. Name Pts. TB1
1 Li, Yunshan 7 48
2 Demchenko, Svitlana 7 47,5
3 Mills, Morgen 7 47,5
4 Qian, Ashley 6,5 49,5
5 Ruchinskaya, Valerie 6,5 43,5
6 Deepak, Laksshana 6,5 40,5
7 Dela Torre, Marife 6 44,5
8 Golubeva, Oksana 6 44,5
9 Qiao, Cindy 6 43,5
10 Zhang, Michelle 5,5 43,5
11 Kucherenko, Olena 5,5 43
12 Fu, Ashley 5,5 40,5
13 Xie, Irene 5 46
14 Fiset, Anais Chloe 5 40,5
15 Roque, Alexa 5 36,5

...45 players

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1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 c5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Nc3 Nc6 7.Bg2 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.b3 Bf5 11.Bb2 Rc8 12.Rc1 Be7 13.Nb5 Qa5 14.Bxf6 Qxb5 15.Bxe7 Nxe7 16.Nd4 Qd7 17.Nxf5 Qxf5 18.Qd4 b6 19.Rfd1 g6 20.a4 Rxc1 21.Rxc1 Rc8 22.Rxc8+ Qxc8 23.Bxd5 Nxd5 24.Qxd5 Qc3 25.Kg2 Kg7 26.Qc4 Qe5 27.f3 Qe3 28.Qd3 Qc5 29.f4 Qc6+ 30.Qf3 Qc2 31.Kf2 Qc5+ 32.Qe3 Qc6 33.Qe5+ Kg8 34.g4 Qh1 35.f5 gxf5 36.gxf5 Qc6 37.f6 h5 38.Qg3+ Kf8 39.Qg7+ Ke8 40.Qg8+ Kd7 41.Qxf7+ Kc8 42.Qf8+ Kd7 43.Qe7+
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Li,Y2233Sreekumar,G1674 D34Canadian Closed 20251
Hitchlock,V1644Golubeva,O2132½–½ A13Canadian Closed 20251
Demchenko,S2130Koop,A-1–0 D11Canadian Closed 20251
Roque,A1611Kucherenko,O2049½–½ E90Canadian Closed 20251
Starr,N2048Kamath,N1609½–½ B10Canadian Closed 20251
Abbarin,S1579Mills,M2013½–½ B13Canadian Closed 20251
Fiset,A1808Li,Y22331–0 A06Canadian Closed 20252
Golubeva,O2132Zhang,M-0–1 B44Canadian Closed 20252
de la Torre,M-Demchenko,S21300–1 B40Canadian Closed 20252
Kucherenko,O2049Poorna Prakash,R17481–0 B23Canadian Closed 20252
Butenko,Z-Starr,N2048½–½ B06Canadian Closed 20252
Mills,M2013Yancey,A1690½–½ B44Canadian Closed 20252
Li,Y2233Xie,I19491–0 C09Canadian Closed 20253
Qian,A1942Golubeva,O2132½–½ E06Canadian Closed 20253
Demchenko,S2130Ruchinskaya,V1880½–½ B40Canadian Closed 20253
Deepak,L1854Kucherenko,O2049½–½ A48Canadian Closed 20253
Butenko,Z-Mills,M20130–1 B12Canadian Closed 20253
Jiang,H-Qiao,C1896½–½ A06Canadian Closed 20253
Kucherenko,O2049Qian,A19420–1 B26Canadian Closed 20254
Golubeva,O2132Li,Y22330–1 D01Canadian Closed 20254
Mills,M2013Ruchinskaya,V18801–0 B22Canadian Closed 20254
Xie,I1949Demchenko,S21300–1 C55Canadian Closed 20254
de la Torre,M-Starr,N20481–0 A45Canadian Closed 20254
Jiang,H-Butenko,Z-1–0 E94Canadian Closed 20254
Qian,A1942Mills,M20131–02025B13Round 5: Qian, Ashley - Mills, Morgen5.8
Li,Y2233Kucherenko,O20491–02025A05Round 5: Li, Yunshan - Kucherenko, Olena5.9
Demchenko,S2130Poorna Prakash,R17481–02025A46Round 5: Demchenko, Svitlana - Poorna Prakash, Roshini5.10
Yancey,A1690Jiang,H19710–12025B15Round 5: Yancey, Alice - Jiang, Hanxi (Hancy)5.11
Ruchinskaya,V1880Dela Torre,M1789½–½2025D11Round 5: Ruchinskaya, Valerie - Dela Torre, Marife5.12
Zhang,M1793Alison Koop-1–02025B33Round 5: Zhang, Michelle - Alison Koop5.13
Li,Y2233Qian,A1942½–½2025A45Round 6: Li, Yunshan - Qian, Ashley6.8
Jiang,H1971Demchenko,S21300–12025A04Round 6: Jiang, Hanxi (Hancy) - Demchenko, Svitlana6.9
Mills,M2013Zhang,M17931–02025B28Round 6: Mills, Morgen - Zhang, Michelle6.10
Ruchinskaya,V1880Qiao,C18960–12025E20Round 6: Ruchinskaya, Valerie - Qiao, Cindy6.11
Poorna Prakash,R1748Dela Torre,M17890–12025D03Round 6: Poorna Prakash, Roshini - Dela Torre, Marife6.12
Golubeva,O2132Yancey,A16901–02025B40Round 6: Golubeva, Oksana - Yancey, Alice6.13
Qian,A1942Demchenko,S21300–12025B60Round 7: Qian, Ashley - Demchenko, Svitlana7.8
Mills,M2013Li,Y22331–02025B48Round 7: Mills, Morgen - Li, Yunshan7.9
Dela Torre,M1789Qiao,C1896½–½2025B01Round 7: Dela Torre, Marife - Qiao, Cindy7.10
Alison Koop-Golubeva,O21320–12025D37Round 7: Alison Koop - Golubeva, Oksana7.11
Zhang,M1793Jiang,H19711–02025B13Round 7: Zhang, Michelle - Jiang, Hanxi (Hancy)7.12
Starr,N2048Deepak,L18540–12025C00Round 7: Starr, Nava - Deepak, Laksshana7.13
Demchenko,S2130Mills,M20131–02025D02Round 8: Demchenko, Svitlana - Mills, Morgen8.8
Qiao,C1896Qian,A19420–12025B23Round 8: Qiao, Cindy - Qian, Ashley8.9
Dela Torre,M1789Li,Y22330–12025D00Round 8: Dela Torre, Marife - Li, Yunshan8.10
Deepak,L1854Zhang,M1793½–½2025D02Round 8: Deepak, Laksshana - Zhang, Michelle8.11
Golubeva,O2132Xie,I19491–02025D61Round 8: Golubeva, Oksana - Xie, Irene8.12
Ruchinskaya,V1880Wang,A15512025B00Round 8: Ruchinskaya, Valerie - Wang, Angela8.13
Li,Y2233Demchenko,S21301–02025D10Round 9: Li, Yunshan - Demchenko, Svitlana9.8
Qian,A1942Deepak,L18540–12025C06Round 9: Qian, Ashley - Deepak, Laksshana9.9
Mills,M2013Golubeva,O21321–02025C15Round 9: Mills, Morgen - Golubeva, Oksana9.10
Zhang,M1793Ruchinskaya,V18802025C02Round 9: Zhang, Michelle - Ruchinskaya, Valerie9.11
Zhou,L1765Qiao,C18960–12025D35Round 9: Zhou, Lily - Qiao, Cindy9.12
Chen,S1723Dela Torre,M17890–12025B13Round 9: Chen, Shuang - Dela Torre, Marife9.13

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