Thrilling Toronto Tournament

Report from Canada by Michael von Keitz

For those familiar with the Canadian chess scene, you may be aware of the reputation for surprise some of our talents possess. For instance, some may recall the defeat Alexei Shirov suffered at the hands of a teenaged Mark Bluvshtein in 2005, or even the draw Bobby Fischer conceded to many-times Canadian Champion Daniel Abraham Yanofsky in 1968. Given this, it should come as no shock that the Toronto Open Chess Championship 2009, held over the April 17-19 weekend, provided some no less stunning results.

With a history dating back to 1960, and likely earlier, the Open has consistently served as an opportunity for the wider Ontario chess community to rub shoulders with some of the best players Canada has to offer. With a number of former Canadian Zonal Champions amongst them, including Kevin Spraggett (Toronto Open winner: 1976, 1978, and 1982) and current Canadian Champion Nikolay Noritsyn (Toronto Open winner: 2006).

With a decision made in the last decade to pursue a more international flavour, the way was paved for the members of the field this year. Not only was the field large, consisting of approximately 250 players over three sections – significant numbers for the Canadian chess scene – but it attracted quality players, including GMs Shabalov and Nakamura, who provided much entertainment value.

That said, Shabalov was placed in an uphill battle for first, upon drawing his second round game against WIM Iryna Zenyuk. However, his woes were not finished there, as – in typical Canadian fashion – the top players were eliminated from contention in the penultimate round: Shabalov losing to Canada’s own FM Goran Milicevic, and Nakamura losing to the current Canadian Junior Champion, IM Artiom Samsonkin. Coupled with GM Eugene Perelshteyn’s defeat to GM Joshua Friedel in the same round, the mood was electrifying entering into the final round on Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately, Samsonkin’s miraculous run was ended by GM Bator Sambuev, slightly dampening an otherwise noteworthy performance.

On board two Friedel maintained his form and dispatched former Canadian Junior Champion FM Shiyam Thavandiran. So, when the dust had settled, Sambuev and Friedel had swept the field 5-0, standing as joint champions of the Toronto Open for 2009.

Tournament brief

• 2009 PWC Toronto Open Chess Championship, April 17th to 19th, 2009
• Location: The Suites at 1 King West, Grand Banking Hall, Financial District, Downtown Toronto.
• Style: Five round Swiss System, three Sections (Open, < 2000, <1600), CFC rated.
• Time control:
  • Round 1: 30 moves in 90 minutes, 1 hour for remainder (SD)
  • Rounds 2 to 5: 40 moves in 2 hours, 1 hour for remainder (SD)
• Prize fund: $17,000+
• Entry fee: $90 per person. All participants must be, or become, CFC members.
• Equipment: Bring your own chess sets and clocks. None will be provided.

Final top standings (after five rounds)

Picture gallery

The playing venue

Former Toronto Closed and Ontario Closed Champion, FM Eduardo Teodoro, Canada, 2387

A man on a mission: GM Alexander Shabalov, USA, 2569

FM Shiyam Thavandiran, Canada, rated 2291

Links Tournament details All games in PGN You can download the free PGN reader ChessBase Light, which gives you immediate access to the chess server Playchess, but can also be used to read, replay and analyse the PGN games.