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Canada's most accomplished player is Kevin Spraggett. His peak rating of 2633 in 2007.01 ranked 80th in the world. Till someone passes the 80th rank in the world, Mr.Spraggett is our hero.
Also Kevin was I believe 2585 in 1988 before his match with Yusupov. (top 20's somewhere in the world, maybe 28th - my memory is not that great when it comes to statistics) Anyways it will be a long time before we see another Canadian at that level (currently about FIDE 2730).
Also Kevin was I believe 2585 in 1988 before his match with Yusupov. (top 20's somewhere in the world, maybe 28th - my memory is not that great when it comes to statistics) Anyways it will be a long time before we see another Canadian at that level (currently about FIDE 2730).
According to Kevin's bio at chessgames.com, Hans, Kevin was: "In July 1989, he was tied for players placed 25th or higher on the International Chess Federation rankings list."
July 1989 - FIDE Rating List
1 Kasparov, G. g URS 2775 16
2 Karpov, An. g URS 2755 19
3 Short, N. D. g ENG 2660 45
4 Ivanchuk, V. g URS 2660 19
5 Kortchnoi, V. g SUI 2655 37
6 Salov, V. g URS 2645 22
7 Gurevich, M. g URS 2640 40
8 Andersson U. g SWE 2635 34
9 Timman, J. H. g NED 2635 30
10 Ljubojevic, Lj. g YUG 2635 26
11 Beliavsky, A. G. g URS 2620 26
12 Ehlvest, J. g URS 2620 19
13 Speelman, J. S. g ENG 2615 30
14 Dolmatov, S. g URS 2610 42
15 Yusupov, A. g URS 2610 35
16 Ribli, Z. g HUN 2605 50
17 Huebner, R. g GER 2605 35
18 Gulko, B. F. g USA 2605 24
19 Agdestein S. g NOR 2605 0
20 Nikolic, Pr. g YUG 2600 38
21 Portisch, L. g HUN 2600 16
22 Sokolov, A. g URS 2595 10
23 Gelfand, B. m URS 2590 47
24 Georgiev, Kir. g BUL 2590 24
25 Vaganian, R. A. g URS 2585 29
26 Dorfman, I. D. g URS 2585 26
27 Seirawan, Y. g USA 2585 25
28 Chandler, M. G. g ENG 2585 24
29 De Firmian, N. E. g USA 2585 21
30 Polugaevsky, L. g URS 2585 20
31 Spraggett, K. g CAN 2585 18
32 Tal, M. N. g URS 2585 1.
Canada's most accomplished player is Kevin Spraggett. His peak rating of 2633 in 2007.01 ranked 80th in the world. Till someone passes the 80th rank in the world, Mr.Spraggett is our hero.
Other than putting Canada on the chess map, and pretty much keeping it there over decades through his excellent play and length of his career as a top GM, I guess you want to know what he's done for us recently.
"Best" is such a subjective term. IMHO, deciding who is "best" based solely on a single criteria, say ratings, is not adequate.
Perhaps the ability to play nicely with others should also be considered. :)
Other than putting Canada on the chess map, and pretty much keeping it there over decades through his excellent play and length of his career as a top GM, I guess you want to know what he's done for us recently.
He should get the Order of Canada medal.
Hi Gary:
Been to Kevin's website, as he promotes it, Canada's most popular website?
Do you know what Canadian junior parents think of Kevin's website, and the women chess players in Canada?
A serious question - do you have any facts on this?
IF not, then do some research before you give Kevin the Order of Canada Medal. I bet there would be great consternation among those having to decide whether to award it to him, when you nominate him.
And he is the highest rated Canadian ever, and the only one to ever reach the World Championship quarter finals. For this, AS A CHESS PLAYER, I will tip my hat to him for his success IN HIS FIELD.
The Order of Canada requires more than just expertise in one's own field. The bearer's of it are to be role models for Canadians.
Certainly from a current FIDE ratings perspective GM Sambuev is correct.
It is more difficult when you attempt to assess "best". Does best mean FIDE rating alone in a point of time? Would a 2500 rating in 1980 have more value than 2600 in 2013? Who has had the greatest impact/influence on Canadian chess, or by a Canadian in international chess? Does the opinion of celebrated GMs such as Paul Keres have a bearing?
These are of course loaded questions.
My feeble attempt:
1) I agree with GM Sambuev with regard the indisputable FIDE rating evidence regarding GM Kovalyov
2) I suggest GM Hansen as the best in terms of relative trajectory/age/potential
3) I suggest GM Duncan Suttles as the best in terms of impact/influence on Canadian chess
4) I suggest GM Spraggett as the best in terms of impact/influence on Canadian chess internationally - e.g., who else can claim playing successfully in the Candidates?
5) I suggest GM Ivanov, IM Anderson and IM Nickoloff (among others, GM Paul Keres indicated Bryon as a world class talent) as the best talented players never to achieve their potential
6) I suggest GM Yanofsky as the best Canadian chess pioneer who led the way for all others
7) I suggest GM Bluvshtein as the most underrated Canadian GM - I can't tell you how many famous GMs came up to me indicating Mark's world class potential
8) GM Nava Starr as the best ambassador for Canadian chess
According to Kevin's bio at chessgames.com, Hans, Kevin was: "In July 1989, he was tied for players placed 25th or higher on the International Chess Federation rankings list."
Kevin Spraggett, was the top fide rated Canadian until very recently. He has been the best Canadian for awhile. Although he no longer plays in Canada he was tied for first in the Canadian Closed Championship in 2002. He wasn't the top when he was the age of Kovalyov or Hansen - will they still be at the top when they reach his age? As top historical player was he better than Suttles, Yanofsky, Biyiasas, Lesiege, or Anderson? Can we enter all of their games into a computer which will then assess a rating strength for each?
Re: Characteristics of a Winner of the Order of Canada Medal?
"I visit Kevin's web site to read the articles" That's what some guys said about Playboy magazine too :) But seriously, there ARE good articles in Kevin's site (as there were in Playboy, although I haven't checked recently)
A Chess-Learning Environment for Juniors - What does it look like?
Hi Gary:
I have one particular parent in mind who has spurred us on our Cooperative Chess Coalition (CCC) FB page, to develop and post our policy against pornography and against material that is clearly sexual in nature, even if tastefully done from an adult perspective, and about chess. The point is that ours is not an adult only site, but a Junior + Adult. Many chess parents do not want their younger children exposed to this material, during chess lessons (which we also give). But he does post here infrequently, and I am not going to centre him out. He can speak if he wants to get involved in the no-brainer discussion. As well, I have had adult chess players complain to me about the pornographic material on Kevin's site.
I also agree that his chess is very good, his articles well-researched and interesting, often with non-pornographic pictures. It's too bad he feels he needs pornography to keep being "Canada's most popular website", when juniors know how to find everything on the web these days.
It is the context of the chess that is not healthy in a mixed age environment - Kevin clearly doesn't get that, as don't many of his "fans".
Bob A
P.S. You may not be aware Gary, and maybe others aren't too, but the link to Kevin's site was in the Canadian Chess News at one time, early on. CFC soon made a decision to remove it from the e-newsletter for the very reason given above.
Last edited by Bob Armstrong; Friday, 10th January, 2014, 10:18 PM.
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