Canadian Open

[Rene Preotu]

Where can we find the pairings and results?

[Vlad Drkulec]

Re: Canadian Open

First round pairings just went up about half an hour ago and players are playing. We will have the pairings up shortly.

[John Coleman]

Re: Canadian Open

I just got home, there were games till going on when I left. (I lost, but that's not exactly news...)

[Frank Dixon]

Re: Canadian Open

I wish to compliment and congratulate the Windsor Festival organizers in making two significant improvements in their 'Festival' timetable, compared to the 2013 CYCC and Open in Ottawa, where I served as an Arbiter for both events.

These improvements are:
a) inserting a gap time between the end of the CYCC and the start of the Open;
b) scheduling the Open's double-round day towards the end of the event, instead of near the start.

At the Ottawa events, which were otherwise very successful, I remember being in a state of 'running on fumes' after the Sunday Open day. The CYCC, then with a record turnout of 280, had run from the Tuesday through the Friday. I had a very late, difficult, important Appeal on the Friday night, which took several hours, until after midnight. Then, on the Saturday morning, we had the CYCC playoffs. Then, on the Saturday afternoon, we started the Open, with over 200 players. Then, on the Sunday, we had two Open rounds.

Windsor started the Open on Sunday night, with a break time after the CYCC.

Also, I do believe the Sectional format for the Open, used this time, is a better setup than having everyone in one large section.

Best wishes to everyone -- players, organizers, arbiters, volunteers, spectators, media, family, friends, and sponsors -- for a most successful Windsor Chess Festival 2016!! Sorry I couldn't make it. :)

Cheers,
Frank Dixon
Kingston

[Tony Ficzere]

Re: Canadian Open

Can you please provide a link?

Thank you

[Aris Marghetis]

Re: Canadian Open

I wish to compliment and congratulate the Windsor Festival organizers in making two significant improvements in their 'Festival' timetable, compared to the 2013 CYCC and Open in Ottawa, where I served as an Arbiter for both events.

These improvements are:
a) inserting a gap time between the end of the CYCC and the start of the Open;
b) scheduling the Open's double-round day towards the end of the event, instead of near the start.

At the Ottawa events, which were otherwise very successful, I remember being in a state of 'running on fumes' after the Sunday Open day. The CYCC, then with a record turnout of 280, had run from the Tuesday through the Friday. I had a very late, difficult, important Appeal on the Friday night, which took several hours, until after midnight. Then, on the Saturday morning, we had the CYCC playoffs. Then, on the Saturday afternoon, we started the Open, with over 200 players. Then, on the Sunday, we had two Open rounds.

Windsor started the Open on Sunday night, with a break time after the CYCC.

Also, I do believe the Sectional format for the Open, used this time, is a better setup than having everyone in one large section.

Best wishes to everyone -- players, organizers, arbiters, volunteers, spectators, media, family, friends, and sponsors -- for a most successful Windsor Chess Festival 2016!! Sorry I couldn't make it. :)

Cheers,
Frank Dixon
Kingston

I think those are both very good points Frank, well said. Looking forward to next year in Sault Ste. Marie, they plan to also insert a day between the World Open (back in Philadelphia now) and the CYCC. I applaud this as much as the two scheduling features that Frank notes above. Every year there seems to be issues with players, arbiters, even organizer/volunteer types, having to race back from the World Open, or not make it back in time, or have to choose between one or the other. Good idea Pereduns!

[Gordon Ritchie]

Re: Canadian Open

That is all well and good but while scheduling the double round toward the end, while easier for the arbiters, makes no sense for the players. By that point, the top players are meeting across the board and two rounds in one day, as my good friend Nigel Short would say, is absolutely inhuman. I would be very surprised if this view was not shared by all the top players. Better to schedule it early when the contests are less critical and demanding.

[John Brown]

Re: Canadian Open

Why Not just make the CYCC less rounds and if that is not possible then have them play 2 rounds at start and finish and have Cdn Open Start Friday 6pm.
There really is no need to play 2 games on any day in any Cdn Open . Unless of course the CYCC is not at the same venue then it means an extra days rent. Heaven forbid Canada's Main event can't have 1 game a day.
I think in these modern days the organizers should look at having a 5 star event.

[Paul Leblanc]

Re: Canadian Open

I like the Sault Ste Marie approach. I probably will play in the 6 day version with two games per day for the first 3 days.

[Tony Ficzere]

Re: Canadian Open

Not much on-line stuff. I can't be there, but it would be great if we could have some coverage during the tournament.

[Paul Leblanc]

Re: Canadian Open

Does anyone have a link to the standings?

[John Coleman]

Re: Canadian Open

As far as I know, the standings are not online. A pity. I've offered to post them, but...

[Egidijus Zeromskis]

Re: Canadian Open

A very boring event for the online spectators. A lack of Canadian GMs makes it even more dull.

[Jim Daniluk]

Re: Canadian Open

That is all well and good but while scheduling the double round toward the end, while easier for the arbiters, makes no sense for the players. By that point, the top players are meeting across the board and two rounds in one day, as my good friend Nigel Short would say, is absolutely inhuman. I would be very surprised if this view was not shared by all the top players. Better to schedule it early when the contests are less critical and demanding.

I believe the rest day after CYCC was not intentional but a result of the Casino needing the ballroom for another function on Saturday. Turns out that function was later cancelled. I agree 100% about the inadvisability of having double rounds during the critical later "money" games. However starting on a Sunday made
for limited options. I myself am taking a Saturday morning bye because it's too onerous for us old guys.

Speaking of arbiters, it would be nice if they could post the results on the pairing sheet before turning the score sheets into Hal Bond. We are missing the usual feedback of seeing other results as they come in, as we are instructed not to mark our results on the pairing sheet.

Quite a nice tournament overall, in a beautiful ballroom with consistently good lighting (not common). Thanks to the organizers and volunteers.

[Vlad Drkulec]

Re: Canadian Open

I believe the rest day after CYCC was not intentional but a result of the Casino needing the ballroom for another function on Saturday. Turns out that function was later cancelled.

It is possible that it wasn't cancelled but simply moved to the space across the hall from the tournament room.

I agree 100% about the inadvisability of having double rounds during the critical later "money" games. However starting on a Sunday made
for limited options. I myself am taking a Saturday morning bye because it's too onerous for us old guys.

I think you can play with the round structure where you don't have a significant number of players who are working and playing but my impression was that we would have lost a large number of Michigan players and maybe even some Windsor players if we had tried to structure the rounds in any other way. I would have loved to have the Saturday and had one round per day but when we booked things it was not a possibility. Putting two rounds on the first day would have been too crazy especially with two of the titled players playing in another tournament that overlapped with the Canadian Open.

Speaking of arbiters, it would be nice if they could post the results on the pairing sheet before turning the score sheets into Hal Bond. We are missing the usual feedback of seeing other results as they come in, as we are instructed not to mark our results on the pairing sheet.

Quite a nice tournament overall, in a beautiful ballroom with consistently good lighting (not common). Thanks to the organizers and volunteers.

I took your concerns to Hal and you can check the standings and results on the pairing sheets at the front table ably staffed by Rachel Tao.