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As many Canadian chess players know, FIDE significantly changed regulations about straight titles for Zonal. Canadian Zonal 2012 (Montreal) was the last one by old rules. Old rules were much friendlier for title hunting and actually every Zonal produced 1 new IM and 2 new FMs (it couldn't be more than 1 IM and 2 FMs). A player needed 6 points for IM title and just 4.5 for FM title; many non-FM players got 4.5 (or more) and a few (sometimes just 1, but usually more) non-IM players got 6.
Since 2012, you need 6 points for FM and share 1-st place for IM title. In 3 Zonals since 2012 (2015, 2017 and 2019) no straight title was awarded. Looks like it's very difficult to get 6 points for non-FM player and almost impossible to share 1st place for non-IM player.
This tournament, Zach Dukic was very close to get 6 points, but lost twice in the last 3 rounds (both times in a very good position) and finished with 5.5 points. Nobody among non-IM players got a realistic chance to win the tournament (or share 1-st place) and get IM title.
So, this advantage of a Zonal championship lost most of it's value. However, this tournament is good for IM and even GM norms. FIDE has no international restrictions for norms in Zonal tournament (like at least 2 different federations and no more than 5 players from home federation). For GM norm you need 3 GMs, 5 title players (at least FM) in 9 games and a performance above 2600. For IM norm, you need 3 IM (or GM), 5 title players and a performance above 2450. Lowest rated opponent counted as 2200 for GM norm and 2050 for IM norm.
Usually, 3 GMs is too much for Canadian Closed, however in Kingston 3 GMs were playing. Nikolay Noritsyn needed just extra 0.5 points to get a norm. 7/9 requires the average rating of your opponents of 2380. Nikolay played all GMs and IMs and the average for him was 2389; actually, 2393 after changing the lowest rating from 2167 (Z.Dukic) to 2200. After great first 6 rounds, Nikolay needed just 1.5 points in the last 3 rounds.
2380 is the minimum rating for GM norm, otherwise even 9/9 doesn't help. That's why you need a very strong field and a good start to avoid lower-rated opponents. Probably, Zonal-2019 was the first time ever in Canada that player had a real chances for a GM norm.
N.Notitsyn remains with 1 GM norm, but at least he has crossed 2500 FIDE, which is an important requirement for the GM title. He needs 2 more norms.
There are 2 different ways to get at IM norm in the Zonal:
A. Silver or Bronze
B. 2450 performance combined with usual requirements (3 IMs or GMs, 5 titled players and a minimum average of 2230).
Z.Dukic before the last round had a chance to get 6.5 points, however even a win against A.Samsonkin would have given him just 4th place below A.Hambleton and N.Noritsyn (by tie-break). Theoretically, Zach needed another results in the last round (like E.Bareev wins against A.Hambleton) to get a bronze.
Mark Plotkin managed to get a performance rating slightly below 2450, which goes above this level after change the lowest rating (M.Rusonik) from 1900 to 2050.
It's very important to get field as strong as possible for the Zonal. Special thanks to Aris who hold the pressure are followed the rule of at least 2200 (CFC or FIDE).
Since 2012, you need 6 points for FM and share 1-st place for IM title. In 3 Zonals since 2012 (2015, 2017 and 2019) no straight title was awarded. Looks like it's very difficult to get 6 points for non-FM player and almost impossible to share 1st place for non-IM player.
This tournament, Zach Dukic was very close to get 6 points, but lost twice in the last 3 rounds (both times in a very good position) and finished with 5.5 points. Nobody among non-IM players got a realistic chance to win the tournament (or share 1-st place) and get IM title.
So, this advantage of a Zonal championship lost most of it's value. However, this tournament is good for IM and even GM norms. FIDE has no international restrictions for norms in Zonal tournament (like at least 2 different federations and no more than 5 players from home federation). For GM norm you need 3 GMs, 5 title players (at least FM) in 9 games and a performance above 2600. For IM norm, you need 3 IM (or GM), 5 title players and a performance above 2450. Lowest rated opponent counted as 2200 for GM norm and 2050 for IM norm.
Usually, 3 GMs is too much for Canadian Closed, however in Kingston 3 GMs were playing. Nikolay Noritsyn needed just extra 0.5 points to get a norm. 7/9 requires the average rating of your opponents of 2380. Nikolay played all GMs and IMs and the average for him was 2389; actually, 2393 after changing the lowest rating from 2167 (Z.Dukic) to 2200. After great first 6 rounds, Nikolay needed just 1.5 points in the last 3 rounds.
2380 is the minimum rating for GM norm, otherwise even 9/9 doesn't help. That's why you need a very strong field and a good start to avoid lower-rated opponents. Probably, Zonal-2019 was the first time ever in Canada that player had a real chances for a GM norm.
N.Notitsyn remains with 1 GM norm, but at least he has crossed 2500 FIDE, which is an important requirement for the GM title. He needs 2 more norms.
There are 2 different ways to get at IM norm in the Zonal:
A. Silver or Bronze
B. 2450 performance combined with usual requirements (3 IMs or GMs, 5 titled players and a minimum average of 2230).
Z.Dukic before the last round had a chance to get 6.5 points, however even a win against A.Samsonkin would have given him just 4th place below A.Hambleton and N.Noritsyn (by tie-break). Theoretically, Zach needed another results in the last round (like E.Bareev wins against A.Hambleton) to get a bronze.
Mark Plotkin managed to get a performance rating slightly below 2450, which goes above this level after change the lowest rating (M.Rusonik) from 1900 to 2050.
It's very important to get field as strong as possible for the Zonal. Special thanks to Aris who hold the pressure are followed the rule of at least 2200 (CFC or FIDE).
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