Banff Open 2019 Nov 9-11 Open for Entries - 1st 100 only

[Ian Findlay]

I am happy to announce the entry of Alberta chess prodigy, Ian Zhao, to the Banff Open. Ian recently made an IM norm at the Calgary International with a couple of rounds to spare. Ian is the highest rated junior in Alberta by close to 300 points, although only 14 years old. Ian will be the tournaments number 4 seed, closely followed by another Ian at #5. We are up to 51 players. This list will be updated at the end of today.

NB - Tonight is the last night to register to save the $10 late fee. Please enter here now! http://www.albertachess.org/home/sch...19-banff-open/

[Ian Findlay]

I am pleased to announce the participation of IM Dr. Mark Ginsburg, the 2017 and 2018 Banff Open Champion. Dr. Mark Ginsburg received his International Master title in 1982 from FIDE, He has been battling in the International arena for over 30 years. He won the Manhattan Chess Club Championship twice, in 1988 and 1990, before that venerable Carnegie Hall institution sadly went under. His peak USCF rating was 2578 in 1992, putting him 28th in the USA at that time.

We now have 3 IM's and over 40 players pre-registered Remember to save $10 and enter before Tuesday, October 1st. Enter here. http://www.albertachess.org/home/sch...19-banff-open/

[Ian Findlay]

I am happy to announce the participation of the 2018 Canadian Open Champion, IM Bitan Banerjee. With a current CFC rating of 2487 Bitan will be the number one seed and is the highest rated player we have ever had play in our tournament. We are now up to 37 entries. Enter now, before the entry fee goes up $10 on October 1st.

Enter here. http://www.albertachess.org/home/sch...19-banff-open/

[Ian Findlay]

We are now up to 30 entries. 2 notable entries in the open section are Roger Patterson now living in Victoria BC, but in his heyday he was rated over 2300. Also Mike McDonald who is perhaps better known for poker than chess. Since coming back to chess tournaments in late February 2019, Mike has gained 240 rating points and should be a Master at chess in the very near future.

The Banff Centre has sold out on Friday, November 8 and is nearly sold out on Saturday, November 9th, so book soon and save $10 entry fee. I am told that some rooms may be available if conferences at the same time of ours cancel in October. Checking on Expedia.ca for Banff or Canmore hotels is also a good option.

Enter here. http://www.albertachess.org/home/sch...19-banff-open/

[Ian Findlay]

Thank you Neil and SoCA. I can't wait to see the t-shirts. I am please to announce the participation of chess legend Viktors Pupols in our tournament. Viktors is perhaps best known for beating Bobby Fischer in the 1955 US Junior Championship on the black side of a Latvian Gambit!

[Neil Frarey]

Register...

http://www.albertachess.org/home/sch...19-banff-open/

peace.
n.

[Neil Frarey]

More to come!

peace.
n.

[Neil Frarey]

...it's a photo of Banff at night.

...'prolly figured that one out. Didn't ...ya?

https://zizka.ca/

peace.
n.

[Neil Frarey]

Oh ya ... and that zinger of a background image???

It comes with permission from the amazing Paul Zizka

https://zizka.ca/

peace.
n.

[Neil Frarey]

BANFF OPEN t-shirts ... YAY!!!

https://societyofchessaficionados.co...9_tee_bw_3.jpg

peace.
n.

[Ian Findlay]

Don't forget to enter before October 1st and save $10 on your entry fee.
I am happy to say, we are 1/4 of the way to our 100 players. I have been getting some comments that people are getting kicked out of the webpage http://www.albertachess.org/home/sch...19-banff-open/. If this is the case,
you can email me your entry at ianfindlay2314@gmail.com by including the following information and put Banff Open Registration in the Subject line.

Name:

Email:

Phone:

Byes:

Amount Paid - by e-transfer or cheque:

CFC Number (if none or expired, please buy a membership at chess.ca):

FIDE Number (if no FIDE ID, please enter your birthdate):

Message:

[Ian Findlay]

So, I was wondering ... do your Alberta GM chessbrah home boys get the BANFF OPEN word out through their social accounts ... FB, Twitch etc.. ?

Be very powerful if they could represent.

Not really, nor would not expect them to do so. They play in a different league. Eric was nice enough to say something positive on a FB post about Banff Open. We are a long way off from inviting gms to our tournament. Also Eric was nice enough to give permission to let us do a bobblehead in his image last year, which we greatly appreciate.

[Neil Frarey]

Our pleasure as always ...thanks again for allowing us to play in your space ... merci beaucoup!

As shared in our gmail circle that one version of the free BANFF OPEN hoody will be simply amazing ... the free t-shirts are awesome too!

So, I was wondering ... do your Alberta GM chessbrah home boys get the BANFF OPEN word out through their social accounts ... FB, Twitch etc.. ?

Be very powerful if they could represent.

[Ian Findlay]

Hey Ian, luv ya! You get 100 entrants ... we'll give you $100.00!

Thank you Neil, very generous of SoCA, on top of their other sponsorship. Sadly though we have only 17 entries so far, but a lot of people have told me they are playing who have not signed up yet. I hope they are waiting to enter just before price goes up by $10 at the end of September. If it is for another reason that you want to share with me, let me know at ianfindlay2314@gmail.com.
This is the 1st year that we have asked for payments in advance, so that might account for the slowness of entries. We have another master entered. Georgi Kostadinov, who is one of Calgary's top players and is a regular of the Banff Open.

The spreadsheet has been updated on the website.http://www.albertachess.org/home/sch...19-banff-open/

[Neil Frarey]

Hey Ian, luv ya! You get 100 entrants ... we'll give you $100.00!