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On Monday, August 15, the Kingston Chess Club celebrated the wonderful play of former member IM Raja Panjwani at the Chennai Olympiad 2022!! Raja, with 6.5/9, on board two, made the best score of any Canadian male player. This was also a GM norm performance. Raja was a KCC member, along with his father, Dr. Dilip Panjwani, when they lived in Kingston 20002-2004.
During our regular meeting, we played through and analyzed Raja's dazzling 24-move win in the last round, over Cuban GM Cabrera. I had prepared some notes, and KCC members, gathered around the table, expanded the discussion into other variations, all of which showed Raja winning!!! Everyone still involved with KCC from that era remembers the Panjwani's very fondly.
After the chess was complete for the night, a group of KCC members, joined by a music producer friend of mine, continued the festivities by getting together for some wine and food at a local restaurant!!!
I was in a generous mood, as Raja's former coach from 2000-2004, so I treated the group to three bottles of wine! I am not normally much of a drinker of alcohol, but this was a special occasion!! In honor of Raja's national and international success, we enjoyed an American White -- Beringer Pinot Grigio; an Argentinian Red -- Malbec; and a Canadian Rose -- Peller Reserve. It was a very jovial evening!! It would have taken a few more international bottles to cover all the countries Raja has successfully visited for chess!!
We also celebrated KCC member Jake Van Rooy's victory in the recent Vankleek Hill Open 2022. Jake has also been elected into the role of KCC President, following the retirement of Dave Gordon, after many years of fine leadership.
Hopefully, we will be able to celebrate again soon, if and when Raja raises his FIDE rating to 2500, fulfilling the final requirement to become a Grandmaster!!! One more good tournament should do it!!
During our regular meeting, we played through and analyzed Raja's dazzling 24-move win in the last round, over Cuban GM Cabrera. I had prepared some notes, and KCC members, gathered around the table, expanded the discussion into other variations, all of which showed Raja winning!!! Everyone still involved with KCC from that era remembers the Panjwani's very fondly.
After the chess was complete for the night, a group of KCC members, joined by a music producer friend of mine, continued the festivities by getting together for some wine and food at a local restaurant!!!
I was in a generous mood, as Raja's former coach from 2000-2004, so I treated the group to three bottles of wine! I am not normally much of a drinker of alcohol, but this was a special occasion!! In honor of Raja's national and international success, we enjoyed an American White -- Beringer Pinot Grigio; an Argentinian Red -- Malbec; and a Canadian Rose -- Peller Reserve. It was a very jovial evening!! It would have taken a few more international bottles to cover all the countries Raja has successfully visited for chess!!
We also celebrated KCC member Jake Van Rooy's victory in the recent Vankleek Hill Open 2022. Jake has also been elected into the role of KCC President, following the retirement of Dave Gordon, after many years of fine leadership.
Hopefully, we will be able to celebrate again soon, if and when Raja raises his FIDE rating to 2500, fulfilling the final requirement to become a Grandmaster!!! One more good tournament should do it!!
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