ACC's Special Events Schedule for 2023

[Salim Belcadi]

Dear Chess Community,

Below is ACC’s 2023 schedule for Special Events. This year we are planning 10 exciting tournaments for players of all levels, including the first Canadian Transnational Championship in collaboration with the upcoming Maplewood Chess Club of Montreal. More information will be published later for each event.


Event #1: Toronto Closed Championship
- When: April 17th to June 26th
- Where: ACC Playing Hall, 918 Bathurst
- Format: 9 rounds Round-Robin (90|30) over 9 Mondays, 4 FIDE-rated Sections


Event #2, 3 & 4: Canadian Transnational Championship
Get ready, this will be the premier chess event in Canada in 2023! This original championship consists of 3 combined tournaments: a Blitz and a Rapid in Toronto and a Classic in Montreal. We have invited 18 GMs for the Crown section (2200+ FIDE), an ideal opportunity for GM, IM and WGM norms.
- When: June 3rd to June 11th
- Blitz (Toronto): June 3rd, 7 double rounds Swiss (3|2)
- Rapid (Toronto): June 3rd & 4th, 11 rounds Swiss (15|5)
- Classic (Montreal): Crown Section, 9 rounds Swiss (90|30) from June 6th to June 11th; General Sections, 5 rounds Swiss (90|30) from June 9th to June 11th
Players can register for one or more events. Crown section players who compete in all 3 events will be eligible for a bonus prize fund based on their combined performance.


Event #5: Toronto Blitz Championship
- When: August 14th
- Where: ACC Playing Hall, 918 Bathurst
- Format: 7 double-rounds Swiss (3|2)


Event #6: Toronto Open Championship
- When: Labour Day weekend, September 2nd to September 4th
- Where: Toronto
- Format: 6 rounds Swiss (90|30)


Event #7: Toronto Women’s Closed Championship
- When: September 18th to November 13th
- Where: ACC Playing Hall, 918 Bathurst
- Format: 7 rounds Swiss (90|30) over 7 Mondays


Event #8: ACC Halloween Rapid
- When: October 30th
- Where: ACC Playing Hall, 918 Bathurst
- Format: 5 rounds Swiss (15|5)


Event #9: GTCL Cup Team Rapid
- When: November 27th
- Where: ACC Playing Hall, 918 Bathurst
- Format: 5 rounds team Swiss (15|5)


Event #10: 2023 Maplewood Invitational
This is a highly rated 10 player Round Robin organized in collaboration with Maplewood Chess Club of Montreal. 2022's Average Rating was 2460 FIDE.
- When: November 2023
- Where: Maplewood Manoir, Quebec
- Format: 9 rounds Round-Robin (90|30)

[Salim Belcadi]

Registration for the 2023 Canadian Transnational Chess Championship (CTN) will start next week, probably on Tuesday, February 14th at noon.
The following International Grandmasters have already confirmed their participation. Many will play for the first time in Canada. We are also expecting at least 3 more GMs to confirm soon:

GM Awonder Liang (USA), 2643
GM Mateusz Bartel (POL), 2615
GM Lazaro Bruzon (CUB), 2610
GM Arturs Neiksans (LAT), 2609
GM Nikita Meshkovs (LAT), 2584
GM Marin Bosiocic (CRO), 2564
GM Emilio Cordoba (PER), 2546
GM Viktor Matviishen (UKR), 2538
GM Omar Almeida (CUB), 2531
GM Cristhian Cruz (PER), 2523
GM Isan Ortiz (CUB), 2521
GM Elshan Moradiabadi (USA), 2507
GM Toms Kantans (LAT), 2499
GM Thomas Roussel-Roozmon (CAN), 2461
GM Bator Sambuev (CAN), 2407

[Hugh Brodie]

Will the CTN have restricted ratings and/or titles for the top section? If it's a complete Open section, it's likely to reduce the chances for norms.

[Salim Belcadi]

The CROWN Section of the Classic in Montreal will be restricted to players with a 2200+ std FIDE rating. It will also be limited to 60 players.
This section in optimized for GM, IM and WGM norms opportunities.

[Salim Belcadi]

Registration for the Canadian Transnational Championship will open to the GENERAL sections this afternoon. There is a strong list of titled players in the CROWN section already. I will create a dedicated post soon.