Senior events 2024 - 2025

[Bob Armstrong]

Hassan Pishdad also plays regularly still at Scarborough CC!

Bob A

[Bob Armstrong]

Bob G:

Thanks for the clear explanation.

I didn't intend to make the CFC sound incompetent........I was trying to point out that the current system was limited.

Very glad to hear about the rating program/database upgrading.

Bob A

[Bob Gillanders]

I inquired of Bob G whether his computer program could pull out the name of any current paid CFC member, 80+ y.o., who had played in a rated tournament (Standard) in the prior 2 years.

As I understood him, this is not possible with the current CFC program.

Bob G - am I right?

Bob A (79 y.o. next month)

Wow, hold my coffee & donut, that makes us sound incompetent.

Let me retort,

You've heard the phrase, garbage in garbage out?
We do have the systems and know how to get this data.
However, the database has many holes since for decades and decades the CFC never bothered to collect dates of birth.
With the implementation of the JustGo system, real dates of birth are required to create an account.
Of course, there are workarounds we employ such as entering phoney dates to keep the train on the tracks.
So over time, the number of members with a real DOB is growing. But many of our Seniors, we don't know how old they are.

Victor, FIDE has the same problems, for decades and decades, they didn't collect dates of birth either.
So I doubt the FIDE database is any more reliable than the CFC.

As time permits, we are doing more data mining. It's fun and interesting.
But our capacity will greatly expand when we finally design and implement a new CFC rating program.
We are in the planning phase.

[Egidijus Zeromskis]

Hi Victor:

Thanks! I'll check out the link. At least we'll find some of the 80+ active Canadians.

I guess there may be some more who may be playing in non-FIDE events where there are no FIDE-rated opponents.
……

Hassan Pishdad comes to mind. 86 years old and dont miss a club night unless goes for a visit to see grandkids. He has 6 tournaments this year.

[Bob Armstrong]

Hi Victor:

Thanks! I'll check out the link. At least we'll find some of the 80+ active Canadians.

I guess there may be some more who may be playing in non-FIDE events where there are no FIDE-rated opponents.

I am not 80 y.o. 'til next year. But in the first 1/2 of 2024, I'll have played 13 Standard rated tournaments. I wonder if any of the other Canadian FIDE-rated 80+ are as active?

Bob A

[Victor Plotkin]

On FIDE site you can do advanced search. There are 8 active Canadian players born before 1945.

https://ratings.fide.com/

[Bob Armstrong]

I inquired of Bob G whether his computer program could pull out the name of any current paid CFC member, 80+ y.o., who had played in a rated tournament (Standard) in the prior 2 years.

As I understood him, this is not possible with the current CFC program.

Bob G - am I right?

Bob A (79 y.o. next month)

[Hans Jung]

Its my understanding that the Canadian Seniors has a veterans section (50+) and a seniors section (65+) and one should play in their appropriate age category.

[Hans Jung]

It seems like every seniors tournament has a different organizer, so if you can convince the organizer you should be all set.

[Hans Jung]

Good idea Bob with the spring chickens but how many of those chickens are still active?

[Bob Armstrong]

Sections in Seniors' Chess Tournaments

Regardless of what is happening on the ground, I would like to present to the world my sections for Senior's Tournaments:

50+ y.o. - "Veterans"
65+ y.o. - "Seniors"
80+ y.o. - "Spring Chickens"

Bob A

[Bob Armstrong]

Hi Hans:

Let's say the Toronto Seniors' Chess Championship, which is a regular, I believe, often, in the past, played at the Willowdale CC in Earl Bale's Park.

I checked the CFC events list for the rest of 2024 & 2025, but it is not listed (Or I missed it). Was it played between Jan. 1 & May 16 this year (Last date is the current start of the CFC List)?

Eureka! - Just found it on the Greater Toronto Chess League's website:


2024 Toronto Seniors Chess Championship

Who: GTA resident players (men and women of 50+ ages); CFC membership required
Players are grouped into sections of 10 players by CFC rating (as of Sept 14).
Sections: Championship and Reserve (maximum capacity: 20 players).
To be placed in a section, the player’s entry fee must be paid and CFC membership expiry date must be Nov 23, 2024 or later.
Winner of 2023 Reserve is entitled to a place in the 2024 Championship section.
Winner of 2023 Reserves: Richard Garel.
When:
Registration: Ends Sept 14, 11:59pm.
Game dates: Saturdays: Sept 21, 28; Oct 5, 19, 26; Nov 2, 9, 16, 23.
The flyer at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...gPTuVJcn050Zyo

Unfortunately, the format of 10 player round-robins doesn't allow for me to pursue my question about senior tournaments with two sections: 50+ y.o. and 65+ y.o.

Can someone suggest another seniors' tournament where these are the two sections? Is the FIDE World Seniors in Portugal (24/11/16-29) divided into these 2 sections? If so, can a 65+ player opt to play in the 50+ section?

Bob A

[Hans Jung]

In which event Bob?

[Bob Armstrong]

I believe Seniors 65+ are allowed to opt to play in the 50+ section.

Is this right?

Bob A (Older)

[Hans Jung]

Technically 50+ are veterans and 65+ seniors.