2025 Canadian Closed

[Salim Belcadi]

Annex Chess Club is honored to host the 2025 Canadian Closed from April 17 to April 22.

WHERE: The Don Arts Academy, 15 Chisholm Ave, Toronto, ON M4C 4V1 - EDIT

FORMAT: 9-round Swiss, rated CFC and FIDE.
Time control: 90 minutes with 30 seconds of increment from move 1.
0-point byes

SCHEDULE:
- Thursday, April 17: Technical Meeting, 5:30pm; Round 1, 6pm
- Friday, April 18: Round 2, 10am; Round 3, 4pm
- Saturday, April 19: Round 4, 10am, Round 5, 4pm
- Sunday, April 20: Round 6, 10am
- Monday, April 21: Round 7, 10am, Round 8, 4pm
- Tuesday, April 22: Round 9, 10am; Closing Ceremony, 3:30pm or ASAP

ELIGIBILITY:
- Canadian Closed: minimum 2000 FIDE or 2100 CFC/FQE
- Canadian Women’s Closed: minimum 1400 FIDE or 1400 CFC/FQE

ENTRY FEES:
- Until February 28: $150 (ACC members $20 off)
- Until March 31: $170 (ACC members $20 off)
- April 1 to April 10: $200 for all
- No registrations after April 10.
- Free entry for GM/WGM/IM/WIM before February 28.

PRIZE FUND (Prior to Sponsorship if available, based on 100 paid entries across all events):
- Closed: $3400
1st: $1000 + 20 points for Olympiad 2026 team
Bonus $1,000 for ultimate winner - 1st if no tie, or via Armageddon (see post below for more detail)
2nd: $750 + 10 points for Olympiad 2026 team
3rd: $500
Top ACC: $150
- Women’s Closed: $1650
1st: $750 + 20 points for Olympiad 2026 team
2nd: $500 + 10 points for Olympiad 2026 team
3rd: $250
Top ACC: $150

CONFIRMED TITLED PLAYERS (FIDE Std Rating):
- GM Shawn Rodrigues-Lemieux, 2511
- GM Razvan Preotu, 2483
- IM Nikolay Noritsyn, 2440
- IM Artiom Samsonkin, 2361
- IM Aaron Reeves Mendes, 2335

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
https://2025canclosed.square.site/

REGISTRATION LINK:
https://2025canclosed.square.site/pr...rue&cst=custom

[Ian Findlay]

Great that Salim and Annex Chess Club is doing this. It was always hard to find an organizer for this event. Thank you Salim and Annex Chess Club. Too bad I can't play however.

[Amit R]

Annex Chess Club is honored to host the 2025 Canadian Closed from April 17 to April 22.

WHERE: Royal Canadian Legion Branch 10, 1083 Pape Ave, East York, ON M4K 3W7
Note: ACC is considering moving the event to a larger venue.

FORMAT: 9-round Swiss, rated CFC and FIDE.
Time control: 90 minutes with 30 seconds of increment from move 1.
0-point byes

SCHEDULE:
- Thursday, April 17: Technical Meeting, 5:30pm; Round 1, 6pm
- Friday, April 18: Round 2, 10am; Round 3, 4pm
- Saturday, April 19: Round 4, 10am, Round 5, 4pm
- Sunday, April 20: Round 6, 10am
- Monday, April 21: Round 7, 10am, Round 8, 4pm
- Tuesday, April 22: Round 9, 10am; Closing Ceremony, 3:30pm or ASAP

ELIGIBILITY:
- Canadian Closed: minimum 2000 FIDE or 2100 CFC/FQE
- Canadian Women’s Closed: minimum 1400 FIDE or 1400 CFC/FQE

ENTRY FEES:
- Until February 28: $150 (ACC members $20 off)
- Until March 31: $170 (ACC members $20 off)
- April 1 to April 10: $200 for all
- No registrations after April 10.
- Free entry for GM/WGM/IM/WIM before February 28.

PRIZE FUND (Prior to Sponsorship if available, based on 100 paid entries across all events):
- Closed: $2400
1st: $1000 + 20 points for Olympiad 2026 team
2nd: $750 + 10 points for Olympiad 2026 team
3rd: $500
Top ACC: $150
- Women’s Closed: $1650
1st: $750 + 20 points for Olympiad 2026 team
2nd: $500 + 10 points for Olympiad 2026 team
3rd: $250
Top ACC: $150

CONFIRMED TITLED PLAYERS (FIDE Std Rating):
- GM Shawn Rodrigues-Lemieux, 2511
- GM Razvan Preotu, 2483
- IM Nikolay Noritsyn, 2440
- IM Artiom Samsonkin, 2361
- IM Aaron Reeves Mendes, 2335

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
https://2025canclosed.square.site/

REGISTRATION LINK:
https://2025canclosed.square.site/pr...rue&cst=custom

Hi Salim,

Would you know where we can see information about all the tournaments that count for Olympiad points, and how much they are each worth?

[Salim Belcadi]

Hi Amit, I will let CFC and Victor Plotkin answer the question on the Olympiad points as I am not very familiar with the system.

Ian Finlay many thanks for your kind words. It's a team effort really and the credits should go to Keith Denning and Heidi Gay who have done most of the heavy lifting.

Also, we found a larger venue near the Legion, which can accommodate more players for the under 2100 sections. I will post more information once we iron out the final details.

[Victor Plotkin]

Since we are talking about non-Zonal Closed, we have these bonuses:

Winner - 20 points
Runner-up - 10 points.

Also, a player doesn't get penalty if he/she played in at least one Championship between Olympiads (2025 and 2026). The penalty for not playing or withdrawing is 10 points.

Definitely, Zonal has larger impact on Olympic qualifications, however in some cases 20 or even 10 points could make the difference.

[Amit R]

Since we are talking about non-Zonal Closed, we have these bonuses:

Winner - 20 points
Runner-up - 10 points.

Also, a player doesn't get penalty if he/she played in at least one Championship between Olympiads (2025 and 2026). The penalty for not playing or withdrawing is 10 points.

Definitely, Zonal has larger impact on Olympic qualifications, however in some cases 20 or even 10 points could make the difference.

Hi Victor,

Does this mean this Closed and the Zonal Closed are the only 2 tournaments that contribute points?

I guess the Zonal is next year ? Around the same time? May I know how many points are at stake in the Zonals i.e. how much for 1st and 2nd place ?

[Amit R]

Hi Amit, I will let CFC and Victor Plotkin answer the question on the Olympiad points as I am not very familiar with the system.

Ian Finlay many thanks for your kind words. It's a team effort really and the credits should go to Keith Denning and Heidi Gay who have done most of the heavy lifting.

Also, we found a larger venue near the Legion, which can accommodate more players for the under 2100 sections. I will post more information once we iron out the final details.

Hi Salim,

My son's ratings are around ~ 50-100 points under the cutoffs. Is it ok to register without meeting the cutoffs ? To take advantage of early bird registration ? What's the policy if I had to cancel?

About the ratings themselves : what's the exact policy for the cutoffs ? Should one of the ratings be above the cutoffs when the tournament starts? Or is it good enough if it was a qualifying rating at some point between registration and tournament start?

[Heidi Gay]

Hi Amit,

I am managing registrations. To be consistent with other parents who have already emailed in with the same question, please register for the festival. If your son makes the cutoff before the tournament, I will sort out the difference between entry fees with you via invoice, etc.

The April FIDE rating list and ratings after the April 10 CFC update (that will also be the date I will accept for FQE ratings) will be used for the cutoff.

The refund policy is stated in the full tournament regulations on the website.

[Amit R]

Hi Amit,

I am managing registrations. To be consistent with other parents who have already emailed in with the same question, please register for the festival. If your son makes the cutoff before the tournament, I will sort out the difference between entry fees with you via invoice, etc.

The April FIDE rating list and ratings after the April 10 CFC update (that will also be the date I will accept for FQE ratings) will be used for the cutoff.

The refund policy is stated in the full tournament regulations on the website.

Hi Heidi,

Thank you for clarifying.

[Victor Plotkin]

1. At deadline, last known FIDE rating taking into account for the National Team. For Women Team, blended CFC / FIDE, that means (CFC+FIDE)/2 taking into account.

2. Player should be "FIDE active", that means at least 1 game for last 12 months period. 10 points penalty for every game under 20 in that 12 months period.

3. a. If only 1 Canadian Closed between previous Olympiad and the deadline.

- The winner gets the spot.
- 20 points bonus for runner-up
- 10 points bonus for third place
- 10 points penalty if a player did not play/withdrew

b. If 2 Canadian Closed (1 of them is Zonal) between previous Olympiad and the deadline

- the Zonal winner gets the Olympic spot
- 20 points for Zonal runner-up, 10 points for 3rd place
- 20 points for another Closed winner, 10 points for runner-up
- 10 points penalty if a player didn't play/withdrew from BOTH tournaments.

4. 5 points bonus for every year below 23. Only year of birth is taking into account. Example: IM A.Atanasov (2008) gets 25 bonus points for Olympiad - 2026 and 15 points for Olympiad - 2028.

[Victor Plotkin]

It was last discussed on AGM a few months ago. "Deadline" is after the Zonal, which likely would take place in spring 2026.

[Amit R]

1. At deadline, last known FIDE rating taking into account for the National Team. For Women Team, blended CFC / FIDE, that means (CFC+FIDE)/2 taking into account.

2. Player should be "FIDE active", that means at least 1 game for last 12 months period. 10 points penalty for every game under 20 in that 12 months period.

3. a. If only 1 Canadian Closed between previous Olympiad and the deadline.

- The winner gets the spot.
- 20 points bonus for runner-up
- 10 points bonus for third place
- 10 points penalty if a player did not play/withdrew

b. If 2 Canadian Closed (1 of them is Zonal) between previous Olympiad and the deadline

- the Zonal winner gets the Olympic spot
- 20 points for Zonal runner-up, 10 points for 3rd place
- 20 points for another Closed winner, 10 points for runner-up
- 10 points penalty if a player didn't play/withdrew from BOTH tournaments.

4. 5 points bonus for every year below 23. Only year of birth is taking into account. Example: IM A.Atanasov (2008) gets 25 bonus points for Olympiad - 2026 and 15 points for Olympiad - 2028.

Hi Victor,

Thank you for the detailed explanation.

[Amit R]

1. At deadline, last known FIDE rating taking into account for the National Team. For Women Team, blended CFC / FIDE, that means (CFC+FIDE)/2 taking into account.

2. Player should be "FIDE active", that means at least 1 game for last 12 months period. 10 points penalty for every game under 20 in that 12 months period.

3. a. If only 1 Canadian Closed between previous Olympiad and the deadline.

- The winner gets the spot.
- 20 points bonus for runner-up
- 10 points bonus for third place
- 10 points penalty if a player did not play/withdrew

b. If 2 Canadian Closed (1 of them is Zonal) between previous Olympiad and the deadline

- the Zonal winner gets the Olympic spot
- 20 points for Zonal runner-up, 10 points for 3rd place
- 20 points for another Closed winner, 10 points for runner-up
- 10 points penalty if a player didn't play/withdrew from BOTH tournaments.

4. 5 points bonus for every year below 23. Only year of birth is taking into account. Example: IM A.Atanasov (2008) gets 25 bonus points for Olympiad - 2026 and 15 points for Olympiad - 2028.

Hi Victor,

Going through the description, it seems the Zonal/Closed winner typically gets the Olympiad spot.

What role do the points play ? i.e. how are they used to make any decision on selection ?

[Amit R]

Hi Victor,

Going through the description, it seems the Zonal/Closed winner typically gets the Olympiad spot.

What role do the points play ? i.e. how are they used to make any decision on selection ?

I was searching through old posts and think I found the answer : these points are added to FIDE rating for selecting the top players.

https://forum.chesstalk.com/forum/ch...699#post230699

[Salim Belcadi]

Please note that the venue was moved to the Don Arts Academy to accommodate more players.

Also, there will be a bonus $1,000 for the sole winner of the event on top of the guaranteed $1,000, thanks to a generous sponsor who whishes to remain anonymous.

For more clarity, the prize fund for the Canadian Closed Championship will be distributed as follows: The winner is guaranteed a $1,000 prize. If multiple players tie for first place, the total prize fund—including prizes for second and third place, if applicable—will be evenly distributed among them.

However, an additional $1,000 bonus is available if there is a sole winner. In the event of a tie for first place, an Armageddon game will determine the ultimate champion, who will receive this bonus on top of their share of the initial prize.