Fallsview Satellite #3

[Salim Belcadi]

The third and final Fallsview Satellite will take place on Friday, October 23, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Niagara Falls Fallsview.

Following the victories of Vadim Razin in Satellite #1 and IM Nicholas Vettese in Satellite #2, one final complimentary entry into the Master Section of the Fallsview International Chess Open remains up for grabs.

The event is a 7-round blitz tournament (5+5), with a C$1,000 guaranteed prize fund and a complimentary entry into the Master Section for the winner, regardless of FIDE rating.

Event Details

• 7-round Swiss
• Time control: 5 minutes + 5 seconds increment per move
• Date: Friday, October 23, 2026
• First round: 7:00 PM
• Venue: Hyatt Regency Niagara Falls Fallsview
• Entry fee: C$45
• Guaranteed prize fund: C$1,000
• Additional prize: Complimentary entry into the Master Section of the Fallsview International Chess Open, regardless of FIDE rating
• CFC rated

Previous Satellite Winners

The first two events in the series were won by:

• Satellite #1: Vadim Razin
• Satellite #2: IM Nicholas Vettese

About the Qualifying Series

Fallsview Satellite #3 is the final event in a three-tournament series held in the lead-up to the inaugural Fallsview International Chess Open (November 11–15, 2026).

The Master Section will feature a strong international field, including more than a dozen Grandmasters, in a 9-round FIDE-rated Swiss tournament.

While the Master Section normally requires a published FIDE Standard rating of at least 2200 for players other than GMs, IMs and WGMs, the satellite series offers an opportunity for eligible players to earn a complimentary entry, or for players below the minimum rating requirement to qualify directly for the Master Section.

Venue

The tournament will be held at the Hyatt Regency Niagara Falls Fallsview, located in the heart of the Fallsview district, within walking distance of numerous hotels, restaurants and Niagara Falls attractions.

Registration & Players

Registration (C$45):

https://checkout.square.site/merchant/2SV9BKMA1M6HS/checkout/XBUQOKHWOCCXIR43TBSVNC5H

For additional information:
https://cartesian-fvg-chess-qualifier.netlify.app

Registered Players:

https://s1.chess-results.com/tnr1508783.aspx?lan=1

We look forward to seeing everyone in Niagara Falls for the final satellite event!

[Salim Belcadi]

As always, if you’re based in Toronto and plan to play, please register as soon as possible so we can help coordinate transportation for those who need it.

[Salim Belcadi]

Only 11 players are registered so far for the third and final qualifier. GM Razvan Preotu is playing but is ineligible for the complimentary Master section seat. With no other titled players currently in contention, the race for that seat is wide open.

For a non-titled player, this could be an ideal opportunity to qualify for the Master section of the Fallsview International Open (November 11–15), with free entry and no requirement to meet the usual 2200 FIDE Standard rating threshold.

The qualifier is a seven-round Swiss at 5+5. Current participants:

GM Razvan Preotu*	CAN	2583
Shon Lazarev	CAN	2237
Larry Zhou Chen	CAN	2153
John Upper	CAN	2092
Kaven Sharma	CAN	1990
Diyor Muminov	CAN	1875
Alphan Donmez	TUR	1756
Sanjarbek Zokirov	CAN	1703
Salim Belcadi	CAN	1641
Shabnam Abbarin	CAN	1601
Matthew Alfaro	CAN	—

Ineligible for the complimentary Master section seat.

There is also a guaranteed C$1,000 prize fund, so with the current turnout, there is plenty of prize money up for grabs:

1st place: $300 + Free entree into Master Section
2nd place: $200
3rd place: $150
4th place: $100
5th place: $50
Top woman: $100
Top U18: $50
Top under 1600: $50

Vadim Razin and IM Nicholas Vettese earned their seats through the first two qualifiers. This is the final complimentary seat available through the qualifier series.

[Aris Marghetis]

wow, it's neat how this has worked out ... with such few registrations, and Razvan being exempted, it really IS wide open to qualify ... cool

[Salim Belcadi]

Well, that didn’t last very long! Apparently, “wide open” was all the invitation people needed.

We’re now up to 24 players, with GM Razvan Preotu, IM Mark Plotkin, FM Koosha Jaferian, FM Roman Gavrilin, CM Jordan Clyde, CM Raymond Gao, WCM Parnian Ghomi and several other strong contenders registered (Razvan is not eligible for the seat as he is already invited).

Current field as of this morning:

GM Razvan Preotu (CAN), 2583
IM Mark Plotkin (CAN), 2515
FM Koosha Jaferian (CAN), 2466
FM Roman Gavrilin (CAN), 2309
CM Jordan Clyde (CAN), 2311
CM Raymond Gao (CAN), 2265
Ryan Zhuoyuan Xu (CAN), 2263
WCM Parnian Ghomi (CAN), 2242
Shon Lazarev (CAN), 2237
Korosh Bolandnazar (CAN), 2201
Larry Zhou Chen (CAN), 2153
Tom Gribilas (CAN), 2105
John Upper (CAN), 2092
Kaven Sharma (CAN), 1990
Rudra Sheth (CAN), 1926
Diyor Muminov (CAN), 1875
Ari McDonald-Johnston (CAN), 1836
Alphan Donmez (TUR), 1756
Sanjarbek Zokirov (CAN), 1703
Salim Belcadi (CAN), 1641
Shabnam Abbarin (CAN), 1601
Patrick Buthmann (CAN), 1544
Jesse St. Rose (CAN), 1456
Matthew Alfaro (CAN)

[Aris Marghetis]

Gotta love good old fashioned human psychology!

[Salim Belcadi]

Congratulations to WCM Parnian Ghomi, the winner of Fallsview Qualifier #3!

The field ultimately reached 31 registered players. With a FIDE Standard rating of 2032, Parnian earned complimentary entry into the Master section of the Fallsview International Open, bypassing the 2200 rating threshold.

Prize winners:

1–3: Parnian Ghomi, Razvan Preotu, Mark Plotkin (5.5/7)
4–5: Koosha Jaferian, Ryan Zhuoyuan Xu (5/7)

Top U18: Ryan Zhuoyuan Xu (5/7)
Top Woman: Parnian Ghomi (5.5/7)
Top U1600 (CFC): Kousuke, Patrick (3/7)