2010 Ontario Open

[Ferdinand Supsup]

Re: 2010 Ontario Open

How about the parking spaces for players?

[Francis Rodriguez]

Re: 2010 Ontario Open

Will Strategy Games be having book sales at the Ontario Open?

Hi John,

Given that it's a 3-day chess fiesta for Toronto's finest,
I'm making sure Strategy Games indeed has a very
large and comprehensive presence at the Ontario Open.

If anyone would like to place advance orders, check out
Strategy's online catalogue, email/call Andrew McMillan at
the store and we'll be sure to stock it for you at the Open.

On a related note (since you'd also enquired before I think:-),
the entries are pouring in, and I will try and get the latest
position from Ted tonite - and update online. All of Toronto's
heavies - GM Sambuev, IMs Cummings, Noritsyn, etc, young
blood, Gusev, Sapoznikhov, Kleinman, Florea etc are all there!

The last remaining fence-sitters...closing date extended to Friday!

:-)

Francis

[Francis Rodriguez]

Re: 2010 Ontario Open

How about the parking spaces for players?

Hi Ferdinand,

Will check with Ted and revert.

Best,
Francis.

[Erik Malmsten]

Re: 2010 Ontario Open

Probably the largest Ontario Open was in Toronto in 1977. The year before the Canadian Open held in the provincial government cafeteria at Bay and Wellesley attracted 408 players. Held in the same place, the Ontario Open had 269 players, 82 in the Premier Section. IM Kevin Spraggett won with 5.5, drawing with Nickoloff, 5, (winner in 1994 and 2000) who tied for second with David Lavin and Lawrence Day (winner in 1971-75-76-78-80-83). With 4.5 were Peter Nurmi, Peter Murray, Denis Allan, and Jacques Van Leusden. Some of the other players in that section who are around today were Bill Evans, Jim Paterson, Brett Campbell, Neil Sullivan, Larry Bevand, Hugh Brodie, Wilf Ferner, and Hans Jung. In the Intermediate section Mike Dougherty tied for Top under 1600 (he later tied for Ontario Open Champion in 1985), 5. Future IM Dave Ross was Top Junior, his brother Paul winning Top Junior under 15 in the Novice Section. Some of the other players were Imlach Yearwood, Larry Luiting, Robert Armstrong, Anthony Cheron, David Filipovich, Deen Hergott, Maurice Smith, and Sam Haziprodomu.

One of the strongest Ontario Opens was in Ottawa 1982. 130 players, 48 in the Premier Section. The $1,000 first prize was split between IMs Kevin Spraggett, Igor Ivanov and Jean Hebert, 5. Spraggett had defeated Ivanov and drew with Hebert and Denis Allan, 4.5; Hebert drew with Roman Pelts, 4.5. The pack with 4 included Robert Hamilton, Jonathan Berry, William Doubleday, David and Paul Ross, and Carl Sellars.

[Hugh Brodie]

Re: 2010 Ontario Open

"Fischer Boom" Ontario Opens:

1970 (Toronto) 144 players. $1250 in prizes. Entry fees unknown.
1971 (Belleville) 100 players. "over $1000 was awarded in prizes". Entry fees unknown.
1972 (Hamilton) 106 players. $1500 in prizes; entry fee $18.
1973 (Toronto) 250 players. Total prize fund was probably anout $2500. Entry fees unknown.
1974 (Kingston) 110 players, Entry fees $20 and $14. $500 in guaranteed prizes.
1975 (North Bay) 80 players. $1500 in prizes. Entry fees unknown.
1976 (St. Catherines) 114 players. $1500 in prizes; entry fee: $20, $10.

[Egidijus Zeromskis]

Re: 2010 Ontario Open

1971 (Belleville) 100 players. "over $1000 was awarded in prizes". Entry fees unknown.

EF maybe 20?

[Hugh Brodie]

Re: 2010 Ontario Open

I played in that Belleville event. Leo Williams and I tried hitchhiking back to Montreal, but only made it as far as Kingston. We ended up taking the 3 am train home.

I also played in the Ontario Opens of 1969 (Ottawa), 1970 (Toronto), 1973 (Toronto), 1977 (Toronto), and 1982 (Ottawa).

[Francis Rodriguez]

Re: 2010 Ontario Open

2010 Ontario Open Pre-registered list as of 19 May, 2010:

[David Cohen]

Re: 2010 Ontario Open

Reminders:

1. We'll be at Scarboro CC this evening to take late entries.

2. Allow a few extra minutes each morning for TTC service disruptions. If you are coming from the east (e.g., Yonge St.), you have to switch trains at the MUSEUM subway platform.

David

[Bob Armstrong]

Re: 2010 Ontario Open

Hi David:

Don't understand pt. 2 - Museum station is not a transfer station. Do you not just go to the Bathurst Subway station on the Bloor-Danforth line? - the playing hall is just a short walk north of the station on Bathurst isn't it?

Bob

[Hugh Brodie]

Re: 2010 Ontario Open

Bob wrote:

Don't understand pt. 2 - Museum station is not a transfer station. Do you not just go to the Bathurst Subway station on the Bloor-Danforth line? - the playing hall is just a short walk north of the station on Bathurst isn't it?

David was probably referring to this:

http://www3.ttc.ca/Service_Advisorie...nd_Closure.jsp

[Francis Rodriguez]

Re: 2010 Ontario Open

Bob wrote:



David was probably referring to this:

http://www3.ttc.ca/Service_Advisorie...nd_Closure.jsp

Thanks Hugh.

I just spoke with Ted - he sent me the info below on the parking availability.
We will be meeting at Scarborough Chess Club this evening circa 7:00 pm.,
and clarify the parking options and updated subway connections too:-)

Francis.

PARKING:
Welcome to downtown Toronto :-)!!!. Parking is free on most side streets around the venue, provided you get there early to find one. There are parking lots (relatively) close by, for instance south of Bloor and east of Bathurst. There is a school on the west side of Markham, one block west of Bathurst just south of Barton, and another on the west side of Palmerston 2 blocks west of Bathurst north of Barton. These are TCDSB and TDSB lots respectively and may be chained. If open, you would use them at your own risk. I've been trying to get permission of some type, which would cost money. The challenge is keeping our costs low so we can keep the prize fund high!!!

For as many as can, I suggest using public transit. We are a 2 minute walk north of the Bathurst/Bloor subway station. It could not be easier. People coming great distances, e.g. the U.S.A. will require parking spots, as well as a few drivers with assisted devices. We will park their cars while they use the accessible entrance off the laneway. Those who can should consider using TTC. It is cheaper than parking and less frustrating than looking for parking.

If we were in Manhattan, no-one would consider driving to a tournament unless chauffered or by taxi. Our venue has lots of extra rooms for players to store their "stuff ". You may wish to bring lunches, changes of clothes or other personal items normally kept in a car for easy access during breaks in a tournament.

Feel free to stay on site for lunch, or wander down to Bloor street which has more eateries between Bathurst and Spadina than any similar street in New York city... a verified fact. Then there is little Korea to the west of Bathurst.

918 Bathurst is a great location for many reasons.... parking is just not one of them :-)

Ted Winick
Organizer
2010 Ontario Open

[Erik Malmsten]

Re: 2010 Ontario Open

I just spoke with Ted - he sent me the info below on the parking availability.
Francis.

PARKING:
Welcome to downtown Toronto :-)!!!. Parking is free on most side streets around the venue, provided you get there early to find one. There are parking lots (relatively) close by, for instance south of Bloor and east of Bathurst. There is a school on the west side of Markham, one block west of Bathurst just south of Barton, and another on the west side of Palmerston 2 blocks west of Bathurst north of Barton. These are TCDSB and TDSB lots respectively and may be chained. If open, you would use them at your own risk. I've been trying to get permission of some type, which would cost money. The challenge is keeping our costs low so we can keep the prize fund high!!!

Feel free to stay on site for lunch, or wander down to Bloor street which has more eateries between Bathurst and Spadina than any similar street in New York city... a verified fact. Then there is little Korea to the west of Bathurst.

918 Bathurst is a great location for many reasons.... parking is just not one of them :-)

Ted Winick
Organizer
2010 Ontario Open

There are parking meters on Bathurst, 1.50 an hour, 3-hour limit. It is a residential neighbourhood so no on street parking before 10 am. The signs on the side streets say 1 hour parking, and further north 2 hours, but on the east side of Bathurst on Wells and Albany it looks like there is all day parking. Three blocks west of the site, there is a section on Euclid, the west side of Palmerston school (last year’s Ontario Champions). There are three parking lots off the north side of Bloor, such as between Markham and Palmerston that cost $7 to 6 pm and $4 after. The TTC parking lot north of the train tracks is only $3, but is a very isolated area.

For food, besides heading down to Bloor, there are many choices north of the site: Domino’s pizza, Grapefruit Moon, KOS brunch/burgers, and across the street Madeleine’s pie and ice cream, and Annapurna Vegetarian. I like the coffee at the Scoop and Bean 1 block north, around the corner on Follis.

[Erik Malmsten]

Re: 2010 Ontario Open

2010 Ontario Open Pre-registered list as of 19 May, 2010:

The defending champions are GM Bator Sambeuv and IM Artem Samsonkin, 5. Samsonkin defeated Sambuev and IM Leonid Gerzhoy, 4.5. Roman Sapozhnikov was fourth, 4. 68 players at the R.A. Centre in Ottawa. Great to see them back.

In 1995 the Ontario Open at the Primrose Hotel had 210 players and a $9,210 prize fund. Ron Livshits won, 5.5-.5, ahead of IM Lawrence Day, Michael Schleifer (1997 winner), Timour Koliada and Gordon Taylor (1988 and 89 winner).

On Victoria Day weekend in 1997 the Primrose Hotel hosted the Toronto International Open. IM Rashid Ziatdinov, 5.5-1.5, won the $3,000 first prize, tied for second were GM Lev Psakhis, GM Sergey Kudrin, junior Eduardo Teodoro, Goran Milicevic and IM Lawrence Day, 5. 45 players in the Open Section, 295 players total in six sections. The Ontario Open was switched to the Thanksgiving long weekend.

In 1998 the Toronto International Open had 339 players, 54 in the top section, and a $26,000 prize fund. Tied for first were GMs Alex Shabalov, Dmitry Gurevich, Igor Novikov and Boris Kreiman, 6.5-2.5. Top Canadians were Deen Hergott and junior Danny Goldenberg, 5.5.

In 2000 the Ontario Open returned to Victoria Day and the Primrose Hotel and had 121 players. IM Bryon Nickoloff won,5-1, and tied for second were IM Ron Livshits, IM Michael Schleifer, Miladin Djerkovic and Jura Ochkoos. Tied for first in the U1400 Section was Raja Panjwani.

The Ontario Open in 2004 in Brantford had 131 players, 50 late entries. Tied for first were Canadian Junior Champion Zhe Quan, GM Sergey Kudrin, Doug Bailey, and junior Tomas Krnan. IM Lawrence Day defeated GM Dmitri Tyomkin.

The Ontario Open in 2006 was in Richmond Hill. Only 93 players in 5 sections, 12 players in the top section. Tied for first were Jura Ochkoos, Raja Panjwani and IM Leonid Gerzhoy, 4-2. Junior Karoly Szalay won the U2200 section 6-0.

[John Brown]

Re: 2010 Ontario Open

Hi David:

Don't understand pt. 2 - Museum station is not a transfer station. Do you not just go to the Bathurst Subway station on the Bloor-Danforth line? - the playing hall is just a short walk north of the station on Bathurst isn't it?

Bob

Hi Bob the Bloor Danforth line is closed at Bay Station this weekend. So if you are travelling from the east on the Danforth line towards Bathurst you will have to get off at Bloor/ Yonge interchange and travel south on Yonge line to St George and then go down stairs to Bloor line and continue west to Bathurst. Coming home you have to get off at St. George and then go up stairs and then travel southbound to Yonge and Bloor interchange again to get home.
If you travel the University Spadina or the Yonge lines then I think you are ok. www.ttc.ca website has details.