The U 2000 Canadian Open Blog

[Bob Armstrong]

Re: Day 8 - Saturday, July 17: The U 2000 Can. Open Blog - Pt. I

Hi Hugh:

How do these things get by me sometimes?!

Bob

[Gary Ruben]

Re: Day 8 - Saturday, July 17: The U 2000 Can. Open Blog - Pt. I

Hmmm, I don't think you got it: "pubic", as in "puberty" ...

Oh my! I've regressed to the point where a good joke has to be explained to me. I hope old Henry, wherever he is, will forgive me. :)

[Hugh Siddeley]

Re: Day 8 - Saturday, July 17: The U 2000 Can. Open Blog - Pt. I

Sorry Bob, I didn't mean to undermine your good efforts, but I thought it was a funny Freudian slip ;)

[Bob Armstrong]

Re: Day 8 - Saturday, July 17: The U 2000 Can. Open Blog - Pt. I

Hi Hugh:

It was funny - no problem bringing it to the fore.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Day 9, Sunday, July 18: The U 2000 Can. Open Blog - Pt. I

The U 2000 Canadian Open Blog ( My Final Entry ) - Pt. I

Day9/Rd.9– Sunday, July 18

Starting the Day Off Right

On Saturday night, during the Can. Blitz Championship, Chief arbiter Hal Bond, arbiter Michael von Keitz, and I, went out for dinner at the Irish pub which had become a favourite. Then I headed home. So in the early hours of yesterday, I finished my Day 8 blog and posted it. Then I went again to my prior round games, to analyze them, since I had said in the blog that I had posted them on Chess5 – have to keep your word on this stuff ( wasn’t happy having to post my Rd. 6 disaster, but bloggers can’t hide stuff, just because it’s a bit embarrassing ). So I finally got to bed at 4:00 AM. I set the alarm for 8:30 AM, since the round started at 10:00 AM yesterday – I thought 4 ½ hrs. would likely be fine for me.

Things Can Go Wrong

As you know, if you’ve been following my blog, sleeping looms large on the horizon. I usually get 4 hrs./night during Canadian Opens. But the last couple of nights, I was getting 5 hrs! – more than enough. Well, the internal CO alarm clock kicked in yesterday morning, and I was up at 7;00 AM – a big 3 hrs. sleep. And I was wide awake. So up I got to check out the discussion boards and some of the international websites, and to continue my games analysis.

So at 9:00 AM, off I set for the subway. Oh Oh ! Announcement – “ due to scheduled work on the Bloor-Danforth viaduct, there is no service between Pape station and St. George “. Pape is just 2 stops beyond my station. I was advised shuttle buses would be running on Danforth-Bloor. So with some trepidation, I set off. When I surfaced at the Pape station, the line-up on the sidewalk waiting for the shuttle buses must have been 10 miles long. So dutifully, I got in line, looking at my watch – 9:40 AM. I am clearly in trouble. And the TTC, bless their little hearts, even though it was scheduled maintenance, did not have very many shuttle buses running. Eventually I got on one, and made it to the Yonge station. I arrived at the playing hall about 10:20 AM – nothing like giving Richard a time handicap. Fortunately, he played a line I was very familiar with, and after the first 10 moves, I had gained 4 minutes ! So I then settled in for the game.

Some of My Games from Prior Rounds

As I’ve said in prior blogs ( I’ve decided to use a template here, since new people come to the blog, and I need to give them the following information – so I have to ask you who are repeat offenders to tolerate the repetition ), I like to think class games have some interest. I believe in some ways they are more educational to class players than GM games, if properly annotated. They are understandable, because we all think similarly – GM moves are many times incomprehensible to us class players. For years now, I’ve used a chess website, Chess5 ( http://www.chess5.com ), as my own personal chess games blog – I have gotten to know the owner/administrator Eydun, quite well over the years. I introduced Canada to his website, after I first saw it. Canada is now one of the main posters to this on-line databank. I post all my games, using what I call my “ Comprehensive Annotation System “, hoping that this makes them even more helpful to viewers. You click on the link “ Public Games “ at the top of the homepage, and you get a list of games posted this month. Click on “ view “ and you get a board to play over the game.

I have posted previously my first six games. During the coming week I will post games 7-9. They are all interesting enough, and close – 2 draws ( fighting draws ) and a win. They may be worth a look.

The U 2000 Group

There are 56 players in our prize group. Going into Rd. 9, our top 7 players were up against strong opposition, in their quest to stay on top, and win prize money. Here were their pairings, and the results:

17 FM Adam Ashton (2316 : w : 5.5) 1-0 David Itkin (1966 : B : 5.5)
19 Arjun Bharat (1841 : w : 5.5) 1/2 Keith MacKinnon (2280 : b : 5.5)
31 Alan J. Walton (2152 : WW : 5.0) 1-0 Dalia Kagramanov (1998 : w : 5.0)
32 Gordon Olheiser (2142 : w : 5.0) 0-1 Derick Joshua Twesigye (1990 : b : 5.0)
33 Jingle A. Kho (2120 : WW : 5.0) 1-0 Stephan Tonakanian (1990 : w : 5.0)
34 Mavros Whissell (2120 : w : 5.0) 1-0 Ruokai [David] Li (1932 : b : 5.0)
35 FM Michael Barron (2375 : b : 4.5) 1/2 Alex Rapoport (1838 : B : 5.0)

The wins by a couple of our leaders kept them at the top and in the prize money ( 1st - $ 1,000; 2nd - $ 500; 3rd - $ 250 ).

. Here are the top 11 finishers in the U 2000 group:

1/2 – 6 pts. - Derick Joshua Twesigye ( 1990 );Arjun Bharat ( 1841 )

3/11 – 5.5 pts. – Andre Zybura ( 1989 ); David Itkin ( 1966 ); WCM Alexandra Botez( 1963 ); Robert Roller ( 1937 ) Rod Hill ( 1934 ); Ian Finlay ( 1926 ); Dmitry Chernik( 1855 ); Alex Rapoport ( 1838 ); Ed Zator ( 1835 ).

Congratulations to all our group winners !

The 8 Scarborough Chess Club U 2000 Results:

5.5 pts. - Alex Rapoport ( 1838 )
5 pts. - Jim Paterson ( 1889 ); Michael Song ( 1866 )
4.5 pts. - Robert Bzikot (1984 ); Pepin Manalo ( 1932 ); Pino Verde ( 1800 ); Bob Armstrong ( 1800 )
4 pts. -.Ferdinand Cale ( 1806 );

Congratulations to all the SCC’ers for a tournament well-played. There were 30 of us SCC’ers spread throughout the classes. See you all in the Fall. And don’t forget, I’ll be putting the touch on you shortly to give me your most interesting game for the club newsletter article “ SCC’ers at the Canadian Open “ ! So start looking for that game for me !

My Game

In the final round 9, I played white against Richard Marks ( 1632 ). I got the initiative, and managed to get an N in the centre that couldn’t easily be dislodged, and a passed P on e6. But then I couldn’t find a way to promote. We ended up going into an ending, where I think I made a mistake when I exchanged our R’s, our final major pieces. I think I am just lost at that point. I soon realized this. But endings are tricky, and people make mistakes. So I decided to play it out, and make Richard demonstrate he knew how to win it. Well, my stubbornness paid off – about 3 moves from the resigning point for me, Richard got impatient, felt the win was trivial, and instantaneously moved his gP 2 squares – fatal. It had to go only 1 square. What it meant was that he ended up in zugzwang, not me. So I get the opposition and win the Q-side P, and keep my own to queen. Richard was pretty discouraged at his error. And I must admit, I didn’t feel great about the point – but that’s chess. I’ve made my blunders in this tournament too, and paid for them.

This left me with 4.5/9 points – dead on 50% - I had set a goal prior to the tournament of exceeding 50%, but I just didn’t play well enough this tournament. I played OK generally, but not great. I had to use more of my potential, and I just didn’t seem to have it this tournament. I ended up playing up 4 times ( 1 draw; 3 losses – to a 2100 expert, and 2 2200 masters ), and down 5 times ( 3 wins, 2 draws ). I thus tied, in our 56 player class, where I was ranked initially # 56, for # 25/44. It is better than maybe would be expected objectively, but worse than I had hoped subjectively. But it is passable, especially given the near-death experience in Rd. 9. I may pick up a couple of rating points, but only a very few.

Some Random Thoughts After a Great Canadian Open

The closing banquet and awards ceremony were a nice finishing touch to what was definitely an up-scale Canadian Open. And we all got a few minutes beforehand at the cash bar reception, to chat, crow, commiserate, etc. with our fellow players. There was a good turnout, and the food was excellent. Brian Fiedler did a fine job of MC’ing the awards, and it was nice to see Canadians near the top, and so many up and coming Canadian juniors coming to the fore.

MonRoi is to be commended for carrying out an excellent service to the Open – pictures on the website, demonstration board projections ( nothing could be done about the difficulty seeing black pieces on some boards – had to do with the lighting needed for the top boards near by ), results and pairings up soon after the close of play, broadcasting live of some of the boards, etc. It is certainly value-added to the Canadian Open.

I understand that the organizers may lose money on this year’s Open. This is too bad. An upscale Can. Open seems to be a legitimate goal for the CFC – but it must be financially viable for the organizers. A loss calls the whole project into question, and whether it needs to be downscaled. This is a debate I think the governors will need to have , and in the not too distant future.

But, for the moment, let’s just bask in the glow of a job well done, and a very enjoyable chess experience.

[ Continued in Pt. II below ]

[Bob Armstrong]

Re: Day 9, Sunday, July 18: The U 2000 Can. Open Blog - Pt. II

The U 2000 Canadian Open Blog ( My Final Entry ) - Pt. II

Day9/Rd.9– Sunday, July 18

Thank You’s

I feel that chess players are notoriously bad at “ thanks “. There is a sense of entitlement that pervades our chess culture, such that we take for granted a lot of the volunteer work done for us, and the excellent paid work of others, in providing us services.

So I’d first of all like to thank the CO Organizing Committee. They found an excellent location, worked hard to get sponsors, and ran the tournament very professionally ( though there was the third round glitch, which maybe we need to just put to bed now ). And thanks to Hal Bond, and his arbiter team, who settled disputes to the best of their ability, got the results in, and the pairings up in the wee hours of the morning.

Thanks too to all the registrants for coming out to support a Toronto Can. Open, since there hadn’t been one in our city for a long time. Chess players have to come out and play, or else organizers lose money, and back off from future tournaments. The playing conditions were great, the tournament was well-run, a good time was had by most ( maybe not all, looking at the discussion board ), and it was a great week. Those of you who decided to pass on this one, missed a good one.

I’d also like to thank my opponents. You all gave me tough games, and I found everyone to be a gentleman over the board. I found my opponents pleasant, whether winning or losing. It makes me feel more positive about the sport we have such passion for, when the social side is enjoyable.

And thanks to my friends and acquaintances with whom I spent many a nice hours socializing, chatting, going out to eat, analyzing games, etc.. The social side of chess is most important – we spend a lot of time at it, and we should value the chess friends we make, and whom we see on a fairly regular basis at these events.

Finally, thanks to all those who provided positive feedback and encouragement to me in person at the playing hall, and by posts here, for my blog effort. I was fun to do, though it is a bit of work, daily. I am pleased that so many of you who were not present, found it gave you a sense of what it is like to play down in the bowels of a Canadian Open. If we manage to get a bid in for the 2011 Canadian Open, and if I'm going again, I may take another shot at it next year. Have a great year everybody !

All in all, for me, a fifth consecutive great “ chess holiday “at the Canadian Open.

Bob

[Hazel Smith]

Re: Day 9, Sunday, July 18: The U 2000 Can. Open Blog - Pt. II

Thanks to you Bob. I enjoyed reading your daily posts.