Ontario Open 2011

[Alan Baljeu]

Re: Ontario Open 2011

Okay I agree in part. Some of Jean's writing in this thread is less desirable. Some of it also is good.

[Jean Hébert]

Re: Ontario Open 2011

Jean's responses to this thread have seemed unhelpful also, I don't see you complaining about that!

Chris,

Thank you Chris for keeping things in balance. ;)
As you probably know, answering Zeljko or anyone in a helpful manner when their main concern is to land personal attacks is a near impossible task despite my best efforts, which is why I have stopped answering him and put a couple of names on my ignore list, which is something I really don't like to do. At times answering you helpfully is no easy task either if I may point this out in a spirit of helpfulness. :)

[Zeljko Kitich]

Re: Ontario Open 2011

Chris,

Thank you Chris for keeping things in balance. ;)
As you probably know, answering Zeljko or anyone in a helpful manner when their main concern is to land personal attacks is a near impossible task despite my best efforts, which is why I have stopped answering him and put a couple of names on my ignore list, which is something I really don't like to do. At times answering you helpfully is no easy task either if I may point this out in a spirit of helpfulness. :)

You're the master of personal attacks Jean and the master of run on sentences. Enjoy your new puppy.

[Garvin Nunes]

Re: Ontario Open 2011

... I am not at all expecting or hoping for decent offers to play in weekenders in Southern Ontario.

I agree that for many top players these events are just too small to give them what they are looking for. My question to you is are there enough big events giving them those things either?

If not, then, the only way forward is to help the medium sized or smaller events grow big enough to do it.

I have been trying to think of a formula where I could pay a GM an appearance fee and maybe accommodations or a train or bus ticket to the Hamilton Summer Open 2011. The most likely candidate for this would be the Canadian Closed or Canadian Open Champion.

But there are some basic problems from this way of thinking:

1. You've only brought in one player. You haven't done anything to insure he has any decent competition..at least 2 GMs I've spoken with have told me money isn't enough. They need strong competition.

2. Will your one superstar attract enough paying players to pay his expenses and appearance fee?

3. If you do manage to get more strong players how do you pay for it? (Saying "get sponsors" here is not a comprehensive enough answer. You need a breakdown of the whole player-organizer-sponsorship relationship.)

Part of the problem, I am seeing in Canadian Chess is that there is no tradition of mentoring organizers. Each person who tries their hand at it once again is solving these problems by trial and error. And it thus takes years to work out bugs in how they do things. That knowledge is then not passed down and so on.

[Zeljko Kitich]

Re: Ontario Open 2011

I agree that for many top players these events are just too small to give them what they are looking for. My question to you is are there enough big events giving them those things either?

If not, then, the only way forward is to help the medium sized or smaller events grow big enough to do it.

I have been trying to think of a formula where I could pay a GM an appearance fee and maybe accommodations or a train or bus ticket to the Hamilton Summer Open 2011. The most likely candidate for this would be the Canadian Closed or Canadian Open Champion.

But there are some basic problems from this way of thinking:

1. You've only brought in one player. You haven't done anything to insure he has any decent competition..at least 2 GMs I've spoken with have told me money isn't enough. They need strong competition.

2. Will your one superstar attract enough paying players to pay his expenses and appearance fee?

3. If you do manage to get more strong players how do you pay for it? (Saying "get sponsors" here is not a comprehensive enough answer. You need a breakdown of the whole player-organizer-sponsorship relationship.)

Part of the problem, I am seeing in Canadian Chess is that there is no tradition of mentoring organizers. Each person who tries their hand at it once again is solving these problems by trial and error. And it thus takes years to work out bugs in how they do things. That knowledge is then not passed down and so on.

If you ask and have the time I'm sure someone like Hal Bond might consider showing anyone that wants to organize events the ropes.

I think the basic pattern has been people not interested in organizing at the same time. If someone else is doing it they leave it to them. When those people find it too much then others simply fill the vacuum that is left; without having learnt from the previous people. This was the pattern in Hamilton with weekend tournaments, the chess club and the junior chess program. For many a year there were no weekend events in Hamilton until Marco, Oscar and myself started organizing one day actives. Marco ran the chess club for years and was happy to show anyone how to do pairings and so on. That has also been the pattern in Brantford; only when the main person leaves or stops do others take over or show interest. There are a few players that have definite ideas of how things should be run and are very vocal about it; this does not translate to actually helping out though.

It obviously helps if you have a team - dividing up finding and securing a location, setting a date, set up, registration and TDing. Each step is necessary - some are more visible than others but they are all part of it. I don't know anyone who is organizing that would turn down some help.

[Jean Hébert]

Re: Ontario Open 2011

I agree that for many top players these events are just too small to give them what they are looking for. My question to you is are there enough big events giving them those things either?

No, of course.

If not, then, the only way forward is to help the medium sized or smaller events grow big enough to do it.

I have been trying to think of a formula where I could pay a GM an appearance fee and maybe accommodations or a train or bus ticket to the Hamilton Summer Open 2011. The most likely candidate for this would be the Canadian Closed or Canadian Open Champion.

But there are some basic problems from this way of thinking:

1. You've only brought in one player. You haven't done anything to insure he has any decent competition..at least 2 GMs I've spoken with have told me money isn't enough. They need strong competition.

Most professionnals need money first and then coming a distant second, competition. What is true though is that you normally need a lot of money to attract strong GMs to week-end swisses, because these events are seen as lotteries with unpleasant playing conditions to boot (2 games a day).

2. Will your one superstar attract enough paying players to pay his expenses and appearance fee?

There is no easy or definite answer to such a question. It is impossible to figure out precisely, because many other factors influence attendance. But having strong players in a tournament should be considered an asset (especially when looking for sponsors), even if impact on attendance is impossible to put in numbers.

3. If you do manage to get more strong players how do you pay for it? (Saying "get sponsors" here is not a comprehensive enough answer. You need a breakdown of the whole player-organizer-sponsorship relationship.)

Without sponsors one can at least offer free entry and lodging at private homes. This is a start.

Part of the problem, I am seeing in Canadian Chess is that there is no tradition of mentoring organizers. Each person who tries their hand at it once again is solving these problems by trial and error. And it thus takes years to work out bugs in how they do things. That knowledge is then not passed down and so on.

On that I completely agree with you. However at the same time I see people with relatively little experience being less than inclined to listen to people with more experience and knowledge. They tend to listen to people telling them they are doing great...

[Gordon Gooding]

Re: Ontario Open 2011

Just a reminder all, today is the last day to contact me for the early bird discount for GMs, IMs and FMs for the ON Open 2011. Hope to see some more emails tonight at miltonchess@hotmail.com


Thank you for your time

Gordon Gooding

[Bob Gillanders]

Re: Ontario Open 2011

Time to bump this to the top of the page.

Now that the Hamilton Winter Open is over, the Hamilton crew can turn its attention to the Canadian Junior Championship and the Ontario Open.

1 down, 2 to go. :D

[Bob Gillanders]

Re: Ontario Open 2011

This thread desperately needs a bump! :D

[Gordon Gooding]

Re: Ontario Open 2011

Hi all,

Just a reminder everyone that May 1st is the last day to enter the ON Open at the $60 price. Just email me at <miltonchess@hotmail.com> by May 1st and I will honour the $60 entry fee. I would really prefer for players to bring cash at the door. Hope to see you there. A pre-reg list is on its way very soon.

Gordon Gooding

[Gordon Gooding]

Re: ON Open 2011 pre reg list as of May 01

Here are the contestants who have contacted me so far:

Player Name Rating

Yuan Chen Zhang 1925
Daniel Coren 1784
Nikolay Noritsyn 2584
Sergey Noritsyn 1574
Rob Gashgarian 1955
Adam Cormier 2033
Mathew Cooke 1792
William Mollison 1482
Yue Tong Zhao 1521
Hans Jung 2289
Roman Sapzhnikov 2451 (Current Canadian Junior Champion)
Michael Dougherty 2312
Henry Grayson 1545
Chris Osborne 1201
Qiyu Zhou 1673
Kevin Gibson 2220
Josh Guo 2272
Rebecca Giblon* 1580
Melissa Giblon* 1348
Andrew Giblon * 1422
Jamie Solis 1750
John Erickson 1761
John Brown 1591
Ivan Kudelka 1595
Walter De Jong 1808
Steve Demmery 2124
Stuart Brammall 1970
Lee Hendon 1698
Bryant Yang 1613
Patrick Yu 1721
Ian Finlay 1905
Joseph Bellissimo 1984
Zhiyuan Zhang 2101
Ross Richardson 1972
Owen Qian 1549
Kevin Wan 1731
Doug Bailey 2318
Matt Thomson 2063
Ray Kaufman 2261
Eric Wang 1198
Ralf Meyer 1630
Laurentiu Grigorescu, 2091
Raymond Singh 1985
Monica Wood 1171
Brian Fiedler 2129
Richard Chen 1465
Vlad Drkulec 2170
Bator Sambuev 2753 (Current Canadian Champion)
Jiaxin Liu 1446
Tyler Ensor 1597
Billy Carroll 1357
Ryan Gonsalves unr
Nathan Ferrant Diaz

* = Tentative intent

Please note:

1. The 'Open' section is for players with a rating of 2000 or more.

2. There will be no playing up a section. Whatever your rating is by game day, you will be in that section.

3. Please bring your own equipment!

4. I would prefer if you contact me be email <miltonchess@hotmail.com> if you are intersted in playing in the ON Open and bring the entry fee (CASH ONLY)on game day. I will honour the email contact (with date time stamp) as your entry request.

5. For out of towners, there are Mohawk College and McMaster University in Hamilton. The dorms may be empty and may be used as (relatively) cheap hotels. You might want to check this out if you plan to stay in Hamilton. I believe the Mohawk rooms have two separate bedrooms and can hold up to four guys in each unit. I believe there is a GO stop at McMaster University. Hope this helps.

6. Please bring your own equipment.

7. I have contacted and confirmed with Mr. David Cohen, organizer/contact for the Pinnacle Canadian Open tournament this year, who has asked me to post the following for the Ontario Open, a special prize. Wait for it... Drum roll please!dum dum dum dum:

Chess Institute of Canada is pleased to offer a free entry to the Pinnacle 48th Canadian Open Chess Championship 2011 to the winner of each Section of the 65th Ontario Open Chess Championship 2011.


There will be only one free entry Can Open prize per section. Check out <http://www.canadianchess.info/2011canadianopen> for more info on the Canadian Open. Tie breaker method to determine Can Open free entry prize at the Ontario open will be announced soon. Tie breaker method for Can Open free entry prize will be performance rating .

Have a good day and hope to see you at the ON Open!

Gordon Gooding
Co-organizer for ON Open 2011.

[Gordon Gooding]

Re: Ontario Open 2011

Here's a bump with a special notice for the contestants of the Ontario Open! Note the extra special prize to the winner of each section of the ON Open. Sorry, only one extra special prize per section! Check out the pre reg list posted by me on May 1st (original post of 'ON Open by Bob Gillanders Jan 03, 2011',message #86) if you are interested to learn more about this'special prize'. Enjoy! :D

[Bob Gillanders]

Re: Ontario Open 2011

Bumping!! :D

[Bob Gillanders]

Re: Ontario Open 2011

When I look at the list of pre registered players, I see lots of our regulars from the Hamilton area, SWOCL, and Toronto. The usual crowd.

But alarmingly, I don't recognize any names from Ottawa, Kingston, or the Eastern Ontario areas. How come? :(

This is the Ontario Open! Have we done something to offend our friends in the EOCA?

[Bob Gillanders]

Re: Ontario Open 2011

Bumping again. :)