Youth Girls Award

[Tom O'Donnell]

Re: Youth Girls Award

... BTW, although I think "women's chess" is a silly distinction, I fully support any person who wishes to raise their own funds to support whatever they want, and kudos to Hazel for taking the initiative to do so.

Agreed 100%.

[Zeljko Kitich]

Re: Youth Girls Award

Please outline what accomplishments you've achieved in your time as women's coordinator?

BTW, although I think "women's chess" is a silly distinction, I fully support any person who wishes to raise their own funds to support whatever they want, and kudos to Hazel for taking the initiative to do so.

Obviously communicating profesionally and gramatically is not going to be one of those accomplishments.

[Corinna Wan]

Re: Youth Girls Award

Hi Hazel,

I have no problem with your regulations. I know what is going on. I have read you regulations when you first posted the 12 finalists in January.

I admire you. You are doing all these for the girls with no other personal intention. Congratulations!

Hazel, I offer a free entry to the OGCC for the girl winner each year as long as I am still the organizer. Let me know if you would accept it.

p.s. My previous post was trying to tell Jin that she misread your statement.

Corinna

[Hazel Smith]

Re: Youth Girls Award

Hi Hazel,

I have no problem with your regulations. I know what is going on. I have read you regulations when you first posted the 12 finalists in January.

I admire you. You are doing all these for the girls with no other personal intention. Congratulations!

Hazel, I offer a free entry to the OGCC for the girl winner each year if I am still the organizer. Let me know if you would accept it.

p.s. My previous post was trying to tell Jin that she misread your statement.

Corinna

Thanks Corinna. It really is all about the kids & their accomplishments. I know you and other organizers have put in a lot of effort to build chess in Canada, so I admire that as well.

I am very pleased to accept your kind offer. Anything that will help junior players is most welcome into the fund process.

[Hazel Smith]

Re: Youth Girls Award

Please outline what accomplishments you've achieved in your time as women's coordinator?

BTW, although I think "women's chess" is a silly distinction, I fully support any person who wishes to raise their own funds to support whatever they want, and kudos to Hazel for taking the initiative to do so.

Thanks David. I do want to caution, however, that everyone is entitled to an opinion, and even though there may be questions raised about how the opinion is delivered, it is important to stick to the issue at hand. Hopefully this award & set of posts will be used to encourage juniors, rather than to start an inquiry about coordinators. Same with women's chess - I understand your reasoning, and again, it's a matter of opinion when it comes to categorizing awards. I have seen scholarships that seem to fit perfectly until the last line says you have to be a resident of a certain area, or be an athlete/cheerleader :p The bottom line is, that category mattered to someone, and I completely support donors who wish to encourage female chess. I try to be more general with the way I run the basic fund (the main award, which I hope to keep open to many juniors without being gender-specific), but if anyone wants to contribute to a specific cause that is beneficial to youth in chess, I will honour that contribution.

Thanks again for your support.

[Alexandru Florea]

Re: Youth Girls Award

This is an awesome idea Hazel!

[Hazel Smith]

Re: Youth Girls Award

This is an awesome idea Hazel!

Thanks Alexandru!

[Hazel Smith]

Re: Youth Girls Award

Could you give a one-line bio or something about the winners Nicole Birarov (and Razvan Preotu). Maybe what city they live in and how many rated games they played in the year, are a provincial champion or if played in the World Youth CC. Then as more names are added over the years keep a list of winners together on one page, as if on a trophy.

Here is the summarized version of achievements for the 2010 Elaine Howie Fund Top 12:

Razvan Preotu is a grade six student from Burlington, Ontario. He regularly attends tournaments in Toronto, Guelph, Kitchener, and Hamilton, where he has seen a remarkable rating increase (CFC +589, CMA +440) in 2010. His major achievements include first place finishes in the Ontario Chess Challenge, Canadian Chess Challenge, and 2010 Lasker Series. He has also received recognition for his performance in the Canadian Open.

Nicole Birarov is a grade three student from Thornhill, Ontario. She regularly attends Knights of Chess and participates in tournaments every month. She has displayed spectacular rating progress (CFC +368, CMA +464) in 2010 as a result of a first place performance in the OYCC, first/second place performances in Scholastic Grand Prix tournaments, second place in the CYCC, and third place in the Ontario Chess Challenge. She has also participated in the WYCC and NAYCC.

Luke Pulfer is a grade two student from Surrey, B.C. He regularly attends the Langley Club. He has also shown great progress (CFC +295, CMA +543) in 2010. His major achievements include first place finishes in the Vancouver Chess Challenge and BC Provincials, as well as second place finishes in the Canadian Chess Challenge and BCYCC.

Yue Tong (Davy) Zhao is a grade three student from Scarborough, Ontario. He regularly attends Knights of Chess and the Scarborough Chess Club. He also participates in tournaments every month. His rating progress (CFC +195, CMA +228) in 2010 is marked by a first place finish in the Ontario Chess Challenge, and second place finishes in Scholastic Grand Prix tournaments and the Canadian Chess Challenge. He has received recognition for his performance in the Canadian Open.

Patrick Angelo Tolentino is a grade three student from Calgary, Alberta. He regularly attends/trains at the Calgary Junior Chess Club. His progress (CFC +238, CMA +195) in 2010 is marked by a great performance in the CYCC, and second place in the Canadian Chess Challenge.

Varshini Paraparan is a grade three student from Toronto, Ontario. She regularly attends Knights of Chess, Scarborough Chess Club, Queens & Kings School of Chess, and the Canadian Chess Academy. Her progress (CFC +200, CMA +376) in 2010 includes a first place finish in the OYCC.

Daniel Zotkin is a grade four student from Etobicoke, Ontario. He regularly attends Knights of Chess, Scarborough Chess Club, and Swansea Chess Club. His progress (CFC +194, CMA +94) in 2010 includes a first place finish in the CYCC.

Jamil Kassam is a grade five student from Edmonton, Alberta. He regularly attends the Edmonton Chess Club and participates in tournaments every month. His progress (CFC +301, CMA +212) in 2010 includes first place finishes in the Edmonton Chess Challenge, Alberta Chess Challenge, Northern Alberta Scholastic Championships, and AYCC. He also finished third at the Canadian Chess Challenge.

Derick Aghamalian is a grade five student from Thornhill, Ontario. He regularly attends Knights of Chess, Scarborough Chess Club, and Swansea Chess Club, and participates in tournaments every month. His progress (CFC +85, CMA +292) in 2010 includes a third place finish in the Ontario Chess Challenge. He also participated in the NAYCC.

Jeff Zhang is a grade five student from Nepean, Ontario. He regularly attends the Ottawa Summer Camp and RA Chess Club. His progress (CFC +247, CMA +178) in 2010 includes high finishes in Scholastic Grand Prix tournaments (third/first), and first place in the Eastern Ontario Chess Challenge. He also participated in the NAYCC.

Juliaan Posaratnanathan is a grade eight student from Toronto, Ontario. He regularly attends Scarborough Chess Club and Oriole Chess Club, and participates in tournaments every month. He is one of the most active players in the CFC. His progress (CFC +192, CMA +232) in 2010 includes high performances in the Ontario High School Championship and Canadian Open, second place in the OYCC, and third in the Ontario Team Chess Championship. He also participated in the NAYCC.

Yuekai Wang is a grade eight student from Calgary, Alberta. He regularly attends the Calgary Junior Chess Club. His progress in the CMA (CMA +288) in 2010 has been complemented by first place finishes in the Calgary Chess Challenge, Alberta Chess Challenge, and AYCC, and third place finish in the Canadian Chess Challenge.

http://checkmateupdate.blogspot.com/...ummarized.html

[Hugh Brodie]

Re: Youth Girls Award

Hazel -

Are you considering Quebec players who may not have opportunities to play in CFC events? Have you looked at their FQE ratings?

[Hazel Smith]

Re: Youth Girls Award

Hazel -

Are you considering Quebec players who may not have opportunities to play in CFC events? Have you looked at their FQE ratings?

Hello Hugh,

Thank you for bringing up this issue. As I have said, this fund is a work in progress. It takes a lot of time to set up, and I was in a bit of a time crunch as midterms approached. There were some Quebec players considered for 2010, but one of my plans starting this year will be to monitor FQE ratings in more detail. In the future, I hope to make slight changes to criteria to give further chances for children from all provinces.