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299 players were paired over the first weekend. That includes some (15-20) that played in the Mini-COQ (4 games on the 1st weekend - with the option of continuing on in the regular tournament by paying the difference in the entry fee, and with the scores of the first 3 games counting).
The tournament is being held at Collège Jean-de Brébeuf - an imposing structure opened in 1929. Formerly a Jesuit classical college, it is now a non-secular private institution (on-campus residence optional), but with a couple of Jesuits still on the board. It's boys-only until the last year of high school, with a dress code. All students must take Latin for four years. (semper ubi sub ubi :) ). Government subsidies keep tuition down to about $4k annually.
The tournament is being played in the former chapel - old photos just outside the hall show it in 1930 being filled with pews. A floor-to-ceiling (13 meters high) glass partition seperates the hall from the former altar area - which is now a Jesuit library with thousands of historic books and documents visible through the glass wall. This hall is the only air-conditioned part of the building - this year, all players were able to fit in the main hall; in previous years, some lower boards had to play in non-air-conditioned classrooms. Sunlight through the windows near the high ceiling keeps the hall well lit during the daytime.
Photos of old graduating classes line the halls, and noted personalities can be spotted everywhere - e.g. Justin Trudeau's class photo is right above where the pairings are posted. Robert Bourassa, P-E Trudeau, Jean Coutu, etc. can be spotted.
Photos of the hall (not set up for chess);
http://www.brebeuf.qc.ca/collegial/s...-salle-banquet
(the "banquet hall" is used as a skittles/analysis room).
The tournament is being held at Collège Jean-de Brébeuf - an imposing structure opened in 1929. Formerly a Jesuit classical college, it is now a non-secular private institution (on-campus residence optional), but with a couple of Jesuits still on the board. It's boys-only until the last year of high school, with a dress code. All students must take Latin for four years. (semper ubi sub ubi :) ). Government subsidies keep tuition down to about $4k annually.
The tournament is being played in the former chapel - old photos just outside the hall show it in 1930 being filled with pews. A floor-to-ceiling (13 meters high) glass partition seperates the hall from the former altar area - which is now a Jesuit library with thousands of historic books and documents visible through the glass wall. This hall is the only air-conditioned part of the building - this year, all players were able to fit in the main hall; in previous years, some lower boards had to play in non-air-conditioned classrooms. Sunlight through the windows near the high ceiling keeps the hall well lit during the daytime.
Photos of old graduating classes line the halls, and noted personalities can be spotted everywhere - e.g. Justin Trudeau's class photo is right above where the pairings are posted. Robert Bourassa, P-E Trudeau, Jean Coutu, etc. can be spotted.
Photos of the hall (not set up for chess);
http://www.brebeuf.qc.ca/collegial/s...-salle-banquet
(the "banquet hall" is used as a skittles/analysis room).