Stephen Wright
[Back issues of the Bulletin are available on the above webpages.]
After some warm and humorous opening words from Mr. Neufahrt twenty players competed for top prize. There was a wide range of ages and a very large grouping in the 1600-1700 range.
After 5 rounds Gerry Neufahrt and Chai Phonchiankwong tied for first at 4.5 pts. Third was Manuel Escandor at 3.5. In the U1700 category there was a 4-way tie for first: Sean Kelman, Sam Churchill, Alan Whitman and Jim Marshall were all tied at 3 pts. The upset prize went to Evan Raymer for his victory over Mike Kindret.
Thank you to all that attended, especially those from out of town.
2004 CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP
The Canadian Championship begins tomorrow in Toronto; sponsored by Beltzberg Technologies, the $21,000 prize fund has attracted a field of 69 players to participate in the 9-round Swiss, held at Tartu College from August 20 to August 29. Five B.C. players, Jack Yoos, Roman Jiganchine, Lucas Davies, Valentina Goutor, and Noam Davies, are competing, and we wish them the best of luck in the tournament.
At this point it is not entirely clear what web coverage there will be, but it appears at least some of the games will be broadcast live. Consult the following links for further information:
http://www.torontochess.org/2004ClosedAd.htm
http://www.torontochess.org/1%20Wallchart.html
http://www.chessontario.com/live_games.htm
MARATHON CHESS MADNESS
(Events for novices to masters)
28-29 August 2004 (Sat. - Sun.), at the Vancouver Bridge Centre, near Renfrew Skytrain Station, 2776 E. Broadway, Vancouver, BC, Canada
MARATHON:
Guaranteed Prizes: First Place: $300; Top Under-2200:
$90; Top Under-2000: $90; Top Under-1800: $90
Format: 10 rounds swiss pairings; Time control: 61 minutes for each
game
Mini-marathon: Play any 4 rounds & pay only $15 (Juniors $10);
Up to 4 half-point byes for missed rounds
Entry Fee for full Marathon: Juniors $20, Adults $30; FMs &
Masters: Entry fee as minimum prize
Registration: Sat., 9am-9:30am; Byes: Rds 1-8: Max 4 byes; Rds
9-10: No byes
Rounds: 10am, 12:30pm, 2:45pm, 5pm, 8pm, 10:30pm, 1:15am, 3:30am,
5:45am, 8am
Ratings: All players will receive a (regular) national rating from
the Chess Federation of Canada
CFC & BCCF m/s required: $48/year with magazines; $27/year with
magazines for Under-18; $15/year with no magazines for Under-18;
$36/year with magazines for foreigners; Tournament m/s (old or
new): $10/tournament
COMEDY OF ERRORS:
Guaranteed Prize: $100 for First Place; Format: 4
rounds swiss; Time control: 61 minutes for each game
Entry fee: $10, no CFC m/s required; Byes: Max 1 half-point for rds
1-3
Simultaneous: Players can play in this event and rounds 1-4 of
Marathon at same time
Registration: Sat., 9am-9:30am; Rounds: Same as rounds 1-4 of
Marathon
MIDNIGHT MADNESS:
Guaranteed Prize: $150 for First Place; Format: 4
rounds swiss; Time control: 61 minutes for each game
Entry fee: $10, no CFC m/s required; Byes: Max 1 half-point for rds
1-3
Simultaneous: Players can play in this event and rounds 7-10 of
Marathon at same time
Registration: Sun. 1-1:15am; Rounds: Same as rounds 7-10 of
Marathon
MAD BLITZ:
Guaranteed Prize: $100 for First Place; Format: 7
double round swiss; Time control: 5 minutes each game
Entry fee: $5, no CFC m/s required; Marathon players may play in
this event by taking a round 5 bye.
Registration: Sat., 6:45-7pm; Rules: FIDE blitz chess rules will be
used, touch move in effect
MIDNIGHT BLITZ:
Guaranteed Prize: $100 for First Place; Format: 6
double round swiss; Time control: 5 minutes each game
Entry fee: $5, no CFC m/s required; Marathon players may play in
this event by taking a round 6 bye.
Registration: Sat: 10-10:15pm; Rules: FIDE blitz chess rules will
be used, touch move in effect
PACKAGE DEAL: $55 ($45 for juniors) for all 5 events
(save $5)
MISCELLANEOUS: No smoking and no computers for all
above events. Bring your own chess set, clock and pen.
Players without suitable equipment may be excluded from an
event.
MEALS: Details for group orders of meals (Chinese
food lunch, fried chicken dinner, pizza snack, muffins/donuts
breakfast) will be available at site.
INFORMATION: NTD Henry Chiu 604-515-8046; madmadchess@hotmail.com; Details & changes will be in Forthcoming Events section of www.chessbc.ca
24 Hours of Non-Stop Chess! Fun! Fun! Fun!v
LABOUR DAY OPEN
Date: September 4-6, 2004
Place: UVIC Human & Social Development Bldg., Room A260/A250,
Victoria, BC
Rds: 6
Type: Regular Swiss
Times: Game 1 at 10:00AM Sharp
TC: 40/120, SD/60
TD: Lynn Stringer
EF: Adults $35, Juniors $25
Prizes: TBA
Reg: In advance or at site 9:30am-10am
Org: Gregory
Churchill, (gregorychurchill@shaw.ca)
$2,000 Guaranteed Prize Fund!
Open/Unrated U2000 U1600
1st $400 $250 $150
2nd $300 $200 $100
3rd $200 $150 $50
4th $100 $75 $25
Prizes will be awarded based on cumulative standings from points earned in each of the five tournaments.
To earn a class prize, a player must only have to begin the year in that class. However, if at any time a players rating was 200 points higher than their current rating, they will only qualify to earn prizes from the higher class, i.e., a player who has at one time held a rating of at least 2200 will not be eligible to earn U2000 class prizes regardless of their current rating. prizes will be awarded following the conclusion of the Island Open in June. Unrated players eligible for the open section prize only.
Dates:
#1 Labour Day Open, Sept. 4-6
#2 Jack Taylor Mem, Nov. 20-21
#3 Don McAdam Mem, Jan 22-23
#4 Daffodil Open, Apr. 23-24
#5 Island Open, June 11-12
Format/Time Controls:
Labour Day Open, 6-round Swiss, 40/120 & G/60
All others, 5-round Swiss, 30/90 & G/60
Common info:
TD: Lynn Stringer
Location: UVIC Human & Social Development Bldg., Room A260/A250 .
Registration: 9:30-10:00
Game 1, 10 am sharp
Fees $35 adults, $25 juniors
CFC rated, CFC membership req d
To pre-register, contact gregorychurchill@shaw.ca
In honour of the current Canadian Zonal, we recall the 1951 championship: 1951 marked the first time that the Canadian championship was held on the Pacific Coast. Following John Ewing's debut in the 1924 Hamilton event there were plans to hold the 1925 championship in Vancouver, but these never came to fruition. A substantial fundraising drive was undertaken to provide sufficient funds to sponsor the 1951 event, resulting in a final total of just under $1700. Of this, $500 was submitted by John Prentice, one of the first of his many financial donations to the chess community.
In the previous championship (held in Arvida, Quebec, in 1949) Maurice Fox had won the national title for a record eighth time (subsequently matched by Yanofsky). He had managed to stave off the challenge of the young Canadian stars Yanofsky (already four-time champion) and Anderson, as well as the immigrant players Vaitonis (Lithuania) and Bohatirchuk (Ukraine, Soviet champion in 1927). The question was, could he repeat his performance?
"Sessions of play will be daily except Sunday, August 26, from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., with adjournments being played on the following mornings from 9 o'clock to 12 noon. Registration and directions, 10 a.m., Friday, August 24. Ceremony and luncheon, Hotel Vancouver, 12 noon, August 24.
Defending champion's travelling expenses paid. Accommodations to [sic] all participants paid. First prize, $300; second prize, $200; third prize, $120; fourth prize, $80; fifth prize, $60; sixth prize, $20. Plus bonuses to all remainder for winning points; brilliancy prize and prize for shortest game, etc. Banquet for all guests and open to the public will take place at the Hotel Vancouver Saturday, September 1: $2.50 per plate." [Daily Province, Saturday, August 25, 1951]
1951 Canadian Championship, 24 August - 1 September
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vaitonis, Paul (ON) | * | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10½ |
| 2 | Anderson, Frank (ON) | ½ | * | 0 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 3 | Bohatirchuk, Feodor (ON) | 0 | 1 | * | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 9 |
| 4 | Yanofsky, Abe (MB) | ½ | 0 | 0 | * | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| 5 | Divinsky, Nathan (MB) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | * | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 0 | 6½ |
| 6 | Fox, Maurice (PQ) | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | * | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| 7 | Jursevskis, M. (BC) | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | * | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 8 | Yerhoff, Frank (SK) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | * | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 9 | Taylor, Jack (BC) | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | * | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 10 | Hayes, Rea (SK) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | * | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 11 | Holowach, Walter (AB) | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | * | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 12 | Ridout, Howard (ON) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | * | 1 | 3 |
| 13 | Millar, Charles (BC) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | * | 1 |
"Final results of the Canadian Chess Championships, held in Hotal Vancouver last week, were announced today. Paul Vaitonis, a cost accountant in Hamilton, Ont., won the title Saturday. The 40-year-old immigrant finished with a total of 10½ points to nose out young Frank Anderson of Toronto by half a game. Dr. Feodor Bohatirchuk of Ottawa was third with 9. Vaitonis' win gave him first prize money of $300 and possession of the Drewry Cup, symbol of the championship.
Vaitonis fled Russian rule of his native Lithuania in 1944 because "all the time you're afraid. Even if you don't do anything wrong you never know when they'll arrest you." He was scheduled to go to Sweden in a small boat, but this boat and his proposed companions were blasted by bombs in a raid. Vaitonis managed to get aboard another ship, scheduled to run the high-explosive gauntlet, and successfully reached Sweden. He married there in 1948 and came to Canada the following year. After a year's work on a farm he took up cost accouting. He has played chess since he was five, but has no real love of tournament chess. "I like better to play a good game with my friends," he says." [Daily Province, Tuesday, September 4, 1951]
"The wind-up of the tournament was a banquet at the hotel in the evening. The visiting players and guests were entertained by the amusing remarks of W.T. Money M.C., followed by a sing-song conducted by R.A. Douglas at the piano. The visiting players expressed their appreciation to the tournament committee for the perfect arrangements and are hoping to return to Vancouver to participate in an International Tournament if it can be arranged." [Daily Province, Saturday, September 8, 1951]
Cumulative Scores
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vaitonis | ½ | B | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5½ | 6½ | 7½ | 8½ | 9½ | 10½ | 10½ |
| 2 | Anderson | ½ | 1½ | 2½ | 3½ | 4½ | 5½ | 6½ | 7½ | 8½ | 9½ | 10 | 10 | B | 10 |
| 3 | Bohatirchuk | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2½ | 3½ | 4½ | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | B | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| 4 | Yanofsky | 0 | 0 | ½ | B | ½ | 1½ | 2½ | 3½ | 4½ | 5½ | 6½ | 7½ | 8 | 8 |
| 5 | Divinsky | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | B | 4 | 4½ | 5 | 5½ | 6½ | 6½ |
| 6 | Fox | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2½ | 3½ | 4 | 4 | 5 | B | 5 | 5½ | 5½ | 6 | 6 |
| 7 | Jursevskis | B | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3½ | 3½ | 4½ | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| 8 | Yerhoff | ½ | 1½ | 2½ | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3½ | 4 | 4 | B | 5 | 5 |
| 9 | Taylor | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2½ | 2½ | 2½ | 2½ | 3 | 3 | B | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| 10 | Hayes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | B | 1 | 1½ | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| 11 | Holowach | ½ | ½ | B | 1½ | 2½ | 3 | 3½ | 3½ | 3½ | 3½ | 3½ | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| 12 | Ridout | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | B | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 13 | Millar | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | B | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
The championship quickly turned into a race to see if anyone could catch Frank Anderson, who established a substantial lead by scoring 9½ out of his first 10 games. The only other players in the race were Vaitonis and Anderson; Yanofsky lost his first two games (to Bohatirchuk and Anderson), and a further loss to Hayes in round 5 eliminated him from contention. However, Yanofsky could be forgiven his lack of concentration - he was on his honeymoon at the time!
The exciting race came right down to the wire, as the championship was not decided until the last adjournment of the final round. In round 11 Anderson drew for only the second time, giving him 10 points and a 1½ lead over Vaitonis. However, because of the odd number of participants it was necessary for each player to receive a (unscored) bye. Vaitonis had already passed that hurdle and Bohatirchuk had the bye in round 11, but Anderson's bye was in the last round, meaning that he had to amass as many points as he could and then hope nobody could overtake him. In round 12 Bohatirchuk beat Anderson, setting up the decisive last-round encounter between Bohatirchuk and Vaitonis. Vaitonis won, allowing him to pass Anderson by half a point.
Bohatirchuk,F - Yanofsky,D [C00] CAN ch Vancouver (1.6), 24.08.1951
1.e4 e6 2.Qe2 Ne7 3.f4 d5 4.d3 c5 5.Nf3 Nbc6 6.c3 g6 7.Na3 Bg7 8.Qf2 b6 9.Be2 a6 10.0-0 Bd7 11.Bd2 Qc7 12.Rac1 0-0 13.Qh4 f6 14.Nc2 Rad8 15.Ne3 f5 16.e5 h6 17.Kh1 Be8 18.Nd1 d4 19.c4 Qa7 20.Nf2 Kf7 21.Rg1 Rh8 22.g4 Qb7 23.h3 Nb8 24.Kh2 Bc6 25.Qg3 Rdg8 26.b4 Nd7 27.bxc5 bxc5 28.Rb1 Qc7 29.gxf5 exf5 30.h4 Bf8 31.Qh3 Ke6 32.Ne4 Bxe4 33.dxe4 Kf7 34.Bd3 Ke8 35.h5 Qc6 36.Rbe1 fxe4 37.Bxe4 Qa4 38.hxg6 Bg7 39.Qe6 Rf8 40.f5 Qxa2 41.Bc6 1-0
Bohatirchuk,F - Anderson,F [A03] CAN ch Vancouver (12.7), 30.08.1951
1.f4 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.Be2 Bxf3 5.Bxf3 Nbd7 6.d4 Ne4 7.c4 c6 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.0-0 Ndf6 10.Nc3 Qd7 11.Qd3 Nxc3 12.bxc3 e6 13.c4 Be7 14.c5 0-0 15.Ba3 Rfc8 16.Rfc1 Rc6 17.Qb3 a6 18.Rab1 Rb8 19.Qd3 Qc7 20.Bd1 Bf8 21.Ba4 b5 22.Bd1 Ne4 23.Bb4 Qc8 24.Ba5 Nd6 25.Bc2 Ne4 26.a4 f5 27.Rb2 g5 28.Rcb1 gxf4 29.exf4 Bh6 30.g3 Bg7 31.axb5 Rxc5 32.dxc5 Qxc5+ 33.Kg2 Qf2+ 34.Kh3 Bxb2 35.Rxb2 Qg1 36.Ba4 Rf8 37.Bc3 Nf2+ 38.Rxf2 Qxf2 39.bxa6 Ra8 40.Bb5 Kf7 41.Qd4 1-0
Vaitonis,P - Bohatirchuk,F [A42] CAN ch Vancouver (13.2), 31.08.1951
1.d4 d6 2.c4 Nd7 3.Nf3 e5 4.Nc3 g6 5.e4 Bg7 6.g3 Nh6 7.Bg2 0-0 8.0-0 c6 9.b3 f6 10.h3 Nf7 11.Be3 Re8 12.Kh2 Nf8 13.Qd2 Ne6 14.d5 Nc7 15.Ng1 c5 16.Nge2 Bd7 17.Rab1 b6 18.a3 f5 19.b4 f4 20.gxf4 Qh4 21.f3 exf4 22.Bxf4 Be5 23.bxc5 Bxh3 24.Bxe5 Bxg2+ 25.Kxg2 Rxe5 26.f4 Rh5 27.Rh1 Qg4+ 28.Ng3 Rxh1 29.Rxh1 bxc5 30.Rf1 Rb8 31.e5 dxe5 32.Nce4 Ne8 33.fxe5 h5 34.e6 Nfd6 35.Rf4 Rb2 36.Rxg4 Rxd2+ 37.Nxd2 hxg4 38.Nge4 Nb7 39.Kg3 Kg7 40.Kxg4 Ned6 41.Kf4 Kf8 42.a4 Nf5 43.Kg5 Kg7 44.Nb3 Nfd6 45.Nxd6 Nxd6 46.Nxc5 Nxc4 47.Ne4 Kf8 48.Kf6 Ke8 49.e7 1-0
Vancouver League: Class Round Robins
In these Round Robins players will grouped according to their class or within a rating spread of no more than 200 or 300 points. The games will take place at the Vancouver Bridge Centre (2776 East Broadway) during the evening on Saturdays and/or Wednesdays. If you are interested in participating on these events please send an e-mail to the following address: azmitia@interchange.ubc.ca
For more information visit: http://www3.telus.net/chessvancouver/
Place: Vancouver Bridge Centre
Type: 5-round Swiss
