Registration is open for the WBX Team Tournament, December 14-15 in Edmonton. This event involves three-player teams with an average rating of no more than 2000. Full rules and details here.

Reminder also for the Southern Alberta Open next weekend, November 23-24 in Calgary, full info here.

This years 8th Banff Open resulted in a four way tie for first. Chandra, Anand Rishi, IM Chiku-Ratte, Olivier Kenta, IM Hébert, Jean, and FM Keleberda, Tymur with 4.5 points out of 6. In the Armageddon playoff (white gives draw odds, but gets 5 minutes to 4 minutes with no increment till move 60), Anand as white checkmated Tymur with a nice combination. Olivier played very accurately as black to draw with Jean to advance to the final. In the final game, Anand chose white and in a very sharp Guico Piano, Olivier was able to force a repetition of moves to win the tournament. Congrats to everyone. Results of all sections can be seen at Chess Results website. A link to the videos of the Armageddon games to follow.

I would like to thank Sean Wu and Bhavik Dave for directing. The generous support of the Banff Centre, the Alberta Chess Association and last but not least, the Calgary Chess Club for supplying the very expensive 10 digital boards, sets and clocks, 28 wooden sets and 30 plastic sets and 58 clocks. Special thanks to Gordon Campbell and Michael Anderson who packed the equipment and also made our board numbers and scoresheets!

Sadly this is my (Ian Findlay’s) last year of organizing this fabulous tournament. Hopefully it can continue in some manner.

The Southern Alberta Open is in two weeks. This is one of the qualifying events for the 2025 Alberta Closed. Tournament details and registration info here.

Congratulations to Alberta Junior Champion Tymur Keleberda, who won with a perfect 5/5 score. Second place went to Michael Prianichnikov at 3/5, and third to Jonathan Wu at 2.5/5.

Congratulations also to the other top finishers:

OPEN
1st – Stephen Gan (5/5)
2nd – Zhihui Lai (3.5/5)
3rd – Zlata Butenko, Jake Li, Lucas Wang (3/5)

U1300
1st – Dominic Martin (5.5/7 – settled on tiebreak)
2nd – Rhys Andrew (5.5/7)
3rd – Aryan Ranjan-Kumar (5.5/7)

U800
1st – Ethan Zhang (7/7)
2nd – Maxwell Wang (6/7)
3rd – Matviy Kostyuk (5/7)

Big thank you to the directing team of Terry Seehagen, Rob Brazeau, and Sam Hoekman.

Congratulations to the winners of the Edmonton Fall Sectional:

Section A – 1st: Rafael Arruebarrena (4.5/5); 2nd: Samuel Hoekman (3.5/5)
Section B – T-1st: Jason Green & Siva Nandipati (3.5/5)
Section C – 1st: Tynan Boyd (4.5/5); 2nd: Mike McKenzie (4.0/5)
Section D – 1st: Nenad Lilic (5/5); 2nd: Mark Shopland (4/5)

Thanks to Mike Zeggelaar for running the event.

Congratulations to the winners:

Women’s Championship – 1st: Zlata Butenko (5/5); 2nd: Liubov Shtepa (4/5)
Senior’s Championship – 1st: Brad Booker (4/5); 2nd: Dale Haessel & Ihor Netesin (3.5/5)

Thanks to Mahan Eshraghi for directing.

Congratulations to Amir Mohammad Bahmani for winning the Alberta Open with a score of 5.5/6. After a first round bye, he won five straight games, including the last round against Sherzod Khodjimatov to claim the lead. Khodjimatov, Tymur Keleberda, and Jinghui Bai shared second place with 5/6.

Thanks to Zeeshan Munir for organizing and Maxim Vasic for directing.

Information is now posted for the Alberta Senior’s Championship, Alberta Women’s Championship, and Edmonton Fall Sectional, and registration is open.

Upcoming tournaments in a packed Fall calendar:

– Alberta Open, October 12-14 in Calgary. This is a six round event, where the winner qualifies for the 2025 Alberta Closed. Information here. The ACA’s Annual General Meeting will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, in between rounds three and four.

– Alberta Senior’s Championship & Alberta Women’s Championship, October 19-20 in Edmonton.

– Edmonton Fall Sectional, October 25-27.

– Alberta Junior Championship, November 2-3 in Edmonton.

– Banff Open, November 9-11, currently headlined by IMs Jean Hébert and Mark Ginsburg.

Information on the Edmonton events will become available on the Schedule page.

Entries are now open for the 2024 Banff Open. Entries are limited to 130 this year. Last year entries were full by the end of September, so please enter early and plan to come to this event. Sadly, due to change of management, this will be Ian Findlay’s last year organizing this event and the last year the tournament will be held at the Banff Centre. You can enter by going to 2024 schedule or by this link https://www.albertachess.org/home/2024-banff-open/

I am happy to announce IM Mark Ginsburg is back, trying to win the tournament for a third time.

I am delighted to announce the entry of IM Jean Hébert.

Jean Hébert who holds the ICCF title of Correspondence Chess Grandmaster and the FIDE title of International Master. The winner of the Canadian Chess Championship in 1978 and 2009, he also tied for the title in 2007, but lost in playoffs. He represented Canada at the 1979 Interzonal tournament as well as seven times at Chess Olympiads. He also took part in the Chess World Cup 2009, but was knocked out by Peter Svidler in the first round. In 2022, Hébert won the Canadian Seniors’ Championship.

I am thrilled to announce the entry of IM Raymond Kaufman.

I am excited to announce junior sensation FM Tymur Keleberda from Edmonton has just entered and is currently ranked #3 in the tournament.

Masters Sherzod Khodjimatov, Amir Bahmani, FM Ian Findlay, Anand Rishi Chandra, Leo Lin, Omid Malek, Mahan Eshraghi and FM Dale Haessel have also entered.

*** I am delighted to announce the entry of IM Olivier Kenta Chiku-Ratté. At 2455 he is the number 1 seed. ***

** As of Nov 3, we are up to 131 entries. Due to space restrictions, I will close entries at 131 and will start a waiting list at that time. Entries close midnight Nov 6, 2024**

**** Entries are now closed. If you wish to be put on waiting list, email ianfindlay2314@gmail.com ****