Canadian Chess Open 2007

The projected prize fund has increased to 25,000 CAD

The 2007 Canadian Open Chess Championship, to be staged from July 7 to 15 at the Ottawa Marriott in Canada's capital, has all the makings of a milestone event for chess in North America.

In the last month, the organizers have announced a number of positive developments. The projected prize fund has increased to $25,000 CAD based on 200 paid entries. Confirmed are 15 GMs and 7 IMs, representing more than a dozen chess federations (Norm-seekers take note!) The top seeded are GMs Nigel Short, Vadim Milov, Sergey Tiviakov and Victor Mikhalevski. The other GMs are Mark Bluvshtein (Canada), Viorel Iordachescu (Moldova), Suat Atalik (Turkey), Alex Yermolinsky (USA), David Howell (Great Britain), Borislav Ivkov (Serbia), Valerie Aveskulov (Ukraine), Abhijit Kunte (India), Frank de la Paz (Cuba), Tu Hoang Thong (Vietnam) and Tomas Likavsky (Slovakia).

Nigel Short and Vadim Milov

Mark Bluvshtein and David Howell

The event has more than 170 registered players taking part in its single section, of which more than 140 are paid entrants.

There will be a great slate of side events because during the weekdays of the event there is only one evening round. On tap are lectures by GMs Yermolinsky (The Classical Sicilian), Mikhalevski (The Grunfeld Defence) and Likavsky (chess psychology/preparing for specific opponents). IM Lawrence Day will launch his book on the late Canadian IM Bryon Nickoloff. There will be a number of simuls too, and some titled players will be offering individual and group lessons.

Alex Yermolinsky and Victor Mikhalevski

A blitz tournament with an enhanced prize fund and a bughouse tournament are in the works.

The 2007 Canadian Open will be staged at the Ottawa Marriott from July 7 to 15 in Ottawa, the capital of Canada. Ottawa is a 90-minute direct US Air flight from Philadelphia, if you are playing the World Open but feeling like more chess after.

Important info regarding the registration:

If you haven't registered yet, but are thinking about it, please bear in mind:

Until May 31, the entry fee is $125 CAD. After, until July 6, the entry fee is $150 CAD. At the Marriott, the entry fee will be $175 CAD.

Until June 6, Canadian Open players can reserve hugely discounted accommodation at the Ottawa Marriott - $89/night single or double; $99 CAD/night triple; $109 CAD/night quad. After June 6, the rate will almost certainly soar, and we recommend that out-of-towners reserve if there's a chance they will play - the reservations can be cancelled with no penalty until July 2.

The website www.canchess.ca provides links for:
- online registration
- online reservation of accommodation at the Ottawa Marriott
- full tournament details
- a constantly updated list of registered players
- a blog with detailed tournament news and updates

The event is made possible with the kind and generous support of numerous corporate sponsors and donors, topped by Hill & Knowlton Canada and Magmic Games.

Hill & Knowlton Canada is Canada's industry leader in public relations, public affairs and strategic communications. ( www.hillandknowlton.ca)

Magmic Games is a leading developer and publisher of mobile entertainment, offering a wide variety of action, sports, casino, puzzle, and multiplayer games for BlackBerry, J2ME, Brew, and Sidekick handsets. (www.magmic.com)

Other sponsors include: The Ottawa Marriott, The Ottawa Citizen, OZ Optics, ATFCAN, Bell Canada, the British High Commission, the Embassy of the Slovak Republic, the Embassy of Israel and the Embassy of the Republic of Poland.

The Canadian Open even overlaps this year with the the Cisco Systems Ottawa Bluesfest!

E-mail: canopenchess@gmail.com
Event website: www.canchess.ca

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