Champion of U.S. vs Canadian Open Champion in Live Chess Game!

[Mark S. Dutton, I.A.]

Mark Bluvshtein graced the CYCC with his presence all week long.
He anaylzed games with the Juniors every day, and, was a true gentleman and a pleasure to have at the tournament site.

Mark Bluvshtein is 21 years old, living in Toronto, attending York University. Mark became the youngest ever International Grand Master in Canada at the age of 16. Mark has currently finished his 3rd year of studies at York U (which he dubbed "Strike U") studying Science and Technology studies.

Mark has been a member of the Canadian Olympic Team since the age of 14, tying the record for the youngest male Olympian ever! At the last Olympiad, Mark played on first board for Canada. In Mark's only previous visit to Victoria, he won the Canadian "Under 18" Championship in 2005. Some of Mark's tournament wins include a tie for first in the 2005 Canadian Open with Ivanchuk, Shirov and Bologan. In 2007 Mark tied for first in the Hungarian Grandmaster First Saturday tournament, winning the same event outright in 2008. The last time Mark participated in the Canadian Closed Championship, he placed 2nd and hopes to finish first this year in Guelph. Most recently, Mark tie IM Proper for first in the Canadian Open in Edmonton last week.


Hikaru Nakamura is also 21 years old and already ranked among the world's elite players. He is currently the fourth highest rated player in the world under 21 years of age and 30th overall with a FIDE rating of 2701 on the April list. Hikaru won the 2005 United States Chess Championship at the age of 16. He is the second youngest player to ever become the U.S. Champion. Additionally,Hikaru scored several impressive victories in the 2004 FIDE World Championship held in Tripoli, Libya in June. In the 128 player knock-out format, he reached the round of 16 before losing to GM Michael Adams of England.

Hikaru is the US Champion again this year having won the 2009 US Championship in May.

Hikaru holds the record for being the youngest American Grand Master ever!

He earned the title in February 2003 at the age of 15 years 2 months, eclipsing the earlier record set in 1958 by former World Champion GM Bobby Fischer. Previously Hikaru had set the mark for the youngest American "master" when he reached that milestone at the age of 10 years, 2-1/2 months. Hikaru earned the silver medal for the United States at the 2001 World Youth Championship in Oropesa, Spain. He is the 2001 US Junior Champion and has won several national championships in various age groups.

Hikaru was born in Japan in 1987 and has been playing chess since he was 7-1/2 years old.

Both Grand Masters were gracious and entertaining in representing their respective countries at the kick-off to the Canadian Youth Chess Championships at the Victoria Chess Festival this week.

The Live Outdoor Chess game was an exciting draw:

GM Mark Bluvshtein vs. GM Hikaru Nakamura
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nf3 e6 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.e3 O-O 6.Bd2 d6 7.Bd3 e5 8.Qc2 exd4 9.Nxd4 Nxd4 10.exd4 Re8 11.Kf1 Bxc3 12.Bxc3 d5 13.c5 b6 14.f3 bxc5 15.dxc5 d4 16.Bd2 Nd5 17.Bxh7 Kh8 18.Be4 Ba6 19.Kf2 f5 20.Bd3 Ne3 21.Bxe3 dxe3 22.Ke2 Qh4 23.Rhf1 Bxd3 24.Qxd3 Rad8 25.Rad1 Rxd3 26.Rxd3 Qxh2 27.Rxe3 Qxg2 28.Rf2 Rxe3 29.Kxe3 f4 30.Ke2 Qxf2 31.Kxf2 Kg8 32.Ke2 Kf7 33.Kd3 Ke6 34.Ke4 g5 35.c6 Kf6 36.b4 Ke6 37.a4 a6 38.b5 a5 39.Kd4 Kd6 40.Ke4 Ke6 41.Kd4 1/2


Play continues in the 2009 Canadian JUNIOR Chess Championship at the Grand Pacific Hotel this week, where IM Artiom Samsonkin will attempt to defend his 2008 Junior title in the 12 player FIDE event in Victoria.

The events have received front page coverage in the Victoria News (Black Press) and the Times Colonist as well as A-Channel Television News.

Monroi continues their excellent coverage, under the superb management of Zeljka M., for the remainder of the festival which will run until Tuesday afternoon. Live games can be seen at this link:

http://monroi.com/2009-canadian-juni...ship-home.html