2009 CHESSCA OPEN is back! – October 31st – November 1st, 2009

[Mei Chen Lee]

2009 CHESSCA OPEN is back! October 31st – November 1st, 2009

Hello all!

Hope the gorgeous summer is treating everyone well!

Due to popular demand, we are very delighted to bring back the Chessca Open, to be held once again in the beautiful and historic town of Elora, Ontario. This year’s event will also feature a guided historical walking tour around the town of Elora, courtesy of the Elora Village Tour group. The tour is complimentary for all Chessca Open players. Also, players are welcome to join the Elora Town’s annual Halloween’s party at the Elora Mill Inn on Saturday night – tickets can be purchased at the door.

We have also negotiated substantially discounted room rates at the Elora Mill Inn, exclusive for all Chessca Open players. Room rates start at $159++ (excluding gratuity and taxes), and will include free parking and continental buffet breakfast for two. Please quote Chessca Open when making your reservation. Only 32 rooms/suites are available at the inn -- so book early to avoid disappointment! Details for the Inn are as below:

Elora Mill Inn
Website: http://www.eloramill.com
Phone: 1-866-713-5672
Person-in-charge: Kelly Gagnon

Due to space limitation, we are able to accommodate only up to 80 players this year. So register early to avoid disappointment!

Details of the tournament are as follow:

2009 CHESSCA OPEN

Date: October 31st – November 1st, 2009 (Saturday and Sunday)
Place: Elora Mill Inn, Elora, Ontario
Section, Rounds and Time Control: 1 section, 5 rounds, 90 minutes each to the finish
Entry Fee: $65 by October 15th, $80 after October 15th, $100 at the door
Prizes: Minimum $1,000 guaranteed in total prize fund
Byes: Maximum of 4 byes in rounds 1 to 4
Contact: Mei at meichenlee@gmail.com
Pictures from last year’s event: 2008 Chessca Open

Note: This is a CFC-rated tournament, therefore CFC membership is required. A one-time tournament membership can be purchased for $20 for the purpose of this event.

Schedule:

OCTOBER 31ST, SATURDAY

-- 8.30 am to 9.30 am: Check-in

-- 10 am to 1 pm: ROUND 1

-- 1.15 to 2.45 pm: Guided historical walking tour of the village of Elora (FREE for all players. Parents/visitors are most welcome to join us at only $10 per person). Tour provided by The Elora Village Tour group. Bring your walking shoes and camera! You will not be disappointed.

-- 3.30 pm to 6.30 pm: ROUND 2

-- 8 pm: Elora Town Halloween’s Party at the Elora Mill Inn (tickets can be purchased at the door)

NOVEMBER 1ST, SUNDAY

-- 9 am to 12 pm: ROUND 3

-- 1 to 4 pm: ROUND 4

-- 5 pm to 8 pm: ROUND 5


Pre-Registered List, as of October 29th, 2009

GM Bator Sambuev, 2638
IM Artiom Samsonkin, 2601
IM Tomas Krnan, 2490
Roman Sapozhnikov, 2404
Alexander Martchenko, 2355
FM Hans Jung, 2246
Erwin Casareno, 2203
Michael Humphreys, 2158
Brian Fiedler, 2146
Gordon Olheiser, 2122
Mikhail Egorov, 2106
Yuriy Kryvoshlyk, 2073
Christopher Knox, 2069
Vladimir Drkulec, 2060
Mahmud Hassain, 2047
Kyle Jolliffe, 1987
Aaron Both, 1984
James Fu, 1978
Raymond Singh, 1974
Laurentiu Grigorescu, 1957
Robert Gashgarian, 1939
Garvin Nunes, 1934
Richard Moran, 1929
Daniel Wiebe, 1929
Constantine Khayutin, 1928
Robert Gillanders, 1898
Robert Bzikot, 1888
Richard Garel, 1878
Tim Knechtel, 1867
Guannan Terry Song, 1821
John Jordan, 1813
Ferdinand Supsup, 1793
Michael von Keitz, 1747
Zeljko Kitich, 1741
Lee Hendon, 1689
Mario Moran-Venegas, 1642
Mate Milinkovic, 1639
Adam Cormier, 1638
Reuben McCleary, 1604
Mario Piccinin, 1595
Steve Karpik, 1565
Kyle France, 1537
Sebastian Niemiec, 1512
Giuseppe Del Duca, 1352
James Denis Dylan Martin, 1346
Kai Gauer, 1232
Damir Baizhiyenov, 1250
Benjamin Papernick, 1200
Rick McCleary, 1162
Henry Hu, 1098
Bogdan Bobin, 1072
Aterya Gupta, 847
Josh Perl, 788
Abraham Sheng, 780
Jack Barron, UNR
Kevaughn Ellis, UNR


Some additional pictures from the 2008 CHESSCA OPEN


Elora Mill Inn, Elora, Ontario
One of Ontario's "Four Great Mills" dating to the 19th century, the Elora Mill Inn promises a charmingly historic ambiance.


Gorgeous Elora, in October
By David Farrant, picture taken at the 2008 Chessca Open


Nathan Farrant-Diaz’s mum, and Nikita Gusev’s father, Victor
By David Farrant, picture taken at the 2008 Chessca Open


Tim Knechtel
By David Farrant, picture taken at the 2008 Chessca Open


Gary and Al, Elora Village Tour Group
Guides, Gary and Al, in costume, potraying two characters from Elora's past. The guides will sing some songs and recite some poems as they speak of the nature of the village shortly after the arrival of the railways. You will be led along some pathways of the Elora Gorge and through some village streets. Several old buildings and unusual features of Elora will be pointed out.


Tim Murton’s Twilight Zoo, October 8th to 31st 2009, Elora, Ontario
By David Farrant, picture taken at the 2008 Chessca Open
Kids of all ages will love this Halloween show! Amazing wire and paper scuptures by day, they take on an eerie glow as they light up the river bank by night. But be careful as you walk through the monster garden... you never know who - or what - is around the next corner! View Elora's own Loch Ness monster on the Grand River, and spot the new friends who have joined Nessie in the water this year. Plan on bringing the whole clan to see for yourselves. For more information, visit:http://www.twilightzoo.ca/id23.html


The Elora Gorge
By David Farrant, picture taken at the 2008 Chessca Open
The Elora Gorge is several kilometres of 80-foot cliffs, caverns, rapids and quiet pools. During the summer, hiking along the cliffs and inner-tubing through the gorge are popular activities. Hiking trails begin right at Elora Mill Inn. During the winter months cross country skiing and scenic winter walks are popular. Inner tube rentals are available from the Elora Gorge Conservation Area. The Grand River also provides excellent fly-fishing, canoeing and kayaking.

The Elora-Cataract trail traverses 47 kilometres of scenic countryside. Along the trail, between Fergus and Elora is the Elora Quarry Conservation Area, an abandoned quarry that is a favourite spot for a refreshing dip.

The countryside surrounding Elora is lovely. You can visit Ontario's last remaining covered bridge at West Montrose, tour through Old Order Mennonite farm country, and visit many local museums or local galle ries such as The Styll Gallery.


Elora
Can you spot the Inn from here?
By David Farrant, picture taken at the 2008 Chessca Open


Riverside shopping in Elora
Can you spot the Halloween skeleton?
By David Farrant, picture taken at the 2008 Chessca Open
The town of Elora is a charming and historic limestone village. Antique shops, studios and galleries are attractively housed in 19th-century limestone buildings along quaint Mill and Metcalfe Streets. Local art galleries, festivals, and farmer's markets in Elora and surrounding St. Jacobs offer a truly unique country Inn experience.


Getting to Elora is easy!
It is only 30 minutes from the 401 and a short drive from many other points of interest including Guelph, Kitchener-Waterloo and Fergus.
From Toronto: Take 401 west towards London and follow the directions below.
From the 401: Follow Highway 6 North through Guelph.* Turn left onto County Road 7 just north of Marden. In about 10 minutes you will see Elora!
From Kitchener: Take Highway 86 north, and then County Road 22 north at the Waterloo City limits.
*County Road 22 turns into County Road 18 and you will end up at the stop lights at Salem. Keep straight and follow the road right into Elora!


See you at the 2009 Chessca Open!

Mei