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View Full Version : The Grand Pacific Open, Victoria, B.C.



Bob Armstrong
04-20-2011, 10:26 PM
PRESS RELEASE

Generations Battle for Chess Supremacy

Players aged six to eighty will go head to head in the 5th annual Grand Pacific Open Chess Tournament, to be held at the Hotel Grand Pacific on Easter Weekend April 22nd to 25th. Modern chess is unique in that there are no age or gender barriers to participation. This year’s event will feature 96 competitors from six countries. Play begins at 6:00 pm Friday and continues during the afternoon and evening on Saturday and Sunday, concluding with the final round Monday at 10:00 am. Spectators may attend free of charge.
Top contenders will be International Grand Master Igor Rausis of the Czech Republic, BC Champion Jack Yoos of Vancouver, Women’s Grandmaster Nino Maisuradze of France, International Master Lawrence Day of Toronto (last year’s winner), and Women’s Master Valeria Gansvind of Estonia.

However, the younger generation is out in force, led by World Under 10 Champion Jason Cao of Victoria. Also present will be US Grade One Champion Praveer Sharan of Lake Oswego, Oregon, Canadian Under 16 Champion Tanraj Sohal of Surrey, Canadian Girls Under 16 Champion Alexandra Botez of Burnaby, Canadian Under 8 Champion Joshua Doknjas of Surrey and Canadian Under 8 Girls Champion Andrea Botez of Burnaby.

Selected Biographies:

Igor Rausis is 50 years old and living in Varnsdorf, Czech
Republic. Igor became an International Grandmaster atthe age of 30.
Igor has been a member of the Latvian Olympic team at several Chess
Olympiads: as a Player, as a Coach of various team and as a Delegate.
Some of Igor’s tournament wins: 1987 Prague Cedok Open, 1989 Muenchen
Invitational, 1992 Moscow Invitational, 1995 Paris Open, 1995 Heart of
Finland Open, 1997 Paris Invitational.

Praveer Sharan, a first grader in the Oak Creek Elementary School at Lake Oswego, OR, is the Oregon State K-2 chess champion for 2010 and 2011. He won the US National chess championship in the K-1 section in May 2010. In addition, Praveer has won several local chess championships held in the Portland area, including the City of Portland championship in 2010.

Local Contacts:

Paul Leblanc pc-leblanc@shaw.ca 250-388-5187
Brian Raymer grandpacificopen@gmail.com 250-595-0025

Last Update: 21 April 2011