Executives and Officers please post your reports here - please use the prefix given in the agenda (e.g. 4A, 4B, 4C etc)
Printable View
Executives and Officers please post your reports here - please use the prefix given in the agenda (e.g. 4A, 4B, 4C etc)
4E. 4G.
1. World Cup and Women's World Cup.
As you probably know, the World Cup (WC) and Women's World Cup (WWC) will be played in Sochi, Russia starting from Jul 10, 2021. I am cautiously optimistic about Russia's ability to make it happen. Honestly, I was more optimistic about a month ago, but even now I think the FIDE has a good chance of organizing it. The candidate's tournament should restart in Russia in about a week and will give us an important indicator about competitive chess in pandemic time.
Even before the pandemic, FIDE announced important changes for both WC and WCC. The number of players, which were traditionally 128 (WC) and 64 (WCC) increased significantly to 206 and 103 respectively. The main idea was to give more chances to National Champions. Obviously, the new system requires an extra round. The 50 highest rated players will advance to the second round automatically, while 156 will play against one another. 78 winners and 50 top players (which is exactly 128) will continue with the traditional elimination format.
A similar procedure applies for WCC. 25 top female players advance to the 2nd round directly, while the 78 remaining participants compete for 39 spots. 25+39=64, and thus from the 2nd round, we'll see the traditional elimination format.
As a top 91 country by average rating, Canada has 1 spot guaranteed in the WC. Generally, CFC can do whatever it wants. FIDE accepts any normal system. CFC could even appoint one of the top Canadian players without any tournament or match. The same applies for WCC.
As a Zone 2.2 country, Canada has another spot in both WC and WCC. To ensure this 2nd spot, CFC has to organize a Zonal tournament according to FIDE regulations. In FIDE they have the Global Strategy Commission (GSC) that is responsible for any ruling related to WC and Zonals. Last month, I spoke extensively with the 2 main people in GSC, GM E.Sutovsky (the chairman) and GM P.Tregubov (the secretary). So far, they approved Hybrid format for Continental and for other Zonals. They still have an issue with online Zonals.
In my last conversation with Pavel Tregubov, I mentioned the very strong COVID restrictions in Canada, which make it difficult or simply illegal to organize this event in any format other than online. He understands my points, but I don't think his position allows him to decide about the eligibility of online Zonal. Looks like only Sutovsky and A.Dvorkovich, as the 2 most powerful people in FIDE, are able to solve this issue.
The deadline for CFC to announce our representatives is Jun 5, so the best frame for Zonal should be the last week of May. Unfortunately, it's very possible that American Continental Hybrid event will be organized around this time as well. Still, FIDE Americas is not yet ready to give us the exact schedule for the Continentals.
American Continental has 8 spots for WC. In the past, some strong Canadian players qualified to WC from the Continental, including M.Bluvshtein, E.Hansen and A.Kovalyov (twice). WGM M.-J.Ouellet won the Women's Continental 2 years ago. Very likely, Continental will be organized in Hybrid format and CFC should make all possible efforts to allow our top players to participate in these events.
About a month ago, I sent emails to all top Canadian players (2400+ FIDE for Open Zonal and 2000+ FIDE for Women's Zonal). The main idea of this survey was to better understand the opinions of our top players. About 80% responded, so I can summarize.
Group 1 - not interested in WC or WCC at all.
Group 2 - will play any format.
Group 3 - no online, no hybrid.
Group 4 - don't like online/hybrid, but maybe...
Group 5 (!!) - only online, no hybrid, no OTB. Canadian players who currently live outside of Canada.
Group 2 and 4 have the largest number of players.
Conclusion. It's a very difficult time for chess tournaments in Canada and there is a lot of uncertainty. While we still have some time before the deadline, we should announce our decision to the players soon-ish. I trust that CFC directors plus Aris Marghetis as an organizer will choose the best possible solution.
Just got an update from FIDE-Americas about Continental Hybrid. Major points:
1. 1 player from every federation plus every 2500+ players go directly to knock-out stage.
2. Every other players go to preliminary stage.
3. Preliminary tournament May 7 - May 9. Schedule is still unknown.
4. Knock-out stage (128 players): Round 1 - May 22 and 23. Round 2 - May 24 and 25. Round 3 - May 26 and 27. Round 4 - May 28 and 29.
5. 8 winners of round 4 go to WC. They play Rapid tournament on May 30.
Prizes: Winner - 6000 EUR ... 8th place - 1000 EUR, 9-16 place - 500 EUR, 17-32 place - 300 EUR.
Well, we are a year into the pandemic shutdown, and I know we are all anxious to get back to the chess club for some REAL chess. Although there is still lots of uncertainty, most chess clubs anticipate resuming operations in September. This September!
I want to thank those organizers who stepped up to provide our members with online CFC rated events. That helped to bring in membership renewals and new members. The membership extension period ended on November 1, 2020 giving all members an extension of 8 months. So please check your expiry date before renewing.
For those who preferred to wait for OTB chess, you will find some changes at the CFC. We have a new website courtesy of Don Parakin. Many thanks again Don. Don is still working on some parts, but the critical stuff is there.
Another major change is our new Go membership management system. The system has been up and running since October, and again much credit goes to Don. If you haven’t received any mailing from the new system, it is likely because we don’t have your email. If you have a CFC number, you already have an account, so try accessing your account. If you need help, please send email to CFC office. We will add your email and you will receive an automated email to reset your password. If you are a new member, use the Go membership system which will issue you a CFC number. Updates from Go membership system are updated weekly along with the ratings update.
We have a new issue of Chess Canada on the website. They can be found under the player tab and newsletters. Feedback is always welcome.
Post pandemic, I am looking forward to seeing the birth of hybrid events. Image an OTB tournament augmented with remote players on an online platform. Maybe you play 4 games OTB and 1 game online. A great opportunity for members in remote locations to play. Just image a hybrid event with 2 (or more) OTB sites merged into 1 large Canadian tournament.
Why wait, why not try a CFC rated online event now? Otherwise, I look forward to seeing everyone again starting in September.
Robert Gillanders
Executive Director
4.I Rating Auditor
I have a short report. Quick rated online events are all we have at the moment. I am unable to report on the health of our rating system as the audit tool that I use was disabled with the creation of the new website.
I believe it is on the to do list.
Seventy-six players have earned the 200-point COVID rating incentive bonus and the program has been extended to October 1st.
4.J Chess Foundation of Canada
Assets under management passed the $400,000 mark recently. We can expect around $13,000 of income handed over to the CFC at the end of the current fiscal year (30 April, 2021). A $10,000 donation to the Pugi Fund from Andres Pugi was recently announced on the CFC newsfeed.
I hope that all voting members remember the Chess Foundation when reviewing their wills.
The decision concerning the Women Zonal has been delayed in the hope of having an improvement in the pandemics. Nothing has improved and Quebec's Premier ask us today for two more full months of efforts which practically rules out any kind of hybrid competition. Ontario is getting an alarming number of daily cased. Considering where most players reside, this jeopardize our Zonal because a Zonal must be Hybrid or over the board.
The most probable option now is an online chess with supervision qualifier for selecting the Canadian players. Special permission from FIDE would be required to run a Zonal in this format.
Respectfully submitted,
Pierre Dénommée
4.F Youth Coordinator report
With the current pandemic situation, many youth events are cancelled. 2021 CYCC in Hamilton is officially cancelled.
We are discussing CYCC and potential youth events for the next few years
There are no Youth tournament reports for this meeting
Regards,
Christina Tao
CFC Youth Coordinator