Canadian Closed - incentives
I got many questions about the differences between Canadian Zonal and Canadian Closed (which is not Zonal).
1. Canadian Zonal is a championship of Zone 2.2. This is a one country Zone, and the winner (s) of Zonal championship qualifies to World Cup (WC). In 2022, 2 winners (Y.Zhang and S.Rodrigue-Lemieux) qualified for WC, which will take place this summer, likely in Baku, Azerbaijan.
2. Direct titles, also only for Zonal.
a. 1st equal = IM title
b. Silver and Bronze = IM norm and FM title.
c. 6/9 = FM title
d. 4.5/9 = CM title.
All direct titles are now subject to rating floor, which is 2300 for GM, 2200 for IM, 2100 for FM.
3. Traditionally, the winner of the Zonal gets a guaranteed spot for Olympic Team.
All these (1), (2) and (3) apply only for Zonal and not for a regular Canadian Closed.
Still, Canadian Closed (not Zonal) has some benefits.
1. IM norms (and theoretically, GM norms) are possible. FIDE waves foreign requirement for the National Championship.
2. CFC board has decided about some bonuses for this tournament. It was important because current CFC approach has no mention of Closed which is not a Zonal, so we have here a new situation which requires some pre-ruling before the start of the tournament.
a. 20 points for the winner and 10 points for the runner-up towards Olympic qualification
b. 10 points penalty for a player who doesn't play/withdraws from 2023 AND 2024 Closed.
c. A winner has a right to became an official player for Continental championship (this year in May in Dominican republic). If a winner has no desire to play - this right goes to highest rated player who expresses the interest.
Official player = free meal and accommodation and sometimes some small bursary from the CFC for participation.
Similar rules for Canadian Woman Closed.
Both tournaments are scheduled to Apr 6-11, 2023 at Excelsior Chess Club.
