Here are some highlights about the Canadian Closed.
Sources : Échec+, Chess Canada échecs, Camille Coudari, Igor Ivanov, Kevin Spraggett, Robert Finta, Jonathan Berry, Lawrence Day and others).
1947 : Yanofsky again !
Abe Yanofsky - Jules Thérien
Québec (5), 1947
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 The Rubinstein variation. 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Nf3 Be7 6.Bd3 Ngf6 7.0–0 Nxe4 8.Bxe4 Nf6 9.Bd3 0–0 10.Ne5 c5 11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.Qe2 b6? [12...h6] 13.Bg5 Bb7 [13...Be7 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Qe4 is winning.] 14.Rad1 Qe7 15.Nd7! Rfd8 16.Bxf6! gxf6 17.Qg4+ Kh8 18.Qh4 f5 19.Nf6 Kg7 20.Qg5+ 1–0
1949 : Maurice Fox wins his last Canadian title
For the last time in his career, Montreal Chess expert Maurice Fox captured the highest honors of Canadian Chess. Fox scored 6 wins and 3 draws against the strongest players in the country. He drew against Frank Anderson of Toronto, Abe Yanofsky of Winnipeg and Joseph Rauch of Montreal. His wins were against Bogatirchuk, Vaitonis, Brunet, Drumond, Thérien and Hoehn. Maurice Fox is well known for his fighting spirit. Twenty years separated his first Canadian title in 1927 from this one.
Maurice Fox - Frank Anderson
Arvida (8), 1949
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 9.Qe2 Nc5 10.Rd1 Be7 11.Be3 Nxb3 12.axb3 Qb8 13.Nc3 Nb4 14.Bg5 c5 15.Bxe7 Kxe7 16.Qe3 Rc8 17.Qg5+ Kf8 18.Rd2 Re8 19.Nh4 Kg8 20.f4 Qd8 21.Qg3 f5 22.Nxd5 Nxd5 23.c4 Nxf4 24.Qxf4 Qe7 25.Nxf5 Bxf5 26.Qxf5 bxc4 27.bxc4 Qxe5 28.Qxe5 Rxe5 29.Rf1 Rae8 30.Rd7 R5e7 ½–½
1969 : Duncan Suttles new Canadian Champion
Duncan Suttles of Vancouver put an end to the reign of Abe Yanofsky. Suttles played in his usual «mysterious style ». But when the time comes to play technical chess, he has no equal, at least in those years. This can explain, more than anything, the reasons of his success. The Canadian Championship, a zonal, was held in Pointe Claire, a suburb of Montreal. It marked the first time it was possible to obtain the title of International master following a 66,7%+ score. Not less than four players surpass this mark and consequently became International master: Zvonco Vranesic (13/17), Geza Fuster (12/17), Bruce Amos and Laszlo Witt (both 11,5/17). Duncan Suttles was already IM.
Duncan Suttles - Zvonco Vranesic
Pointe-Claire (3), 1969
1.g3 d5 2.Bg2 c6 3.d3 Nf6 4.c3 e5 5.Nd2 Bd6 6.e4 dxe4 7.dxe4 Be6 8.Ngf3 h6 9.0–0 Qc7 10.Qe2 Nbd7 11.Nc4 Be7 12.Nfd2 h5 13.Ne3 g6 14.h3 h4 15.g4 Nh7 16.Nd5 cxd5 17.exd5 Ng5 18.dxe6 Nxe6 19.Nc4 Rc8 20.Bd5 Ng5 21.Bxg5 Bxg5 22.Rad1 0–0 23.Nd6 Rb8 24.Qd3 Kg7 25.Bxf7 e4 26.Qxe4 Rxf7 27.Nxf7 Bf6 28.Nd6 Be5 29.Qd5 1–0
1975 : Two new International Masters
Peter Biyiasas of Vancouver retained the title of Canadian Champion with a one and a half point victory margin in the 59th Canadian Closed Championship. The Closed was played in Calgary, August 5th through 20th, under the auspices of the Chess Federation of Canada and the Alberta Chess Association. ..Biyiasas was only in trouble in three games, with Hébert, Dobrich and Ball, and was defeated only when first place was assured. Two Montreal players gained the International Master title: Kevin Spraggett and Leon Piasetski. Spraggett was Biyiasas’ only competition during most of the tournament and achieved his points through stubborn defence and a fine feel for the initiative. His games were free from simple oversights and one-move blunders, a quality he shares with the Champion.
Peter Biyiasas (IM) - Kevin Spraggett
Calgary (4), 1975
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nc3 a6 4.g3 Nc6 5.Bg2 Nf6 6.0–0 d6 7.d3 Be7 8.Bf4 0–0 9.e5 Nd5 10.Nxd5 exd5 11.exd6 Bxd6 12.Qd2 Bg4 13.Rae1 Qc7 14.Bxd6 Qxd6 15.h3 Bd7 16.Kh2 Rad8 17.d4 cxd4 18.Nxd4 Nxd4 19.Qxd4 Bb5 20.Rg1 Qg6 21.Qd2 Qf6 22.b3 Bc6 23.Re3 Qb2 24.a4 d4 25.Rd3 Bxg2 26.Kxg2 Rc8 27.Rc1 Rfd8 28.Rd1 Rxc2 29.Rxd4 Rxd4 30.Qxd4 Qxd4 31.Rxd4 Rc8 32.b4 Kf8 33.b5 axb5 34.axb5 b6 35.Kf3 Re8 36.Rd6 Rb8 37.Ke4 Ke7 38.Kd5 h5 39.h4 g6 40.f4 f6 41.Re6+ Kf7 42.Rc6 Rd8+ 43.Rd6 Rc8 44.Rxb6 Rc3 45.Ra6 Ke7 46.b6 Rxg3 47.Ra7+ Kd8 48.Ra8+ 1–0
Abe Yanofsky (GM) - Kevin Spraggett
Calgary (6), 1975
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 a6 6.g3 Nge7 7.Bg2 Nxd4 8.Qxd4 Nc6 9.Qd1 Be7 10.0–0 0–0 11.a4 d6 12.Be3 Bd7 13.Ne2 Rc8 14.f4 Na5 15.b3 Qc7 16.c4 b5 17.axb5 axb5 18.c5 d5 19.Kh1 b4 20.exd5 exd5 21.Rc1 Bg4 22.Bf3 Bxf3+ 23.Rxf3 Qb7 24.Kg2 Rcd8 25.Bd4 Nc6 26.Bf2 d4 27.Qd3 Rd5 28.Qe4 Qd7 29.Rd3 Bxc5 30.Ra1 Re8 31.Qf3 Rf5 32.Rad1 Ne5 33.Rxd4 Bxd4 34.Rxd4 Qxd4 35.Nxd4 Nxf3 36.Nxf5 Ne1+ 37.Kf1 Nc2 38.Nd6 Rd8 39.Bc5 Rd7 40.Nc4 Rc7 41.Bd6 Rxc4 42.bxc4 b3 43.Be5 Ne3+ 0–1
1978 : Jean Hébert dethrone Biyiasas
The games were played in the evening from 4 to 9pm. Some of the spectators who regularly arrived after dinner found Jean Hébert’s games already finished ! Although ranked only 11th at the start, Hébert, who had recently won two strong tournaments in Montreal …, performed splendidly in a strong field of masters to become the new Canadian Champion. Still his victory was a surprise. His play was steady; his best side was demonstrated in attacks on the opponent’s king. Once he had tuned to the proper frequency, he did not falter. His score : 11/15 good for the International Master title.
Jean Hébert - Peter Biyiasas (GM)
Toronto (14), 1978
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Qh4!? An old move. 4...Nf6 or 4...Bc5 are more popular. 5.Nb5 Qxe4+?! Risky to say the least. 5...Bc5 gives white a slightly better game. 6.Be2 Kd8 [6...Bb4+] 7.0–0 a6 8.N1c3 Qe5? The great Staunton reccomended [8...Qe8 but after 9.Nd4 White's better development and Black's awkward position compensate for the pawn.(9.Nxc7 Kxc7 10.Nd5+ Kb8 11.Nb6 d6 is ok for Black.) ] 9.Nd5! If 9...Nf6 [9...axb5 10.Bf4 Qxb2 11.Bxc7+ Ke8 12.Nb6 Qa3 13.Re1 Be7 14.Bxb5 and Black is defenceless against Bxc6 followed by Bd6.] 10.Nbxc7 Nd4 11.Bf3! Nxd5 [11...Nxf3+ 12.Qxf3 Nxd5 13.Nxd5 d6 14.Qxf7 wins.] 12.Nxd5 Ne6 13.Re1 Qd4 14.Qe2 [14.Be3! Qxd1 15.Bb6+ Ke8 16.Nc7+ Ke7 17.Raxd1 Rb8 18.Ba7] 14...Bd6 15.Be3 Qxb2 16.Rab1 [16.Nb6!] 16...Qxa2 [16...Qa3 17.Rb3] 17.Nc3 Qa3 18.Rb3 Bxh2+ Desparation. Black gets 3 pawns for his piece, but his position is still hopeless. 19.Kxh2 Qd6+ 20.Kg1 1–0
1981 : Igor Ivanov, the newcomer
1981 was the year of Igor Ivanov. After defecting from the Soviet Union, Ivanov, 34, arrives in Canada on June 25, 1980, just in time to meet the residence requirements for the Canadian Championship, though he wasn’t thinking about that at the time. He has won the Quebec Open, the Canadian Open, the World Open, and now the Canadian Closed by a margin of two points. Who need say more ? Ivanov defeated his main rival in the very first round.
Igor Ivanov (IM) - Kevin Spraggett (IM)
Montréal (1), 1981
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.d4 0–0 6.Be3 A move favored by Larsen. 6...Nbd7 After [6...e5 interesting is 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.Qxd8 Rxd8 9.Nd5] 7.Nd2 Not completely correct. Mobilisation, 7.Be2, was more important. 7...e5 Also playable is 7...c5 with good play for Black. 8.d5 Ne8 9.g4 This is the reason for 7.Nd2. After an exchange on f5, White will get an open g file and a possibility to take control of e4. 9...f5 10.gxf5 gxf5 11.exf5 Nc5 12.Nde4 Natural, but dangerous. Maybe 12.b4. 12...Nxe4 13.Nxe4 Bxf5 14.Ng3 Probably a mistake. The blockade on e4 has to be maintained : 14.Bd3. 14...Qh4! Very good. I was hoping for 14...Bg6. 15.h4. 15.Qd2 Better was [15.Nxf5 Rxf5 16.Rg1 with some counter play.] 15...Bg6 16.0–0–0 Rf4!? A thematic sacrifice. During the game, i thought my position was lost. But re-examining it quietly in the post-mortem, i was not so sure. 17.b3 Not the best. It was possible to take the Rook : [17.Bxf4 exf4 18.Bd3! fxg3 19.hxg3 and the position is unclear.] 17...Rd4 Under the impression that his position is largely superior, Spraggett is looking for a clear cut win. But patience is still necessary. Opening a file by a move like ...c6 was a better strategy. 18.Bxd4 Forced. 18...exd4 19.f4 Bh6 Giving a chance to the King to find a shelter on a3. 20.Kb2 Bxf4 21.Qg2 The Black King is also exposed. 21...d3 Giving a pawn to open more lines. 22.Bxd3 Be5+ 23.Ka3 An akward position for the King, but the only one. [23.Kb1 Qd4] 23...Qd4? 24.Rhe1?! Missing a win because of a little detail i didn't see : [24.Bxg6 Qb6 (24...Qc5+ 25.b4 Qxc4 26.Qc2) 25.Bxe8 Qa5+ (25...Rxe8 26.b4 a5 27.Ne4+ Kh8 28.b5 Qe3+ 29.Ka4) 26.Ba4 That is the defence i didn't see. 26...Bc3 27.Ne4+] 24...Qc5+ Spraggett is still looking for a win. Better chances for a draw comes from : [24...Qb6 25.Rxe5 dxe5] 25.b4 Qd4 26.Ne4 White has to defend squares c3 and c5. 26...a5 27.b5 Now White is ok. All Black can do is making vained threat. 27...Bg7 [27...Kh8 28.Qf2] 28.Qf2 Qe5 29.Qd2 Qh5 From now on, for White, it's a matter of technic. 30.Rg1 Qh4 31.Qf2 Qe7 32.Rde1 Be5 33.Ng3 Ng7 34.Bxg6 hxg6 35.Re4 Qd7 36.Qf3 Re8 37.Rg4 Kh7 38.Ne4 Nf5 39.Ng5+ Kg7 40.Ne6+ 1–0
1984 : Spraggett finally became Canadian Champion
After many championships where he was a nearly favorite, Kevin Spraggett of Montreal finally became Canadian Champion. He did it with a bang, scoring a formidable 11/14. In the absence of two of his mains rivals, Ivanov and Hébert, Spraggett was simply devastating, especially with the White pieces, scoring an amazing 7½/8. His preparation was thorough, and more than once his opponents were swiftly and mercilessly dispatched for deviating from known (at least to one player) theory.
Kevin Spraggett (IM) - Robert Morrison
Ottawa (3), 1984
1.c4 g6 2.Nf3 Bg7 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 0–0 5.e4 d6 6.Be2 e5 7.Be3 Qe7 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.Nd5 Nxd5 10.cxd5 White offers a gambit for development. 10...Rd8 On [10...Qb4+ 11.Nd2 Qxb2 12.0–0 White has pleasant prospects in view. Interesting is; 10...c6 when 11.d6 Qd7 followed by ...b6 and ...Rd8 leads to confusion !] 11.0–0 c6 12.Bc4 b5? This only weakens Black's Q-side. Instead, [12...cxd5 13.Bxd5 Be6 looks OK for Black. White is probably a bit better after 13.exd5!?.] 13.Bb3 Na6 After [13...cxd5 14.Bxd5 Bb7 15.Bg5 White wins the exchange.] 14.Qc1 The immediate 14.Ng5 also looks strong. 14...cxd5 15.Bxd5 Rb8 16.Ng5 h6 17.Bxf7+! Spraggett, at first, felt that he should play more cautiously with [17.Nxf7 Rxd5 18.Nxh6+ Bxh6 19.exd5 to keep a safe advantage.] 17...Kf8 Note that 17...Kh8 allows a mate on h6 in the game continuation. 18.Bb3 hxg5 19.Bxg5 Bf6 20.Bxf6 Qxf6 21.f4! Decisive. 21...Qe7 22.fxe5+ Ke8 23.Qc6+ 1–0
1992 : Alexandre Lesiège, Canadian Champion at 16 years old !
Repeating the achievement of Abe Yanofsky, Alexandre Lesiège became Canadian Champion at only 16 years old. He did that in Kingston, Ontario, scoring 8½/11. Lesiège beat his main rival, Kevin Spraggett, in a complicated struggle where Spraggett, with Black, sacrifice a piece for two pawns and a lasting initiative. After a protracted defense by White, Spraggett was left with a Queen and two pawns against Lesiege’s two Rooks and a Knight. When those pieces reach a certain degree of harmony, Spraggett was forced to resign.
Alexandre Lesiège (MI) - Kevin Spraggett (GM)
Kingston (6), 1992
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0–0 6.Bg2 c6 7.0–0 Qa5 8.h3 Be6 9.Qd3 Qa6 10.b3 d5 11.Ne5 dxc4 12.Nxc4 Rd8 13.Rd1 Nbd7 14.e4 b5 15.Nd2 Nc5 16.Qc2 Rxd4 17.Ne2 Rdd8 18.Qxc5 Nd7 19.Qa3 Qb6 20.e5 Nxe5 21.Nf4 Nd3 22.Nxd3 Rxd3 23.Rb1 Rad8 24.Qxe7 Rxg3 25.Qxd8+ Qxd8 26.fxg3 Qd3 27.Ba3 b4 28.Nf1 Qb5 29.Bb2 h5 30.Bxg7 Kxg7 31.h4 c5 32.Bd5 Bxd5 33.Rxd5 Qc6 34.Ne3 a5 35.Rc1 Qe6 36.Kf2 Qf6+ 37.Ke2 a4 38.bxa4 Qa6+ 39.Kf3 Qxa4 40.Rc2 c4 41.Rxc4 Qxa2 42.Rxb4 1–0
2002 : Pascal Charbonneau first of two title
2002 was the year of Pascal Charbonneau. He won the 2002 Closed / Zonal Canadian Chess Championship in Richmond, British Columbia. He tied 1st-2nd place with Kevin Spraggett with 8.5/11, then won the two-game playoff match 1.5-0.5. Charbonneau earned the International Master title for his victory. He continued his excellent play by sharing 1st-3rd place in the 2002 Montreal International with 8/10, along with Jean-Marc Degraeve and Jean Hébert.
2011 : Bator Sambuev
Strong masters from abroad reinforced the level of Chess in Canada over the years. In 1949, it was Feodor Bogatirchuk (Yanofsky moves to Canada when he was eight months old); Suttles in 1961, Biyiasas in 1967. Igor Ivanov in 1980, and in 2007 it was the turn of Bator Sambuev who decided to stay in Canada after his participation in the Quebec Open. It took him 4 years to capture the Canadian title.