Congratulations to the 2025 Alberta Senior’s Champion, Esmaeil Safarzadeh, and 2025 Alberta Women’s Champion, Mehrnoosh Zavar Mousavi. Safarzadeh won with a score of 4.5/5, drawing in the last round to secure the victory. Zavar Mousavi also allowed only a half point to slip, scoring 4.5/5.

Second place in the Senior’s was shared by Brad Booker and Dale Haessel, at 4/5. Second place in the Women’s went to Grace Rachuk at 4/5, and third to Zlata Butenko at 3.5/5.

Thanks to the CCC team for orgazning the event.

We are pleased to announce the introduction of BALE 2025, an adults-only tournament (“be at least eighteen”) taking place November 15-16 in Edmonton.

This was inspired by the very popular ALTO (“at least twenty-one”) tournaments at the Charlotte Chess Center. Full information and registration here.

Prior to that, reminder for the Senior’s and Women’s Championships (October 18-19 in Calgary), the Edmonton Fall Sectional (October 24-26), and Alberta Junior Championship (November 1-2 in Calgary).

Registration is open for the Alberta Junior Championship in Calgary, November 1-2. In addition to the Championship group, there are Open, U1500, and U1100 sections.

Full info here.

Registration is open for:

– The Alberta Women’s Championship and Alberta Senior’s Championship, October 18-19 in Calgary.

– The Edmonton Fall Sectional, October 24-26.

Registration is open for the Alberta Open, October 11-13. This is a top event on the tournament calendar, and serves as a qualifier for the 2026 Alberta Closed.

Full information here.

Congratulations to the top finishers at the Edmonton Junior Regional. In the Open section, Yash Darvekar took first place with a score of 4.5/5, followed by Matthew Ivanescu in second at 4/5 and Zlata Butenko in third at 3.5/5.

In the U1300 section, there was a three-way tie at 5.5/7, ultimately with Markian Bochkariov finishing first on tiebreak, Liam Lilko in second, and Zenan Gluckie in third.

Thanks to Cristian Ivanescu for organizing and Sam Hoekman for directing.

Congratulations to Team North for returning the Battle of Alberta trophy to Edmonton!

North was victorious by a score of 13.5-10.5. Of the players to go 2-0, the most impressive was Tri Tran on board 3, in a huge upset over Sherzod Khodjimatov.

Big thanks to captains Sam Hoekman and Zeeshan Munir for organizing the teams and running the event.

Registration is open for the Edmonton Junior Regional and Calgary Junior Regional, both September 13-14, and the Lethbridge Fall Open, September 20-21.

Teams will be finalized for the Battle of Alberta on September 3rd, for the September 6th event. Information for the Junior Battle of Alberta, September 27th, will be available soon.

Visiting organizer Daniel Rokhvarger and the Checkmate Foundation are arranging chess events on August 24th in Calgary. Information on the rapid can be viewed here, and on the blitz here. Contact daniel.rokhvarger@yahoo.ca to register.

The 16th Calgary International has concluded: GM Victor Mikhalevski was victorious with a 7.5/9 score. IM Shiyam Thavandiran took second place at 6.5/9, and third place was shared by IM Mike Ivanov and CM Neil Doknjas at 6/9.

Congratulations to Avery Michalchuk for winning the U2000 section with 6.5/7, and to Hudson Thomas for winning the U1600 section with 6.5/7 as well. In total, there were 89 players between the three groups.

Photos and further commentary can be viewed on the Calgary Chess Club facebook page.