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.

Registration is open for the Over/Under 1800 in Edmonton, on August 9-10. Information here.

Visiting organizer Daniel Rokhvarger is arranging chess events on July 5th in Red Deer. The Rapid (info here) will start at 11:00 a.m. and the Blitz (info here) will follow at 5:00 p.m.

There will also be an Edmonton blitz event on June 28th starting at 5:00 p.m. (info here).

Contact daniel.rokhvarger@yahoo.ca to register.

A new event, the Summer Demi-Classical, is open for registration. This tournament will be six rounds of 45+30, on June 21-22 in Edmonton. Full info here.

Reminder that the Trumpeter Open is June 7-8, and the Medicine Hat Open is June 14-15.

Congratulations to Alberta’s top finishers at the Canadian Chess Challenge in Ottawa:

– Rafael Lee placed 3rd in Grade 2
– Muneer Hussain won a tiebreak to place 3rd in Grade 3
– Michael Xu placed 3rd in Grade 7
– Tri Tran placed 3rd in Grade 10

Captain Cristian Ivanescu reports that Team Alberta won the t-shirt competition! Thanks to him for his organizing contributions. In the chess, Alberta finished 5th place overall. Nova Scotia had an outstanding weekend, placing third behind Ontario and Quebec.