The Hart House Chess Club is pleased to announce an upcoming FIDE Arbiters’ Seminar at Hart House, Friday,January 10th to Sunday, January 12th, 2025. The seminar will be conducted by one of Canada’s leading Arbiters and Organizers, International Arbiter Hal Bond.
Amongst his many accolades, Hal Bond has served as the Chief Arbiter at the 2012 Women’s World Chess Championship, Deputy Arbiter at the 2012 World Chess Championship, and as the Chief Arbiter of the 2017 World Youth Chess Championship.
WHEN: Friday, January 10th, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm, Saturday, January 11th 10:00 am – 8:00 pm, Sunday, January 12th 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
WHO: The Lecturer will be IA/IO Bond, Hal (CAN), FIDE Lecturer.
ENTRY FEE: $250 paid online only
CAPACITY: 16 participants
LANGUAGE: The seminar will be conducted in English.
ORGANIZERS: Hart House Chess Club
EQUIPMENT: All materials provided by HHCC.
The Seminar will give norms and titles of FIDE Arbiter, according to the Regulations for the titles of Arbiters.
Requirements: All participants must be National Arbiters before the seminar begins.
SCHEDULE (tentative, subject to change): January 10 6 pm – 10 pm: Role of Arbiters, Laws of Chess (4hrs)
January 11 10 am – 1 pm: System of Games, Tie-Breaks (3hrs) 2 pm – 4 pm: Ratings and OTB Title Regulations (2 hrs) 4 pm – 6:30 pm: Swiss System and Pairing Rules (2.5 hrs)
January 12 10 am – 11:30 am: Competition rules, Equipment standards and clocks (1.5 hrs) 11:30 am – 12:30 pm: Arbiter Title Regs (1 hr) 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm: Fair Play Guidelines (2 hrs) 2 pm – 6 pm: Exam (4 hrs)
REGISTRATION:
Registration is availableonline here. Please note that all participants must be National Arbiters before the seminar begins. Details on becoming a National Arbiter are available here.
The Hart House Chess Club is pleased to announce the Fall 2024 Lessons and Quads Schedule! All Lessons and Quads will be held in the Bickersteth Room of Hart House. All are free to attend or participate for Members of the Club.
Lessons: This Fall, join us on Fridays throughout the semester for exciting lessons and lectures to help you become a better player. Members are entitled to free lessons this fall provided by expert lecturers and experienced players.
Quads: This Fall, join us on select Fridays, from 7 pm – 9 pm for weekly CFC and FIDE-rated Rapid Quad tournaments. A time control of 10 mins + 5 seconds increment allows for structured improvement and game play. It is also a great tournament for those new to chess. No commitment to all weeks is necessary, play whenever you can!
Registration and Interest Form: Those interested in attending or participating are encouraged to fill out the following form.
Lessons Details
Complete Beginners:
The expected audience are players who have never played chess or who only know how the pieces move. No chess experience is expected and fundamentals starting from piece movement will be covered. Interactive sessions, informative demonstrations, resources, and discussions will be provided to help students learn how to play. Registration is required for all prospective attendees.
Lessons will be co-taught: Victor Zheng (CFC elo 2192), Steven Guo (CFC elo 1638)
Registration: Registration is required. Please fill out this form.
Lessons will cover:
Week 1: Piece Value, Piece Movement, Openings
Week 2: Opening theory, strategies
Week 3: Middlegame theory, strategies
Week 4: Endgames, General Play, Conclusion
Time: 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm Fridays September 20, 27, October 4, 11
Intermediate Lessons:
The expected audience are players who are looking to up their game. Players are expected to know fundamental ideas of piece movement, basic strategies of chess, and calculation methods. 10 lessons will be offered and participants can still learn something if they miss a class. All participants are expected to be members of the Hart House Chess Club.
Registration: Registration is required here. However, participants can join at any point during the lesson schedule.
Lessons will be taught by: Uttam Dhungel (CFC elo 1928)
Pawn structure
Imbalances
Middlegame strategy
Understanding endgames
Studying games of Masters
Time: 5:30 pm – 7 pm Fridays
September 20, 27
October 4, 11, 25
November 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Quad Tournament Details
The following section describes the 2024 Fall Quad tournament schedule.
A Quad Tournament is where all players are sorted from highest rating to lowest rating and the top four highest-rated players are placed in one section (a Quad), then the following 4 highest rated players are placed in another Quad. This process continues until all players are given a designated Quad. If there are 1, 2 or 3 players remaining after the last full Quad has been designated, those players will be placed in the last quad section and that section will play a 3 round Swiss match.
WHEN: Selected Fridays in Fall 2024.
September 20, 27
October 4, 11, 24
November 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
WHAT: 3-round FIDE Rated (top two quads), CFC-Active Rated Quad Tournament, 10 mins + 5 secs/move increment time control. WHERE: Hart House Bickersteth Room (3rd floor), (7 Hart House Circle, Toronto, ON) RATINGS: CFC Quick and FIDE Rapid rated in top two quads. Otherwise, only CFC Quick Rated. CFC Quick ratings are used for all pairings. All players must have a valid CFC membership to play. Registration done in-person weekly first-come-first-served. ROUND TIMES: 7:00 pm, 7:40 pm, 8:20 pm SECTIONS: Players are split by ratings into pools of 4, with up to 4 pools. EQUIPMENT: HHCC will supply all chess equipment PRIZES: Each quad features a $50 first-place gift card prize. CAPACITY: 16 per night ENTRY FEES: Free for GMs, IMs, HHCC members. $20 otherwise. REGISTRATION: Accepted ONLY in person from 6:00 pm – 6:45 pm. Fill out the following interest form to be notified of late-breaking news, updates, and to receive a weekly reminder email.
Chess Federation of Canada Memberships are Required: $12 for a one-time adult, or $48 for one year. https://www.chess.ca/en/players/membership-join/. For HHCC student members, a single tournament membership is covered for unrated players in their first tournament ($12 value).
An election shall be held to elect the First-Year Representative for Fall 2024.
The First-Year Representative is responsible for “working to ensure the voices of first-year students are heard and represented. The First-Year Representative may work to organize activities that are specifically tailored to the needs of first-year students, such as introductory workshops and beginner chess tournaments. The First-Year Representative serves as a mentor and resource for first-year members who may be new to chess or new to the Club. The First-Year Representative provides guidance and support to help these members feel welcomed and included in the Club, and they also help to facilitate connections between first-year members and more experienced players. The First-Year Representative plays a role in creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for first-year members and ensuring that they have a positive and enjoyable experience with the Club,” according to the Constitution of the Hart House Chess Club.
All first-year students at University of Toronto are eligible to run for election for this position. A candidate for the position of First-Year Representative is not required to be a member of the Club for one month before the election.
All club student members have the right to vote. To become a member, students can sign up here.
Important Dates
Students interested in the First-Year Representative position are asked to email the Alumni Chair at elections@harthousechess.com expressing interest, and a short bio/background by September 20th at 10 pm. They are asked to include [HHCC Elections] as the subject of the email.
If there are two or more candidates for a position, a vote will be held to determine the successful candidate on September 27th at 7 pm in-person in the Hart House Reading Room. The voting is done by secret ballot.
The electoral process will be administered by the club’s Alumni Chair, Ben Hahn. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Hahn at elections@harthousechess.com, indicating [HHCC Elections] as the subject of your email.
Hart House Chess Club is an open and inclusive environment. There is no requirement to be good at the game of chess to run for the first year representative. Everyone is encouraged to nominate themselves. As a positive space we welcome and encourage members of all sexes, genders, sexual orientations, ethnicities, languages, abilities, religions and creeds to participate in the student government of the club, either as members of the executive or as volunteers!
The Hart House Chess Club is hosting its Fall Blitz tournament on Friday, November 1st, 2024. Join the Hart House Chess Club for an exciting 7-double-round tournament! We’re playing 7 rounds of 3 minutes + 2 seconds blitz starting at 7 pm! We hope to see you there!
FORMAT AND EVENT DETAILS
WHEN: Friday, November 1st, 7 pm – 10:00 pm.
WHERE: Hart House (7 Hart House Cir, Toronto) – Reading Room.
WHAT: 7-double-round Blitz Event (Swiss), with a 3 minute + 2 seconds time control. One section.
RATED: Unrated
ENTRY FEE: Free for members, free for non-members but ineligible for prizes. Register onsite before 7pm.
PRIZE FUND: Guaranteed $250. Distribution announced onsite. Prizes for top-woman, top-unrated. Note all prizes paid via Gift Cards
Attention all chess enthusiasts and strategists! Get ready to experience the exhilarating world of Bughouse Chess, the most captivating and thrilling chess variant ever created! Join us this summer on Friday October 18th, 2024 from 7 pm – 8:30 pm for a great night of bughouse!
What is Bughouse Chess? Bughouse Chess is the fusion of lightning-fast gameplay and strategic teamwork, where two teams of two players apiece battle it out simultaneously on two chessboards. It’s like chess on steroids! Teamwork makes the dream work!
Tournament Details
WHEN: Friday, October 18th, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm.
WHERE: Hart House (7 Hart House Cir, Toronto) – Reading Room.
WHAT: 7 round Blitz Event (Swiss), with a 5 minute time control.
RATED: Unrated
ENTRY FEE: Free for members, free for non-members but ineligible for prizes. Register onsite before 7pm.
PRIZE FUND: Guaranteed $200. Distribution announced onsite.
MAXIMUM CAPACITY: 50 players.
NOTE: chess sets and boards provided
Registration:
Registration only available onsite before 6:45 PM
Those without a partner will be paired onsite.
CONTACT:
Any questions can be sent to: hhchess@studentorg.utoronto.ca
Welcome back to a new school year! The Hart House Chess Club is hosting its Back-To-School Blitz and Pizza Party on Friday, September 6th, 2024. At 6 pm, come to Hart House to indulge in pizza, meet this year’s Executives, ask questions, and learn about our offerings this upcoming year. After that, join the first blitz tournament of the fall at Hart House! We’re playing 7 rounds of 5 minutes + 2 seconds blitz chess! We hope to see you there!
FORMAT AND EVENT DETAILS
WHEN:
Welcome Back Pizza: Friday, September 6th 6 pm – 7 pm – Reading Room
RSVP required, see this form and filled by 6 pm, Thursday, September 5th
Blitz Event: Friday, September 6th, 7 pm – 9:30 pm
Registration onsite between 4 pm and 6:45 pm.
WHERE: Hart House (7 Hart House Cir, Toronto) – East Common Room.
WHAT: 7-round Blitz Event (Swiss), with a 5 minute + 2 second time control. One section. Unrated
RATED: Unrated
ENTRYFEE: Free for members, Free for students & community. Non members are ineligible for prizes.
PRIZE FUND: Guaranteed $300. Distribution announced onsite. Prizes for top-woman, top-unrated.
MAXIMUM CAPACITY: 60 players.
NOTE: chess sets and boards provided
REGISTRATION
All pizza must be RSVP. Students + members are free to RSVP online via form before 6pm, September 5th
The Hart House Chess Club is pleased to host its Pan-American Intercollegiate Chess Championship Qualifiers from September 14-15, 2024 to select players to represent the Club at the 2025 Pan-Ams hosted by the Charlotte Chess Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA from January 2nd – 5th, 2025.
The annual Pan American Intercollegiate Chess Championship is the pinnacle of international collegiate chess. Dubbed the “World Series of College Chess”, the Club has fundraised and fielded teams in the tournament every year since 1965. The storied championship pits the best collegiate chess teams against one another from the North and South Americas. The Hart House Chess Club, representing the University of Toronto, has won the championship 6 times, the most from any non-American school. The qualifier is only open to UofT students, and winners will receive financial support from the Club.
Format and Details
WHEN: Saturday, September 14th – Sunday, September 15th, 2024
WHERE: Hart House Debates Room Room, 7 Hart House Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 3H3
FORMAT: 5-round unrated, Swiss Tournament
ROUND TIMES:
Check-in: 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Round 1: 9:30 AM, September 14th
Round 2: 12:45 PM, September 14th
Round 3: 4:00 PM, September 14th
Round 4: 9:30 AM, September 15th
Round 5: 12:45 PM, September 15th
Tiebreaks (if needed): 4:00 PM, September 15th
TIME CONTROL: 60 mins + 30 secs/move increment from move 1 for all sections
BYES: 0-point byes are in effect. Players are expected to play all rounds. Forced byes will be awarded 1 point.
RATINGS: Ratings will be used for seeding/pairing purposes, but the tournament itself will not be Chess Federation of Canada rated.
EQUIPMENT: HHCC will supply all chess equipment.
DRAWS: Players are not allowed to agree on a draw before 40 moves are made.
ELIGIBILITY: Current students enrolled in a degree-granting program at the University of Toronto
CONTACT: hhchess@studentorg.utoronto.ca
CHECK IN: Players are required to check in by 9:30 am to be paired for Round 1.
REGISTRATION: Registration is available online or in-person at the Hart House Hub with a valid proof of student enrollment.
ELIGIBILITY:
To participate in the Pan-Ams Qualifier, one must be enrolled in a degree-granting program and enrolled in at least 6 credit hours of classes.
You must also be a student member of the Hart House Chess Club. The membership cost for 2024-2025 is $15 for all U of T students for the year, $10 for one semester. Memberships will include a t-shirt.
To participate in the Pan-Am tournament itself, you must be available to travel to Charlotte, North Carolina from Wednesday, January 1st to January 5th, 2025 and you must meet the following requirements:
A $250 fee must be paid to Hart House within a week after the qualifying tournament
Participants will be required to attend a tutorial on Safety Abroad as per U of T policy
Participants will be responsible for and required to have valid passports, travel visas if applicable, and travel health insurance
Participants must complete travel forms provided within outlined timelines
Participants are responsible for getting a verification of enrollment signed by their Registrar’s office.
For further information, please consult the Collegiate Eligibility Rules here.
Selection of Players
The tournament will select 7 players (of a total 8) based on final standings to represent the Hart House Chess Club and the University of Toronto at this year’s Pan-Ams. A mandatory fee of $250 for all participants is required and paid before the end of September, however, the Club will cover the rest of the fundraising costs. Players should only play in the tournament if they intend to play in the Pan-Ams.
Note that one spot has been reserved per Section 7.3.1 of the Charter for Yunshan Li who is competing for Canada in the Canadian Olympiad in Budapest during the Qualifiers.
Kaiy is a 3rd-year undergraduate student pursuing a degree in civil engineering. Having learned the game and its rules in early elementary school, he picked chess back up during the early days of the pandemic as a hobby after seeing friends playing a casual game online in 2020. This spark snowballed, and in high school, he became one of the founding members of the chess club, helping to organize and play in tournaments schoolwide and citywide.
Although still a casual player, he has previously played and volunteered at multiple tournaments at Hart House, including the Reading Week Open and Canadian Zonals. Through these experiences in the first and second years and seeing all of the hard work by all of the executive members and volunteers, he decided to run as a communication representative at the HHCC. He hopes to stand on the over-100-year history of the club and to further show the magic of the game to the university community at large.
The Hart House Chess Club will be conducting lessons this summer! We are happy to announce a lecture series for beginner to intermediate players from June through August. We hope to see you at Hart House on Fridays.
The Beginner to Intermediate Lessons run from 5:00 to 7:00 PM every Friday from June 7th to August 30th. No lesson on June 28 and July 19.
Targets beginners and intermediate players
Focus on:
Pawn structure
Imbalances
Middlegame strategy
Understanding endgames
Studying games of Masters
Taught by Uttam Dhungel
Free for all U of T students and Hart House Chess Club members. By donation for all others.
No formal registration required, just drop by at Hart House on Fridays!
About the Coach
Uttam Dhungel is from the country of Nepal. He has dedicated 13 years to the game of chess and earned the title of National Instructor in 2018. Teaching chess at various levels has been his passion since then. To Uttam, chess isn’t just a game — it’s a transformative pursuit that fosters positive change across various domains of life.
With the lessons at Hart House, Uttam plans to showcase the dimensions of chess. Players will be able to develop their understanding of the game in various ways and gain insight into the play of current Canadian champions.
The Hart House Chess Club is pleased to announce the 2025 edition of our annual Reading Week Open held over the Family Day weekend from Saturday, February 15th to Monday, February 17th. With six different sections to accommodate varying skill levels, the tournament is suitable for everyone – from experienced players to those playing their first ever tournament.
We are also running the Juniors section with a shorter time control, similar to the Junior section at the 2024 Holidays Open. The Junior-U1500 one day event (Feb 16) is a separate event geared towards children rated under 1500.
TIME CONTROL: 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move for the Open
30 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move for Juniors
SECTIONS: Crown, U2200, U1900, U1600, U1300
Juniors – U1500
RATING: Sections will be determined using the highest of CFC or FIDE rating. All sections will be CFC rated. U1600 and above will also be FIDE rated. Crown section paired using FIDE ratings.
EQUIPMENT: HHCC will supply all chess equipment.
FORFEIT TIME: Players who do not arrive within 30 minutes of the round start time will be forfeited.
BYES: Maximum 2 half-point byes in Rounds 1-4 if requested in advance before the start of Round 1
ORGANIZER: Hart House Chess Club with Tanner McNamara Chief Arbiter,
EMAIL: hhtournaments@gmail.com
CAPACITY:
210 for Open
40 for Juniors
Registration
Online registration is available until February 13th, 11:59 PM. In-person and telephone registration is available through the Hart House Information Desk during Hart House hours.
Entry Fees
Open: $70 by January 31st at 11:59 pm, $80 by February 13th at 11:59 pm
Juniors: $40 by February 13th at 11:59 pm
$35 discount for student members and unrated players (max one discount per player). Unrated players are not eligible for prizes. Free entry for IMs/WIMs/GMs/WGMs if registered by January 31st. Please email us for all discount information.
Playing up
Extra $20 to play up a section. Playing up is allowed only for players within 100 rating points of the section’s minimum rating. For example, a player in the Under 1600 section wanting to play up in the Under 1900 section must have a rating no lower than 1500. Play-up fees must be paid on-site at the tournament.
No playing up to the Crown section. Players must be 2200+ CFC or 2000+ FIDE.
Other Info
DGT boards: HHCC will utilize DGT boards for portions of the Crown section. Live games will be available here.
CFC memberships: Registrants must be current CFC members or bring payment prior to playing — please visit https://chess.ca/membership-fees for more info
Parking: Parking is available at a daily rate; however, it is limited. Be prepared and come early to find parking.
Prize Payments: Any prize less than or equal to $100 will be paid via Gift Cards. Direct deposit is required for prizes above $100. All prizes will be payable via direct deposit on request. Please expect 1 week – 3 weeks for payments to be processed
Photography: By signing up, you permit HHCC the ability to take and use photos from the tournament on its social media. If you would not like your photo used, please email us.
Foreign Ratings: All participants must disclose all foreign ratings at time of registration or via email. Accessibility and Visitor Information: Hart House is an accessible building and conveniently located. For further details, visit Visitor Information and Accessibility.
TEAM PRIZE: $400 ($100 per player), teams of 4 players, representing at least 3 different sections. All individual scores will be added up to find the winning team. Register your teams in-person before Round 2.
Questions? Any question regarding the tournament, including registrations, must be sent to hhtournaments@gmail.com, not the Hart House Hub.
Withdrawals: Last minute withdrawals, bye requests, inquiries, please email hhtournaments@gmail.com, and do not call Hart House.
Pre-Registered
Registration lists are updated weekly. Chess Results will be used for pairings and standings.
