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).
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.
The Hart House Chess Club (HHCC) is pleased to host the Hart House October Open Tournament from Sat. October 26th – Sun. October 27th, 2024. The event is perfect for students and community members wanting to play a classical-rated tournament over only two days. The tournament will be a 5-round Swiss, with 60 mins plus a 30-second increment added per move. We hope to see new and old faces again!
Tournament Details
When:Sat. October 26th to Sun. October 27th. Rd #1 starts at 10:00 A.M.
Format: 5-round CFC-Rated, Swiss Tournament
Location: Hart House Debates Room, Committees Room, 7 Hart House Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 3H3
Prizes: Projected $3600 based on 100 fully paid players Organizers: Hart House Chess Club
Entry Fees and Registration
Entry Fees: $50 by September 25th, $60 by October 25th (see discounts below)
Registration: SOLD OUT Online registration by noon Friday, October 25th. No onsite registration. Registration is also available in person or via telephone at the Hart House Hub.
Additional Information
Byes: Up to one 1/2 point bye can be requested by emailing us by noon on October 25.
Section Eligibility: No playing up allowed. CFC regular ratings are used for pairings.
Discounts: $30 discount for unrated players in their first tournament and student members of the Club. Max one discount per player. Unrated players are ineligible for prizes. Free entry for IM/WIM by October 1st (email us for details).
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.
The Hart House Chess Club (HHCC) hosts the Hart House Summer Open Tournament from Sat. August 3rd – Sun. August 4th, 2024. The event is perfect for students and community members wanting to play a classical-rated tournament over only two days. The tournament will be a 5-round Swiss, with 60 mins plus a 30-second increment added per move. We hope to see new and old faces again!
TIME CONTROL: 60 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move
SECTIONS: Crown, U1800, U1200
RATING: CFC Regular Rated.
EQUIPMENT: HHCC will supply all chess equipment
PRIZES: $3000 based on 100 players
REGISTRATION: Online registration is open until August 1st at 11:59 PM. In-person and telephone registration is available through the Hart House Information Desk during Hart House Hours until August 1st. – REGISTRATION FULL
Registration Details
Entry Fees: $50 by July 1st, $60 by August 1st. $30 discount for unrated players in their first tournament and UofT students. Max one discount per player. Unrated players are ineligible for prizes. Free entry for IMs/WIMs by July 15th — email us for details.
Section Eligibility: No playing up allowed. Highest of CFC Regular, CFC Quick, FIDE Standard, and will be used for section eligibility at arbiters’ discretion. CFC regular ratings are used for pairings.
Byes: Up to one 1/2 point bye can be requested via email by 11:59 PM on August 1st
Prize Payments: All prizes less than or equal to $150 will be paid via gift cards. Prizes greater than $150 will be paid via direct deposit OR via gift cards upon request.
The Hart House Chess Club is hosting a Summer Rapid and Blitz Festival this July 19th – July 20th! The event is a 7-round double-round blitz tournament on Friday, July 19th followed by a 6-round Rapid event on Saturday, July 20th. Come join us this summer for some fun! We’re also participating in the FIDE 100th Year International Chess Day festivities to break the Guinness World Record for most games played in a day!
REGISTRATION: Online registration is open until July 18th at 11:59 PM. In-person and telephone registration is available through the Hart House Information Desk during Hart House Hours until July 18th. Onsite registration available until 5:30 pm.
REGISTRATION: Online registration is open until July 18th at 11:59 PM. In-person and telephone registration is available through the Hart House Information Desk during Hart House Hours until July 18th.
ARBITERS: FA Alex Ferreira, NA Tanner McNamara, NA Victor Zheng, NA Ahmed Khalf
Registration Details
Entry Fees:
Blitz only: $15 by July 1st midnight, $20 by July 18th midnight. $10 discount for UofT students. Onsite: $20 before 5:30 pm.
Rapid only: $35 by July 1st midnight, $40 by July 18th midnight. $20 discount for UofT students
Rapid and Blitz: $40 by July 1st midnight, $50 by July 18th midnight. $20 discount for UofT students
Free entry for IMs/WIMs by July 1st — email us for details.
Section Eligibility: No playing up allowed. Highest of CFC Regular, CFC Quick, and FIDE Rapid/Blitz will be used for section eligibility at arbiters’ discretion. CFC Quick Ratings will be used for pairings.
Prize Payments: All prizes less than or equal to $150 will be paid via gift cards. Prizes greater than $150 will be paid via direct deposit OR via gift cards upon request.
The Hart House Chess Club is excited to announce Weekly Quads! This June, join us for up to 3 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 gameplay. It is also a great tournament for those new to chess. No commitment to all weeks is necessary, play whenever you can!
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.
Tournament Details
WHEN: Friday, June 7, 14, and 28 from 7 pm to 9 pm. Rd #1 starts at 7:00 pm. June 28th Quad is cancelled due to President Day Holiday at HH.
TIME CONTROL: 10 minutes + 5 seconds increment per move
SECTIONS: Players are split by ratings into pools of 4, up to 4 pools
RATING: CFC Quick and FIDE Rapid rated in all quads where all players have FIDE ratings. Otherwise, only CFC Quick Rated. CFC Quick ratings are used for all pairings. All players must have a valid CFC membership to play.
EQUIPMENT: HHCC will supply all chess equipment
PRIZES: $50 gift card for first place in each quad.
CAPACITY: 16 per night
ENTRY FEES: Free for GMs, IMs, HHCC members, and students of the University of Toronto. $20 for public.
REGISTRATION: Accepted ONLY in person from 6:00 pm – 6:45 pm in the Reading Room.
