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2025 Pan-American Intercollegiate Chess Championship Qualifiers

Published on by harthousechess

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. 

Contact and Additional Links

For additional details about the event, please visit: https://www.charlottechesscenter.org/events/collegiate

For any questions, please contact the Executive at hhchess@studentorg.utoronto.ca 

Pre-Registered Players

Pairings and Results

Tiebreaks

Player NameCFC IDCFC RatingFIDE IDFIDE Rating
Nicholas Vettese154199249226200902341
Fengxi Mao166033236926325862115
Samuel Zhang1711472322309429932141
Eilia Zomorrodian1692382294125518052145
Henry Zhang153836222226201622133
Nicolai WolteryN/A–4368872075
Victor Zheng150532219226201891892
Cindy Qiao155864214726202431894
Bingfei Wang172444195786185851792
Yun Hong Li162472189726310831796
Yukuan Zou178153166926586151598
Chol Elijah Akol179537157626357631594
Punnawit PayapvattanavongN/AN/A62065901589
Eli Schyngera 164976156426357631652
Jayden Henry Tan179333152526636601640
Zi Sheng Wang18383615122668050Unrated
Timothy Vo1837331516N/A–
Evan Andersen175925148026429481579
Qing Yuan Zheng1691601235N/A–
Coby Cheung174460985N/A–
Ishan KapoorN/AUnratedN/A–
Osman OkmenN/AUnratedN/A–
Muneem KhanN/AUnratedN/A–
Ahnaf ChowdhuryN/AUnratedN/A–
Sebastian SkjensvoldN/AUnratedN/A–
Chris NguyenN/AUnratedN/A–

Kaiy Cao – Communications

Published on by harthousechess

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.

Mark Li – Fundraiser

Published on by harthousechess

Mark Li is a third-year undergraduate student at U of T majoring in Physiology and Molecular Genetics and Microbiology. First introduced to chess by his father and brother as a small child, he has grown to greatly love and appreciate the game of chess and its unique complexities. With the goal of beating his brother one day, he consistently played chess and was the president of his school chess club for 6 years where he managed to popularize and lead their competitive chess team to provincial tournaments. As a person who loves playing online and recently breaking the 2400 online rating barrier on chess.com, he hopes to start playing FIDE tournaments with aspirations to one day get a title.

Mark has joined the Hart House Chess Club executive team with aspirations to further support and improve the inclusive and supportive environment that the club offers to all chess players. With the goal of putting the players first, he will work to make sure all members of the U of T community fully enjoy their chess experiences.

Bingfei Wang – Secretary & President

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Bingfei is a second-year undergraduate student at U of T’s Rotman Commerce program, specializing in finance. He currently serves as the President & Secretary of the Hart House Chess Club (HHCC) and is excited to contribute to the club’s vibrant community. At age 9, Bingfei discovered chess at a youth board game center and has been hooked ever since. He plays regularly at club meetups on Wednesdays and Saturdays, constantly honing his skills.

An active member of the chess community, Bingfei began coaching fellow players when he was in Grade 9, sharing his love for the game with younger students. By 16, he was already serving as a tournament arbiter, helping to run competitions smoothly. After immigrating to Canada, he continued competing in tournaments and steadily improved his game. His dedication is reflected in his current CFC (Chess Federation of Canada) rating of 2206, and he has earned a National Master norm.

Bingfei has proudly represented the University of Toronto and HHCC in major intercollegiate events. He has competed in the Pan-American Intercollegiate Chess Championship, the Canadian University Chess Championship, and the annual U of T vs. UWaterloo match. As the club’s Secretary, he aims to uphold HHCC’s rich traditions while introducing new events to boost member participation and community involvement.

Outside of chess, Bingfei is an avid gamer and sports enthusiast. He was once ranked #46 in North America and #127 in China in the game Hearthstone. He’s a master-level player in Clash Royale. In his spare time, he enjoys playing badminton.

Deepanshi Matai – Communications

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Deepanshi is a third-year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology and English. They are excited to be part of the Hart House Chess Club executive team and be more involved in the community as one of the Communication reps. 

Deepanshi grew up in India, where it was near-impossible to escape the excitement chess brought about with every major tournament. Even though they’ve been following chess since childhood, they only started playing recently and hope to keep improving. Deepanshi has previously worked as a photographer for the Club and volunteered at several events, including Zonals 2024. In their role as Communication rep, they hope to increase outreach and promote participation for beginners from diverse backgrounds. 

When they’re not too busy blundering their pieces away, you will probably find Deepanshi reciting Shakespeare to themselves or on a badminton court.

2025 Hart House Reading Week Open

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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. 

Tournament Details

  • WHEN: February 15th to February 17th
  • WHERE: Hart House Great Hall (7 Hart House Circle, Toronto, ON)
  • ROUNDTIMES: 6-Round Swiss
    • Open Sections: Saturday 10:00 am & 4:00 pm, Sunday 10:00 am & 4:00 pm, and Monday 10:00 am & 4:00 pm
    • Juniors-U1500: One day, Sunday 10:30 am, 12:30, 3:00 pm, 5:00 pm 
  • 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
  • Withdrawals: see our Policies.
  • New Players: review our New To Tournament Guide.
  • 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.

Crown: https://chess-results.com/tnr1102404.aspx
U2200: https://chess-results.com/tnr1102415.aspx
U1900: https://chess-results.com/tnr1102429.aspx
U1600: https://chess-results.com/tnr1102433.aspx
U1300: https://chess-results.com/tnr1102440.aspx
Juniors-U1500: https://chess-results.com/tnr1102442

Chess in the Great Hall of Hart House, 2024

2024 Hart House Holidays Open

Published on by harthousechess

We are thrilled to announce to the Hart House community that the annual Hart House Holidays Open Chess Tournament is back for another year! We invite you to join us from Friday, December 20th to Sunday, December 22nd at Hart House for another edition of our annual flagship event. Featuring six sections designed to accommodate all skill levels, this presents the ideal opportunity to participate in a competitive chess tournament.

Tournament Details

  • WHERE: Great Hall, Hart House, University of Toronto.
    • Juniors (U1200): East Common Room, Hart House
  • WHEN: December 20th, 21st, 22nd.
  • SCHEDULE:
    • Crown, U2200, U1900, U1600, U1300, Wisdom: Friday 20th at 6:30pm, Saturday 21st at 10:00am & 4:00pm, Sunday 22nd at 10:00am & 4:00pm
    • Junior Section (U1200): Sunday 22nd at 10:30am, 12:30pm, 3pm, & 5pm
  • TIME CONTROL: 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move 1 for all sections. 30 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move 1 for Juniors (U1200).
  • STYLE: 5 Round Swiss split in 5 rating sections – Crown (2200+), Under 2200, Under 1900, Under 1600, Under 1300. 4 Round Swiss for Juniors (U1200).
  • WISDOM SECTION: Open to players 50+, one section, not separated by rating. Section must have 12 players or players will be placed into their section by rating.
  • RATING: All sections will be CFC-rated. Crown, U2200, U1900, and U1600 sections will also be FIDE rated. The Crown Section will be paired using FIDE ratings.
  • 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 FA Alex Ferreira as arbiter.
  • EMAIL: hhtournaments@gmail.com
  • CAPACITY: 220 players in the Great Hall

Registration

Online registration is available until Wednesday, December 18th at 11:59 PM. In-person and telephone registration is available through the Hart House Information Desk during Hart House Hours.

Entry Fees

$70 by November 30th at 11:59 pm, $80 by December 18th at 11:59 pm and $100 cash-only on-site if space permits.

$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 Fri. November 30th. Please email us for all discount information. Juniors section $30 discount, no cash prizes.

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

  • HHCC will utilize DGT boards for portions of the Crown section.
  • Registrants must be current CFC members or bring payment prior to playing — please visit https://chess.ca/membership-fees for more info
  • Withdrawals: see our Policies.
  • Unrated players should review our New To Tournament Guide.
  • 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
  • Live games: https://lichess.org/broadcast/2024-hart-house-holidays-open/round-1/MYd5iaVu

Pre-Registered, Standings, Pairings

Players will be placed in sections according to eligibility, based on the Dec 19 rating update, not necessarily according to how people registered themselves.

Chess Results:

2024 Hart House Club Championship

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Attention all Hart House Chess Club members! The Hart House Chess Club’s annual Club Championship is back this year. All students and alumni of the Hart House Chess Club are invited to compete for the honour of Club Champion. Games will be played over Summer 2024 in the Bickersteth Room of Hart House on Friday nights. Add your name to the list of historic Club Champions! 

Tournament Details

WHEN: Friday, July 5th – Friday, August 30. 7 pm – 11 pm. Make-up date on July 19th and August 16th. 7 rounds in total.
WHERE: Hart House Bickersteth Room (3rd floor), (7 Hart House Circle, Toronto, ON)
ROUND TIMES:  7:00 pm weekly
TIME CONTROL: 90 mins + 30 secs/move increment
SECTIONS: Championship Section and Reserve Section, split by rating into groups of 8 players.
RATINGS: CFC Regular and FIDE rated. All players must have a valid CFC membership to play.
EQUIPMENT: HHCC will supply all chess equipment
PRIZES: Hart House Chess Club Championship Trophy, free entry to all 2024-2025 Club events
CAPACITY: 16 players
Arbiter(s): Victor Zheng, Tanner McNamara
ENTRY FEES: Free for all students and alumni of the University of Toronto.
ELIGIBILITY: Only Current students and alumni of the University of Toronto are eligible. Only 16 spots available, ordered by rating. If there is interest, we will aim to accommodate as many players as possible.
REGISTRATION is FREE: Registrations are now CLOSED.

Contact the Club at hhchess@studentorg.utoronto.ca for any questions.

Chess Federation of Canada Memberships are Required: $20 for a one-time adult, or $48 for one year. https://www.chess.ca/en/players/membership-join/ 

Header Image:

David Fox receives his trophy for winning the Club championship in the Fall of 1947. The Club Championship trophy sits on the table. See more at History

2024 Winter HHCC Lesson Schedule

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Location: Bickersteth Room

DateBeginner Teacher: Steven Guo 4:30-5:30PMIntermediate Teachers: Jon Yu & Steven Guo 5:30-7:00 PM
January 19Overview + Rules of the Game Board notation and main objectivesPins, forks, skewers …  Common tactics
January 26Opening Principles When to break principlesDeflection, attraction, clearance … Intermediate Tactics
February 2Choosing your OpeningsCommon mistakes in the openingTactic checklist- hard puzzles, when to look for a tactic?
February 9Approaching the Middlegame – Creating PlansImportant Rook Endgames 
February 16To be announced dependant on group levelPiece Coordination in the Endgame
February 23To be announced dependant on group levelCommon Queen, Bishop, and Pawn endgames
March 1To be announced dependant on group levelPawn Structure in the Middlegame – Proactive and reactive breaks
March 8To be announced dependant on group levelDeveloping plans in the Middlegame – Piece harmony and when to trade
March 15To be announced dependant on group levelDynamic Openings overview
March 22To be announced dependant on group levelClosed Openings overview
March 29To be announced dependant on group levelAnalysis of student games – Incorporating computer analysis when studying chess
April 5To be announced dependant on group levelHow to Improve at Chess

Merchandise

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GM Shawn Rodrigue-Lemieux showcasing the Navy Blue HHCC t-shirt!

The Hart House Chess Club is proud to have high quality, club branded merchandise available for purchase. 100% of proceeds supports the activities and members of the Hart House Chess Club.

As of 2025, the Club maintains a stock of:

  • t-shirts available at $25 per shirt.

To purchase merchandise, please purchase online here and contact us at hhchess@studentorg.utoronto.ca to coordinate a pickup. Alternatively, you may pay in-person at the Hart House HUB, during Casual Chess Fridays or during tournaments.

Call for Support

During its history, Hart House Chess Club has benefited crucially from the number of its members who have chosen to maintain their association and support of the Club beyond their time as students. This has helped the Club to maintain continuity not only of its existence but also of its character. Anyone who has played at the Club will attest to the liveliness of its atmosphere and the enthusiasm of its members. The stream of students who have come through its doors over the years consists of the whole range of players, from complete beginners to ones with international titles.

HHCC Toque

As the Club moves into its 127th year of existence as U of T’s official Chess Club, its initiatives keep increasing, hitting record numbers of club members as well as internal and external events. More and more students get to enjoy the invaluable benefits of the game in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. However, these rich activities have also resulted in increased costs, costs that we need your support to sustain.

If you would like to make a donation instead, please visit Donation

CM Koosha Jaferian wearing the HHCC black t-shirt
2023 Hart House Chess Club Varsity team members
Executive Bowen Zhang with GM Naroditsky, 2022