The 8th Edmonton International Chess Festival is being held at the Edmonton Chess Club on June 22-July 1st. It will be an exciting week of chess for all levels ages and interests.
The main event of the Festival will be the 8th Annual Edmonton International. Just like in previous years, the tournament will offer norm opportunities for aspiring players. The expected Grandmaster norm will be: 6.5/9 while the International Master norm for participants who do not already have this title will be 4.5/9.
The top portion of the tournament, will be the strongest yet. We are excited that the famous English Grandmaster Nigel Short, will be returning to defend his title. He will be joined by a Cuban Super-Grandmaster Lazaro Bruzon, who is the highest rated tournament participant according to the May rating list.
The tournament will also feature: Alberta’s first Grandmaster – Eric Hansen from Calgary and former Olympiad Bronze medalist from team Israel – Grandmaster Victor Mikhalevski.
The top Edmonton participant will be International Master Edward Porper, who is the current Edmonton Champion. The 14 year old local star International Master Richard Wang will be the second Edmontonian in the roster, while the list of local participants will also include National Master Robert J. Gardner, who managed the improbable and scored an International Master norm in last year’s edition of the tournament.
Reserves Open section will be open to everyone and it will take place on June 29-July 1st.
Side events of the event will include: a lecture by GM Nigel Short, a simul by GM Lazaro Bruzon and a Blitz tournament.
Chief Arbiter: FA Ali Razzaq
Assistant Arbiter: IA Vladislav Rekhson
Chief Organizer: Micah Hughey
Will Nakamura play?
No, Nakamura is too busy waxing lyrical as he tries to rationalyse his propensity for brain hiccups.