5th Annual Grand Pacific Open

The 5th annual Grand Pacific Open Chess Tournament is being played on Easter Weekend April 22nd to 25th at the Hotel Grand Pacific in Victoria, Canada.

The main event is a 6 round FIDE and CFC rated Swiss with $4000 in prizes. There are also a number of side events, including a Scholastic tournament, an active tournament, Midnight Blitz with $100 in prizes, and a Bughouse tournament.

Play begins at 6:00 pm Friday and continues during the afternoon and evening on Saturday and Sunday, concluding with the final round Monday at 10:00 am.

Top contenders are Grandmaster Igor Rausis of the Czech Republic, BC Champion Jack Yoos of Vancouver, Women's Grandmaster Nino Maisuradze of France, International Master Lawrence Day of Toronto (last year's winner) and Women's FIDE Master Valeria Gansvind of Estonia.

However, the younger generation is out in force, led by World Under 10 Champion Jason Cao of Victoria. Also present will be US Grade One Champion Praveer Sharan of Lake Oswego, Oregon, Canadian Under 16 Champion Tanraj Sohal of Surrey, US National Girls Champion Alexandra Botez of Burnaby, Canadian Under 8 Champion Joshua Doknjas of Surrey and Canadian Under 8 Girls Champion Andrea Botez of Burnaby.

The tournament hall itself is the very nice ballroom at the 5 Star Hotel Grand Pacific. The hotel is located on the Inner Harbour in downtown Victoria, close to tourist destinations and across the street from the Seattle Clipper and Coho ferry connections.

Sections: Open (FIDE and CFC rated); U1400 (CFC rated) - 6 round Swiss
Time Control: Game in 90 minutes with a 30 second increment

Prize Fund: $4000 Guaranteed:

Open Section: $1000+Trophy, $600, $400
U2000 $400 + Trophy, $300
U1700 $350 + Trophy, $250;
Top BC Player qualifies for BC Closed.
U1400 Section: $300 + Trophy, $200;
Top Unrated (Highest score in either section) $100
Biggest Upset $100