Team Canada wins Bronze at the FRANCOPHONE ONLINE CHESS TEAM CUP
As the National Training Program for Canadian Youths, as sanctioned by CFC, Juniors to Masters Chess Academy Inc. has been asked to form a Team Canada to play in the FRANCOPHONE ONLINE CHESS TEAM CUP on May 15-16, 2021.
Cheering on Team Canada and Team Canada Captain GM Gergely Szabo!
Top Row: Carina D'Souza, Vincent Latorre, Jeffrey R. Zhao
Bottom Row: Rafaël Adam, Anni Guo, James Windram
-----------------------------
The Francophone Chess Association (AIDEF) has been a proud organizer of this prestigious event (Rencontres Internationales des Echecs Francophones) for seven years already, but this 8th edition turned into the first one online. Chess Federation of Canada (CFC) asked our Juniors to Masters Chess Academy Inc. (JtM), the providers of the National Training Program for Canadian Youths as sanctioned by the CFC, to assemble a Team Canada for the Amateur Section.
By having a National Training Program already in place, even under short time notice, Canada is able to quickly and effectively assemble a Team Canada whose Players are already familiar with me as Team Canada Head Coach, and our JtM training and prep methodologies, which can only benefit Players’ overall preparation to International Events like this team competition.
The Canadian Amateur Team (James Windram, Jeffrey R. Zhao, Vincent Latorre, Anni Guo, Rafaël Adam, and Carina D'Souza) was eager to represent their country honing their best chess skills, and to show they didn't get “rusty” during this long period of inactivity over the board.
This tournament was a great chance to get international experience, as 30 teams from 28 countries participated in this inaugural edition. According to the regulations, 11 rounds had to be played in two days – and only one line-up per day was allowed. Thus, we started on the first day with James, Jeffrey, Vincent, and Carina.
Team Canada had a rather slow start on Day 1: after 5 rounds, we only had 5 match points – one win, three ties and one loss. While the result didn't look great, the level of play shown in the games gave us hopes for the second day – my main advice for the team was “don't panic, continue to do what you were doing in the first five rounds; only do it faster!”
The second day was completely different. Our line-up changed to James, Vincent, Rafael and Anni – and Team Canada started to steamroll. Except a 2-2 against Morocco, we managed to win the other 5 matches, most of them quite convincingly (4-0 against Burundi, Belgium, and Albania, 3.5-0.5 against Moldova). It's worth mentioning that the latter two teams were the Gold and Silver medalists in the final ranking; as the first tie-breaking unit was Match Points, our team's stellar comeback netted us the Bronze medals (had the first tie-break been Game Points, our 30.5 points would have topped the overall rankings).
As a trainer, I am extremely proud with the results of our Team Canada, and all players in particular. Special shout out for Anni Guo for her perfect 6/6 score, for Rafael Adam's 5/6, and for Vincent Latorre's 9/11 (scored partly on Board 2!). It's not only the result in itself that makes me feel this way – but being able to stage such a comeback after taking a few hits is an outstanding quality in chess. To go even further: in life, too!
I'd like to end this article by thanking everyone who made this possible: the very professional Organizing Team of AIDEF, the Tornelo website for hosting another great event, the Chess Federation of Canada for giving our Canadian Juniors the opportunity to showcase what they have achieved through their hard work and dedication in our all-year round, Juniors to Masters Chess Academy Inc.'s National Training Program, the parents of the players who were the heart of our “online supporting group”, and...of course, the biggest part of it goes to the artisans of this great result, the players. Go Team Canada!
For details and full results.
GM Gergely Szabo
-------------------------------
Juniors to Masters Chess Academy Inc. is the provider of the National Training Program for Canadian Youths, as sanctioned by the Chess Federation of Canada. Juniors to Masters Chess Academy Inc. was founded by GM Gergely Szabo and Victoria Doknjas. GM Gergely Szabo has been Team Canada’s Head Coach at WYCC, WCCC, World U16 Youth Olympiad, and the Women’s Olympiad. Victoria has been Team Canada’s Head of Delegation at multiple WYCCs and NAYCCs.
Additionally, JtM In-House Masters include published chess book authors (Everyman Chess), FM Joshua Doknjas and FM John Doknjas, as well as NCM Neil Doknjas, and FM Nicholas Vettese.
For more info on Juniors to Masters online group training and special events:
https://juniorstomasters.site123.me/registration
https://juniorstomasters.site123.me/registration/online-tournament-schedule
