2025 Ontario Youth Chess Championship
May 10 – 11, 2025
Plan Ahead
OVERVIEW
The Ontario Youth Chess Championship is the prime junior chess competition in Ontario and the official provincial qualifier to the youth nationals. Each year, dozens of young players compete in the OYCC for a chance to become provincial champions and receive a bursary to represent Ontario in the Canadian Youth Chess Championship. The 2025 OYCC will be hosted by the Toronto Chess Centre on May 10-11 at the St. Robert Catholic High School. Every junior player up to 18 years of age is welcome to play in order to gain experience or compete for one of the top spots! Prospective volunteers and sponsors are welcome!
REGISTRATION
All players must submit this online form by no later than May 8, 2025. The event capacity is 250 players.
WHERE
St. Robert Catholic High School
8101 Leslie St.
Thornhill, ON L3T 7P443
Wheelchair accessible. Free parking. Access to public wi-fi.
ELIGIBILITY
Open to all Ontario-based players, born after January 1, 2007 (no qualification required)
SECTIONS
U8 Open / U8 Girls
U10 Open / U10 Girls
U12 Open / U12 Girls
U14 Open / U14 Girls
U16 Open / U16 Girls
U18 Open / U18 Girls
Depending on registration numbers. Sections may be combined
FORMAT
Regular Swiss or Round Robin (depending on section size)
TIME CONTROL
G/45 min + 30 sec increment
RECORDING OF MOVES
Mandatory throughout the game
BYES
1 point for forced byes; 0 points for requested byes
TIE-BREAKS
TBD
ROUND TIMES
May 10
Opening Remarks: 10:30 am
Round 1: 11:00 am
Round 2: 14:00 pm
Round 3: 17:00 pm
May 11
Round 4: 10:00 am
Round 5: 13:00 pm
Play-offs (if needed): 14:45 – 15:30 pm
Closing Ceremony
PRE-ORDER YOUR LUNCH
TBD
SKITTLES ROOM
A designated section of the library will be reserved for players who finish their games early and want to hang out with their friends. A number of chess sets will be set up in that area and WFM Cindy Qiao will be there to provide engaging and entertaining chess activities, such as chess puzzles, games and videos, to kids who wish to spend their breaks playing more chess.
LECTURE FOR PARENTS
Parents are welcome to attend a lecture by former national youth chess champion and coach Panos Tsialas. Panos will address “The Impact of Chess on Kids’ Character Development”. He will then lead a Q & A session, during which parents will be encouraged to ask questions and share their experience.
SIDE EVENTS
TBD
PRIZES
1st Place
Trophy, $500 Bursary towards the 2025 Canadian Youth Chess Championship (CYCC) in British Columbia and $500 Coupon for a chess class at Canada’s Chess Youth Club
2nd Place
Silver Medal and $200 Coupon for a chess class at Canada’s Chess Youth Club
3rd Place
Bronze Medal and $100 Coupon for a chess class at Canada’s Chess Youth Club
To be eligible for a bursary, a player must score at least 2.5/5. If the winner of any given section fails to attend the 2025 CYCC, their bursary shall be offered to the highest-placed finisher in such section who does attend the nationals and meets the eligibility requirement of a minimum score of 2.5/5.
CYCC QUALIFICATION
Players with a score of at least 50% will be qualified to compete in the Canadian Youth Chess Championship
ENTRY FEE
Early Bird (May 3, 11:59 p.m.): $120
Late Bird (after May 3): $130
PAYMENT METHOD
By eTransfer to [email protected] with the player’s full name mentioned as a note. Please, make the payment by May 8, 2025, 11:59 p.m. No cash on site.
REFUNDS
– $115 back if you notify us by April 30, 11:59 p.m.
– $60 back if you notify us by May 7, 11:59 p.m.
OTHER INFO
– Sets, clocks and scoresheets will be provided
– Complimentary public internet for guests (the internet speed might get slower once the network is joined by many devices)
CONTACT
For questions, concerns, and withdrawals prior to the event email:
ORGANIZERS
Toronto Chess Centre – Alex Ferreira, Mark Plotkin, Panagiotis Tsialas
Co-host – Canada’s Chess Youth Club
OVERVIEW
The Ontario Youth Chess Championship is the prime junior chess competition in Ontario and the official provincial qualifier to the youth nationals. Each year, dozens of young players compete in the OYCC for a chance to become provincial champions and receive a bursary to represent Ontario in the Canadian Youth Chess Championship. The 2025 OYCC will be hosted by the Toronto Chess Centre on May 10-11 at the St. Robert Catholic High School. Every junior player up to 18 years of age is welcome to play in order to gain experience or compete for one of the top spots! Prospective volunteers and sponsors are welcome!
REGISTRATION
All players must submit this online form by no later than May 8, 2025. The event capacity is 250 players.
WHERE
St. Robert Catholic High School
8101 Leslie St.
Thornhill, ON L3T 7P443
Wheelchair accessible. Free parking. Access to public wi-fi.
ELIGIBILITY
Open to all Ontario-based players, born after January 1, 2007 (no qualification needed)
SECTIONS
U8 Open / U8 Girls
U10 Open / U10 Girls
U12 Open / U12 Girls
U14 Open / U14 Girls
U16 Open / U16 Girls
U18 Open / U18 Girls
Depending on registration numbers. Sections may be combined
FORMAT
Regular Swiss or Round Robin (depending on section size)
TIME CONTROL
G/45 min + 30 sec increment
RECORDING OF MOVES
Mandatory throughout the game
BYES
1 point for forced byes; 0 points for requested byes
TIE-BREAKS
TBD
ROUND TIMES
May 10
Opening Remarks: 10:30 am
Round 1: 11:00 am
Round 2: 14:00 pm
Round 3: 17:00 pm
May 11
Round 4: 10:00 am
Round 5: 13:00 pm
Play-offs (if needed): 14:45 – 15:30 pm
Closing Ceremony
PRE-ORDER YOUR LUNCH
TBD
SKITTLES ROOM
A designated section of the library will be reserved for players who finish their games early and want to hang out with their friends. A number of chess sets will be set up in that area and WFM Cindy Qiao will be there to provide engaging and entertaining chess activities, such as chess puzzles, games and videos, to kids who wish to spend their breaks playing more chess.
LECTURE FOR PARENTS
Parents are welcome to attend a lecture by former national youth chess champion and coach Panos Tsialas. Panos will address “The Impact of Chess on Kids’ Character Development”. He will then lead a Q & A session, during which parents will be encouraged to ask questions and share their experience.
SIDE EVENTS
TBD
PRIZES
1st Place
Trophy, $500 Bursary towards the 2025 Canadian Youth Chess Championship (CYCC) in British Columbia and $500 Coupon for a chess class at Canada’s Chess Youth Club
2nd Place
Silver Medal and $200 Coupon for a chess class at Canada’s Chess Youth Club
3rd Place
Bronze Medal and $100 Coupon for a chess class at Canada’s Chess Youth Club
To be eligible for a bursary, a player must score at least 2.5/5. If the winner of any given section fails to attend the 2025 CYCC, their bursary shall be offered to the highest-placed finisher in such section who does attend the nationals and meets the eligibility requirement of a minimum score of 2.5/5.
CYCC QUALIFICATION
Players with a score of at least 50% will be qualified to compete in the Canadian Youth Chess Championship
ENTRY FEE
Early Bird (May 3, 11:59 pm): $120
Late Bird (after May 3): $130
PAYMENT METHOD
By eTransfer to [email protected] with the player’s full name mentioned as a note. Please, make the payment by May 8, 2025, 11:59 p.m. No cash on site.
REFUNDS
– $115 back if you notify us by April 30, 11:59 p.m.
– $60 back if you notify us by May 7, 11:59 p.m.
OTHER INFO
– Sets, clocks and scoresheets will be provided
– Complimentary internet for guests (the internet speed might be slow once the network is joined by many people)
CONTACT
For questions, concerns, and withdrawals prior to the event email: [email protected]
ORGANIZERS
Toronto Chess Centre – Alex Ferreira, Mark Plotkin, Panagiotis Tsialas;
Co-host – Canada’s Chess Youth Club
