2025 Ontario Youth Chess Championship

May 10 – 11, 2025

Plan Ahead

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:

[email protected]

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