TCC Youth Grand Prix I
October 18, 2025
Plan Ahead
OVERVIEW
The TCC Youth Grand Prix is a six-tournament series designed to bring together Canada’s strongest young chess players in a competitive and motivating environment. The series will serve as a platform for rising talents to compete head-to-head under rigorous conditions and strive toward international standards.
Each event is a rapid Swiss tournament, and players will collect system points based on their performance. The best 4 results from each player’s events will count toward the final standings. The overall winner of the Grand Prix earns a full sponsorship to the Kavala International Open Chess Tournament 2026, held in Greece in late July–early August, one of Europe’s most prestigious nine-round open tournaments, where top performers have the chance to compete for IM/GM norms and other international titles.
This series is not a CYCC or OCC qualifier, but rather an elite competition aimed at preparing Canada’s youth for international success.
ELIGIBILITY
- Age: Open to players 20 years old or younger (born in 2006 or after)
- Rating: Minimum of 1700 CFC (regular or active) or 1600 FIDE (standard, rapid, or blitz)
- Critical Date: Ratings will be checked based on the Thursday before each event
WHEN
Saturday, October 18, 2025
WHERE
St. Robert Catholic High School
8101 Leslie St,
Thornhill, ON L3T 7P4
ACCESSIBILITY
From the School’s Main Entrance
Wheelchair Accessible
PARKING
Free
REGISTRATION
All players must submit this online form by no later than October 16, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.
FORMAT & RULES
- System: Swiss Pairing
- Time Control: G/20 min + 5 sec increment
- Rounds: 5 rounds per event
- Byes: Maximum 1 half-point bye available in rounds 1–4
- Ratings: All events are CFC and FIDE rated
- Seeding & Pairing: Each player’s highest rating will be used for seeding, pairing and tie-breaking purposes
- Sections: One unified section
GRAND PRIX POINTS
- To be eligible for the Grand Prize, a player must complete a minimum of four Grand Prix tournaments.
- The scores (points) of each tournament will be tabulated for the final score of the Grand Prix.
Example: In the October tournament, Jane scores 2.5/5 and in November she scores 3.0/5. Her overall score after two Grand Prix tournaments is 5.5/10.
- The final Grand Prix score will be out of 20, corresponding to 5 rounds in each of the 4 Grand Prix tournaments.
- A player may choose to participate in more than 4 Grand Prix events. The top 4 scores will be taken to determine the Grand Prix series winner. Additional, lower scores will be discarded and will only matter if tie-breaks 2 and 3 below kick in.
GRAND PRIX TIE-BREAKS
Should two or more players have the same overall score out of 20, the following tie-breakers will be applied:
1 – Grand Prix Tie Breaking Points
For each Grand Prix tournament, the average rating of all participants (including the top finishers in question) will be taken, and the tournament will be assigned a category. A “bonus score” will be assigned to each participant based on the Grand Prix legs they played in. This criterion is based on the average rating of all participants for each Grand Prix tournament.
Modifier Avg ELO
- Category 1800 = 1 bonus point
- Category 1825 = 2 bonus points
- Category 1850 = 3 bonus points
- Category 1875 = 4 bonus points
- Category 1900 = 5 bonus points
- Category 1925 = 6 bonus points
- Category 1950 = 7 bonus points
- Category 1975 = 8 bonus points
- Category 2000 = 9 bonus points
- Category 2025 = 10 bonus points
- Category 2050 = 11 bonus points
- Category 2075 = 12 bonus points
- Category 2100 = 13 bonus points
- Category 2125 = 14 bonus points
- Category 2150 = 15 bonus points
- Category 2175 = 16 bonus points
- Category 2200 = 17 bonus points
Example: If Jane ties for first place in the Grand Prix and the average rating of the total field for the October tournament she played in, is 1853, Jane gets 3 “tie-breaker points”. If the average rating of the total field was 2074 for the November tournament she played in, she gets 11 “tie-breaker points” added to her tie-breaker score. That is 14 tie-breaker points (3 from October and 11 from November) from the two tournaments, and so on for all 4 of Jane’s top tournament finishes.
*This tie-breaker rewards players who played in stronger Grand Prix legs.
2 – In case of a tie, the 5th best score from a Grand Prix leg will be taken, if applicable.
3 – In case of a tie, the 6th best score from a Grand Prix leg will be taken, if applicable.
*Tie-breakers 2 & 3 reward participation and strong performance in more Grand Prix legs.
4 – In case of a tie, a 4-game Rapid play-off between the top two finishers, with the same time control of 20 mins + 5 inc, to be arranged as soon as possible after the Grand Prix series is completed.
CAPACITY
60 Players
ROUND TIMES
Arrival: 10:40 a.m. No check-in on site.
Welcome Address: 10:50 a.m.
– Round 1: 11:00 a.m.
– Round 2: 12:00 p.m.
– Round 3: 1:30 p.m.
– Round 4: 2:30 p.m.
– Round 5: 3:30 p.m.
Closing Ceremony: As soon as Round 5 ends
Lunch break between Rounds 2 and 3
DEFAULT TIME
No default time for showing up late in a game but your clock shall be started.
CFC ID & CFC MEMBERSHIP
– Players must obtain a free CFC ID by no later than October 18, 2025
– A paid CFC Membership is not required
PRIZES
A. Grand Prix Champion
- Full sponsorship to represent the TCC in the Kavala International Open 2026
- Free round-trip flight to Greece
- Free hotel accommodation for 8 nights
- Free entry fee
B. Per Event Prizes
- Gold Medal – 1st Place
- Silver Medal – 2nd Place
- Bronze Medal – 3rd Place
ENTRY FEE
$60/player
IMs receive free entry if they register by October 4 (two weeks prior to the event)
BYES
Maximum of 1 half-point BYE available during rounds 1-4
PAYMENT METHOD
By eTransfer to [email protected] with the player’s full name mentioned as a note.
Deadline: October 16, 2025, 11:59 p.m. No cash on-site.
REFUNDS
– $55 back if you notify us by October 15, at 11:59 p.m.
– $30 if you notify us before Round 1 pairings are posted
– No refund after Round 1 pairings are posted
OTHER INFO
Sets, clocks and scoresheets will be provided. Complimentary access to public wi-fi.
CONTACT
For questions, concerns, and withdrawals email:
ORGANIZERS
Toronto Chess Centre – Alex Ferreira, Mark Plotkin, Panagiotis Tsialas
OVERVIEW
The TCC Youth Grand Prix is a six-tournament series designed to bring together Canada’s strongest young chess players in a competitive and motivating environment. The series will serve as a platform for rising talents to compete head-to-head under rigorous conditions and strive toward international standards.
Each event is a rapid Swiss tournament, and players will collect system points based on their performance. The best 4 results from each player’s events will count toward the final standings. The overall winner of the Grand Prix earns a full sponsorship to the Kavala International Open Chess Tournament 2026, held in Greece in late July–early August, one of Europe’s most prestigious nine-round open tournaments, where top performers have the chance to compete for IM/GM norms and other international titles.
This series is not a CYCC or OCC qualifier, but rather an elite competition aimed at preparing Canada’s youth for international success.
ELIGIBILITY
- Age: Open to players 20 years old or younger (born in 2006 or after)
- Rating: Minimum of 1700 CFC (regular or active) or 1600 FIDE (standard, rapid, or blitz)
- Critical Date: Ratings will be checked based on CFC’s Thursday, October 16 rating update
WHEN
Saturday, October 18, 2025
WHERE
St. Robert Catholic High School
8101 Leslie St,
Thornhill, ON L3T 7P4
ACCESSIBILITY
From the School’s Main Entrance.
Wheelchair Accessible.
PARKING
Free
REGISTRATION
All players must submit this online form by no later than October 16, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.
FORMAT & RULES
- System: Swiss Pairing
- Time Control: G/20 min + 5 sec increment
- Rounds: 5 rounds per event
- Byes: Maximum 1 half-point bye available in rounds 1–4
- Ratings: All events are CFC and FIDE rated
- Seeding & Pairing: Each player’s highest rating will be used for seeding, pairing and tie-breaking purposes
- Sections: One unified section
GRAND PRIX POINTS
- To be eligible for the Grand Prize, a player must complete a minimum of four Grand Prix tournaments.
- The scores (points) of each tournament will be tabulated for the final score of the Grand Prix.
Example: In the October tournament, Jane scores 2.5/5 and in November she scores 3.0/5. Her overall score after two Grand Prix tournaments is 5.5/10.
- The final Grand Prix score will be out of 20, corresponding to 5 rounds in each of the 4 Grand Prix tournaments.
- A player may choose to participate in more than 4 Grand Prix events. The top 4 scores will be taken to determine the Grand Prix series winner. Additional, lower scores will be discarded and will only matter if tie-breaks 2 and 3 below kick in
GRAND PRIX TIE-BREAKS
Should two or more players have the same overall score out of 20, the following tie-breakers will be applied:
1 – Grand Prix Tie Breaking Points
For each Grand Prix tournament, the average rating of all participants (including the top finishers in question) will be taken, and the tournament will be assigned a category. A “bonus score” will be assigned to each participant based on the Grand Prix legs they played in. This criterion is based on the average rating of all participants for each Grand Prix tournament.
Modifier Avg ELO
- Category 1800 = 1 bonus point
- Category 1825 = 2 bonus points
- Category 1850 = 3 bonus points
- Category 1875 = 4 bonus points
- Category 1900 = 5 bonus points
- Category 1925 = 6 bonus points
- Category 1950 = 7 bonus points
- Category 1975 = 8 bonus points
- Category 2000 = 9 bonus points
- Category 2025 = 10 bonus points
- Category 2050 = 11 bonus points
- Category 2075 = 12 bonus points
- Category 2100 = 13 bonus points
- Category 2125 = 14 bonus points
- Category 2150 = 15 bonus points
- Category 2175 = 16 bonus points
- Category 2200 = 17 bonus points
Example: If Jane ties for first place in the Grand Prix and the average rating of the total field for the October tournament she played in, is 1853, Jane gets 3 “tie-breaker points”. If the average rating of the total field was 2074 for the November tournament she played in, she gets 11 “tie-breaker points” added to her tie-breaker score. That is 14 tie-breaker points (3 from October and 11 from November) from the two tournaments, and so on for all 4 of Jane’s top tournament finishes.
*This tie-breaker rewards players who played in stronger Grand Prix legs.
2 – In case of a tie, the 5th best score from a Grand Prix leg will be taken, if applicable.
3 – In case of a tie, the 6th best score from a Grand Prix leg will be taken, if applicable.
*Tie-breakers 2 & 3 reward participation and strong performance in more Grand Prix legs.
4 – In case of a tie, a 4-game Rapid play-off between the top two finishers, with the same time control of 20 mins + 5 inc, to be arranged as soon as possible after the Grand Prix series is completed.
CAPACITY
60 Players
ROUND TIMES
Arrival: 10:40 a.m. No check-in on site.
Welcome Address: 10:50 a.m.
– Round 1: 11:00 a.m.
– Round 2: 12:00 p.m.
– Round 3: 1:30 p.m.
– Round 4: 2:30 p.m.
– Round 5: 3:30 p.m.
Closing Ceremony: As soon as Round 5 ends
Lunch break between Rounds 2 and 3
DEFAULT TIMES
No default time for showing up late in a game but your clock shall be started.
CFC ID & CFC MEMBERSHIP
– Players must obtain a free CFC ID by no later than October 18, 2025
– A paid CFC Membership is not required
PRIZES
A. Grand Prix Champion
- Full sponsorship to represent the TCC at the Kavala International Open 2026
- Free round-trip flight to Greece
- Free hotel accommodation for 8 nights
- Free entry fee
B. Per Event Prizes
- Gold Medal – 1st Place
- Silver Medal – 2nd Place
- Bronze Medal – 3rd Place
ENTRY FEE
$60/player
IMs receive free entry if they register by October 4 (two weeks prior to the event)
BYES
Maximum of 1 half-point BYE available during rounds 1-4
PAYMENT METHOD
By eTransfer to [email protected] with the player’s full name mentioned as a note. Deadline: October 16, 2025, 11:59 p.m. No cash on-site.
REFUNDS
- $55 back if you notify us by October 15, at 11:59 p.m.
- $30 if you notify us before Round 1 pairings are posted
- No refund after Round 1 pairings are posted
OTHER INFO
Sets, clocks and scoresheets (recording is optional) will be provided. Complimentary access to public wi-fi.
CONTACT
For questions, concerns, and withdrawals email:
ORGANIZERS
Toronto Chess Centre – Alex Ferreira, Mark Plotkin, Panagiotis Tsialas
