2019 BC Senior Chess Championship

Arpak Worya finished a full point ahead of the field at the 7th annual BC Senior Championship.  Despite time trouble in nearly every game, he played solid chess and defeated all three of the other top-rated players (McLaren, Oszvald and Patterson) on the way to a 5.5 - 0.5 performance and a $300 prize.

The championship was held at the Comfort Inn in Surrey, the usual mainland location for the event, over the Canada Day Weekend 29 June to 01 July.  Thirty players competed.

Duncan Haines defeated Brian McLaren on board 2 in the very last game to finish, enabling him to tie with Paul Leblanc for second place overall and top U1900.  The exciting game featured a rook sacrifice creating two passed pawns that could not be stopped despite the proximity of McLaren’s king.

The $250 U1600 prize was won by Stephen Lester-Smith.

Two well known masters from the past, Gerry Neufahrt and Dan Scoones were present part of the weekend as spectators.

pgn file:  (top 5 boards)

The tournament was organized by Paul Leblanc of Victoria Chess and directed by International Arbiter Stephen Wright.  Sponsors were Victoria Chess, the BCCF and several of the players.

Front row: Patterson, Escandor, Landingin, Long, Enns, Batisse, Harris, Lapenna, Pangilinan, Angelvette
Middle row: McIsaac, Kim, Varga, Oszvald, Lee, Jose, Worya, Leblanc, Ganjian
Back row: McLaren, Lester-Smith, Cronin, Monkhouse, Haines, Hansen, Sullivan, MacDonell, Slaby
Absent: Campos, Johnson
Photo by Stephen Wright

 
Last round action.  Duncan Haines vs Brian McLaren (foreground).  Joe Oszvald vs Arpak Worya (background)

Standings