GMs triumph at Canada Closed . . . IM Schleifer places 5th

Canada

IM Michael Schleifer is the ultimate chess professional. Besides authoring countless chess articles for En Passant, and his weekly lectures at the World Chess Network, he has the reputation as a terror in Canadian weekend Swiss tournaments. Ironically, the Canadian Closed (FIDE Zonal) now uses the Swiss system which has raised ire among some Canadian purists who assert that the system dilutes the titles earned. Nevertheless, the recent Canadian Closed featured two heavyweights in GMs Kevin Spraggett and Alexandre LeSiège (who won six games in a row at one point). Schleifer earned his IM title at the 1999 Canadian Closed (in a round robin) beating  IM Byron Nickoloff in the last round. However, this year, the two GMs bested a field of 31 with 8-1 scores and are now in the 2nd round of a playoff to determine the winner. IM Schleifer was nicked by FM Steven Glinert and was on the losing side of his encounter with GM LeSiège. He also had a 96-move draw with GM Spraggett in which the final position appeared almost artistic. The Quebec resident finished with 5½ points.

IM Michael Schleifer. Copyright © 2001, Daaim Shabazz.

IM Schleifer


Place Name                    Rtg  Loc  Title Club Score Progr. M-Buch. Buch. Wins

  1   SPRAGGETT, Kevin        2531 2633 gm    ON   8       40.0    27.0  50.5    7
  2   LESIÈGE, Alexandre      2564 2617 gm    QC   8       38.0    27.0  50.0    7
  3   KHASSANOV, Marat        2363 2421 fm    QC   6       34.0    24.5  46.5    5
  4   BLUVSHTEIN, Mark        2303 2303       ON   6       32.0    24.0  47.5    4
  5   SCHLEIFER, Michael      2369 2439 im    QC   5.5     29.0    24.5  47.0    4
  6   PHILLIPS, Ray                2290       QC   5.5     28.5    25.0  44.0    4
  7   GASPARIANTS, Vladimir   2305 2299 fm    QC   5.5     27.0    24.5  45.5    5
  8   GLINERT, Stephen        2273 2385 fm    ON   5       29.0    26.0  47.0    4
  9   HAMILTON, Robert        2307 2417 fm    ON   5       28.5    25.0  48.0    4
  10  MIKANOVIC, Goran        2273 2370 fm    QC   5       27.5    25.0  47.0    4
  11  GHANNOUM, Marc          2192 2160       QC   5       25.5    21.0  41.0    4
  12  YOOS, John C.           2360 2437       BC   5       19.0    21.0  37.5    3

Complete Table

Website for Canada Closed Championship

Final Crosstable

Games  from the Canadian Closed  (PGN format)

Canadian Chess Federation

Posted by The Chess Drum: 30 August 2001