Upcoming event for camels to explore!

Part 1: The camels discover the game of "chess".

Part 2: Oscar discusses a "problem" with his opponent.

Part 3: Oscar explains "sandbagging" in the once-luxury game.

Part 4:

"Eventually, the royal game itself became an insignificant piece that would slowly fade away..."

The two camels looked at each other. Could Oscar be right? In the desert, humans and animals were taught to cooperate with each other in order to survive, not to pursue individual greed! How could a single game break such a long-held unity?

As the camels pondered this question, Oscar continued to win against his opponent. Both seemed tired. It had been a long day.

With one last hand movement, Oscar indicated that another game had ended. "My friend, it has been such a pleasure. Fond memories. And it seems you are improving. Would you consider joining me in the Ma'at tournament next week? It's one of the only competitions left in all of Egypt."

Oscar's opponent thought about it for a moment, and then nodded, "That sounds good. I'll be there."

"Great, I shall see you then. So long for now. Don't forget what I have told you."

With that, the two parted. The camels were alone once again. They began to reflect on their mysterious encounter. What adventures would await them in the chess world? What was this approaching tournament? The possibilities seemed endless.

...to be continued!!!

(Sorry, cut short due to illness. I'll try to add more when I'm better.)

Note: Ma'at is the Egyptian goddess of "truth, justice, and harmony", married to Thoth, the god of wisdom...

http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/egypt/maat.htm

Strange Coincidence!

I was looking for some cake recipes, and ironically came across this one,

"Chess Cake Bars"

(Coincidentally written by a chef named Hazel Smith)

1 pkg. yellow cake mix
2 eggs

1/2 cup soft butter

1 pkg. confectioner's sugar

8 oz. soft cream cheese

1 tsp. vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Grease 9 x 13 pan.

3. Beat eggs. Combine with cake mix and soft butter. Mix well.

4. Press into pan.

5. Combine sugar, cream cheese, and vanilla in a mixing bowl. Beat until smooth.

6. Spread over cake mixture.

7. Bake for 35 minutes.

8. Cool and cut into squares.

Voila! I should try making it sometime...

Recipe: http://www.cmt.com/news/articles/1506690/08012005/id_0.jhtml

Picture: http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3609

Hazel's Jokes!

Do chess players like taking photos?

Answer: Of course! They love seeing them develop!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Some great sites to view photos:

Monroi (http://www.monroi.com/chess-videos-photos.html)

Susan Polgar (http://susanpolgar.blogspot.com/)

Egis Photo Gallery (http://www.kris-egis.com/egisphoto/index.php)

Another Awesome Blog!

The "Geeky Gadgets" blog features a wide array of interesting devices and inventions...check out these glow sets!

http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/

Hazel's Jokes!

Why is a chess set's life dull?
Answer: It's always "square", "board", and full of "hollow" pieces!

Square means conventional and dull in slang.
Bored, a homonym for board, means tired due to lack of interest.
Hollow means empty or insincere.

Some kind of life!

Library Update

Chess in the Library News
- new photos can be viewed at http://www.chessinthelibrary.com/
- Gerrard/Ashdale Library (1432 Gerrard St. E) will host the CITL program on Saturdays starting April 24 (2 - 4 pm)

Support Canadian Chess!

More Tournaments

Please see my tournament link on the side bar for my recent tournament post. Here are some more:

Canadian Chess Academy Tournaments (CFC rated)
- Every Sunday
- 25 Fairway Heights Drive (Steeles & Leslie), Toronto
- 1 pm to 4 pm
- $20, family discounts available, third child free, discounts for 8 week session
- FREE for all group and private students of Predrag Putic
- All equipment provided
- http://www.chessteacherno1.com/

Royal Game Blitz Tournament
- February 19
- Olympic Stadium, Montreal
- 7 pm, tournament starts at 7:30 pm
- $10
- http://www.chesstalk.info/forum/showthread.php?t=2760

Stephen Leacock Chess Challenge, Grades 1 - 12
- February 27
- Stephen Leacock Collegiate Institute, Toronto
- 9 am, tournament 9:30 am - 6:30 pm
- $20
- All equipment provided, lunch & merchandise for a fee
- http://www.chess.ca/misc2010/SLCI.pdf

Ontario Team Chess Championship (Juniors CMA)
- March 6 - 7
- Senator O'Connor C.S.S., North York
- 10:30 am, tournament 11 am - 5 pm
- $40 per team, must register by February 28
- 4 sections (K-3, K-6, K-9, K-12)
- http://chess-math.org/pdf/tor_mar_6.pdf

--> for more CMA events outside of the GTA (Ottawa, Montreal, Winnipeg, etc.), Provincial qualification tournaments, and information on March Break camps, visit http://www.chess-math.org/calendar/?date=2010-03

Mauricie Open Chess Championship
- March 19 - 21
- L'Hotel du Roy
- Register online (Paypal), see site for more details
- http://www.chesstalk.info/forum/showthread.php?t=2720
- http://www.fqechecs.qc.ca/index.php?typ=actu&id=2768&catagorie=1

Toronto Open @ Hart House
- April 2 - 4
- Hart House, U of T
- 10 am & 4 pm each day
- $70 in advance, $80 cash on-site, $10 extra to play up one section
- Please bring sets and clocks
- http://hhchess.sa.utoronto.ca/hhopen
- http://www.chesstalk.info/forum/showthread.php?t=2749

Saguenay Open
- April 9 - 11
- La Pulperie de Chicoutimi
- 90 player limit
- Accommodation rates available
- See site for additional features
- http://www.chesstalk.info/forum/showthread.php?t=2751
- http://www.clubechecschicoutimi.com/cos2010.html

2010 Lanaudiere Regional Chess Tournament
- April 17 - 18
- Jean-Baptiste-Meilleur Secondary School, Repentigny, Quebec
- See site for schedule
- $30 for juniors 16 and under, $35 for section D, $45 for section B and C, $55 for section A, add $15 after April 9, 2010 (no additional fee for junior and unrated)
- Free for NM and FM if confirmed before April 1, 2010; $20 after
- Free for IM and GM
- Accommodation rates available
- http://www.chesstalk.info/forum/showthread.php?t=2714
- http://www.lechecsl.org/activites.php

Canadian Junior 2010 @ Hart House
- April 30 - May 4
- Hart House, U of T
- 6 pm Friday, 10 am & 4 pm all other days
- $150 by April 26
- All equipment provided
- http://hhchess.sa.utoronto.ca/cj
- http://www.chesstalk.info/forum/showthread.php?t=2728

43rd Annual Ontario High School Chess Championship
- May 7 - 9
- New College, U of T
- See link for schedule
- $30 per individual by March 26, $40 by April 16, $50 by May 3, school/family discounts available (see link)
- Equipment provided (bring your own for practice)
- Championship, immediate, and beginner sections
- Individual and team awards
- Bed and breakfast for $40 per night available
- http://www.chess.ca/misc2010/OHSCC.pdf

35th Annual Paul Keres Memorial (featuring GM Manuel Rivas and IM Georgi Orlov)
- May 22 - 24
- Delta Hotel, Vancouver
- See site for schedule and entry fees
- FIDE and CFC rated
- Accommodation rates available
- All equipment provided
- http://www.chesstalk.info/forum/showthread.php?t=2758
- http://keresmemorial.pbworks.com/

Congrats to:
FM Eric Hansen, who has been invited to Susan Polgar's SPICE Spring Invitational, to play alongside IMs and GMs from around the world!
http://www.chesstalk.info/forum/showthread.php?t=2684

Cafe Pi Blitz (next tournament March 7 in Montreal)
1. Andrei Gulko 21.5/22.0
2. Marc Ghannoum 20.5/22.0
3. Roland Chabot 17.5/22.0
http://www.chesstalk.info/forum/showthread.php?t=2726

Shirov Simul - Congrats to Pranav Sharma and Karoly Szalay!
Photos and article: http://www.chesstalk.info/forum/showthread.php?t=2737
Simul report: http://www.chesstalk.info/forum/showthread.php?t=2739
Participant game: http://www.chesstalk.info/forum/showthread.php?t=2756
Participant game: http://www.chesstalk.info/forum/showthread.php?t=2761

2010 Guelph Pro-Am Results
Nikita Gusev, 2660 performance! http://www.chesstalk.info/forum/showthread.php?t=2732
Now FIDE rated: http://www.chesstalk.info/forum/showthread.php?t=2746
Report by Hal Bond: http://www.chesstalk.info/forum/showthread.php?t=2709
Pro Section: Artiom Samsonkin, Nikolay Noritsyn (4.5/5)
U2000: Israel Crooks, Ian Finlay, Liza Orlova (4/5)
U1700: Shafkat Ali (5/5)
U1400: Sergey Noritsyn (4/5)

Gerzhoy beats GM Petrosian at the 2010 Moscow Aeroflot!
http://www.chesstalk.info/forum/showthread.php?t=2755

Simul for Haiti - report by Karoly Szalay
$200 raised for the relief fund!!!!
http://www.chesstalk.info/forum/showthread.php?t=2764

Ontario Chess Challenge Top Ten Pre-Qualifiers!
(event - April 18, 2010 @ Paradise Banquet Hall, Jane and Highway 7)
http://members4.boardhost.com/chess-math/msg/1265383849.html

Games & Analysis from RA Winter Open (January 22 to 24)
http://www.chesstalk.info/forum/showthread.php?t=2725

Top Ten!

Top 10 ways to spend reading week
1. eat
2. sleep
3. play/teach chess
4. watch the olympics
5. visit friends
6. update blog
7. anticipate all the tough times ahead (exams, assignments, ...)
8. celebrate the holidays (well, sort of...)
9. eat and sleep some more...
10. read? ...it IS reading week after all...

Happy Valentine's + Year of the Tiger!

Double the fun, double the chocolate!

Hazel's Jokes!

What did the chess player order at the pizza parlour?
Answer: A "pawn"zerotto!

My new favourite = apple cinnamon panzos!!!!