Hazel's Game

One of my favourite games...
Great play by both sides. I remember thinking very hard (and for a long time) about my sacrifice! I had to think it out all the way, otherwise the game would have been lost. I also give a lot of credit to Shiyam, as he has always been a fantastic fighter, and has a terrific attitude towards the game. In recent years, he has made a lot of progress, and is a leader in the Toronto playing field.

Hazel Smith - Shiyam Thavandiran
Click here to see the game.

(thanks to Predrag Putic for finding the game, and preparing/providing me the link)

Shiyam Thavandiran

Top Ten Questions continued...

Sorry for the delay...here are the next two questions on my list...

7. Is there someone you look up to in chess?
I have many, many favourites! I like watching games from players at all levels. In fact, I've learned that sometimes the most creative are the beginners! Anyway, I could go on and on about games and people I admire, but I'll restrict it to just a few.
For games, I really enjoy watching Michael Adams (I've been told I have a similar playing style to him), and reviewing the tactical brilliancies of Paul Morphy and Adolf Anderssen. However, on an overall level, I'm a big fan of Susan Polgar. Not only is she a woman and a grandmaster, she really puts in a lot of effort to promote chess, particularly in the US, but also around the world. She has been involved in numerous events and studies, and has incredible communication skills (I was so excited to see her host the closing ceremonies at the 2008 Olympiad + she was staying in the same hotel as our team...she even winked at me once in the dining hall...such a sweet person). If you wish to learn more about Ms. Polgar, please see my list of links!

8. There is a lot of controversy in chess nowadays. How do you deal with it, and how does it affect you?
By nature, I tend to avoid arguments, and furthermore, I've adopted a very positive attitude. While I respect the opinions of others, I cannot allow their judgements to completely cloud what I think about my goals, my beliefs/values, and chess in general. I've always believed that actions speak louder than words, and if you look at the ACTIONS taken in Canadian chess recently, you'll see it in a much more positive light. We have some great young talent, amazing instructors, and new programs in schools and libraries to help promote the game. One can argue that more can be done, but it needs to be taken one step at a time.
In all, controversy can help bring out different viewpoints, but dwelling on negativity can actually go against what we all believe in...a true chess community. I would say I'm relatively unaffected (by controversy), because I choose not to be, and I will continue to promote chess and support chess players in Canada.

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Pleasant View Week 4

Another great morning at the library! The kids are starting to come earlier, and stay later (we had about ten kids voluntarily stay up to 20 minutes late to play double chess, and a couple of them even helped clean up!). There is clear improvement in their games as time goes by, and more puzzles are being solved. Actually, it's becoming difficult for us organizers/volunteers to keep up...but definitely the guys (Yutong, Aaron, and Sam) are getting better and more involved. Keep up all the good work, and spread the word!

Chess in the Library Tomorrow!

The library program will resume tomorrow. Everyone is invited!

Brookbanks Library (near Victoria Park and York Mills)
Pleasant View Library (near Victoria Park & Van Horne)

10 am to noon

Hazel's Jokes!

Why is a group of pawns like an office full of employees?
Everyone wants to get promoted!

(Note: All jokes are 100% original content courtesy of Hazel!)

Top Ten Questions continued...

Now for the two biggest questions I have been getting recently...

5. Why did you stop playing (for about two years)?
I stopped playing mainly because I became very ill. Many did not know, but even before the 2006 Olympiad in Turin, I was already seeing doctors and staying home for some time to recover. Physically, I was much better by the time the Olympiad rolled around, but mentally, it took me over a year to feel somewhat healthy again. Then, of course, it took a while to get going again, not just in chess, but in many areas of my life.

6. Why did you go to the 2008 Olympiad after your absence?
First of all, I want to confirm that my decision to go to the 2008 Olympiad was never for the free trip, as some may assume. Germany is a nice place to visit, but I would never miss school and use the federation's money if I didn't think the trip was about chess too.
So here's my story: A team member came to me in the summer of 2007, asking me to start playing again, and consequently, qualify for the Olympiad. It had been almost 1.5 years since I had last played, so obviously, I was very hesitant at the idea. I kept it in mind, but for another half year, I still hadn't played a game. Then a neighbour phoned, and asked me to start tutoring his child. When I began tutoring, I realised how much I missed playing chess. So I began signing up for some tournaments. Due to the timing, many people thought I was just playing to make the team, but from my point of view, that was the last thing I considered. After a few weeks, I got an email pleasantly asking me to join the women's olympiad. It took me some time to decide what to do. I've always loved the experience of travelling and playing chess with people around the world, not to mention being able to see all the great players and grandmasters. It was also my last chance before university, and I've had some pretty good results at past international tournaments. For those reasons, I decided to agree to go.
Now fast-forward to the fall, and everything had changed. I had moved schools, and the teachers were not very happy to hear about my trip. They made it seem like it was just vacation, and really pressured me to finish work and pack textbooks in my luggage. I almost decided to contact the CFC and give up my spot on the team, though many of my friends and people I knew told me otherwise, and I knew it would cause a big problem. I had been well-prepared, and studied chess almost everyday, but what I had underestimated was all the stress of the situation. If I could go back, I probably would have declined the offer in the first place. Nevertheless, I congratulate the achievements of my teammates, and wish the best of luck to future olympians!