Note: Participation in all Chess Nova Scotia events is subject to Government of Nova Scotia guidelines. See policy here. Participants must also abide by the Covid-19 policies of the event host.
DGT LIVE GAMES, when available, will be HERE.
CHESS-RESULTS PAIRINGS AND INFORMATION:
Halifax Open 2026
Halifax Open 2026 Under 1700
Please read and follow all of the instructions below. Registration process:
- Send an email message to Ken Cashin skcashin@outlook.com to tell him that you intend to play. This must be done before 6 p.m., Tuesday April 21. Also provide your age and your chess rating, if you have one. This is the “pre-registration” step.
- Purchase or renew your Chess Federation of Canada membership. You can do that online, here. Or, you could pay Ken Cashin for it onsite on the first day of the tournament. If you will be paying Ken Cashin for the CFC membership, please email him the registrant’s date of birth and home town.
*** Payment method onsite for CFC membership is cash only ***
- Check in at the registration desk before 5 p.m. on Friday April 24th and pay the tournament entry fee (see fees below). This you pay to ken Cashin onsite at the tournament.
*** Payment method for tournament entry fee is cash only ***
See the CHESS NOVA SCOTIA TOURNAMENT HEALTH PROTOCOL, HERE.
*** All players MUST check in at the reg desk well in advance of — ONE HOUR BEFORE — the start of the first round in order to be paired for the first round. This is so that the tournament director knows the players are on site and able to play in order to do the pairings and start the first round on time, for everyone’s benefit. Please follow the rules.
Note: If you expect to be late on the Friday of the tournament, then between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. you MUST contact Ken by email (skcashin@outlook.com) or cell phone or text (902 478-2359) to let him know. Still, even in this case, you must show up on site by 5:30 p.m. in order to be paired.
Also, if you determine that you cannot play in the tournament after all, you must let Ken know.
Date of tournament: April 24-26, 2026
Location: Dalhousie University, 6050 University Avenue, Halifax, N.S., Studley campus, Goldberg Computer Science building: Rooms 134 and 143.
See: Goldberg Computer Science building on campus map HERE.
Tournament Director: Ken Cashin skcashin@outlook.com
Arbiter: Roger Langen
Type: Five round Swiss.
Check-in and Registration: Friday, April 24, onsite, from 3:30 pm to 5 pm. Late registrants will be disqualified from playing in the first round. Do not be late.
Rounds:
Rd 1: Friday, April 24, 6 p.m.
Rd 2: Saturday, April 25, 10 a.m.
Rd 3: Saturday, April 25, 4:30 p.m.
Rd 4: Sunday, April 26, 9 a.m.
Rd 5: Sunday, April 26, 3:30 p.m.
Note that the reason the games start a little earlier on Sunday is to give out-of-town participants more daylight time to travel home after the tournament.
Prizes: Cash prizes will be awarded, based on the number of entrants.
Time control: Game in 2 hours, with 30-second increments starting at move one. Note: if numbers warrant, the tournament will be run as a sectional; i.e., in two or more sections, determined by the ratings of the players.
Tournament Entry Fee:
Adults (age 18 and over): $50
Seniors (age 65 and over): $40
Juniors (under age 18): $40
Byes: Up to two (2) half-point byes are available, but must be requested to the tournament director before the tournament begins, i.e., either before or at the time of registration.
Forfeits: Players are required to play all five rounds unless they have declared byes beforehand, as indicated above. Unless they have declared a bye for a particular round, players who do not show up for a game will be forfeited for that game, i.e., they will earn a score of zero for the game and their opponent will earn a score of one point for the game. Players who do not show up for their games will be automatically withdrawn from the tournament.
Also, a player is expected to show up on time for the start of the round, as a courtesy to their opponent. If a player does not show up within an hour after a game starts, the player will be forfeited for that round, i.e., they will earn a score of zero for the game and their opponent will earn a score of one point for the game.
Forced byes: In rounds where there is an uneven number of players, a full-point, forced bye will be given to one player, as determined by the pairing software.
*** Note: In addition to paying the tournament entry fee stated above, to participate in the tournament a player must be a member of the Chess Federation of Canada (CFC). The membership can be purchased online on the CFC site before the tournament, or can be paid to the tournament director onsite at time of registration.
*** Note: This tournament is subject to the Chess Nova Scotia Fair Play and Electronic Device Policy.
Confirmed Participants:
CLICK HERE FOR CONFIRMED PARTICIPANTS LIST
Accommodations:
Affordable hotels nearby:
Comfort Inn, Bedford Highway (near MSVU)
Chebucto Inn, Lady Hammond Road (between MSVU and SMU)
Robie’s End, (B&B, very close to SMU)
And a little more upscale…
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Halifax – Bedford, 980 Parkland Drive (near MSVU)
Chateau Bedford Trademark Collection by Wyndham, 133 Kearney Lake Road (near MSVU)
Lord Nelson Hotel, 1515 South Park Street (closer to SMU)
Atlantica Hotel Halifax, 1980 Robie Street (closer to SMU)
Note: Participation in all Chess Nova Scotia events is subject to Government of Nova Scotia guidelines. See policy here. Participants must also abide by the Covid-19 policies of the event host.
If any player is experiencing symptoms of a cold or flu, consider wearing a mask or not attending the event, especially if you have a persistent cough. Please contact chesscapebreton@gmail.com if you have any questions about what to do if you’re experiencing symptoms.
When: May 9th and 10th, 2026
Where:
Cape Breton University, LeVert A and B rooms
1250 Grand Lake Road
Cape Breton Nova Scotia
Map of Cape Breton University. Click on image to enlarge. Parking in section 1 and 2. Tournament site in section 16 (enter building via section 20). Passes available at the check-in desk for free parking.
Cost :
Adults (age 18 and over) $40
Seniors (age 65 and over) $30
Juniors (under age 18) $30
Contact: Donald Maclean
— chesscapebreton@gmail.com
You need a CFC membership to play. You can pay your CFC membership online at
www.chess.ca/en/players/membership-join/
no later than 9 am on the 9th of May.
Please ensure you have a CFC membership and that it is up to date before arriving at the tournament. The CFC has requested we no longer renew memberships onsite at the tournament, but instead have everyone register or renew their memberships online. If you need help, please reach out to us at chesscapebreton@gmail.com
Please send Donald Maclean an email chesscapebreton@gmail.com if you intend on playing, before Tuesday, May 6th, at 6 p.m. Also provide your age and chess rating if you have one.
For e-transfer payment of the entry fee, you can send them to the same email: chesscapebreton@gmail.com
Date of tournament May 9th and 10th, 2025. Cape Breton University 1250 Grand Lake Road, Rooms LeVert A and B
Type: 5 round Swiss
Rounds
Rd 1 Saturday May 9th, 10:00 a.m.
Rd 2 Saturday May 9th, 2:00 p.m.
Rd 3 Saturday May 9th, 6:00 p.m.
Rd 4 Sunday May 10th, 10:00 a.m.
Rd 5 Sunday May 10th, 2:00 p.m.
Prizes: Cash prizes will be awarded based on the number of entrees. The tournament winner will be the second name engraved on the P.W. Cup chess trophy.
Time Controls
Game in 60 minutes, with 30-second increments from start. This tournament will be CFC Classical Rated.
Byes: Up to two (2) half point byes are available but must be requested to the tournament director before the tournament begins or at the time of registration.
Forfeits: Players are required to play all five rounds unless the declared byes before hand. PLAYERS THAT DON’T SHOW UP will forfeit their game unless they have indicated a bye before in the beginning of the first round. The player who does not show will score a zero while his opponent will gain a point, for the game.
Also a player is expected to show up on time*** for the start of the round, as a courtesy to their opponent. If a player does not show up WITHIN 45 MINUTES AFTER A GAME STARTS the player will be forfeited for that round, i.e., they will earn a score of zero for the game and their opponent will earn a score of one point for the game.
Forced byes: in rounds where there is an uneven number of players a full point forced bye will be given to one player as determined by the pairing software.
Note: This tournament is subject to the Chess Nova Scotia Fair Play and Electronic Device policy.Updated: March 20th, 2025
Confirmed Participants (21) (Note: the ratings below are as of the date above and may not reflect the most recent CFC tournament results. Ratings are included here only to give potential tournament entrants an idea of who is playing and the level of competition to expect.)
Kyle Creamer (2107)
Donald MacLean (1951)
Kaven Sharma (1921)
Joseph Jewells (1700)
Shailee Soni (1615)
Matthias Bierenstiel (1604)*
Joel Carleton (1531)*
Ella Dubinsky (1530)*
Liam Mailman (1524)
Garrett Paul (1515)*
Skylar McDonald (1447)*
Matthew Niznansky (1439) *
Mike Tobin (1435)*
Jack MacInnis (1420)*
Rylan MacDonald (1336)*
Gabe Fitzpatrick (1303)*
Heli Soni (1257)
Mark van Shaick (852)*
Fidelius Schreckenbauer (UNR)
Gavin Walsh (UNR)
Keith Norton (UNR)
*- Provisional rating
Maybe Participants (3):
Herbert Fournier (1825)
Ken Cashin (1769)
Remi Petch (1578)
*- Provisional rating
Accommodation Options: Here are several hotels in Sydney, which is about a 15-20 minute drive from Cape Breton University where the tournament is being held.
Make sure to double check the dates you’re booking for before submitting your reservation!
Holiday Inn Sydney:
https://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/sydney/yqyhi/hoteldetail
Hampton Inn by Hilton Sydney:
https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/yqynshx-hampton-sydney/
Hearthstone Inn Sydney:
https://www.novascotia.com/places-to-stay/accommodations/hearthstone-inn-sydney/1271
Harborview Inn and Suites:
https://harbourviewinnsuites.com/
Travelodge by Wyndham Sydney:
https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/en-ca/travelodge/sydney-nova-scotia/travelodge-sydney/overview
REGISTER FOR THE DAC CLICK HERE
Full Information Package CLICK HERE
Detailed Rules CLICK HERE
Registered Players List CLICK HERE
“A festive, fierce and fun chess tournament!”
Attention all chess enthusiasts, the DAC is back! The Faculty of Computer Science at Dalhousie University is proud to sponsor the second edition of the Dalhousie Atlantic Cup (DAC), a chess tournament set to take place in the vibrant city of Halifax, Nova Scotia. This tournament is a celebration of the noble game of chess, offering a platform for both seasoned and emerging players to showcase their skills.
The Dalhousie Atlantic Cup is divided into two sections. Section A is designed for players who hold a CFC or FIDE rating equal to or superior to 1700, while section B is for players with a CFC or FIDE below 1700. With 7 rounds and a time control of 1 hour plus a 30-second increment, players will have in this tournament (FIDE and CFC-rated for Section A, CFC-rated for Section B) the opportunity to showcase both their stamina and their skills.
The top 8 participants from section A will advance to a subsequent CFC and FIDE rated tournament held one week later, where they will vie for the coveted Dalhousie Atlantic Cup! The champion will win a trophy, and the other finalists will be honored with medals, commemorating their achievement and participation.
But the fun does not end there! Between the two tournaments, participants can enjoy a variety of events:
- test their knowledge with a chess quiz for a chance to win prizes;
- attend a musical surprise!
- team-up with a chess buddy for spirited games of Bughouse, a fun and fast-paced team chess variant;
- for a change of pace, join for a friendly soccer match in a nearby park fostering camaraderie and sportsmanship among the chess community!
The Dalhousie Atlantic Cup is more than just a tournament. It is a celebration of the rich culture of the timeless game of chess. Whether you are a titled player or an amateur, we invite you to be a part of this great event. Make sure to mark your calendars!
Type: 5-round Swiss
Date: June 12-14, 2026
Other details TBD.
Type: 5-round Swiss
Date: September 4-6, 2026
Other details TBD.