Pawns advance again in Cape Breton, senior wins tournament

posted in: Tournaments | 0

After an 11-year hiatus, the Cape Breton Open made its return to the Nova Scotia chess calendar August 9-11 at Cape Breton University in Sydney. In the five-round Swiss, Roger Langen of Dartmouth, a senior, took first place with a score of 4.5/5.

The 19-player event drew participants from New Brunswick and mainland Nova Scotia, as well as players (formerly) from Brazil and Spain now resident in Cape Breton.

Tied for equal second at 4/5 were Samuel Heran-Boily, Halifax, and Kyle Creamer, the lion of Cape Breton. Top U1600 prize went to Joel Carleton. Top Unrated was Thales Nunes.

The tournament was excellently organized. Thanks go out to Donald MacLean – defending 2013 champion! – Kyle Creamer, and Ella Dubinsky, who also served as arbiter.

The event was sponsored by: Sobeys, Mabel Systems, Mike Tobin, and A&L Parking.

Past winners of the Cape Breton Open include such Canadian notables as FM John MacPhail, FM Joe Horton, IM Tom O’Donnell, and FM Carlos Jauregui, the latter of whom once defeated Bobby Fischer in a regular tournament game (1959).

Asked about his win, Langen observed wryly, “All my points were the result of an advanced pawn. And that’s about where I am.” Langen is 75.

See Cape Breton Open 2024 crosstable here.

Playing site at Cape Breton University in Sydney, Nova Scotia

Round 3: In foreground Eva Norovsambuu plays black against Manuval Jenson.
Round 5: Kyle Creamer weighs his options with white against Herbert Fournier.
Round 5: On top board Josh MacRitchie with white challenges Roger Langen.

Tournament organizer Donald MacLean presents Roger Langen (on right) with the trophy for the Cape Breton Open.

Tournament organizers Kyle Creamer and Ella Dubinsky present cash prize to Samuel Heran-Boily (on right), who tied for second with Kyle Creamer.

Joel Carleton wins Top U1600 prize.

Top unrated, Thales Nunes.

Leave a Reply