Vancouver Chess Kid Ashley Tapp Continues 'I-Will-Play-in-Slovenia Mission'

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

Ashley Tapp in a
Nakamura simul

Remember Ashley Tapp from Vancouver? The 12-year-old chess kid is determined to compete in the World Youth Chess Championship in Slovenia in November. The straight-A student is on a fundraising spree for her participation. Ashley was fundraising at the PNE Monday afternoon by playing any fairgoers willing to donate money and go head-to-head against Canada’s chess-playing girl qualified to play for the world title girls under 12.

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Catch Canada Chess Talent Ashley Tapp for Spl Announcement at Martial Arts Event Today in Vancouver

12th Women's World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk's Chess Blog for Latest Chess News and Trivia (c) 2013

Hi everyone, 

Chess Blog readers would be familiar with Ashley Tapp, now 13 - the young Canadian chess girl who fund-raised her way to her first world youth chess tournament in Slovenia representing Canada, in November 2012. 

This year, Ashley’s efforts have remained the same to raise funds for her World Qualifier 2013 playing at festivals and promoting chess and for girls - only this time with a difference – ‘she is no longer alone’. 


Chess friend Jill Ding (17) from Victoria has teamed up with Ashley with the same goals and ambitions to inspire more girls to play. Ashley from Gordon school in Vancouver, and Jill Ding of St Michael's University School of Victoria are ‘the perfect team’ – both from different school systems they represent all girls, and equally hold the same passions for their sport – ‘chess,’ and have set high goals for their future. Interestingly, both girls are honor students in math and science. 

Ashley writes to Chess Blog: "We would like to answer to that call to have more girls play chess. Playing chess is more than an elite game; it is supposed to be accessible to all kids who want to play. For us, playing chess is a social event, a place to make friendships, to help each other with logic of thinking; learning to take responsibility for our moves/ actions and to support each other with consequences. It also allows us to prepare for competition; very important given today’s expectations. Chess complements academic study like math and the sciences, and it is our motivation to initiate more girls to excel in these areas, and eventually this could move towards changing the corporate scenario with more girls taking the lead."

To make this happen, after only one year Ashley is proud to announce the successful incorporation of the BC GIRLS CHESS FOUNDATION at an event in the city a Chess and Martial Arts promotion at the Dojang Martial Arts School in Vancouver, Point Grey, 4458 W10th Ave. June 22, 1-3:00 pm.; where Ashley and Jill will make this announcement. 

As a Chess Blog reader and chess lover, if you can make it, do attend the event!

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com
Don't miss Chess Queen™
YouTube Channel

12-Year-Old Chess Player Ashley Tapp from Canada on Exciting Fundraising Mission

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

Ashley Tapp is a 12-year-old chess player from Canada. She has qualified to play for the World Youth Chess Championship, Maribor, Slovenia, Nov 7-19, 2012. That's where she hopes to play among thousands of chess players from around the world. But, she's doing something very interesting before that!

Ashley is now fundraising to go to the World Youth Chess Championship in Slovenia and trying to raise enough money for the trip. The media is very interested in her fundraising as there is no sponsorship in Canada for her. Check out her Facebook link, her Twitter page, or her blog, and encourage Ashley with her chess adventure. Her nickname is "AshleyChessGirl" which we find very cool!

The talented kid has been holding fundraising events for her trip and we wish her the best in her chess endeavours.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com

Chess for a Cause by Ashley Tapp: Because.I.Am.A.Girl

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi Everyone,

We've just received this nice video and news about Canadian chess talent Ashley holding a charity chess event on Feb 2. She played chess at Chapters Book Store/Granville St-Broadway, Vancouver for the charity 'Because I am a girl'. This charity supports girls around the world whose inequalities start from poverty, lack of schooling, health care and opportunities.




All previous Chess Blog posts on Ashley Tapp are here. We wish this Vancouver chess talent all the best with her chess adventures. "Well done" to Ashley for her fundraiser and we are all for her Valentine's Day message : Share the Love! :)

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com
Don't miss Chess Queen™
YouTube Channel

Canada Chess Open 2013: Nigel Shot Wins Title on Tiebreak over Eric Hansen

Alexandra Kosteniuk's Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) 2013

Hi everyone,

The Canadian Chess Open 2013 took place 13-20th July at the National Hotel and Suites Ottawa in Ottawa, ON. The tournament saw a very intense fight for first place with strong players such as Nigel Short, Lazaro Bruzon and Ivan Sokolov aiming to get a big payout. These strong GMs were joined by young and ambitious Canadian players, such as GM Eric Hansen and IM Aman Hambleton.

Former world chess championship challenger Nigel Short showed his class and finished the event with six wins and three draws, but he had to wait for the organizers to calculate the tiebreak scores to get the winner’s title, as GM Eric Hansen achieved the same score. Both players received the same money prize, $4.000.

Five players shared 3rd-7th place after getting 7 points: Lazaro Bruzon, Ivan Sokolov, Aman Hambleton, Edward Porper and Arthur Calugar. Full standings below.

Nigel Short – Eric Hansen

Chessdom talked with Eric Hansen, who expressed satisfaction with his performance at this event:

The tournament took place in our capital, a quiet city. Because there were not many distractions, I was pretty focused on my tournament games. I managed to play solid and take advantage of my opponents’ mistakes for most of my victories. This is my last tournament in Canada before moving to Spain so It’s nice to leave on a good performance. Now, I will focus all my attention to preparation for the World Cup.

Aman Hambleton, who is a member of the Master Team that plays regularly at Chessdom Arena, was part of the organizing team, but this did not prevent him from getting a really good score at the tournament:

I was a part of the organizing team for the tournament, my job being the Elite Player Coordinator in charge of the foreign invitations, VISA’s, conditions, etc.
I thought the tournament was a great international look for Canada, with some near-2700 level participants (Nigel Short, Lazaro Bruzon, Ivan Sokolov).
Also, most of Canada’s young players (FMs, IMs) played the tournament so it was a nice chance for them to play with some different competition for a change :)
I found the tournament to have a nice schedule, very relaxing one game/day for the most part and it allowed time for most players to visit the many tourist sites in Ottawa, especially Parliament Hill. For me, it’s not an issue since I am living in Ottawa!
GM norms were possible, but unfortunately the GM’s in the tournament were not doing so well so even though I had 5.5/7 I only played an FM in round 8. I was close to making a GM norm, with performance near 2600 and 7/9 but I had only played 2 GM’s.
For a big Open of 200 participants, I think the Organization did a good job keeping the spectators up to date with pairings, as well as a very detailed Multimedia page with postmortem videos and pictures from the rounds.

Bruzon, Sokolov and Hambleton are among the players that traveled straight to Quebec to participate in the Quebec Open Chess Championship 2013. (www.chessdom.com)

Official website

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