8th Annual Grand Pacific Open

Goddesschess is once again a proud sponsor of the Grand Pacific Open that takes place in Victoria, British Columbia (Canada).  This year it's on for April 18 - 21, 2014.

The tournament will once again be hosted at the spectacular Grand Pacific Hotel in downtown Victoria, BC. 

You can get all of the tournament details online, and also register online (please do). 

Goddesschess funds separate prizes for the top five finishing female chessplayers as well as funding to help defer the expenses of a WGM to play at the GPO.  Traditionally, the Grand Pacific Open has had a great turn-out of female chessplayers.  That is one reason we are proud to offer sponsorship to this Canadian event, beginning with the 2011 Grand Pacific Open.  As some of you may know, Don McLean, who was an integral part of Goddesschess and webmaster of the Goddesschess website for many years, was a Canadian, and we stretched our dollars to provide funds to both Canadian and American events. Don died in 2012, but his memory lives on in Goddesschess.

In 2014, the GPO is featuring two veterans from U.S. Women's Chess Championships:  WGM Katerina Rohonyan and WFM Chouchanik Airpetian -- both returning to the 2014 GPO!  Rohonyan and Airpetian made their first appearances and faced off against each other at the 2013 Grand Pacific Open, where Rohonyan bested Airpetian and took the top women's prize.  Will Airpetian get revenge this year, hmmm?

I hope you all will support this great regional event that draws players from far and wide.  GM Hikaru Nakamura played in the GPO a few years ago.  You never know who may show up...