59th Begonia Open 2025

BCC Report by P Cook

Ballarat Chess Club held the 59th Begonia Chess Tournament over the Victorian Labour Day long weekend of 8-10 March, 2025. Once again, the venue was the very modern  Ballarat Tech School, Fed Uni SMB Campus, right in the heart of the city. Fed Uni is one of our partners, along with PPT Finance, Northern Star Chess, Chess Victoria, Box Hill Chess Club, and Friends of Begonia, enabling us to offer prize money in excess of $13 000.
Much time and effort goes into organising the event and a big thank-you goes to the Begonia Committee of Kevin Perrin, Patrick Cook, Anna Yates, Peter Stickland, Scott Stewart, and Trevor Ivory, as well as to Mike Goodison on the DGT boards, Julian Laffey on tournament IT, and to Rob Loveband on web site and other duties.
The tournament continues to grow, with another record entry of 236 players, from all states, plus a few players from overseas. It would have been more but for Cyclone Alfred, which prevented some strong players from arriving. All were welcomed to Ballarat by our new president, Peter Stickland. Top seed was 7-time winner IM James Morris, ahead of IM Ari Dale and 14-time winner GM Daryl Johansen. 6-time winner IM Stephen Solomon was also back. In addition, the field boasted 9 FM's, 1 WIM, 2 WFM's, and a host of CM's. A record entry from Ballarat Chess Club of 39 players was most encouraging. Again, 5 arbiters, headed by IA Peter Tsai, were engaged to manage such a large entry.
After 7 rounds of tough, exhausting chess, 5 players had muscled their way to the winners' podium with 6 points: IM James Morris (8th title), IM Ari Dale, FM Cheng Dai, Israel Yadao, and FM Luis Chan. This is only the 2nd time, after 2021, that 5 players have won the tournament, and all will be inscribed on the K J Perrin Trophy.
The Club is generous in spreading the prize money and numerous players were rewarded for their excellent results in various categories, the most noteworthy being local junior Sam Song picking up a prize in Rating Group A as well as the prize for best score by a Ballarat player with 5/7.
As has been the case for many years now, expert live commentary on site was provided by GM Ian Rogers, assisted by WFM Cathy Rogers, with the top 10 boards broadcast to the Internet via DGT boards.
David and Sabrina Koetsier brought players, enthusiasm, and their book stall from Adelaide again, and Sabrina's wonderful photo's can be viewed in the gallery.
So another successful Begonia Open concludes, and the Chess Club and Begonia Committee are already pondering next years special Jubilee 60th tournament. See you all there!

Trophies on display

Winners IM James Morris, Israel Yadao, and FM Luis Chan (FM Cheng Dai and IM Ari Dale MIA) IM Ari Dale, tired but happy! Dr Peter Tsai once again running a great tournament as Chief Arbiter The arbiting team, Dr Anna Yates, Bjorn Lategan, Nigel Barrow, and Tim Broome, all also tired but happy! GM Ian Rogers giving commentary and analysis upstairs - an absolute highlight for visitors and participants alike!

Left: Ballarat Chess Club's Sam Song (Ratings prize and BCC best performer prize recipient)

Right: Giant Killer Stephen Worthley (rated 1301) took out a 2114 rated player in Rd4