From August 1 to August 6, the chess world will turn its eyes to Peter Clark Hall at the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. The reason? One of the most exciting open tournaments of the year: Royal City Masters 2025.
This isn’t just a local event. It’s a global gathering. Over 140 players from more than 10 countries are coming to compete for prizes, titles, and glory.
Let’s dive into what makes this tournament so special.
A Truly International Event
Players are coming from Latvia, Ukraine, Cuba, China, USA, Vietnam, and of course, all across Canada. From teenage prodigies to seasoned grandmasters, this is a melting pot of talent.
Here are just a few big names to watch in the Crown Section:
- GM Toms Kantans (Latvia) – Top seed, FIDE 2514
- GM Razvan Preotu (Canada) – Canada’s own, Grandmaster since 2016
- IM Nikolay Noritsyn (Canada) – A consistent force in Canadian chess
- GM Petro Golubka (Ukraine) – Always sharp, always dangerous
- GM John Fedorowicz (USA) – A veteran with deep experience
They will battle it out for the $6,000 top prize in the Crown Section, where even IM norms and GM norms are in play.
Big Prizes, Big Dreams
The total prize fund is $30,000 CAD, spread across four main rating sections:
| Section | First Prize |
|---|---|
| Crown | $6,000 |
| U2200 | $3,000 |
| U1800 | $3,000 |
| U1400 | $3,000 |
Each section also awards prizes for 2nd to 4th place, plus bonus prizes:
- Best Team (4 players): $800
- Best Family (2 players): $500
- Best Unrated Player: $500
Yes, even families can win. Fathers, daughters, brothers, and grandkids — chess brings everyone together.
Fast but Deep: 9 Rounds in 6 Days
This isn’t a sprint. It’s a marathon of focus. The tournament runs over 9 rounds using a classical time control: 90 minutes per player plus 30 seconds per move.
Here’s the schedule:
- Aug 1: Round 1 at 6:00 PM
- Aug 2-5: Double rounds on most days (10:00 AM and 5:00 PM)
- Aug 6: Final round at 10:00 AM
Two games a day means players must stay sharp. No easy wins. No time to relax.
The Crown Section: Where the Fire Burns
The top section (called the Crown) is stacked with talent. It features:
- 10+ titled players (GMs, IMs, FMs)
- Most players have ratings above 2300
- FIDE norms available
- Pure classical chess — no shortcuts, just skill
It’s rare to see such strength in an open tournament. Even players like IM Jason Liang, GM Luís Manuel Pérez Rodríguez, and IM Joshua Posthuma are fighting for every inch.
Not Just for the Elites
Think this is just for pros? Think again.
Royal City Masters also features:
- U2200 Section – solid club players
- U1800 Section – rising stars and casual warriors
- U1400 & Unrated – beginners, kids, hobbyists
A few names to watch:
- Nguyen Minh Thong (Vietnam) – fighting in U2200
- Laksshana Deepak – a WFM looking to shine
- Justin Huang, Dylan Tian, Oscar Cheung – juniors with ambition
With rating groups and fair competition, everyone has a shot at a prize.
Royal City Masters 2025 results
What’s in a Name?
Why “Royal City Masters”?
Guelph is known as the Royal City. And this tournament? It brings in masters, grandmasters, and future stars. The name says it all: a royal event for the masters of the game.
Located just 70 km west of Toronto and 22 km east of Kitchener, Guelph sits at the intersection of Highways 6 and 7, offering easy access for players and visitors alike.
With a population of over 143,000, Guelph offers the perfect balance of small-city warmth and big-city services. It’s a center for innovation and sustainability, with a low unemployment rate and a strong economy driven by advanced manufacturing, education, and agri-tech. The University of Guelph, one of Canada’s leading research institutions, adds vibrancy to the city’s cultural and intellectual life.
Visitors to Guelph will find green spaces like Riverside Park, a picturesque trail along the Speed River, and the University Arboretum, which features trees from around the world. Downtown Guelph features 19th-century limestone buildings, lively patios, indie cafes, and a welcoming spirit, which is ideal for a summer chess festival. Whether you’re here for checkmates or cappuccinos, Guelph delivers.
A Rising Star: Navika Renganathan
If you want to witness the future of Canadian chess, look no further than Navika Renganathan, an 8-year-old powerhouse from Guelph. Earlier this month, she claimed first place in the U8 division at the Canadian Youth Chess Championship in Surrey, BC, going undefeated in a field of 20 players. Despite arriving just hours before the tournament due to international travel delays, she kept her focus and held her composure.
Navika started playing chess at age three, coached by her father and supported by local programs like RecEnroll Guelph. In the past year, she’s competed on three continents, including events in Peru, Paraguay, Georgia, and now soon, Kazakhstan, where she’ll represent Canada at the FIDE World Cadet Chess Championship in August.
And this August, she’ll also be playing at home in the Royal City Masters. “I don’t want to give up on this sport because I’m really an expert at it,” she says, with bold confidence well beyond her years. Her dream? To become the youngest grandmaster in history.
Memories of Guelph Chess: A Player’s Perspective
For veteran chess player Erik Malmsten, Guelph tournaments have always been more than just games. They’ve been experiences. On the ChessTalk forum, he reflects on decades of tournaments at Peter Clark Hall and the broader Guelph chess scene. “It was like a weekend vacation,” he writes, recalling the University Arboretum, the Speed River park, and the quirky student life reflected in posters on campus.
He remembers falling asleep on a comfy chair during a night-shift haze, getting woken up just in time for Round 1. He talks about facing future stars like Harmony Zhou, then World U8 Champion, and burning out in hard-fought battles against strong Canadian players like William Li. He remembers the buzz of FIDE-rated Pro-Am tournaments with 137 players and 17 masters, matching the biggest events in Toronto. There was even a time he shook hands with Pia Cramling’s baby girl (Anna Cramling by the way) chess royalty in her own right.
“I thought I had my opponent’s king pinned in the corner,” he says of one memorable loss, “but I couldn’t make any more progress and lost.” Win or lose, every tournament added a story. A moment. A trophy for the shelf. And that’s the magic of chess in Guelph, where the memories matter just as much as the moves.
Watch Royal City Masters 2025 live here:
I’m the senior editor of Attacking Chess, a keen chess player, rated above 2300 in chess.com. You can challenge me or asking questions at Chess.com.
