CUCC 2026 Day 2 Recap

Day 2 of the Canadian University Chess Championship was a true marathon of mind and mettle. The day kicked off with the President’s Meeting, followed by an early morning breakfast, Round 2, catered lunch, Round 3, and ended with late-night social festivities. Here’s what happened on Day 2.

Crown Section

Round 2 on the DGT boards was a doubleheader that saw University of Toronto A and B assert their dominance over McMaster A and B, cruising to 3.5–0.5 and 4–0 victories respectively.

One highlight of the morning was the clash between IM Nicholas Vettese and FM Eugene Hua, featuring a fascinating material imbalance: a Queen vs. Rook and Knight. Vettese’s precision eventually secured the point for the home side. In addition, Fengxi Mao played the longest game of the tournament so far, with a 115 move win over CM Francisco Jesus Wong Velis, with the game ending in just under 5 hours. Meanwhile, Waterloo A and McGill A kept pace by defeating U of T C and Laval A.

Round 3 brought some of the first major heavyweight showdowns. U of T A delivered a statement win, sweeping McGill A 4–0. The game between IM Nicholas Vettese and FM Tyler Tanaka is instructive on middle game play and exchanges. Waterloo A was held to a hard-fought draw by U of T B. UOttawa A stayed in the hunt with a victory over Waterloo B.

CUCC 2026 by Derek Ma

Going into the final day, U of T A sits alone at the top with a perfect 3-0 record. They are chased by a pack at 2.5/3, including U of T B, Waterloo A, and UOttawa A. Tomorrow we will see the battle of U of T with top seeds U of T A vs U of T B while Waterloo A faces UOttawa A.

Reserve Section

The U1800 section lived up to its reputation for unpredictability. While 2nd-seeded McGill C started the day strong with a win over Queen's D, they were stunned in Round 3 by 9th-seeded Wilfrid Laurier University A, who claimed a decisive 3–1 victory on the DGT boards.

Wilfrid Laurier A now stands as one of only three undefeated teams, alongside U of T D and McGill B.

Social Night & Blitz Championship

After ten hours of classical chess, players unwound in the Great Hall with drinks and hors d'oeuvres. The evening peaked with a sold-out 64-player blitz tournament, featuring 6-rounds of 3+2 chess. The results were:

2026 CUCC Blitz Champion: Duc Minh Lai (U of T Team B)

Top U1800 Player: Frank Wu (Wilfrid Laurier Team A)

CUCC 2026 by Derek Ma

Media & Commentary

FM Koosha Jaferian provided expert analysis throughout the day from the Chapel Room. Recordings of the Round 2 and 3 broadcasts are available on Twitch.

Official photography by Derek Ma is now being uploaded to our Gallery page, with additional coverage coming soon to the Chess Federation of Canada (CFC) Newsletter.

Looking Ahead

Day 3 will decide the national champions. The tension will be at an all-time high with the following marquee matchups:

• Crown: U of T A vs. U of T B | Waterloo A vs. UOttawa A
• Reserve: Wilfrid Laurier A vs. U of T D | McGill B vs. Western C

Sunday Schedule:

• Round 4: 9:00 AM
• Organizer Seminar: 1:00 PM (Map Room). Discussion on University Chess in Canada, organizing chess events, fundraising, and running university chess clubs. Hosted at Hart House Map Room.
• Round 5: 2:00 PM
• Closing Ceremony: As soon as possible following Round 5, around 6:30 pm.

CUCC 2026 by Derek Ma