Unrated player making history at Canadian Open Chess Championship in Hamilton

Ryan Campbell, 23, an unrated chess player from Waterloo, is making history at the Canadian Open Chess Championship in Hamilton this week, say organizers.

The man is alone in first place after five games as of press time and he is about to face his second grand master in Round 6 after, unbelievably for an unrated player, already having beaten one grandmaster, Razvan Preotu, in an earlier round.

He is performing better than ANY unrated player we have ever seen in a tournament like this," says Canadian chess open co-chair Patrick McDonald.

It is unheard of to have an unrated player in the Canadian Open - for that matter any tournament of this size or level - to be alone if first," especially after having to play a grand master.

I will tell you that Ryan and his family are suddenly entering the (chess) limelight," says McDonald.

I actually had Ryan competing in some kids' tournaments when he was a preteen, and I remember that even then he was doing well."

Jeff Mahoney is a Hamilton-based reporter and columnist covering culture and lifestyle stories, commentary and humour for The Spectator.jmahoney@thespec.com