A retired local dentist and chess master is aiming to make Collingwood the chess capital of Canada.
by Anya Shor
Milan Somborac, a retired dentist, author and violinist, founded the Collingwood-Somborac Chess Festival in 2022 with a single goal in mind—to grow the tournament into the largest of its kind in Canada.
Somborac’s passion for the “game of kings” was inspired by his father, Stefan, also a dentist, who began teaching his son at the tender age of four. In their ancestral country of Serbia, Somborac says, “Chess is an important aspect of life.” So much so, in fact, that it is a subject offered in school. While Armenia was the first to make the subject mandatory, other countries such as Spain and Georgia are considering doing the same.
Somborac feels Canada should make more of an effort to celebrate the game and promote its inclusion in our cultural makeup. It would appear his wishes may come true. The tournament, which began with five international grand masters in attendance and a modest turnout of fewer than 50 registrants, has grown in just five years to a list of over 100 registered competitors from around the province and beyond. This year there are entries from Great Britain and Australia.
The event, which will take place over a three-day weekend, is endorsed by the Chess Federation of Canada, a registered non-profit founded in 1872 that acts as the national governing body of the game. The tournament follows the five-round Swiss tournament structure and will award cash prizes from a purse estimated at $5,000. Anyone—from masters to enthusiasts—can register and be matched up.
