Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Queenstown Chess Classic 09

As the 2009 edition of Queenstown will probably be New Zealand's biggest ever chess tournament I thought it might be a good idea to do small profile's on the top players already confirmed to participate in the event.



WGM Karolina Smokina of Moldova
Highest Rating - April 2005 2307
Current Rating 2235
Birth Year 1977
Recent White Openings - favours 1.d4
Recent Openings as black - Slav and Sicilians seem most common

Haslinger,S (2468) - Smokina,K (2205) [B32]Monarch Assurance 16th Port Erin (3), 24.09.2007

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 d6 6.N1c3 a6 7.Na3 b5 8.Nd5 Nge7 9.c4 Nd4 10.cxb5 Nxd5 11.exd5 Be7 12.Bc4 0-0 13.bxa6 f5 14.Be3 Bf6 15.0-0 f4 16.Bxd4 exd4 17.Bd3 Bxa6 18.Bxa6 Rxa6 19.Qd3 Qa8 20.Rac1 Ra5 21.Rc6 Be5 22.Rfc1 Qb7 23.R1c2 (better is 23.Nc4) f3 24.gxf3 Qe7 25.Rc8 Qg5+ 26.Kf1 Ra8 27.Rxa8 Rxa8 28.Nb5 Bxh2 29.Nc7 Rxa2 30.Ne6 Ra1+ 31.Ke2 Qxd5 32.Rc8+ Kf7 33.Nxd4 Qe5+ 34.Qe4 h5 35.Rc7+ Kf6 36.Rc6 Qxe4+ 37.fxe4 Be5 38.Nf3 Ra2 39.Nxe5 Rxb2+ 40.Ke3 Kxe5 41.f4+ Ke6 42.e5 Rb3+ 43.Ke4 Rb4+ 44.Ke3 Rb3+ 45.Ke4 Rb4+ 46.Ke3
1/2-1/2

Palmerston North Club News


This Thursday is the qualifying tournament for the Palmerston North Championship. The top 6 qualify for the A grade, the next 6 qualify for the B grade and the remaining will play in the C Grade. Contact Stewart Holdaway o27-329-4399 for more information.
The Palmerston North Club meets every Thursday at 7:30pm at PN Intermediate Normal School on Ferguson Street All are Welcome.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Wanganui Championship

King,M (1853) - Stewart,J (Unrated) [B78] Wanganui Championship (Round 2), 28.07.2008

When ever we lose a game some people have the tendency to hide the game from being published and live in denial. The reality is you must go over every loss and tear it apart in every aspect. Opening middle game, ending, the psychological aspects, time management, tournament and match strategy. You must move forward from every game no matter what the result as each game you play is the greatest study material of all.
The following is a quick annotation.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 d6 5.Nc3 Bd7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.f3 g6 8.Qd2 Bg7 9.0-0-0 0-0 10.Bc4
Somehow white decides that a dragon is best, steer the game back towards sharp theory, If black is unprepared ok but white must be prepared also. When facing a weaker opponent it is perhaps an idea to chose a safer opening and just wait for the mistakes to come. White's time-105 Black's time - 113
10...a6?!
This move is not normal and should promise white an easy advantage but white must react quickly with his attack as in many dragon lines sometimes that one tempo proves to be decisive.
10...Qa5 11.Bb3 Rfc8 12.Kb1 Ne5 13.Bg5 Nc4 14.Bxc4 Rxc4 15.Nb3 Qe5 16.Rhe1 Rxc3 17.bxc3 Be6 18.Be3 Rc8 19.Bd4 Qb5 20.Ka1 Qa4 21.Rb1 Bf8 22.f4 Nd7 23.f5 Bc4 24.h4 e5 25.fxe6 Bxe6 26.h5 Ne5 27.hxg6 hxg6 28.Rh1 Bg7 29.Qg5 b5 30.Qe7 Bf8 31.Qf6 Bg7 32.Qe7 Bf8 ½-½ Ree,H-Tal,M/Wijk aan Zee 1973/
10...Rc8 This is main line theory. 11.Bb3 Ne5 12.Kb1 Nc4 13.Bxc4 Rxc4 14.g4 b5 15.b3 Rc5 16.Ne6 fxe6 17.Bxc5 dxc5 18.e5 Qa5 19.exf6 Bxf6 20.Ne4 Qxd2 21.Rxd2 Bc6 22.Nxf6+ Rxf6 23.Rf1 Bxf3 24.Rd7 Kf7 25.Rxa7 e5 26.Rc7 e4 27.Re1 Rf4 28.h3 Bg2 29.Re3 Rf3 30.Re2 Rf1+ 31.Kb2 Bf3 32.Re3 Rh1 33.Rxc5 Rxh3 34.Rxb5 h5 35.gxh5 Rxh5 36.a4 Kf6 37.Rxh5 gxh5 38.a5 h4 39.a6 h3 40.a7 h2 41.a8Q h1Q 42.Qf8+ Ke6 43.Rc3 Qd1 44.Rc6+ Kd5 45.Rc7 Qd4+ 46.Ka3 1-0 Tiviakov,S-Van Wessel,R/Haarlem 1999/



11.Bb3?!
White plays a safe move but this is not in the spirit of the opening. Black hasn't threatened anything so the K-side attack must move without delay.
11.h4! White must attack quickly there is no need for safety moves like Bb3 and Kb1 white will crash through first.
A) 11...b5?! 12.Bb3 Na5 13.h5 Nxh5 14.Bh6 Nxb3+ (14...Nc4 15.Bxc4 bxc4 16.Rxh5+-) 15.Nxb3 Be5 After looking at the alternatives sacking the exchange seems like black's best chance. (15...Bxh6?! 16.Qxh6 b4 17.Nd5 a5 18.g4+-; 15...b4?! 16.Nd5 e6 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.Nf4 Nxf4 19.Qxf4 h5 20.Rxd6 Qc7 21.e5+- White has a strong position.) 16.g4 Ng3 17.Rh2 a5 18.Bxf8 Qxf8 19.Nd5 a4 20.Nd4 a3 21.b3 White is the exchange up and should consolidate in a few moves.
B) 11...Qa5 12.Bb3 Rfc8 13.h5 Nxh5 14.g4 Nxd4 15.Bxd4 Bxd4 16.Qxd4 Nf4 17.Bxf7+ Kxf7 18.Rxh7+ Ke6 19.Nd5 Ne2+ 20.Kb1 Re8 21.Rxe7+ 1-0 Hamdouchi,H-Aalders,H/Andorra 2000/
11...b5?! 12.Kb1?
12.h4 Transposing to the above variations is of course better.
12...Rb8 13.g4?!
13.Nxc6 Promises white nothing.
13.h4! Na5 (13...h5 I was worried about this move during the game thinking black would stop my attack and this is true. White must alter his plan and play for central control but I should still get the advantage afetr 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.Rhe1 a5 16.Bd4 a4 17.Bd5 Bxd5 18.Nxd5 Nxd5 19.Bxg7 Kxg7 20.exd5 b4 21.g4 White is better due to a stronger attack on the King and nice central pressure ) 14.h5 Nc4 15.Bxc4 bxc4 16.Bh6 Qb6 17.b3 Bxh6 18.Qxh6 cxb3 19.cxb3 Qc5 20.Nd5 Nxd5 21.exd5 Qxd5 22.hxg6 Bf5+ 23.Nc2 Bxc2+ 24.Kc1! Black is forced to sac his queen 24...Qxd1+ 25.Rxd1 Bxg6 White is better but black has good chances to draw]
13...Na5 14.g5?!
14.h4?! Nc4 15.Bxc4 bxc4 16.h5 Qb6 17.Qc1=;
14.Rhe1?! Nc4 15.Qd3 Nxe3 16.Qxe3 b4 17.Nd5 a5 black has a slight edge.
The best move appears to be 14.Bh6 Bxh6 15.Qxh6 b4 16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.exd5 Nxb3 18.Nxb3 and white may claim to be a bit better
14...Nxb3?!
14...b4 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.exd5 Qc7 17.h4 Nxb3 18.Nxb3 a5 19.Bd4 a4 20.Bxg7 axb3! 21.Bxf8 Qa7 22.Qd4 Qxa2+ 23.Kc1 Rxf8³
15.cxb3?!
15.Nxb3 Ne8 16.Nd5 e6 (16...Nc7 17.Bb6+-) 17.Nf4
15...Ne8?!
15...Nh5=
16.h4 Nc7 17.h5 b4 18.Nd5?!
18.Nce2 a5 19.Ng3 Re8 20.hxg6 hxg6 21.Qh2 Kf8 22.f4 e6 23.Qh7±
18...Nxd5 19.exd5 Qc8?!
Better is 19...Qa5
20.Rc1
White's time - 6 minutes Black's time - 101 minutes as can be seen white has used too much time already and this is the major factor for the loss.
20...Bf5+ 21.Ka1 Qd7 22.Nc6
22.Rc6 Rfc8 23.Rxa6 gxh5 24.Nc6 Rb7 25.Rxh5 e6 26.Bd4 exd5 27.Bxg7 Rxc6 28.Ra8+ Rc8 (28...Kxg7 29.Qd4+ Kg6 30.Rh6+ Kxg5 31.Qh4#) 29.Rxc8+ Qxc8 30.Bd4 Rb8
22...Rb7 23.Rhe1?!
23.hxg6 Bxg6 24.Rh4 e6 25.Bd4
23...a5 24.h6
24.hxg6 Bxg6 25.f4 e6 26.Bd4 Bxd4 (26...exd5 27.Ne7++-) 27.Qxd4 Re8 White is fighting for advantage.]
24...Bh8 25.Bd4 e5 26.dxe6 fxe6 27.Bxh8 Kxh8 28.Nxa5
28.Red1 d5 29.Nxa5 Ra7 30.Qxb4 Rfa8 31.Qd4+ Kg8 32.b4+- White just needs to consolidate black's pressure and he is won.
28...Ra7




29.Nc4?
29.Qxb4! just grab the material Rfa8 30.Qc3+ Kg8 31.b4±
29...Rfa8 30.a4
30.a3 bxa3 31.Qxd6 axb2+ 32.Kxb2 Ra2+ 33.Kc3 Qb7
30...bxa3
30...d5!
31.bxa3?
31.Qxd6 Qb7 32.bxa3 Qxb3 33.Re3 Rxa3+ 34.Qxa3 Rxa3+ 35.Nxa3 Qb7±
31...d5 32.Qb2+ Kg8 33.a4 dxc4 34.Rxc4 Qd3 35.Rec1 Qd7
35...e5
36.Qc3 e5 37.Qxe5 Qe7?
Throwing away any advantage black had. 37...Be6-+ and black should win
38.Qxe7 Rxe7 39.Rc7 Ra7 40.Rxa7 Rxa7
White has the better winning chances in this position but unfortunately for me it is a little tricky to play and with only 30 sec for each move it is no wonder I stuffed it up. It does not excuse losing however that is just bad play I should have been able to hold the draw.
41.Kb2 Kf7 42.Re1 Rc7 43.Re2
A possible continuation is 43.b4 Rc2+ 44.Kb3 Rf2 45.Re3 Be6+ 46.Kc3 Ra2 47.a5 Ke7 48.Re5 Kd6 49.Rb5 Kc7 50.Kd4 Bd7 51.Rb6 Bc6 52.Ra6 Rd2+ 53.Kc3 Ra2 54.Ra7+ Bb7 55.b5 Kb8 56.b6 Kc8 57.Kd4 Ra3 58.Ke5 Rxf3 59.a6 Bxa6 60.Rxa6 Rf5+ 61.Ke6 Rxg5 62.Ra7 Rb5 63.Rxh7 Rxb6+ 64.Kf7 g5 65.Rh8+ Kd7 66.h7 Rh6 67.Kg7 Rh1 68.Rf8+-
43...Be6 44.Re3?!
44.b4
44...Rc5 45.f4
45.Rc3! Rxg5 (45...Rxc3 46.Kxc3 Ke7 47.b4 Kd6 48.Kd4 Bb3 49.a5 Bd1 50.f4 Bc2 51.a6 Kc7 52.Ke5 Kb6 53.Kf6 Kxa6 54.Kg7 Kb5 55.Kxh7 Be4 56.Kg7 Kxb4 57.h7) 46.Rc7+ Kf6 47.Rxh7 Rf5 48.Rh8 Rxf3 (48...Bf7 49.Rc8 Rh5 50.a5 Rxh6 51.a6 Rh2+ 52.Ka3 Rh1 53.Kb2 Rh2+=) 49.Rf8+ Bf7 50.h7
45...Rc6 46.Re4
46.Rc3
46...Ke7 47.Rb4
47.b4
47...Rc7 48.a5 Kd7 49.Rb8 Bd5 50.Rf8?
White's time - 50 sec Black's time - 50 mins. Now black is doing the opposite of white and using too little time It is always tempting to blitz out your moves when your opponent is low on time but if you have a superior position this is just crazy!
50.f5 gxf5 51.g6 Kc6 52.g7 f4 53.Rb6+ Kc5 54.Kc3 Rc6 55.b4+ Kd6+ 56.Rxc6+ Kxc6 57.Kd4 f3 58.b5+ Kd6 59.b6 f2 60.b7 Bxb7 61.g8Q f1Q 62.Qd8+ Ke6 63.Qb6+ Kf5 64.Qxb7 White has the better ending but someone with table bases will come to a concrete solution.
50...Kc6 51.Rf6+ Kb5 52.Rb6+?
52.a6
52...Kxa5 53.Rb8
Black is now winning
53...Rf7 54.Rd8 Bb7 55.Rd4 Kb5 56.Kc3 Kc5 57.b4+ Kb5 58.Rc4 Kb6 59.Kd2 Rd7+ 60.Kc3 Ba6 61.Rd4

61...Kc6??
Black again is moving quickly and doesn't see what is going on in the position because now white has a forced win. 61...Rc7+ Holds black's pressure in the position.
62.Rxd7 Kxd7 63.Kd4??
Problem is I didn't have enough time to calculate f5 and I panicked, Black is now winning comfortably.
63.f5 And white wins with a pawn break through.
A) 63...Bb7 64.Kd4 gxf5 (64...Ke7 65.fxg6 hxg6 66.h7) 65.g6 hxg6 66.h7;
B) 63...gxf5 64.g6]
63...Ke6 64.Ke4 Bb7+ 65.Kd4 Kf5 66.Ke3 Bc6 67.Kd4 Kxf4 68.Kc5 Bg2
White Resigns
0-1
So in conclusion what can be gained from such a terrible loss.
Time Management is critical sometimes a average move is better than trying to find the best move. Understanding the spirit of the opening is important and If you play sharp opening's you better know what you are doing. Never underestimate your opponent they still have to make mistakes for you to win. Calculating in time pressure is not an easy task but one which must be practiced.





Saturday, July 26, 2008

North Island Champion

Anthony Ker the new North Island Champion.

For full result's games and pictures go to http://www.newzealandchess.co.nz/results.html

The North Island Championship has struggled the last few years (maybe more) to get decent support from the chess community, surely the only yearly event more prestigious is the NZ Championship. I was one of the shockers not to attend this tournament something which is totally unacceptable, I vow not to miss another NI Champs and can only hope others realise their mistake and do the same.

Wanganui Championship

The G.F. Francis trophy which is over 100 years old is once again up for grabs at the Wanaganui
Club Championship. The format is a double round robin event each round being played on Monday night 7:15pm with a time control of 90mins + 30sec a move.

Participants

John McDonald 2064
Chris Burns 2039
Justin Davis 1967
Prince Vetharaniam 1913
Mathew King 1853
James Stewart Unrated

Two notable omissions from the tournament are C. Ker (2108) and M. Post (1834). Post has recently moved to Australia something which we will try to forgive him for as even the best of us can blunder.

Round one (21 jul) Results

J. McDonald - J. Stewart 1-0
C. Burns - M. King 1-0
J. Davis - P. Vetharaniam 1/2-1/2

Round two (28 Jul) pairings

J. McDonald - J. Davis
C.Burns - P. Vetharaniam
M.King - J. Stewart

For excellent photos of the event goto http://nzchessevents.myphotoalbum.com/

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Tactical Puzzle

What is white's killer move and how do you follow this up?

White to move

Friday, July 11, 2008

Palmy Club Rapid Game

Holdaway, Stewart (1580)- King, Mathew (1676) [B22]Palmerston North Club Rapid Championship (4.2)

Comments made by Stewart are taken from the Palmerston North Club Magazine.
When annotating a game I think it is important to find the critical points, where the game could be won drawn or lost.

1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.d4 cxd4 5.cxd4 d6 6.Bc4 Nb6 7.Bb3 Nc6
Possible is 7...dxe5 8.Qh5 e6 9.dxe5 Nc6 10.Nf3 Qd3 11.Nc3 Bb4 12.Bd2 Na5 13.0-0-0 Nxb3+ 14.axb3 Bd7 15.Qh4 Bxc3 16.Bxc3 Qg6 17.Nd2 0-0 18.Ne4 Bc6 19.Nd6 a5 20.Rhe1 a4 21.b4 a3 22.bxa3 Rxa3 23.Kb2 Ra2+ 0-1 Tong Yuanming-Alterman,B/Beijing 1995/
8.Nf3
Stewart considers this a slight inaccuracy but we are still following GM play.
8...dxe5 9.dxe5?!
The mian move here is 9.d5 Na5 10.Nc3 Nxb3 11.Qxb3 e6 12.Nxe5 exd5 13.Be3 Bd6 14.Qb5+ Kf8 15.0-0-0 Be6 16.Nf3 Rc8 17.Kb1 Rc6 18.Nd4 Rc4 19.Nxe6+ fxe6 20.Nxd5 exd5 21.Bxb6 axb6 22.Rxd5 Rc6 23.Re1 h5 24.Rd3 Rh6 25.Rf3+ Rf6 26.Qxh5 Be7 27.Rfe3 Rce6 28.Rd1 Rd6 29.Rde1 Rde6 30.Rd1 Qc7 31.Rc3 Rc6 32.Re3 Rxf2 33.a3 Rh6 34.Rf3+ Rxf3 35.Qxf3+ Rf6 36.Qh5 Qc5 37.Qh8+ Kf7 38.Rc1 Qd5 0-1 Sermek,D-Sveshnikov,E/Bled 1996/
9...Qxd1+ 10.Bxd1 Bg4?!
Stewart comments "The battle is now for the e5 pawn." Yes In most c3 sicilian lines all of white's advantage lies in the e5 pawn.
11.0-0?



Stewart fails to point out in his annotations that black can now win the e pawn necessary was 11.h3 black does not have 11...Bxf3 12.Bxf3 because Nxe5 13. Bxb7.
11.h3 Bh5 12.e6! White will get full comp for this pawn sac 12...fxe6 Black's pawn structure is in ruin's.
11...0-0-0?
11...Nc4! The e-pawn is now lost 12.Nc3 e6 13.Re1 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 N4xe5
12.Re1 e6 13.a3?!
Stewart comments "Played to stop 13...Bb4 or 13...Nb4". These are not really threats or strictly speaking black has a stronger threat which is Nc4 pressuring the e5 pawn so white must defend against this.
13.h3 Bb4 14.Nc3 Bh5 15.Bg5 Rd3 White has a tough choice on how to defend black's many threats 16.Be2 (16.Nd4 Bxc3 17.bxc3 Bxd1 18.Raxd1 Nxe5 19.Nb5 Rxd1 20.Rxd1 Nec4 21.Nxa7+ Kb8 22.Nb5 Nd5) 16...Rxc3 17.bxc3 Bxc3 18.Rac1 Bxe1 19.Rxe1
13...Be7?
Black misses his chance and the position is now equal 13...Nc4 Black has a clear edge 14.Bb3 N4a5 15.Bd1 Bxf3 16.Bxf3 Nb3 17.Bxc6 bxc6 18.Ra2 It will take white a long time to get his rook into play.
14.h3 Bh5 15.Nc3 Nd5 16.Bd2 h6
This move was played not just to keep the bishop's option's open after g4 and Nh4 but to decrease squares for white's pieces and start a possible K-side expansion. It is a move which slightly improves my position which I can make quickly and as this is a rapid game time is an important factor.
17.Nxd5
Trading here is not good it brings black's pieces into play quicker and doesn't improve white;s position. Rc1 is better.
17...Rxd5 18.g4 Bg6 19.Bc3 Rhd8 20.Ba4
Stewart Comments "In my opinion white is fairly solid and after exchanges on the d-file I was hoping the position might even be slightly better for white because of the e5 pawn!"




At this very moment however black has a very interesting move to gain the advantage. 20...Rd3?!
20...b5! 21.Bb3 R5d7 22.Rac1 Kb7 A) 23.Red1?! a5! Black's queenside pawn storm ensures a strong iniative and gives white a tough defensive task to keep the position at only a slight disadvantage for him. 24.Rxd7+ Rxd7 25.Bc2 Bxc2 26.Rxc2 Rd3 27.Kg2 b4 28.axb4 axb4 A1) 29.Be1 Rxf3 30.Rxc6 (30.Kxf3 Nd4+) 30...Rxf2+ 31.Kxf2 Kxc6 Black is winning ; A2) 29.Rd2 29...Rxf3 30.Kxf3 bxc3 31.bxc3 Nxe5+ 32.Ke4 Bf6 33.f4 Nc4 34.Rd7+ Kc6 35.Ra7 (35.Rxf7 Nd6+) 35...Nd6+ 36.Kd3 g5 37.fxg5 hxg5 38.Ra6+ Kc5 39.Ra8; B) 23.h4 White must counter on the K-side. 23...h5 24.g5 a5 25.Red1 a4 26.Rxd7+ Rxd7 27.Bc2 Bxc2 28.Rxc2 Kb6 White is hoding on but black has idea's to increase the pressure like b4, Rd5 and a king invasion.
21.Kg2 h5 22.Rad1 hxg4 23.hxg4 Rxd1?
This throws away black's advantage. [23...b5! 24.Rxd3 Bxd3 25.Bb3 a5]
24.Rxd1 Rxd1 25.Bxd1
Stewart correctly assess this position as equal, But what does that really mean. Both sides must still play good moves and have an idea of how to create winning chances and parry each other's threats.
25...f6 26.Ba4 Be4 27.Kg3 a6 28.Bxc6?!
I consider this exchange to be in black's favour
28...Bxc6 29.Nd4 Bd5 30.exf6?!
Time has now become a factor with Stewart being under 5 minutes and I have just under 10. 30.Ne2 Kd7 31.Nf4 Kc6 32.Nh5 fxe5 33.Bxe5 g6 34.Nf4 Be4=
30...gxf6 31.Ne2 Kd7 32.Nf4 Bc6 33.Ng6 Bd6+ 34.f4 Be4 35.Nh4 Be7
35...e5 36.fxe5 fxe5 37.Nf3 Ke6 38.Ng5+ Kd5 39.Nxe4 Kxe4=
36.f5?!
36.Nf3 This keeps things equal
36...Bd6+ 37.Kf2 e5 38.Nf3 Bc5+ 39.Kg3 Bd5 40.g5?!
40.Nxe5+!? fxe5 41.Bxe5 Be3 Black will have a difficult time winning this position if it is even possible.
40...Bd6?
40...e4 41.Nd4 fxg5 42.Kg4 Be7
41.Ne1?!
41.gxf6! e4+ 42.Ne5+ Bxe5+ 43.Bxe5 e3=
41...e4+ 42.Kg4 fxg5 43.Kxg5 Ke8 44.Nc2 Kf7 45.Nb4?
45.b4=



45...Bc6?
45...Bb3! 46.Kg4 a5-+ The piece is trapped.
46.Nxc6 bxc6 47.f6 Ke6 48.Kg4 Bc7 49.Kh3 Bd8 50.f7?
A time pressure move Stewart thought he was getting my e pawn but my king is too close.
50...Kxf7 51.Kg4 Ke6 52.Kf4 Kd5-+ 53.Bg7 a5 54.Bc3 a4
I stopped recording here but white could resign.
0-1

Chess helps hostages in Columbian jungle


The benefits of chess seem to be never ending here is an interesting article with a CNN Video report.

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Olympiad 08

New Zealand Olympiad Teams Announced




The NZCF selectors have chosen the following players to represent New Zealand in Dresden (not necessarily in board order):

Open team: Murray Chandler, Puchen Wang, Russell Dive, Bob Smith, and Roger Nokes. 1st Reserve: Stephen Lukey, 2nd Reserve Michael Steadman.

Women's team: Helen Milligan, Sue Maroroa, Judy Gao, Vivian Smith, Natasha Fairley. 1st Reserve: Evgenia Charmova, 2nd Reserve: Cecily Liu.

Open team Captain : Hilton Bennett

Women's team Captain: John McDonald

The Olympiad will take place from 13th-25th November 2008 in Dresden, Germany.

John McDonald (Pictured) is Wanganui's first Olympian in quite a number of year's and hopefully local club's will support him and the team by donating money.
More info can be found here:
http://www.newzealandchess.co.nz/dresdenolympiad08.html
http://www.newzealandchess.co.nz/

Friday, July 4, 2008

Palmerston North Club News

Palmerston North Chess Club Rapid Championship

6 round swiss, 25 +5, 16 players

1st Justin Davis (1911) 6/6
2nd Dennis Davey (1304) 5/6
3rd= Mathew King (1676) & Stephen Taylor (1592) 4/6
5th= Stewart Holdaway (1580) , Charles Ker (2002) , JuYoung Kim & Ricky Kim 3/6


With a perfect score Justin Davis has added the Rapid Championship to his list of victories at the Palmy club. After a out of form performance at the Gordon Memorial Rapid he avenged himself and seems to be well on his way to taking first (or first equal) in every Palmy club event!
Dennis Davey also had an excellent result to finish second above many higher rated players, while Wanganui Champ Charles Ker seems to be struggling to prove his dominance as the top rated player in Palmerston North.
All eyes will now be focused on the club champs and how to stop the Davis train!