118th New Zealand Chess Congress

The next big chess event in New Zealand is the 118th New Zealand congress. As a 1964 NZCF and a 1959 Fide rated player I find the Championship entries list to be rather troubling. In my opinion, I give you a list of the only exceptions a player should be granted entry into the Championship if they don't meet the rating requirements.
1) A current North or South Island champion
2) A promising junior rated atleast over 1800
3) Last years Major open winner
In all other cases such exceptions granted only lessen the quality of the New Zealand championship and take away from the Major open. Apart from this the 118th Chess Congress looks like a good event.

The 118th New Zealand Chess Championship will be an 11-round Swiss system tournament, with a minimum of 18 players, open to all NZ players with a current NZCF standard rating of 2000 or higher, or a FIDE rating of at least 2100. In the event of fewer than 18 qualified players entering, sufficient Major Open entrants will be invited, in order of rating, to bring the field up to 18. In the event of no more than 12 entries being received, the Championship will be conducted as a round robin of 12 players.
The Championship will be FIDE rated and overseas players may be invited by the NZCF council. Players are reminded that the North Island Champion, South Island Champion, and Junior Champion are eligible to play in the Championship.
Any NZ player who does not fulfil the rating requirements set out above may apply to be treated as a special case; the player must demonstrate exceptional circumstances. Please apply to the NZCF, Box 216, Shortland Street, Auckland 1010.

Entries so far (NZCF November ratings, with November FIDE in brackets): IM Russell Dive 2460 (2375), IM Anthony Ker 2444 (2336), FM Scott Wastney 2375 (2300), FM Bob Smith 2371 (2287), FM Mike Steadman 2362 (2285), Daniel Shen 2258 (2187), Leonard McLaren 2244 (2207), Bruce Wheeler 2190 (2122), Helen Milligan 2148 (2028), Matthew Barlow 2137 (2140), Antonio Krstev 2129 (2094), Noel Pinic 2121 (2035), Bob Gibbons 2086 (2022), Ivan Dordevic 2080 (-), Peter Stuart 2070 (2025), Richard Taylor 2065 (1929), Alan Ansell 2050 (2001), Hilton Bennett 2046 (1974), Nathan Goodhue 2030 (1996), Fuatai Fuatai 2027 (2017), Ross Jackson 2013 (1966), Luke Li 1992 (1943), Bill Forster 1990 (1908), Hans Gao 1987 (1842), Judy Gao 1964 (1897), Hamish Gold 1927 (1841), Winston Yao 1676 (-).


This is an NZCF Grand Prix Superclass event, the first of the 2011 season.

The Major Open will be an 11-round Swiss system tournament open to all NZ players with a current NZCF standard rating of under 2000. Players with a current NZCF rating over 2000 are not eligible.
Entries so far (NZCF November ratings): Peter Fraemohs 1999, David Evans 1984, Caleb Wright 1936, Bruce Kay 1802, Don Stracy 1796, Arthur Casilang 1746, Bob Mitchell 1726, John Pakenham 1715, Nicole Tsoi 1711, Simon Lyall 1695, Wayne Puepuemai 1687, Scott Yang 1648, Eric Wu 1624, Michael Roberts 1622, David Rong 1604, Malo Puepuemai 1501, George Chen 1473, Hao Jia 1459, William J W Zhang 1409, Hristo Kolev 1397, Andrew Geng Li 1354, John Ansell 1320, Cathy Fan 1308, Alphaeus Ang 1235, Leo Zhang 1209, Linton Rudkins 1141, Allen Fan 1018, Olivia Dong 1000, Bella Qian 975, Brian Lim.

Oceania Zonal Rotorua 2011

A new Fide ratings list is due out in January so ratings are subject to change before the tournament

Open Section Entry list as at 19 December 2010

1) GM Zong-Yuan Zhao (AUS) 2586
2) GM David Smerdon (AUS) 2531
3) IM George Xie (AUS) 2478
4) IM Stephen Solomon (AUS) 2397
5) IM Gary Lane (AUS) 2373
6) FM Moulthun Ly (AUS) 2321
7) FM Bobby Cheng (AUS) 2316
8) FM Max Illingworth (AUS) 2304
9) FM Bob Smith (NZL) 2287
10) FM Mike Steadman (NZL) 2285
11) FM Tim Reilly (AUS) 2276
12) IM Vladimir Feldman (AUS) 2262
13) FM Junta Ikeda (AUS) 2262
14) FM Stephen Lukey (NZL) 2244
15) Gareth Oliver (AUS) 2210
16) Andrew Brown (AUS) 2175
17) Eugene Schon (AUS) 2157
18) *David Hacche (AUS) 2119
19) Joselito Marcos (PNG) 2095
20) FM Brian Jones (AUS) 2084
21) Shaun Press (PNG) 2067
22) Justin Tan (AUS) 2052
23) Tristan Stevens (AUS) 2050
24) Noel Pinic (NZL) 2035
25) Andrew Fitzpatrick (AUS) 2032
26) Helen Milligan (NZL) 2028
27) Fedja Zulfic (AUS) 2024
28) *Justin Davis (NZL) 2023
29) Fuatai Fuatai (NZL) 2017
30) Manoj Kumar (FIJ) 2009
31) Leon Kempen (AUS) 2003
32) *Hilton Bennett (NZL) 1974
33) Adrian Flitney (AUS) 1974
34) William Lynn (NZL) 1962
35) Brandon Tangaibasa (SOL) 1932
36) Nicholas Deen-Cowell (AUS) 1917
37) Sanmogan Goundar (Fij) 1904
38) *Amir Karibasic (AUS) 1902
39) *Dan Dolejs (NZL) 1892
40) Richard Voon (AUS) 1890
41) Roberto Hernandez (PLW) 1833
42) Bruce Gloistein (NZL) 1817
43) Joshua Bishop (AUS) 1803
44) Nigel Cooper (NZL) 1769
45) Francesco Antoniazzi(AUS) 1685
46) Matthew Bennett (AUS) 1660
47) Tito Cabunagan (PLW) --

* Provisional entries

Queenstown Chess Classic 2012

2012 Queenstown Classic - confirmed!

New Zealand's most prestigious international Open tournament, The Queenstown Chess Classic, will return for a 3rd edition 15th-23rd January 2012. The $50,000 in sponsorship is being provided by New Zealand Chess Grandmaster Murray Chandler. As with the previous Queenstown events (in 2006 and 2009), the 2012 Classic will be a fully-fledged International Open tournament. It will feature nine rounds over nine days, and will incorporate the 119th New Zealand National Championship. The tournament website www.queenstownchess.com will be updated regularly over the coming months.

Palmerston North Chess Club Champions

Congratulations to A grade winner Justin Davis and B grade Champion Jack James

Oceania Zonal Rotorua 2011

Oceania Zonal 2011 Entries (including "*" - provisional entries)as at 2 December 2010

1) GM David Smerdon (AUS) 2531
2) IM George Xie (AUS) 2478
3) IM Stephen Solomon (AUS) 2397
4) IM Gary Lane (AUS) 2373
5) FM Bobby Cheng (AUS) 2316
6) FM Max Illingworth (AUS) 2304
7) FM Bob Smith (NZL) 2287
8) *FM Mike Steadman (NZL) 2285
9) *FM Tim Reilly (AUS) 2276
10) IM Vladimir Feldman (AUS) 2262
11) FM Junta Ikeda (AUS) 2262
12) Gareth Oliver (AUS) 2210
13) *Andrew Brown (AUS) 2175
14) Eugene Schon (AUS) 2157
15) *Quentin Johnson (NZL) 2128
16) *David Hacche (AUS) 2119
17) Joselito Marcos (PNG) 2095
18) FM Brian Jones (AUS) 2084
19) *Shaun Press (PNG) 2067
20) Justin Tan (AUS) 2052
21) Tristan Stevens (AUS) 2050
22) Noel Pinic (NZL) 2035
23) Andrew Fitzpatrick (AUS) 2032
24) Helen Milligan (NZL) 2028
25) *Justin Davis (NZL) 2023
26) Fuatai Fuatai (NZL) 2017
27) Manoj Kumar (FIJ) 2009
28) *Leon Kempen (AUS) 2003
29) *Hilton Bennett (NZL) 1974
30) Adrian Flitney (AUS) 1974
31) Brandon Tangaibasa (SOL) 1932
32) *Amir Karibasic (AUS) 1902
33) *Dan Dolejs (NZL) 1892
34) Roberto Hernandez (PLW) 1833
35) Bruce Gloistein (NZL) 1817
36) Nigel Cooper (NZL) 1769
37) Francesco Antoniazzi(AUS) 1685
38) Tito Cabunagan (PLW) --


*- Provisional entry

Homepage

Oceania Zonal Rotorua 2011

Rotorua, New Zealand

Oceania official World Chess Championship and Women's Chess Championship Qualifying Event

in the Millennium Hotel, Rotorua

Tuesday 25th to Monday 31st January 2011

Organised by the NEW ZEALAND CHESS FEDERATION

Official webpage

NZCF November Active Ratings List

New Zealand Top 10

1. IM Russell Dive 2460
2. IM Anthony Ker 2444 (Current NZ Champion)
3. IM Ben Martin 2427
4. FM Roger Nokes 2383
5. FM Scott Wastney 2375
6. IM Puchen Wang 2372
7. FM Robert Smith 2371 (Current North Island Champion)
8. FM Michael Steadman 2362
9. FM Nic Croad 2346
10. IM Paul Garbett 2328

Palmerston North and Central North Island Top Players

Chris Burns 2145
Justin Davis 2111
John McDonald 2098
Allen Ansell 2050
Prince Vetharaniam 2016
Mathew King 1964
Martin Post 1931
James Stewart 1904
Jack James 1679*
Stepen Taylor 1667
John Ansell 1320

Other Players do not have an active rating or only have a rapid rating

*Provisional rating

Important Olympiad positions

The following position is from FM Smith 2282 - GM Ragger 2628
Smith has currently outplayed his much higher opponent to reach this position, the game ended in a draw but how can white now increase his advantage here to almost ensure the full point?
It must be noted in 2001 GM Ragger was a 2104 rated Junior. Not bad improvement

Olympiad 2010 Final Standings

Open

Gold Ukraine 19

Silver Russia 1 18

Bronze Israel 17

55. Australia(49) 12

91. New Zealand (92) 10

143. Papau New Guinea (117) 6

Women

Gold Russia 1 22

Silver China 18

Bronze Georgia 16

46. Australia (53) 12

82. New Zealand (72) 9

Olympiad 2010 Final Round Eleven

Open
Board 39


88 United Arab Emirates (UAE) - 92 New Zealand (NZL) 2 1/2 - 1 1/2

GM Salem A R Saleh 2501 - FM Smith Robert W 2282 1-0

FMA lHuwar Jasem 2265 - FM Steadman Michael 2309 1-0

Omar Noaman Ali Ali 2220 - FM Croad Nicolas 2297 1/2-1/2

FM Abdulwahab Marwan 2089 - Han Daniel 2200 0-1


Women
Board 38


72 New Zealand (NZL) - 77 Guatemala (GUA) 1-3

WFM Milligan Helen 2033 - WIM Mazariego-K Carolina 2086 0-1

WIM Maroroa Sue 1981 - Mencos Claudia 1912 1/2-1/2

WCM Chen Eachen 1966 - Figueroa Julissa 1792 0-1

WFM Fairley Natasha 1777 - Sotomayor Villatoro Silvia 1777 1/2-1/2

Olympiad 2010 Round Ten Standings

Open Standings

1. Ukraine 18

2. Russia 1 17

3. Israel 16

4. Poland 15

5. Hungary 15

6. Armenia 15

7. Spain 15

8. France 15

68. Australia (49) 10

78. New Zealand (92) 10

145. Papau New Guinea (117) 4

Ukraine has all but wrapped up the gold needing only a drawn match against Israel in the final round, although I'm not sure on the tiebreak system used if Russia 1 was to win over Spain in their last round encounter.

The New Zealand Open team has performed excellently but faces a tough task in the last round to keep a positive result on the final crosstable facing a higher ranked UAE. FM Robert Smith has had some good results on board one chiefly a draw against 2628 rated GM Ragger Markus and a win over 2394 IM Solomon Kenny. FM Michael Steadman has performed excellently beating higher rated IM Kobese Watu 2370 and a draw against GM John Shaw rated 2446. FM Nic Croad struggled in the first rounds but had a good win over Scotland's IM Burns-Mannion Stephen R 2372. Daniel Han has performed the worse but had a good win over Iraq's IM Noah A. H. Al-Ali 2397. The Open team's best match results must be beating Ireland (75) and drawing with Iraq (76) and South Africa (81).

Women Standings

1. Russia 1 20

2. China 16

3. Ukraine 15

4. Georgia 15

5. Russia 2 15

6. Poland 15

36. Australia (53) 12

72. New Zealand (72) 9

So Russia 1 have guaranteed themselves gold with a dominating performance.

The New Zealand Women's team have not performed as well as their last olympiad but currently look set to finish higher than their rank of 72, playing 77 ranked Guatemala in the final round. The two best performers have clearly been WIM Sue Maroroa and WFM Natasha Fairley. Sue drawing with WGM Kaps Darja rated 2300 is her best result. WFM Helen Milligan has had a tough task on board one playing many players abover her rating. WCM Eachen Chen has had mixed results but had a good win over WFM Ovezova Maisa 2117. The teams best results are a draw over Turkmenistan (44) and win against Egypt (73) and a close call against the much higher rated Australia(53) losing only by half a point.

Olympiad 2010 Round Ten

Men
Board 30

92 New Zealand (NZL) - 71 Belgium (BEL) 1-3

FM Smith Robert W 2282 - IM Saibulatov Daniyal 2400 0-1

FM Steadman Michael 2309 - IM Polaczek Richard 2385 ½ - ½

FM Croad Nicolas 2297 - FM Vandenbussche Thibaut 2333 ½ - ½

Han Daniel 2200 - FM Rooze Jan 2288 0-1


Women
Board 33

51 ICSC (ICSC) - 72 New Zealand (NZL) 4-0

WIM Baklanova Tatiana 2247 - WFM Milligan Helen 2033 1-0

WCM Mucha Annegret 2005 - WCM Chen Eachen 1966 1-0

WIM Gerasimova Olga 2218 - WFM Fairley Natasha 1777 1-0

Myronenko Natalya 1945 - WFM Smith Vivian J 1827 1-0

Olympiad 2010 Round nine

Open
Board 39


92 New Zealand (NZL) -133 Kenya (KEN) 3½ - ½

FM Smith Robert W 2282 - Gilruth Peter 2202 1- 0

FM Steadman Michael 2309 - Singe Philip 0 ½ - ½

FM Croad Nicolas 2297 - CM Mukabi John 2074 1 - 0

Han Daniel 2200 - Atwoli Joseph 0 1 - 0


Women
Board 25

84 IBCA (IBCA) - 72 New Zealand (NZL) 1½ - 2½

WIM Zsiltzova-Lisenko Lubov 2282 - WFM Milligan Helen 2033 ½ - ½

WCM Stolarczyk Anna 2071 - WIM Maroroa Sue 1981 ½ - ½

Karsokaite Irena 1660 - WCM Chen Eachen 1966 0 - 1

Valner Shafiga 0 - WFM Fairley Natasha 1777 ½ - ½

Olympiad 2010 Round eight

Open
Board 39


81 South Africa (RSA) -92 New Zealand (NZL) 2 - 2

IM Solomon Kenny 2394 - FM Smith Robert W 2282 0-1

IM Kobese Watu 2370 - FM Steadman Michael 2309 0-1

FM Steel Henry Robert 2300 - FM Croad Nicolas 2297 1-0

IM Johannes Manyedi Mabusela 2288 - Han Daniel 2200 1-0

Women
Board 28


72New Zealand (NZL)-43 Bosnia & Herzegovina (BIH) 1-3

WFM Milligan Helen 2033 - WIM Boric Elena 2286 0-1

WIM Maroroa Sue 1981 - WFM Dengler Dijana 2088 ½ - ½

WCM Chen Eachen 1966 - Dedijer Sanja 2055 ½ - ½

WFM Fairley Natasha 1777 - Dedijer Mira 1973 0-1

Results are http://chess-results.com/tnr36795.aspx?art=0&rd=7&lan=1&turdet=YES&flag=30&m=-1&wi=1000

Official site http://www.ugra-chess.com/

Olympiad 2010 Round Seven

Open
Board 49


92 New Zealand (NZL) - 106 Panama (PAN) 3 - 1

FM Smith Robert W 2282 - IM Baules Jorge 2335 ½ - ½

FM Steadman Michael 2309 - FM Sanchez Jorge 2163 1-0

FM Croad Nicolas 2297 - FM Arosemena Jose Luis 2203 ½ - ½

Han Daniel 2200 - Aizpurua Patrick 0 1-0


Women
Board 23


72New Zealand (NZL)-44 Turkmenistan (TKM) 2 - 2

WFM Milligan Helen 2033 - WGM Geldiyeva Mahri 2260 0-1

WIM Maroroa Sue 1981 - WFM Hallayeva Bahar 2174 ½ - ½

WCM Chen Eachen 1966 - WFM Ovezova Maisa 2117 1-0

WFM Fairley Natasha 1777 - WFM Atabayeva Gozel 2116 ½ - ½

Olympiad 2010 Round Six

Open
Board 37


63 Scotland (SCO) - 92 New Zealand (NZL) 2 1/2 - 1 1/2

GM McNab Colin A 2445 - FM Smith Robert W 2282 1-0

GM Shaw John 2446 - FM Steadman Michael 2309 1/2 -1/2

IM Burns-Mannion Stephen R 2372 - FM Croad Nicolas 2297 0-1

FM Morrison Graham 2345 - Han Daniel 2200 1-0

Women
Board 41


79 Jordan (JOR) - 72 New Zealand (NZL) 1-3

Emad Tania 1955 - WFM Milligan Helen 2033 0-1

Dahdal Lougain 1885 - WIM Maroroa Sue 1981 0-1

Boshra Alshaeby 1798 - WCM Chen Eachen1966 1-0

Nuimat Rayah0 - WFM Fairley Natasha 1777 0-1

Olympiad 2010 Round Five Standings

Open

1 Georgia 10 MP
2 Hungary 10 MP
3 Armenia 10 MP
4 Ukraine 9 MP
5 Netherlands 9 MP
6 Russia 2 8 MP
7 Czech Republic 8 MP
8 Russia 1 8 MP
9 Azerbaijan 8 MP
10 United States of America 8 MP
76 New Zealand (92) 5 MP


Women

1 Ukraine 10 MP
2 Russia 1 10 MP
3 United States of America 9 MP
4 Hungary 9 MP
5 Georgia 8 MP
6 China 8 MP
7 Poland 8 MP
8 India 8 MP
9 Russia 3 8 MP
10 Serbia 8 MP
75 New Zealand (72) 4 MP

MP = Match points
2 points for a match win


Photo's of the NZ teams can be found here: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/shaunpress/Olympiad2010#

Olympiad 2010 round five

Open
Board 44


76 Iraq (IRQ) - 92 New Zealand (NZL) 2 - 2

Ahmed Abdul Sattar abdulwhhab 2342 - FM Smith Robert W 2282 ½ - ½

FM Al-Ali Hussein Ali Hussein 2364 - FM Steadman Michael 2309 ½ - ½

IM Al-Saffar Araz Basim Mohammed 2348 - FM Croad Nicolas 2297 1-0

IM Noah A. H. Al-Ali 2397 - Han Daniel 2200 0-1



Women
Board 35

72 New Zealand (NZL) - 53 Australia (AUS) 1 ½-½ - 2½ - ½

WFM Milligan Helen 2033 - WIM Caoili Arianne 2243 0-1

WCM Chen Eachen 1966 - Nguyen Thu Giang 2108 1/2 - 1/2

WFM Fairley Natasha 1777 - WIM Dekic Biljana N 2104 1/2 - 1/2

WFM Smith Vivian J1827 - WFM Reid Vaness 1839 1/2 - 1/2

Olympiad 2010 Round Four

Open
Board 30

92 New Zealand (NZL)-45Austria (AUT)½ :3½

FM Smith Robert W 2282 - GM Ragger Markus 2628 ½ - ½

FM Steadman Michael 2309 - GM Shengelia David 2587 0 - 1

FMCroad Nicolas 2297 - IM Neubauer Martin 2428 0 - 1

Han Daniel 2200 -IM Danner Georg 2422 0 - 1

Women

Board 34

73 Egypt (EGY) - 72 New Zealand (NZL) 1½:2½

Elgohary Myada 1751 - WFM Milligan Helen 2033 0 - 1

Elansary Eman 1836 - WIM Maroroa Sue 1981 0 - 1

WGM Mona Khaled 2103 - WCM Chen Eachen 1966 1 - 0

WIM Basta Sohair 2030 - WFM Fairley Natasha 1777 ½ - ½

Olympiad 2010 Round Three

A great result for both teams to take out Ireland especially the open group who was outranked.

Open
Board 47

92 New Zealand (NZL) -75 Ireland (IRL) 2 1/2 - 1-1/2

FM Smith Robert W 2282 - IM Collins Sam E 2431 0-1

FM Steadman Michael 2309 - FM Astaneh Lopez Alex 2393 1-0

FM Croad Nicolas2297 - FM Daly Colm 2277 1-0

Han Daniel 2200 - Fitzsimons David 2229 1/2-1/2


Women
Board 45

72 New Zealand (NZL) -107 Ireland (IRL) 3 1/2 - 1/2

WFM Milligan Helen 2033 - Alfred Emily 0 1/2 -1/2

WIM Maroroa Sue 1981 - Shaughnessy Elizabeth 0 1-0

WCM Chen Eachen 1966 - Hearne Sarah-Jane 0 1-0

WFM Fairley Natasha 1777 - WCM O'Boyle Una 0 1-0


New Zealand Women's team on right of picture from an earlier round.

Olympiad 2010 Round one Tactics

Natasha Fairley is black in this position and played the unfortunate d2?? but by simply moving the rook black should cruise to victory. The game ended in a draw


Michael Steadman has just played Rbc8 what tactical shot did he miss

Olympiad 2010 Round two

Open
Board 72

144 Mauritania (MTN) - 92 New Zealand (NZL) 1-3

Mohamed Cheikh Boidiya Sidi 0 - FM Smith Robert W 2282 0-1

Daouda Sabar Ousmane 0 - FM Steadman Michael 2309 0-1

Hemam Moulaye Brahim 0 - FM Croad Nicolas 2297 1/2-1/2

Ould Taleb Mohamed Ahmed 0 - Han Daniel 2200 1/2-1/2

Women
Board 33

80 Puerto Rico (PUR) - 72 New Zealand (NZL) 3-1


WFM Segarra Choe Tammy 2014 - WFM Milligan Helen 2033 1/2-1/2

Pacheco Medina Hilzandryly 1875 - WIM Maroroa Sue 1981 1/2-1/2

Sanchez Rodriguez Wilmairi 1812 - WCM Chen Eachen 1966 1-0

Comas Colon Rinelly 1696 - WFM Fairley Natasha 1777 1-0

Olympiad 2010 Round one

Pictures from the opening ceremony

Please note pairings are not in colour order.

Open

Board 18

91 New Zealand (NZL)-18 Cuba (CUB)

FM Smith Robert W 2282 - GM Bruzon Batista Lazaro 2679

FM Steadman Michael 2309 - GMQuesada Perez Yuniesky 2614

FM Croad Nicolas 2297 - GM Corrales Jimenez Fidel 2599

Han Daniel 2200 - GM Hernandez Carmenates Holden 2563

New Zealand lost all games

Women


Board 12

70 New Zealand (NZL) - 13 Slovenia (SLO)

WFM Milligan Helen2033 - WGMKrivec Jana 2309

WIM Maroroa Sue 1981 - WGMKaps Darja 2300

WCM Chen Eachen 1966 - WIMRozic Vesna 2289

WFM Fairley Natasha 1777 - WFMBajt Indira 2204

Natasha and Sue drew but NZ lost 1-3

World Chess Olympiad 2010 Khanty-Mansiysk Siberia, RUSSIA

Three days to go and the somewhat troublesome Olympiad begins. Good luck to both teams. I have donated a small amount to the olympiad fund but I figure if we all make a small effort it can only help.

The New Zealand Open team is ranked 90th out of 157 teams with an average rating of 2272. Ahead of Papau New Guinea (114th) but behind Australia (50th). The top 3 teams are Russia, Ukrine and China.
The Women's team is ranked 72 out of 118 with an average rating of 1952* (see http://www.newzealandchess.co.nz/Olympiad2010/olympiad2010.html for more details). The 3 top teams are Russia China Ukraine.


Official site http://www.ugra-chess.com/
Result's and information http://chess-results.com/tnr36795.aspx?art=0&lan=1&turdet=YES&flag=30&m=-1&wi=1000

3rd Gordon Hoskyn Memorial Rapid Tournament

21st August 2010 - 3rd Gordon Hoskyn Memorial Rapid, Palmerston North

A-Grade
1st Justin Davis
2nd= Mathew King IM Anthony Ker

B-Grade
1st Daniel Yuan
2nd= Micheal Yuan, David Bell, Jack James

Upset prizes
1.James Stewart (1754) - for win against IM Anthony Ker (2363)

2.Jack James (1384) - for win against David Capper (1642)

3.Cerdic Backhouse (1406) - for win against David Capper (1642)

4. Mathew King (1832) - for win against John McDonald (2042)

5. Justin Davis (1909) - for draw against IM Anthonuy Ker (2363)

Directors of Play :- Stewart Holdaway and Dennis Davey

Special thanks to Stewart Holdaway for the excellent job done as tournament director, general organising and sponsoring of this event.

A-GradeRound Robin
Name Rating Total


1 Davis,Justin 1909 4/5

2 King, Mathew 1832 3.5/5

3 IM Ker,Anthony 2363 3.5/5

4 Smith,Chris 1863 2/5

5 Stewart,James 1754 1/5

6 McDonald,John 2042 1/5



B-GradeSwiss
No Name Loc Total 1 2 3 4 5


Yuan, Daniel 1549 4.5
Yuan, Micheal 1528 3
Bell, David 1571 3
James, Jack 1384 3
Brockway, Andrew 1624 2.5
Capper, David 1642 2
Backhouse, Cedric 1406 2
Luo, Brian 953 0

Due to unforeseen circumstances this years tournament was a slight change from last year. The A-grade was a 5 round robin and the B grade a small 8 player swiss. . The tournament was a great success but next year will probably bring a return to the open format. Unfortunately due to the blog format I cannot bring a complete crosstable easily but in case your wondering IM Ker lost to James Stewart in the first round and drew with Davis in the second leaving the tournament wide open for an unlikey winner. Congratulations to all who managed to come away with a prize.

Complete results to be found here also http://web.mac.com/xrissmith/Chess/NZ/tourn2010gh.htm

Wang Draws Kamsky

Former New Zealand champion has managed to take a half point off the current US champ and all around elite GM Gata Kamsky. Congratulations Puchen Wang.

IM Wang Puchen (2469) - GM Kamsky,G (2702)
[B42] 38th World Open King of Prussia USA (7), 04.07.2010

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3 g6 6.0-0 Bg7 7.Nb3 d6 8.N1d2 Nf6 9.Nc4 b5 10.Nca5 Bd7 11.c4 0-0 12.c5 dxc5 13.Nb7 Qe7 14.N7xc5 Rd8 15.Bg5 h6 16.Bh4 Nc6 17.Qe2 g5 18.Bg3 Nd4 19.Nxd4 Qxc5 20.Nb3 Qb6 21.Rac1 Rac8 22.h4 Be8 23.hxg5 hxg5 24.e5 Nd5 25.Rxc8 Rxc8 26.Qg4 Nf4 27.Bxf4 gxf4 28.Qxf4 Rd8 29.Rd1 Rd5 30.Be2 Rxe5 31.Bf3 a5 32.Nd2 Rf5 33.Qg4 Kf8 34.Ne4 Rd5 35.Rxd5 exd5 36.Ng3 Bxb2 37.Bxd5 Qc5 38.Qf5 Qc1+ 39.Kh2 Qc3 40.f4 Qh8+ 41.Nh5 Qh6 42.g4 Qg6 43.Qc8 Qd6 44.Qf5 a4 45.Ng3 Qg6 46.Kg2 b4 47.Qc8 Qb6 48.Ne4 Qb5 49.Qd8 Qe2+ 50.Kg3 Qe3+ 51.Kg2 Qxf4 52.Bc6 Qe5 53.Kf3 b3 54.Bxe8 Qxe8 55.Qd2 f5 56.gxf5 Qh5+ 57.Kg2 Qxf5 58.Qb4+ Kg7 59.Qxa4 bxa2 60.Qxa2 Qxe4+ 61.Kf2 Bd4+ 62.Kg3 Be5+ 63.Kf2 Qf4+ 64.Ke1 Bc3+ 65.Kd1 Qf1+ 66.Kc2 Qe2+ 67.Kb3 Qe6+ 68.Ka3 Qd6+ 69.Kb3 Qd5+ 70.Ka3 Qc5+ 71.Kb3
½-½

RIP Ted Frost 1927-2010

Ted Frost 1927-2010 passed away peacefully 15th July, aged 83

A nice article can be found at the wellington chess club web site.

I remember Ted from my first tournament, the 2005 New Zealand Congress. Ted was a guest speaker and among other things described playing Murray Chandler in the Major Open, back a few years ago now. Sadly he stopped playing over the board chess a while ago but he became a New Zealand Correspondence championship player. One event I remember clearly (or not so clearly as the result may be) was his victory over Gordon Hoskyn at the Wanganui Club Presidents verse Club Captain's team match. If anyone has the score of this game it would be great to see it published.

The following game is a nice win for Ted against David Lynch who in 3/4 years was to become NZ Champion.

Frost,Edward GA- Lynch,David [D53]Napier v Hastings, 1947
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 Nbd7 6.e3 h6 7.Bf4 c6 8.Rc1 0-0 9.Qc2 Re8 10.a3 Nb6 11.c5 Nbd7 12.Bd3 Nh5 13.Ne2 f5 14.h3 g5 15.Bh2 Nhf6 16.Ne5 Nxe5 17.Bxe5 Rf8 18.g4 Qe8 19.Kd2 Ne4+ 20.Ke1 fxg4 21.hxg4 Qf7 22.Bxe4! Qxf2+ 23.Kd2 dxe4 24.Qxe4 Rf3 25.Rcf1 [25.Qg6+ Kf8 26.Bg7+ Kg8 27.Bxh6+ Kh8 28.Qg7#]

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Palmerston North Chess Club Rapid Championship

Final Standings

1st Justin Davis 6/6

2nd Mathew King 5/6

3rd Stewart Holdaway 4/6

4th Cedric Backhouse 3.4/6

5= Dennis Davey Johan Van Vurren 3/6

7th Clive 2.5/6

8th Frank Visser 1/6

9th =Jack James Derrick 0/6

My first tournament this year for the club was a rather predictable event. Chess has a great thing called ratings National (NZCF) and international (FIDE), these ratings are usually accurate and Justin being the top seed won this event. Below is my game against him.

King,M (1829) - Davis,J (1863) [B01] Palmerston North Club Rapid Championship, 25+5, 11.06.2010

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd6

A favourite move of GM Tiviakov. This opening is solid but in general doesn't give black many winning chances at the GM level.
4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 c6 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Nc4 Qc7 8.Qf3 Nb6 9.Bf4 Qd8 10.Be5


10...Be6
10...Bg4 11.Qg3 h5 12.f3 Be6 13.Ne3 Nbd5 14.Ncxd5 Nxd5 15.Nxd5 Qxd5 16.Bd3 f6 17.Bb8 h4 18.Qc7 Kf7 19.Qxb7 c5 20.Qxd5 Bxd5 21.c4 Bxf3 22.Bxa7 Bxg2 23.Rg1 Rxa7 24.Rxg2 cxd4 25.Bg6+ Kg8 26.c5 ½-½ Grischuk,A-Tiviakov,S/Sochi 2006
11.Ne3
11.Na5 Nbd5 12.Nb3 Nxc3 13.Qxc3 Bd5 14.Qg3 b5 15.Bd3 g6 16.0-0 Bg7 17.Rfe1 0-0 18.h3 a6 19.Nc5 Ra7 20.a4 Qa8 21.c3 Nh5 22.Qe3 Bxe5 23.Qxe5 Ng7 24.Be4 Rd8 25.axb5 axb5 26.Ra6 Rxa6 27.Nxa6 Bxe4 28.Nc7 Qb7 29.Rxe4 Rd7 30.Na6 Rd6 31.Nc5 Qb6 32.Qxe7 Nf5 33.Qe8+ 1-0 Chernov,V-Muse,D/Berlin GER 2010
11...Bd5
11...Nbd5 12.Ncxd5 Nxd5 13.c3 f6 14.Bg3 Bf7 15.Bc4 e6 16.0-0 Be7 17.Nxd5 cxd5 18.Bb5+ Kf8 19.Rfe1 g6 20.Bd3 Kg7 21.Bf4 a6 22.a4 Re8 23.Qe2 Bd6 24.Bxd6 Qxd6 25.Qd2 Re7 26.f4 Be8 27.Qf2 Bd7 28.Re3 Rg8 29.Qh4 Rf7 30.a5 Qc7 31.Rf3 Kf8 32.Qe1 Ke7 33.Qd1 Kd8 34.Qb3 Kc8 35.c4 Bc6 36.Rf2 Kb8 37.c5 Kc8 38.Qc3 g5 39.Re1 gxf4 40.Rxe6 Bd7 41.Rd6 Rg4 42.Be2 Rh4 43.Bf3 Re7 44.Rxd5 Re3 45.Qc2 Qxa5 46.Rf1 Re1 47.Rh5 Bb5 0-1 Valentine,B-Crouch,C/London ENG 2009
12.Nexd5 Nbxd5 13.Bc4 Qa5?!
A mistaken plan Justin acknowledeges after the game. Better is 13...e6 if 13...Qb6 14.0-0!
14.0-0 Nxc3 15.bxc3 Nd5 16.Rab1
Black is in serious difficulties now in fact I would say losing. His king is still in the center and the bishop on f8 needs a pawn to move before it can be developed.
16...b6 17.Rb5!

I was very happy with the position now, the problem is I had used a good chunk of time and was under 5 minutes as opposed to Davis who still had over 10 minutes.

17...Qa4

This rook is untouchable because after cxb5 Bxb5 f7 and a8 are hanging Bc6+ is also coming putting the black king in great danger.

18.Bxd5 cxd5 19.Qxd5 Rc8 20.Qb7 Qc4 21.Rb3

This was my first tournament of the year and the rust is starting to show I saw Rc5 but couldn't analyse it properly in the time pressure. Winning is 21.Rc5! Rxc5 22.dxc5 Qxc5 23.Qa8+ Kd7 24.Rd1+ Ke6 25.Bd4

21...f6 22.Bd6?
Now I simply missed 23...Kd8. At the 2009 Gordon Hoskyn memorial tournament FM Nic Croad gave me a strong observation. He roughly stated that after looking at my games I seem to play a few moves and then sacrifice something and sometimes when you have the advantage simple play is best. Of course 22.Bg3 is the sane choice.

22...exd6 23.Re1+ Kd8 24.Qxa7 Qc7 25.Qa4

25.Qa6 This would give white some compensation.

25...Qc6 26.Qa6

Black won in a few moves after mutual mistakes, white hanging his rook being the final one.

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I will now give a segment out of the book Masters of the Chess Board by Richard Reti on Emanuel Lasker

"In analysing Lasker's tournament games I was struck by his lasting and at first incredible good luck. There are tournaments in which he came out on top and won almost every game, though in a losing position in every other game, so that many masters spoke of Lasker's hypnotic influence over his opponents. What is the truth? Again and again I studied Laskers games too discover the secret of his success. There is no denying the fact that over and over again Lasker's lay-out of the game is poor, that he is in a losing position a hundred times and nevertheless wins in the end. The hypothesis of lasting luck is too improbable. There is only one answer which may sound paradoxical at first blush: Lasker often deliberately plays badly. The motive is not far to seek. It was Dr. Tartakower who created the paradox which my give us the explanation: " a game is always won through a mistake, either the opponent's or one's own."

The reason I include the above quote is to try and bring attention to the point a plus/minus evaluation does not automatically translate to a won game, sometimes we feel (especially when playing certain players) because we have a winning position we surely must win the game. Unfortunately this is not always the case. Now Masters of the chess board was first published back in 1933 so it is probably ok to question Reti's conclusion because in my humble opinion he is giving Lasker too much credit. Lasker was undoubtley a great practical player but to say he played into losing position's purposely is going too far.

A game of chess does not travel down a flat road, it is fill of up's and downs as can be seen from my game. What matters most is you concentrate on each move until the end. Sounds simple enough right?

3rd Gordon Hoskyn Memorial Rapid Chess Tournament

When:
August 21st 2010

Where:
Evelyn Rawlins room 1st floor of Square Edge 47 The Square Palmerston North

Format:
5 round robin 25 minutes plus 5 seconds per move

Prize fund:
A grade 1st - $180 2nd - $70
B grade 1st - $150 2nd - $60

Entry fee:
$35

The palmerston North Chess club meets every thurseday at the Intermediate Normal school on Ferguson Street at 7:30pm sharp.

Club president : Dennis Davey (06) 353-0193
Club Captain : Stewart Holdaway 027-329-4399

Olympiad 2010

19th September - 4th October 2010 - World Chess Olympiad, Khanty-Mansiysk, Siberia, RUSSIA

The New Zealand teams have been announced

Open

FM Smith, Robert FIDE 2274 NZCF 2357

FM Steadman, Michael FIDE 2252 NZCF 2335

FM Lukey, Stephen FIDE 2244 NZCF 2318

Han, Daniel FIDE 2200 NZCF 2233

Thornton Giovanni FIDE 2195 NZCF 2230

Team Captain Hilton Bennet

Women

WFM Milligan, Helen FIDE 1995 NZCF 2093

Chen, Eachen FIDE 1994 NZCF 1887

WIM Maroroa, Sue FIDE 1926 NZCF 2034

Fairley, Natasha FIDE 1777 NZCF 1844

Wu, Shirley FIDE 1763 NZCF 1871

Team Captain WFM Vivian Smith

Going by the players listed above it seems we have a JAFA explosion!

The women's team looks good but what has happened to New Zealand's top rated players.

No Grandmasters but ok we only have one and he is mostly retired.

But no International masters is the most shocking then then add Han at 18th and Thornton at 20th on the active rating list and the open team looks extremely weak compared to two years ago. Han and Thornton's inclusion is more a failure of other top players than an achievement for those too, but ok good on them for stepping up some one had to.

GM Gawain Jones Palmerston North Simul

After a long break I couldn't resist posting my first win over a grandmaster not played over the internet.

GM Jones,G - King,M [A68] Palmerston North Simul, 16.03.2010

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f4 0-0 6.Nf3 c5 7.d5 e6 8.Be2 exd5 9.cxd5

9...a6?!

Not the best move as far as theory is concerned.

9...Bg4 A Solid line

9...Re8 10.e5 dxe5 11.fxe5 Ng4 12.Bg5 Qb6 A rather sharp and unclear possibility.

10.0-0 Re8 11.e5 dxe5 12.fxe5 Ng4 13.e6 fxe6 14.d6 Nc6 15.Ne4 Nd4 16.Nxd4 Bxd4+ 17.Kh1 Nf6

I was tempted by 17...Nxh2 but after 18.Rf4 I couldn't see anything great.

18.Qxd4?!

Not a completely sound move but the psychological prejudice noted by Nimzowitsch speaks volumes.

As soon as the sacrifice of the queen falls within one's field of vision it immediately becomes clear that this is the move that has to be played.

Gawain said he didn't like Bg5 as it would allow me to sacrifice my queen.

18.Bg5 Is better, black must find the queen sac 18...Nxe4!? 19.Bxd8 Rxd8 20.Bg4 Nxd6 But now it will turn out that black's position cannot maintain any blockade and white will crash through with a strong attack. 21.Rc1 b6 (21...e5 22.Rxc5 Bxg4 23.Qxg4 Bxc5 24.Qe6+ Kg7 25.Qxe5+ Kg8 26.Qxc5) 22.Qf3 Rb8 (22...Ra7 23.Qb3 c4 24.Qg3 b5 25.Qh4 Bb6 26.b3) 23.Rce1 e5 24.Bxc8 Rbxc8 25.Qd5+ Kg7 26.Rxe5 Bxe5 27.Qxe5+ Kg8 28.Qe6+ Kg7 29.g4+-

18...cxd4 19.Nxf6+ Kg7 20.Nxe8+ Qxe8 21.Bg5 e5

Better is 21...Qc6 22.Bf6+ Kg8 23.Rac1 (23.Bxd4 Qd5 24.Bc3 Qxd6 25.Bf3 Qc7-+) 23...Qxd6

22.Bf6+ Kg8 23.Be7?

23.Rac1! Be6

(23...b5 24.Rc7 Bd7 25.Bf3 e4 26.Bd1 h5 27.Bb3+ Kh7 28.Bxd4+-;

23...d3 24.Bxd3 e4 25.Bc4+ Be6 26.Bxe6+ Qxe6 27.Rc7 Rf8 28.Rg7+ Kh8 29.Rxg6+ Rxf6 30.Rgxf6 Qd5+-)

24.Rc7 Qf8 25.Re7 Bf7 26.Bxe5 Re8 27.Rfxf7 Qxf7 28.Rxf7 Kxf7+-

23...Bf5 24.Rae1 Qc6 25.Rc1 Qb6?

25...Qa4 26.Bc4+ Kg7 27.Bb3 Qb5 28.Kg1 Black is better

26.Bc4+

26.Rc7! d3 27.Bd1 Be6 28.Bf6 Qxd6 (28...Qb5 29.Rg7+ Kf8 30.Bxe5+ Bf5 31.Bb3 Qxb3 Forced to avoid mate) 29.Rg7+ Kf8 30.Bxe5+ Bf5 31.Bxd6+ Kxg7

26...Kg7 27.Bb3 Rd8

Better is 27...Qb5

28.Rc7

28.Bxd8 Qxd8-+ Black will be two pawns down and the queen has chances to cause havoc.

28...Rd7! 29.Rxf5

29.Rxd7 Qb5 30.Bf8+ Kxf8 31.Rf7+ Ke8 32.Re1 Kd8 33.Kg1-+

29...gxf5 30.Rxd7

30...Qb5!

One of the best moves I have had the opportunity to make. White is now officialy busted but of course being only a 16 board simul I am basically playing at a rapid time control so the win must be calmly played out.

31.Bf8+ Kxf8 32.Rf7+ Ke8 33.Rxf5 Kd7 34.Rf6 Qc5 35.h4 e4 36.Rh6? Qc1+

The power of the queen is undeniable

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Photo's and pgn to be found here

http://web.mac.com/xrissmith/Chess/NZ/GM_Simul.htm