1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Bc4 d6 6.d4 cxd4 7.cxd4 Nc6 8. Qe2 Be7 9.O-O O-O 10.Nc3 Nxc3 11.bxc3 dxe5 12.dxe5 Qa5 13.Rb1 Qxc3 14.Rb5 !?

Protects e5 and threatens Bb2, winning the queen

14...Na5 15.Bd3 Rd8 16.Rd1 b6 17.Rb1 Bb7 18.Bg5 Qa3 19.Bc1 Qa4 20. Ng5 h6 21.Bh7+ Kh8 22.Bc2 Qe8

23.Rd3!! Rxd3 24.Qxd3 g6 25.Qh3 h5 26.g4 Bxg5 27.gxh5!! Bxc1 28.hxg6+ Kg7 29.Qh7+ Kf8 30.Rxc1 Rc8 31.Rd1!! Bd5

( 31...Nc6 32.g7+ Ke7 33.Qh4+ f6 34.Qxf6# )

32.Qh8+ Ke7 33.Qf6+ Kd7 34.Ba4+ Rc6

35.Rxd5+!! exd5 36.gxf7 Qf8 37.Bxc6+ Nxc6 38.Qd6+!!

Typically beautiful chess from Smerdon

( 38.Qd6+ Qxd6 39.exd6 and the pawn can't be stopped )

English GM Murray Chandler

Chandler, Murray (2537)    --    Humphrey, Jonathan (2254)
Xstrata Australian Championship 2006  (2.4)   Brisbane
2006     1-0

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Ne4!? 5.Nxe4 dxe4 6.Bc4 a6 7.a4 b6 8. Nh3 Bb7 9.Nf4 Nc6 10.c3 Ne7 11.O-O c5 12.Be3 cxd4 13.cxd4 Nf5 14.d5! exd5 15.Nxd5 Nxe3 16.fxe3 Bc5 17.e6! O-O

( 17...fxe6 18.Qh5+ or Qg4!? ( 18.Qg4!? Bxd5 19.Qxg7! ) 18...g6 19.Qe5 Bxd5 20.Qxh8+ )

Fixing the a-pawn for the endgame

24...Qd4 25.Qe2 g6 26.Rad1 Qb4 27.Rd3 Qe7 28.Qf3?

Rbd8

( Chess Today gives 28...Rxf7!! 29.Qxf7 Rf8 30.Qxf8+ forced 30...Bxf8 as equal )

Moulthun Ly

Zhao, Zong-Yuan (2461)    --    Ly, Moulthun (2162)
Xstrata Australian Championship 2006  (2.5)   Brisbane
2006     1-0

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Qc7 6.Bd3 a6 7.O-O d6 8. Nc3 Nf6 9.a4 Nc6 10.a5 b5 11.axb6 Qxb6 12.Be3 Qb7 13.f4 Be7 14.Qf3 O-O 15. Ra4!?

Ready to double on the a-file, or possibly flick across to the kingside after a central pawn advance

( 17...Qxb2 18.Qxc6 Qxc3 19.Qxa8 )

18.Nb5!?

axb5 19.Rxa8 exf4 20.Qxf4 e5 21.Qh4 h5 22.Bg5 Nd4 23.b4 Ne6 24. Bxf6 Bxf6 25.Qxh5 g6 26.Bxg6 fxg6 27.Qxg6+ Bg7 28.Rxc8!!

Simplest, simplifying down to a winning endgame

( 28.Rxc8 Qxc8 29.Qxe6+ Qxe6 30.Nxe6 Rxf1+ 31.Kxf1 Bh6 32. Ke2 Kf7 33.Nc7 )

Canfell, Greg (2354)    --    Lakner, Jay (2207)
Xstrata Australian Championship 2006  (2.10)   Brisbane
2006     0-1

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.d3 Rb8 6.f4 b5 7.Nf3 d6 8.O-O Bg4 9.h3 Bxf3 10.Qxf3 Nd4 11.Qd1 e6 12.Ne2 Ne7 13.c3 Nxe2+ 14.Qxe2 O-O 15. Bd2 b4 16.Be1 bxc3 17.bxc3 Qb6 18.Rf2 Qa5 19.Qc2 Rb6 20.g4 Qa3 21.f5 Bf6 22.Qd2 exf5 23.exf5 g5 24.Re2 Rfb8 25.Rc1 Rb1 26.Rc2 h6 27.Kh2 Kg7 28.Bg3 Qa6 29.Re3 h5 30.Qe2 h4 31.Bf2 d5 32.Bf3

( 32.Rxe7 Qd6+ )

32...Qd6+ 33.Kg2 d4 34.cxd4 Bxd4!! 35.Rxe7

Qg3+!!

( 35...Qg3+ 36.Bxg3 Rg1+ 37.Kh2 hxg3# )

Goldenberg, Igor (2335)    --    Booth, Stewart (2179)
Xstrata Australian Championship 2006  (2.11)   Brisbane
2006     1-0

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 a6 8. e4 b5 9.Be2 b4 10.e5 bxc3 11.exf6 Nxf6 12.bxc3 c5 13.Ne5 Bb7 14.O-O Nd7 15.Qa4!

An uncomfortable pin

15...cxd4 16.Rd1! Bc5

17.Bg5!! f6 18.Bh5+!! Ke7

( 18...g6 19.Bxf6!! Qxf6 20.Qxd7+ Kf8 21.Qxb7 )

GM Darryl Johansen

Johansen, Darryl (2462)    --    Goldenberg, Igor (2335)
Xstrata Australian Championship 2006  (5.7)   Brisbane
2006     1-0

1.c4 c6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 d5 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.Qb3 Nd7 8. Rd1 Qd8 9.e3 Bd6 10.Be2 O-O 11.O-O Qe7 12.Nd2 b6 13.e4 dxc4 14.Nxc4 Bc7 15.f4 b5 16.Ne3 Bb6 17.Kh1 a6 18.Qc2 Bb7 19.Bf3 Rfd8 20.e5 Nf8 21.Ne2 Rac8 22.Be4 c5

Otherwise white has f4-5-6 etc

( 28...Nxe4 29.fxe7 Ng5 30.h4 Nh7 31.Bxf7+ )

29.Qf5 Rcd8 30.Nf4 Kh8 31.h4 g6 32.Qg4 Nh7

33.Bxf7!! Qxf7 34.Nxg6+

( 34.Nxg6+ Kg8 35.e6 A comprehensive crush )

Ly, Moulthun (2162)    --    Canfell, Greg (2354)
Xstrata Australian Championship 2006  (5.8)   Brisbane
2006     0-1

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.f4 Be7 8. Qf3 O-O 9.O-O-O Qc7 10.g4 a6 11.g5 Nd7 12.Rg1 b5 13.Bd3 Nc5 14.Kb1 Nxd4 15.Bxd4 b4 16.Ne2 Nxd3 17.cxd3 e5 18.Be3 b3!? 19.a3 d5 20.Rc1

( 20.f5 Bxa3 21.bxa3 Qc2+ 22.Ka1 Qa2# )

20...Qa5 21.Nc3 d4 22.Nd5 Bxa3 23.bxa3 Qxa3 24.Rg2 dxe3 25.Qh5 Be6 26.Nf6+ gxf6 27.Qh6 f5 28.g6

Qa2+!! 29.Rxa2 bxa2+ 30.Ka1 fxg6 31.Rg1?! Ra7 32.exf5 Bxf5 33.fxe5 e2 34.Qd2 Bg4! 35.Qxa2+ Kg7 36.Rb1 Rf1 37.e6 Rb7!

Slovak GM Lubomir Ftacnik

Ftacnik, Lubomir (2612)    --    Chandler, Murray (2537)
Xstrata Australian Championship 2006  (6.1)   Brisbane
2006     0-1

1.d4 d6 2.Nf3 Bg4 3.c4 Nd7 4.g3 Bxf3 5.exf3 g6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Bg2 c6 8. Be3 Ngf6 9.d5 O-O 10.O-O Qa5 11.f4 Nb6 12.Qb3 Rac8 13.Rfe1 Rfe8 14.Bh3 Rcd8 15.Rad1 Nfd7 16.Ne4 Nc5 17.Nxc5 dxc5 18.Bd2 Qa4 19.Qxa4 Nxa4 20.Ba5 b6

( 24...Kf8?? 25.Bd7!! )

( 25...Bxb2 26.Rb8! Bg7 27.Be8! followed by Rxb6 )

Perfect timing

Xie, George (2340)    --    Solomon, Stephen (2415)
Xstrata Australian Championship 2006  (6.6)   Brisbane
2006     1-0

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5.c4 Nc6 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.d4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Qg4!?

Solo puts faith in his endgame prowess

This exchange gives white hopes of an outside passer

( 26...Rxd3 27.Rxd3 Rxd3 28.bxc6 Nf6 29.c7 +- )

On a5, this pawn blocks any rooks on a6/7/8

36.Rexh7 a3 37.Rb7 Kc3 38.Rb5 d4 39.c7 Rc8 40.Rc6 a4 41.Rbc5

a2 42.Rxc4+ Kb3 43.Rc1 Kb2 44.R6c2+ Kb3 45.Rd2 Rxc7! 46.Ra1 d3 47.Rxd3+ Kb2 48.Rdd1 f4 49.Kf3 Rg7 50.Kf2 Rg3 51.Rf1 a3 52.Rae1 Rc3 53.Kg1

Nicely played by Xie

Zhao, Zong-Yuan (2461)    --    Obst, James (2012)
Xstrata Australian Championship 2006  (6.7)   Brisbane
2006     1-0

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 O-O 8.Be3 c5 9.Ne2 Nc6 10.O-O cxd4 11.cxd4 Bg4 12.f3 Na5 13.Bd3 Be6 14.d5 Bxa1 15.Qxa1 f6 16.Bh6 Re8 17.Nd4 Bd7 18.e5!? Rc8

( 18...fxe5 19.Ne6 Bxe6 20.Qxe5! )

19.Rb1 Qc7 20.e6 Ba4 21.Rb4 Qc3 22.Qxc3 Rxc3 23.Be2 Ra3

24.d6!? exd6 25. Rxa4! Rxa4 26.Bb5 Rxe6 27.Bxa4 Re1+ 28.Kf2 Ra1 29.Bd7 Rxa2+ 30.Kg3 Rb2 31. Be6+ Kh8 32.Bf7 Re2??

( 32...b5 33.Ne6 b4 34.Bg7# )

IM Gary Lane

Smerdon, David (2421)    --    Lane, Gary (2445)
Xstrata Australian Championship 2006  (7.3)   Brisbane
2006     1-0

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bg5 Nbd7 4.Qd3!? c6 5.e4 dxe4 6.Nxe4 Nxe4 7.Qxe4 Qb6 8.Bc1!? Nf6 9.Qe5 Ng4 10.Qe4 g6 11.c3 Bg7 12.Bc4 O-O 13.h3 Nf6 14.Qh4 c5 15.dxc5 Qxc5 16.Be3 Qc7 17.Nf3 b6 18.Bb3 Bb7 19.Bf4 e5!? 20.Bg5

( 20.Bxe5 Rfe8 )

20...Bxf3 21.gxf3 Qc6 22.O-O-O Qxf3 23.Rhe1 Rad8

24.Bxf7+!!

A bolt from the blue! ...Rxf7 now loses to Rxd8+

( Or 25...Ke7 26.Rxe5# )

( 45.Rxh6+ Kxh6 46.Qh8# )

Zvedeniouk, Ilia    --    Myers, Stephen
Xstrata Australian Major 2006  (1.11)   Brisbane
2006     1-0     B07

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.Bd3 e5 5.Nge2 Be7 6.O-O c6 7.Kh1 O-O 8.f4 Qc7 9.a4 Re8 10.Qe1 Nf8 11.fxe5 dxe5 12.dxe5 Ng4 13.Qg3 Qxe5 14.Nf4 Nf6 15.Be3 Bd6 16.Rad1 Bg4 17.Rd2 Rad8 18.Bc4 Bc8 19.Bd4 Qe7 20.Bxf6 Qxf6

( 21...Rxd6 22.e5 Qxe5 23.Bxf7+ Kxf7 24.Ng6+ )

( 22...Kxf7 23.Nh5+ Ke6 24.Qg4+ Ke5 25.Qxg7+ Ke6 26.Nf4+ )

Grand Prix 2005 Prize Winners

Open
1st Igor Bjelobrk VIC $875
2nd Ian Rogers NSW $525
3rd Moulthun Ly #Ineligible
4th George Xie NSW $350
5th Johny Bolens NSW $200
6th Jesse Sales OS $150

U2000
1st Moulthun Ly QLD $525
2nd Ben Ingram NSW $350
3rd Jason Chan NSW $200
4th Raymond Song #Ineligible
5th Kevin O'Chee NSW $150

U1600
1st Eliot Hoving NSW $525
2nd Andrew Brown ACT $350
3rd Trent Parker NSW $200
=4th Alex Jule QLD $75
=4th Stephen Cooke QLD $75

Juniors
1st Raymond Song NSW $350
2nd Moulthun Ly #Ineligible
3rd Max Illingworth NSW $200
4th Kevin O'Chee #Ineligible
5th Ronald Yu NSW $150

Womens
1st Jessica Kinder QLD $350

Unrated
1st Liam McGarity QLD $200

State Prizes
TAS Nigel Frame $200
SA Trevor Tao $200

Total Prizes $6,200.00

* State Prizes - a State prize awarded to the highest scoring player in each State that otherwise has no prize winner. [ACF Grand Prix By-Law 8 (g)]

# Prize Eligibility - a player may win only one prize only, being the prize of the highest value to which the player would be entitled were the player permitted to win more than one prize. [ACF Grand Prix By-Law 10 ] Accordingly four players are shown as ineligible for a prize in one category of prizes in the above list as they are entitled to receive a prize of a higher value in another category. When this occurs the player with the highest placing after the player ruled ineligible in a category is entitled to the prize that would otherwise be awarded to the ineligible player.

Free PDF copy of Australian Correspondence Chess Quarterly

Having taken over the job of editor of the Australian Correspondence Chess Quarterly (ACCQ) I would like to offer everyone who reads this newsletter a present. An electronic copy (in pdf format) of the November 2005 issue of ACCQ. This is the latest issue of the magazine and includes an excellent games column plus the full CCLA Ratings list.

All I need is an email, sent to the address below, asking for a copy, plus proper contact details (Name and postal address). Note these details are for a) making sure each person only recieves one copy (in the case that this offer is repeated for future issues) and b) passing on to the CCLA Marketing Officer for CCLA activities ONLY. These details will not be forwarded to anyone else. Note: The size of the file is 922Kb, which should be OK for most email servers but you may want to check before you ask.

- Shaun Press
shaun.press@apex.net.au
Editor, Australian Correspondence Chess Quarterly

Leading Australians on the January 2006 World Rating List:
I. Rogers 2547 (World no 308), Z. Zhao 2461 (World no 1051), D. Johansen 2460, A. Wohl 2452, G. Lane 2444, T. Tao 2422, D. Smerdon 2421, S. Solomon 2415. Australia is ranked 51st (2440 av top 10, GM 2). Russia is 1st (2718, GM 156). The world's leading players are G. Kasparov (RUS 2812) retired, V. Topalov (BUL 2801), V.Anand (IND 2792), P.Svidler (RUS 2765), L.Aronian (ARM 2752), V. Kramnik (RUS 2741), P.Leko (HUN 2740), V.Ivanchuk (UKR 2729). - Peter Parr

The latest FIDE Bulletin is available here

Olympiad selections:

37th FIDE Chess Olympiads., Torino, Italy, May 20 - June 4 2006.

Applications are now open for the Australian Open and Women's Olympiad Teams for the 37th Chess Olympiad to be held in Torino, Italy, from May 20th - June 4th 2006. (Event website: http://www.chessolympiad-torino2006.org/eng/index.php )

Those wishing to be considered for selection as official playing representatives must apply, in writing or by email, as per the ACF Selection Procedures By-Laws, by 22 January 2006. Please refer to item 5 of the ACF Selection By-Laws before applying and for details of material required in an application. The full Selection By-Laws are available at http://www.auschess.org.au/constitution/Selection_Procedures_By-law.txt, except as recently amended (see below).

An Open team (consisting of six players and a non-playing captain) and a Womens team (consisting of four players and a non-playing captain) will be selected to represent Australia at this event. Players and captains will receive accommodation from the host organisation and travel subsidies from the ACF's Olympiad Appeal fundraising efforts.

Please send all applications by email to Dr Kevin Bonham < k_bonham@tassie.net.au> If an emailed application has not been acknowledged within seven days, please phone (03) 6224 8487 or 0421 428 775. Please note that I am only responsible for coordinating the selection process and not for any other queries concerning the Olympiad.

Applicants' supporting statements and results summaries, and ratings and results information made available to the selectors will be published on the ACF website at an address to be announced, and available for public scrutiny. Any corrections or amendments to this material must be made by 5 Feb 2006. Selection results will be finalised and made public shortly after selections are finalised on 19 Feb 2006. Selection of team captains is expected to commence immediately thereafter. Team captains will then be selected by the ACF Council after determining the preferences of the team members. Team captains will then be announced as soon as Council has made its decision. Exact dates for captaincy applications will be announced closer to this stage.

Important note regarding player activity: All potential applicants are strongly advised that Olympiad selectors are sometimes reluctant to select candidates whose recent results provide too little evidence to be confident of sufficient current playing strength. Potential applicants are strongly advised to compete in upcoming ACF or FIDE rated tournaments and demonstrate their current playing strength to the selectors. See new bylaw 7.1.1.

Summary of dates
22 Dec Applications Open
22 Jan Applications Close
5 Feb Deadline for Corrections / Material to Selectors
19 Feb Deadline for Selectors' Votes - results advised ASAP to all applicants and published in next available newsletter.

Recent selection bylaw changes

The following changes to the selection procedures bylaw have just been passed by the ACF Council. Item 1 (new by-law 4.3) does not apply for this Olympiad:

1. By-law 4 (Selection Criteria) is amended by adding the following paragraphs -

4.3.1 In the case of the Olympiad teams, an applicant shall not be eligible for selection unless the applicant has played at least 20 ACF or FIDE rated games in the period of 12 months immediately preceding the date on which applications for selection close.

4.3.2 For the purposes of paragraph 4.3.1 ­

4.3.2.1 a game that is rated by the ACF and by FIDE shall be counted once only; and

4.3.2.2 a rapid play game shall not be counted.

4.3.3 Paragraph 4.3.1 takes effect from and including the selection process for the Olympiad 2008.

2. By-law 6 (Selection) is amended by adding the following paragraphs -

6.5.1 An application for selection by a person, who, at the date on which applications for selection closed, appears to be ineligible for selection either by reason of ACF by-laws, other than paragraph 4.3.1, or FIDE requirements ("an ineligible person"), shall nevertheless be given to the selectors under this by-law unless, in the opinion of the Selection Coordinator there is no possibility of the applicant being eligible for selection by 21 days before he or she would have to leave Australia to compete in the event for which the selection was made.

6.5.2. An ineligible person who is selected under the subsequent provisions of this by-law must become eligible by 21 days before the person is to leave Australia to compete in the event for which the selection was made.

3. By-law 7 (Voting) is amended by adding the following paragraph ­

7.1.1 For the avoidance of doubt, a relevant consideration in determining an applicant¹s playing strength, is the applicant¹s activity as a player preceding the close of applications for selection, in the case of the Olympiad, since the conclusion of the previous Olympiad, and, in any other case, in the previous 2 years.

4. By-law 9 (Appeals) is amended -

a. by substituting the amount "$200" for the amount "$50" in paragraph 9.2; and

b. by adding the following paragraph 9.3.1

9.3.1.1. Paragraph 9.3.1 does not apply to an alleged material error or omission relating to the eligibility of an applicant for selection, other than the eligibility requirement in paragraph 4.3.1.

- Kevin Bonham
ACF Olympiad Selections Co-Ordinator.

Hastings: Leading final scores after 10 rounds: Neverov 8.0; Colin, Erenburg, Gagunashvili 7.5; Belov, Bobras, Hebden, Kobese, Pavlovic, Williams 7.0.
Site : View games

FIDE January ratings: New FIDE Champioon Topalov has become only the third player in history to pass the 2800 mark. The others are Kasparov and Kramnik.

1 Kasparov 2812
2 Topalov 2801
3 Anand 2792
4 Svidler 2765
5 Aronian 2752
6 Kramnik 2741
7 Leko 2740
8 Ivanchuk 2729
9 Gelfand 2723
10 Ponomariov 2723
11 Morozevich 2721
12 Grischuk 2717
13 Bacrot 2717
14 Polgar 2711
15 Mamedyarov 2709
16 Shirov 2709
17 Adams 2707
18 Akopian 2704
19 Radjabov 2700
20 Bareev 2698

Site

Rilton Cup: Leading final scores after 9 rounds: Rozentalis, Ivanov, Nyback, Postny, Miezis 7.0; Karlsson, Johannessen, Berg, Cicak, Nouro, Brynell 6.5. Site : View games

Topalov versus Nisipeanu: FIDE World Champion Veselin Topalov will face European Champion Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu in a four game match in Bucharest from April 6 to April 9.

Rublevsky wins Russian Championship Superfinal: Moscow. Rublevsky led throughout and finished a full point clear of Jakovenko ... a fantastic result. Rublevsky beat Jakovenko in round 8 to extend his lead to a full point - 6/8. Bareev beat Svidler in round 9. There were plenty of surprises, with Svidler smashing Kramnik in round 1 and Morozevich losing one game because he slept in. Bareev beat Kramnik in round 6, then Morozevich in round 7. Grischuk and Najer were invited but withdrew. Final Standings, 11 rounds: Rublevsky 7.5; Jakovenko, Morozevich 6.5; Bareev, Zvjaginsev, Svidler 6.0; Kramnik 5.5; Motylev 5.0; Dreev, Khalifman 4.5; Tomashevsky, Volkov 4.0.
Site : View games

Ponomariov wins Pamplona: Round 7 Standings: 1. Ponomariov, Ruslan g UKR 2704 5.0; 2. Harikrishna, P g IND 2673 4.5; 3. Cheparinov, Ivan g BUL 2618 4.5; 4. Tiviakov, Sergei g NED 2700 4.0; 5. Fressinet, Laurent g FRA 2624 3.5; 6. Izoria, Zviad g GEO 2646 3.0; 7. Timman, Jan H g NED 2630 2.0; 8. De la Riva Aguado, Oscar g AND 2541 1.5.
Site : View games - Main : View games - Open

Marshall Chess Club Championship: Final standings, 9 rounds: Yudasin 7.5; De Firmian 7.0; Ibragimov, Benjamin, Almeida 6.0.
Site

Harmonie: A Dutch tournament for young players. Final standings, 9 rounds: 1. Ernst, Sipke m NED 2473 6.5; 2. Pruijssers, Roeland NED 2310 5.5; 3. Michielsen, Joost NED 2362 5.0; 4. Frolyanov, Dmitry m RUS 2508 5.0; 5. Ragger, Markus m AUT 2433 4.5; 6. Adly, Ahmed g EGY 2480 4.5; 7. Brandenburg, Daan NED 2395 4.5; 8. Ris, Robert NED 2337 3.5; 9. Rau, Hannes m GER 2421 3.0; 10. Tan, Matthew NED 2298 3.0.
Site : View games

Nice: Players include Dunis, Sulava and Lazic.
Site

Reggio Emilia: Round 7 Standings: 1. Landa, Konstantin g RUS 2600 5.5; 2. Yevseev, Denis g RUS 2554 5.0; 3. Cebalo, Miso g CRO 2512 4.5; 4. Piscopo, Pierluigi f ITA 2399 3.5; 5. Kotronias, Vasilios g GRE 2626 3.5; 6. Fercec, Nenad m CRO 2512 3.5; 7. Vocaturo, Daniele f ITA 2364 3.5; 8. Ronchetti, Niccolo' f ITA 2402 3.0; 9. Zimina, Olga wg RUS 2397 3.0; 10. Franchini, Gabriele f ITA 2315 0.0
Site : View games

Grand Prix tournaments:

Full details at the 2006 Grand Prix site

Australia Day Weekender; Melbourne; January 21-22; http://home.vicnet.net.au/~chessmel/

Aussie Weekender; Launceston; Jan 28-29;

Australia Day Weekender; Sydney; Jan 28-29; http://www.nswca.org.au/

Other events:

Mind Sports www.mindsports.com.au

Mind Sports is a festival of thinking games. Including; chess, scrabble, bridge, poker, sudoku, diplomacy, chinese chess, backgammon....

Dates: January 2 - 8, 2006
Times: 9am - 5pm daily
Cost: $15 full, $10 concession ($40 family) full-day pass
Venue: The Peninsula School, Mt Eliza (Victoria)

Weekender on January 7 & 8 during this festival - 7 round swiss.
Entry fee (2-day pass) $30 adult, $20 child (u18) also gives you access to other games.

January 2 Blitz Championships (14 rounds)
January 3 Allegro Championships (7 rounds)
January 4-6 Mind Sports Classic Chess (5 rounds)
January 7 & 8 Mind Sports Weekender (7 rounds)

Over 500 prizes to be won and plenty of FREE activities it will be a fun, friendly, inclusive opportunity to use your mind and get to meet some other game enthusiasts.
Suitable for any age and any ability player. Come and play for a few hours or the whole week!

- David Cordover

Hakoah Club events, 61 Hall Street Bondi, NSW
January 9 Allegro Tournament. Entry fee - $15.00 15 min. each on the clock. Starts 7.30 pm.
January 30th - Lightning Tournament. Entry fee - $10.00 5 min. each on the clock. Starts 7.30 pm
February 6th - Henry Greenfield Cup - 2006 starts. This 9 round Swiss event will be held on consecutive Monday evenings. Starts 7.30 p.m. Enquiries: To Vladimir Feldman 0414798503 or visit Hakoah Chess Club web page: http://hakoahchessclub.freeservers.com

International events:

Queenstown Chess Classic: Jan 15-24, 2006 with Rapid and Lightning events on Jan 25-26. Total prize fund over $NZ35,000. www.queenstownchess.com Confirmed entries from GMs Rogers and Chandler. NZ's largest ever chess event anticipated.

The International Chess Festival "M. Sadoveanu" 20th Edition, Jassy 20 - 26.08.2005; home.dntis.ro ; Manole Vasile: phone nr. 0040740/277850 ; Fax: 0040232/204454. e-mail: iasitel@yahoo.com . Ungureanu Vlad: phone nr. 0040741/665384 e-mail: iasitel@yahoo.com

Penang International Open: Website

Czech Tour - International Chess Festivals Series - http://www.czechtour.net

6th Bangkok Chess Club Open: April 11-16; Century Park Hotel; www.bangkokchess.com; Email: Kai Tuorila

Singapore Masters: For more details, click here.

4th Parsvnath International Open: New Delhi, 14-23 January 2006; Enter by 1 January. Email: delhichess64@yahoo.com, Web site: www.delhichess.com

Correspondence chess players over the board: July 1-9; Karviná, Silesian University, Czech Republic; Preliminary applications to: Ing. Petr BUCHNÍCEK, Svážná 22, CZ-634 00 Brno, Czech Republic. Phone: 605 578 666. Email: buchnicek@skscr.cz

Best wishes till next time
- Paul Broekhuyse
broekhuysep@bigpond.com
19 Gill Avenue, Avoca Beach, NSW 2251
02 4382 4525
0408 824525

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