1.c4 g6 2.Nc3 Bg7 3.g3 e5 4.Bg2 Ne7 5.Rb1 O-O 6.b4 f5 7.Qb3 d6 8.d3 Kh8 9.h4 Nd7 10.h5 gxh5 11.Rxh5 Nf6 12.Rh1 c6 13.Nf3 Be6 14.Ng5 Bg8 15.e4 b5 16.exf5 bxc4 17.dxc4 Nxf5 18.Nce4 d5 19.cxd5 cxd5 20.Nc5 Qd6 21.Bh3 d4 22.Qd1 Qd5 23.Rh2 e4 24.Bf4 Rae8 25.Bg2 Qxa2 26.Ra1 Qc4 27.Qc1 Qxb4+ 28. Bd2 Qb5 29.Ra5 Qb6 30.Na4 Qb3 31.Nc5 Qb8 32.Na6 Qb6 33.Rxf5 Qxa6 34.Bb4 Rc8 35.Qa3 Qxa3 36.Bxa3 Rfe8 37.Rh4 d3 38.Bb2 e3 39.Rxf6 exf2+ 40.Kxf2 Re2+ 41.Kg1 Rxb2 42.Rd6 d2 43.Kh2 Be5 44.Rd7 Rc1 45.Nxh7 Rb4 46.Rh5 d1=Q 47.Nf6+ Qxh5+ 0-1

IM Smerdon, David    --    IM Zhao, Zong Yuan
Queenstown Classic  (5.1)   Queenstown
2006     0-1

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bd7 6.Bd3 cxd4 7.cxd4 Qb6 8. O-O Nxd4 9.Nbd2 Bc5 10.b4 Nxf3+ 11.Nxf3 Qxb4 12.Ng5 Qa4 13.Qh5 Nh6 14.Nxh7

After 16.Qxg4 Nxg4, black will win the e5-pawn with plenty of compo for the exchange

Otherwise ...Nf5-d4/h4 is dangerous

Black's pieces are very active and the d-pawn is about to march

IM Zhao, Zong Yuan    --    IM Wohl, Alex
Queenstown Classic  (6.1)   Queenstown
2006     0-1

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 d5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 O-O 7.cxd5 exd5 8.e3 c5 9.Bd3 b6 10.Ne2 Ba6 11.Bxa6 Nxa6 12.O-O Re8 13.Qd3 Nc7 14.Ng3 Ne6 15.Bb2 Rc8 16.Rad1 Qc7 17.Rf2 cxd4 18.cxd4 g6 19.Rc1 Qd7 20.Rxc8 Rxc8 21. e4 Qa4 22.e5 Nf4 23.Qd2 N6h5 24.Nxh5 Nxh5 25.g4 Ng7 26.f4 Qb3 27.f5 Qh3 28.Qf4 h5 29.fxg6 fxg6 30.gxh5 Qxh5 31.Qf7+ Kh7 32.Qxd5

A bolt from the blue

GM Rogers, Ian    --    IM Garbett, Paul
Queenstown Classic  (7.2)   Queenstown
2006     1-0

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 O-O 5.e4 c5 6.a3 Qa5 7.e5! cxd4

( Not 7...Ne4?? 8.axb4!! Qxa1 9.Nxe4 +- )

8.exf6 dxc3

9.axb4!! Qxa1 10.fxg7 Re8 11.bxc3 Qa6 12.c5 Qc6 13.Bd3 f5 14. Nf3 b6 15.O-O Bb7 16.Re1 d6 17.b5! Qd7

( 17...Qxc5 18.Bxf5!! )

( 35.Bf6 Re8 36.Nxh6+!! Kxf6 37.g8=Q +- )

FM Bjelobrk, Igor    --    IM Zhao, Zong Yuan
Queenstown Classic  (7.3)   Queenstown
2006     1-0

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 d5 5.a3 Be7 6.e4 dxe4 7.fxe4 e5 8.d5 Bc5 9.Nf3 Ng4 10.Na4!? Bf2+ 11.Ke2 b5!? 12.h3 bxa4 13.hxg4 Bg3 14.Rh3 Bf4 15.Bxf4 exf4 16.Rh4

What a mess! White's king's exposed but the strong centre is promising

Safely "castled" at last

( 30...Qh4 31.Qxf7+!! Rxf7 32.exf7+ Kf8 33.Re8# )

31.g3 Qh5 32.Bg2 g5 33.e7 Re8 34.d6 Qh2+ 35.Kf1 Bh3 36.Qd7 Bxg2+ 37.Rxg2 Qh5

38.Qxe8+!!

( 38.Qxe8+ Qxe8 39.d7 Qxd7 40.e8=Q+ )

IM Smerdon, David    --    FM Canfell, Greg
Queenstown Classic  (7.4)   Queenstown
2006     1-0

1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nf3 e6 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 d6 7.Bc4 Nc6 8. Qe2 Be7 9.O-O O-O 10.Nc3 dxe5 11.dxe5 Nxc3 12.bxc3 b6 13.Qe4 Bb7 14.Bd3 g6 15.Bh6 Na5 16.Qe3 Re8 17.Rad1 Qc7 18.Ng5 Rad8 19.Bb5!? Rxd1 20.Bxe8!! Rxf1+ 21.Kxf1 Qc4+ 22.Kg1 Qd5 23.Bxf7+ Kh8 24.Nf3 Qd1+ 25.Ne1 Nc4 26.Qc1 Qe2 27.Bxe6 Bc5

( 30...Kg8 31.Qd8+ Kf7 32.Qf6+ ( 32.Qc7+ ) 32...Ke8 33.e6!? Qd5 34.Qf7+ Kd8 35.Bg5+!! Kc8 36.Qe8+ Kc7 37.Bf4+ Bd6 38.Qd7+ Kb8 39.Bxd6+ Ka8 40.Qd8+ Bc8 41.Qxc8# )

Sermek, Drazen    --    Wastney, Scott
Queenstown Classic  (7.6)   Queenstown
2006.01.21     1-0     C50

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bxf6 Qxf6 8.Nd5 Qd8 9.c3 a6 10.d4 exd4 11.cxd4 Ba7 12.h3 O-O 13.O-O Ne7 14.Nf4 b5 15.Bd3 c5 16.dxc5 dxc5 17.Qe2 Bb7 18.e5 Qc7 19.Rfe1 Rfe8 20.Be4 Bxe4 21.Qxe4 Qc6 22.Qc2 Ng6 23.Nd4 Qb6 24.Nxg6 Qxg6 25.Nf5 c4 26.Rad1 Bc5 27.Kh2 Kh8 28.f4 Rad8 29.Qe4 Qb6 30.Qf3 b4 31.Rd5 Rc8 32.Rc1 Qe6 33.Rxc4!

( Not 38...g6 39.Qf4 )

( 39.Qh5 Kh7 40.Ne4 Doesn't work, eg 40...Qxd5 41.Nxg5+ Kg8 42.Qxh6 Qxe5+ 43.g3 Qe2# )

39...Qa7! 40.Rd4 Qc5 41.Qe4 Rf1 42.Nxh6 Rf4

43.Nxf7+!! Rxf7

( 43...Kg8 44.Qg6# )

( 45...Rxd8 46.Qg7# )

( 45...Qc7 46.Rxf8# )

FM Bjelobrk, Igor    --    IM Smerdon, David
Queenstown Classic  (8)   Queenstown
2006     1-0

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nb6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Be3 O-O 8. Qd2 e5 9.d5 c6 10.h4 h5 11.g4!? cxd5 12.exd5 hxg4 13.h5

White has a very strong attack, with the queen ready to swing across to h2

13...Bf5 14.fxg4 Bxg4 15.hxg6 fxg6 16.Qg2 Bh5 17.Bd3! Qd6

18.Rxh5 !! gxh5 19.Qe4

It's hard to see how black can survive the onslaught

( 26.Nxf6 Kxf6 27.Qg6# )

GM Hecht, Hans-Joachim    --    IM Wohl, Alex
Queenstown Classic  (8)   Queenstown
2006     1-0

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Ne2 Re8 6.a3 Bf8 7.Ng3 d5 8. Be2 b6 9.O-O Bb7 10.b4 c5 11.bxc5 bxc5 12.Rb1 Bc6 13.cxd5 exd5 14.dxc5 Nbd7 15.Nf5 Nxc5 16.Nd4 Bd7 17.Bf3 Nfe4 18.Bd2 Qg5 19.Qe2 Rad8 20.Rfd1 Bc8 21.Be1 Qe5!? 22.Ncb5!?

Renewing the Nc6 threat

( 22.Nc6 Nxc3! )

A balletic performance by the white knights

GM Rogers, Ian    --    IM Solomon, Stephen
Queenstown Classic  (9)   Queenstown
2006     1-0

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.Bf4 O-O 6.e3 c6 7.Qc2 b6 8.Be2 Bb7 9.Rd1 Nbd7 10.O-O Nh5 11.Be5 f5 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.Rc1 Rc8 14.Qa4 a6 15. Qb3 h6 16.Rc2 Nhf6 17.Rfc1 Ne4 18.a3 Nxe5 19.dxe5!?

Allows for Nd4

19...Nc5 20.Qa2 Qd7 21.Nd4 b5?!

22.Ncxb5!! axb5 23.Bxb5 Qd8 24.b4 Qb6

( 24...Nd7 25.Nxe6 Qe8 26.Rxc8 Bxc8 27.Nxf8 Kxf8 28.Qxd5 Nb6 29.Bxe8 Nxd5 30.Rxc8 +- is crushing )

( 28...Bxd7 29.Nxc5 Bc6 30.a4 should win easily )

A very nice combination by Rogers

IM Froehlich, Peter    --    IM Lane, Gary
Queenstown Classic  (9)   Queenstown
2006     1-0

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.Bxf6 Qxf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.h4!?

White's idea in this line is to gain lots of space

( 10...a6!? )

( 12.Nxa7?? Qa5+ )

12...Ng6

13.O-O-O!!

Development before all ... Morphy would be proud

( 13...cxb5 14.Bxb5+ Bd7 15.Qe4+! Be7 16.Rxd6 Bxb5 17. Rxd8+ Rxd8 18.f5 Nf8 19.Nf3 Nh7 20.Re1 Rd7 21.Ne5 Rc7 22.Qa8+ Bd8 23. Nc6+ Kf8 24.Qxd8# illustrates the trouble black faces )

( Again, white does not fear 14...cxb5 because 15.Bxb5+ Bd7 keeps black trapped, eg 16.Rhe1+ Ne7 ( Or 16...Be7 17.Qxd5 Bxb5 18.Qxb5+ ) 17.Qxd5 Bxb5 18.Qxb5+ and wins )

Threatening Nd6+ and forcing the following capture

( 18.Qxd5 Nxe5 19.Qxe5+ Qe7 20.Bxd7+ Kd8 21.Qa5# A beautiful attack )

GM Chandler, Murray    --    FM Bjelobrk, Igor
Queenstown Classic  (9)   Queenstown
2006     1-0

1.e4 e6 2.d4 c5 3.Nf3 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3 Qc7 6.O-O Nf6 7.c4 Nc6 8. Nxc6 dxc6 9.Be3 e5 10.Nc3 b5 11.cxb5 axb5 12.Rc1 Qb7 13.a4 b4 14.Nb1!

Aiming for b3 or c4, perhaps

White has a grip on the queenside and the a-pawn is dangerous

( 63...Nd7 64.Qxc7!? Rxc7 65.a7 Nb6 66.a8=Q Nxa8 67.Rxa8!? )

Finally some progress

67...Qc8 68.Qb6 Ra8 69.b4 Rb8 70.Qc5

Rb5?? 71.Qxb5!! cxb5 72.Rxc7+

( 72.Rxc7+ Qxc7 73.a7 )

Leading final scores:

Chandler 8.5;
Rogers, Smerdon 8.0;
Zhao, Sermek (Slovenia), Bjelobrk, Hecht, Susilodinata (Indonesia), Lukey, Civin (Czech), Ker, Dougherty (Canada) 7.5;
Froehlich, Lane, Garbett, Karolyi (Hungary), Sutton, Dive 7.0;
Solomon, Wohl, Nokes, West, Wojnar, Drummond, Van Riemsdijk (Brazil), Steadman, Feldman, Wastney, Geveke, Oliver, Wang, Humphrey, Smith, Hohler (Swiss), Tabatt (Germany), Tredinnick.

Full details - including crosstables, games, pictures, reports etc - at www.queenstownchess.com. Games and results can also be seen at Jonathon Paxman's site at http://paxmans.net/queenstown/ and there is a single games file at NetChessNews

Melbourne Chess Club Australia Day Weekender: This 5-round event was held on January 21-22 at the MCC in Fitzroy. Players struggled against very high temperatures as the southern states battled heatwaves and bushfires. Details: http://home.vicnet.net.au/~chessmel/ 1 Baron, Michael VIC 2268 4.5
2-3 Frost, Peter VIC 1743 4
Gorka, Carl VIC 2166 4
4-6 Kempen, Leon VIC 1899 3.5
Bowen, Leon QLD 1787 3.5
Flude, David A VIC 1683 3.5
7-11 Morris, James VIC 1680 Junior 3
Podvorac, Zeljko VIC 1695 3
Pecak, Mariusz OS 1857 3
Jordan, Bill VIC 2206 3
Dalton, Samuel VIC 1416 Junior 3
12-18 Ly, Thai VIC 1866 2.5
Garrido, Gabriel 1500 2.5
Eustace, Sophie SA 1205 Junior 2.5
Jager, Jesse VIC 1898 Junior 2.5
Reid, Bill VIC 1518 2.5
Drew, Phillip VIC 1318 Junior 2.5
Thornton, Andrew 1400 2.5
19-22 Ashlock, Brad VIC 1618 2
Dalton, Joshua VIC 1340 Junior 2
Stones, Douglas VIC 1675 2
Trott, Timothy VIC 987 Junior 2
23-26 Kostrzewa, Jake VIC 1371 1.5
de Goede, Carla 1300 1.5
Dalton, Laurie VIC 1266 Junior 1.5
Antolis, Cedric VIC 1550 Junior 1.5
27 Prasad, Daryl 1700 1
28 Qin, Tomson VIC 654 Junior 0.5

Olympiad selections:

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

Provisional list of Olympiad applicants

The following applications were received by the deadline. Late applications will only be accepted if "an applicant is able to satisfy the Selection Co-ordinator that circumstances beyond his or her control prevented the application being received before the deadline."

Open team: There are ten applicants. In random order:

Nick Speck
GM Ian Rogers
IM Zong-Yuan Zhao
FM Igor Goldenberg
IM Alex Wohl
IM Gary Lane
FM George Xie
IM David Smerdon
IM Stephen Solomon
IM John-Paul Wallace

Women's team: There are seven applicants. In random order:

WIM Ngan Koshnitsky
WFM Angela Song
WIM Arianne Caoili
WIM Anastasia Sorokina
IM/WGM Irina Berezina
WIM Biljana Dekic
WIM Laura Moylan

Olympiad: Late Application Accepted

A late application from GM Darryl Johansen for the Open team has been accepted as he was prevented from applying on time by circumstances beyond his control.

Olympiad captaincies

Expressions of interest are now open for the following positions:

* Non-playing Captain, Australian Open Team
* Non-playing Captain, Australian Women's Team

for the 37th Chess Olympiads to be held in Torino, Italy from May 20- June 4th 2006. (Event website: http://www.chessolympiad-torino2006.org/eng/index.php )

Applications will remain open until Wednesday, 22 February to give unsuccessful applicants for playing positions on the two teams some time to apply should they wish to do so.

Applicants may submit any supporting comments they wish to be passed on to either the players or the members of ACF Council. The positions are filled by Council after taking into account the players' stated preferences. Applicants are also free to contact the players and/or the Council regarding their applications as and whenever they wish. For more detail see item 13 of the ACF Selections procedures by-law at http://www.auschess.org.au/constitution/Selection_Procedures_By-law.txt

Expressions of interest can be sent by email to k_bonham@tassie.net.au, or call 0421 428 775 if it is necessary to arrange another method, or if an email application has not been acknowledged within three days.

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.

- Kevin Bonham
ACF Olympiad Selections Co-Ordinator.

Newsletter news: This newsletter has recently signed up its 1300th subscriber, and there seems to be a constant trickle of new subscriptions. Please forward the newsletter to any chess playing friends who don't already receive it, or direct them to the ACF website where they can subscribe. Webmasters: please consider adding a subscription link to your site - cut and paste

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Bids invited for 2007 Australian Open Championships

The Australian Chess Federation (ACF) at its 06 January Council meeting decided to call for fresh bids for the Australian Open Championships, in accordance with the ACF's procedures for allocating ACF tournaments.

These rules are viewable at http://www.auschess.org.au/constitution/Proc_for_Allocatg_ACF_Tourns.txt. Potential bidders are advised to refer to these rules and the general by-law for Australian championship events at http://www.auschess.org.au/constitution/By-laws_for_ACF_Tournaments.txt, which also applies to the events concerned. In addition, there are by-laws that apply to the Australian Open Championships ( http://www.auschess.org.au/constitution/By-laws_for_ACF_Tournaments.txt ref clause 7) comprising: Australian Open Championship, Australian Open Rapid-play Championship, Australian Open Lightning Championship, and incorporating the Australian Women’s Open Championships ( http://www.auschess.org.au/constitution/By-law2.txt)

The deadline for submission of the bids is cob 21 February 2006. Pls send your bid for the Australian Open Championships by email to jeydh4@hotmail.com.

Bids from persons other than State Associations should be made through, and with the consent of, the relevant State Association. Your State Association representative will have a copy of the application form that will need to be used when submitting a bid.

If you have any queries, please contact the ACF President, Denis Jessop on (02) 6288 1935 or mobile 0418 278324

- Jey Hoole
ACF Secretary

Letters

Hi,
Many thanks to all those people who responded to my email (seeking software to play chess with her son - Ed). We are under way and having fun, again thanks
- Jane Rudd

Kramnik-Topalov? www.russiachess.ru is reporting that Ilyumzhinov has announced a match between Topalov and Kramnik for September 2006 in Elista.

Topalov leads Corus, Wijk Aan Zee: One of the strongest events of the year. Kramnik has pulled out, complaining of joint pains. There was a big upset in round 6 when Kamsky beat the leader Anand. In Group B, Carlsen grabbed the sole lead after a very lucky win against Naiditsch.

Round 9 Standings: 1. Anand, Viswanathan g IND 2792 6.5; 2. Topalov, Veselin g BUL 2801 6.5; 3. Adams, Michael g ENG 2707 5.5; 4. Gelfand, Boris g ISR 2723 5.5; 5. Karjakin, Sergey g UKR 2660 5.0; 6. Ivanchuk, Vassily g UKR 2729 5.0; 7. Leko, Peter g HUN 2740 4.5; 8. Aronian, Levon g ARM 2752 4.5; 9. Tiviakov, Sergei g NED 2669 4.0; 10. Van Wely, Loek g NED 2647 4.0; 11. Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar g AZE 2709 3.5; 12. Bacrot, Etienne g FRA 2717 3.0; 13. Sokolov, Ivan g NED 2689 3.0; 14. Kamsky, Gata g USA 2686 2.5.

Group B: 1. Carlsen, Magnus g NOR 2625 7.0; 2. Motylev, Alexander g RUS 2638 6.5; 3. Navara, David g CZE 2660 6.0; 4. Almasi, Zoltan g HUN 2646 6.0; 5. Jobava, Baadur g GEO 2614 5.5; 6. L'Ami, Erwin m NED 2550 5.0; 7. Koneru, Humpy g IND 2537 4.5; 8. Beliavsky, Alexander G g SLO 2626 4.0; 9. Vescovi, Giovanni g BRA 2633 4.0; 10. Naiditsch, Arkadij g GER 2657 4.0; 11. Cheparinov, Ivan g BUL 2625 4.0; 12. Stellwagen, Daniel g NED 2573 2.5; 13. Smeets, Jan g NED 2550 2.5; 14. Lahno, Kateryna m UKR 2500 1.5.

Group C: 1. Atalik, Suat g TUR 2618 7.5; 2. Werle, Jan m NED 2514 6.5; 3. Marcelin, Cyril g FRA 2441 5.5; 4. Van der Wiel, John g NED 2505 5.5; 5. Li Shilong g CHN 2543 5.0; 6. Bischoff, Klaus g GER 2560 4.5; 7. Van der Weide, Karel g NED 2466 4.5; 8. Visser, Yge m NED 2485 4.0; 9. Adly, Ahmed g EGY 2473 3.5; 10. Jonkman, Harmen g NED 2470 3.5; 11. Atalik, Ekaterina wg TUR 2399 3.5; 12. Hopman, Pieter NED 2332 3.5; 13. Bensdorp, Marlies wm NED 2230 3.0; 14. Afek, Yochanan m ISR 2370 3.0.

Site : View games A : View games B : View games C

Georgian Championship: Round 2 Standings: 1. Kacheishvili, Giorgi g GEO 2599 2.0; 2. Shanava, Konstantine m GEO 2490 2.0; 3. Gelashvili, Tamaz g GEO 2575 1.5; 4. Arutinian, David m GEO 2507 1.5; 5. Magalashvili, Davit m GEO 2456 1.0; 6. Margvelashvili, Giorgi m GEO 2434 1.0; 7. Paichadze, Luka GEO 2171 1.0; 8. Sulashvili, Malkhaz f GEO 2376 1.0; 9. Jobava, Beglar m GEO 2401 1.0; 10. Gagunashvili, Merab g GEO 2542 0.5; 11. Kuparadze, Giga GEO 2381 0.5; 12. Mchedlishvili, Mikheil g GEO 2568 0.5; 13. Sanikidze, Tornike m GEO 2425 0.5; 14. Morchiashvili, Bachana GEO 2370 0.0.

View games

Keres Memorial Rapid: Final scores after 9 rounds: Ivanchuk, Karpov, Kasimdzhanov 7.0; Berg 5.5; Kosyrev, Vitiugov 4.5; Yemelin 4.0; Liiva 3.5; Agrest 1.5; Shirov 0.5.

Site : View games - men : View games - women

Gibtelecom Masters: Players include Akopian, Short and Bologan. Site

Games

Karjakin, Sergey (2660)    --    Bacrot, E (2717)
Corus A  (5)   Wijk aan Zee NED
2006.01.19     1-0     C92

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9.h3 Bb7 10.d4 Re8 11.Nbd2 Bf8 12.a4 h6 13.Bc2 exd4 14.cxd4 Nb4 15. Bb1 c5 16.d5 Nd7 17.Ra3 f5 18.Nh2 Nf6 19.Rf3 fxe4 20.Nxe4 Nbxd5 21.Ng4 Kh8 22.Bd2 Nxe4 23.Rxe4 Rxe4 24.Bxe4 Nc3 25.Bxc3 Bxe4 26.Rf4 Bg6 27.Nxh6 Qg5?!

Perhaps Bacrot missed this deadly move. Now, faced with losing the Ra8 or the queen after Rxf8+, Black had no choice other than ...

( 39...Re3 40.Bf4 and the Be7 falls )

Topalov, V (2801)    --    Mamedyarov, S (2709)
Corus A  (5)   Wijk aan Zee NED
2006.01.19     1/2-1/2     C87

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 d6 7.c3 Bg4 8. d3 Nd7 9.h3 Bh5 10.Be3 h6 11.g4 Bg6 12.Nbd2 h5 13.g5 Nb6 14.Bb3 h4 15.a4 d5 16.a5 d4 17.cxd4 exd4 18.Bf4 Nd7 19.Rc1 Nc5 20.Rxc5 Bxc5 21.Ba4 Kf8 22. Bxc6 bxc6 23.Qa4 Kg8 24.Qxc6 Bb4 25.Rc1 Bxa5 26.Nc4 Bb6 27.Nxb6 cxb6 28. Bc7 Qc8 29.Kg2 b5 30.Nxd4 Qe8 31.Qxe8+ Rxe8 32.Ra1 Rc8 33.Bd6 Kh7 34.Rxa6 Rc1 35.Nxb5 Rd1 36.Ra3 Rc8 37.Bf4 Rc2 38.Rb3

The beautiful point is that white can't break the pin

Leko, P (2740)    --    Kamsky, G (2686)
Corus A  (7)   Wijk aan Zee NED
2006.01.21     1-0     C99

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Qc7 12.Nbd2 Bd7 13.Nf1 Rac8 14.Ne3 cxd4 15.cxd4 Nc6 16.d5 Nb4 17.Bb1 a5 18.a3 Na6 19.b4!? axb4 20.axb4 Qb7

( 20...Nxb4 21.Bd2 Qc5 22.Qb3 +- )

Threatening Ng6+

31...Nf6 32.Bxh6! Ra8 33.Rf1 Nce8 34.Bc1 Ra1 35.Nhf5 Qc7 36.Bd2 Rxf1+ 37.Kxf1 g6 38.Ne3 Kg7 39.g4 Nh7 40.Kg2 Qb7

41.Nc4!! g5

( 41...bxc4 42.Bh6+!! Kxh6 43.Qxf7 Kg5 44.Qxg6+ Kf4 45. Qh6+ Ng5 46.Ng6# )

( 42...Bxa5 43.bxa5 gives white a dangerous passer )

Gelfand, B (2723)    --    Sokolov, Iv (2689)
Corus A  (9)   Wijk aan Zee NED
2006.01.24     1-0     D45

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.e3 a6 6.b3 Bb4 7.Bd2 Nbd7 8.Bd3 O-O 9.O-O Bd6 10.Qc2 h6 11.Ne2 Re8 12.Ng3 e5 13.cxd5 Nxd5 14.Rad1 exd4 15. Nxd4 Nb4 16.Bh7+ Kh8 17.Qb1 Nd5 18.Bf5 Qc7 19.Rfe1 N7f6 20.e4 Ne7 21.Bxc8 Raxc8 22.Qc1 c5 23.Nf3 Ng4 24.Ba5 Qxa5 25.Rxd6 Qxa2 26.Re2 Qxb3 27.h3

Karjakin, Sergey (2660)    --    Topalov, V (2801)
Corus A  (9)   Wijk aan Zee NED
2006.01.24     0-1     B33

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Nd5 Be7 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.c3 Bg5 12.Nc2 O-O 13.a4 bxa4 14.Rxa4 a5 15.Bc4 Rb8 16.Ra2 Kh8 17.Nce3 Bxe3 18.Nxe3 Ne7 19.b3 f5 20.exf5 Nxf5 21. Nd5 Bb7 22.O-O Rc8 23.Qd3 Nh4 24.Rd1 h6 25.Qg3 Nf5 26.Qg4 Rc5 27.Rad2 Bc8 28.Qe4 Bb7 29.h3 Nh4 30.Bd3 Rf5 31.Bb1 Rxc3 32.Qg4 h5 33.Qe2 Qg5 34.f4 Rxf4 35.Kh1

42.Be4!?

Anand, V (2792)    --    Van Wely, L (2647)
Corus A  (9)   Wijk aan Zee NED
2006.01.24     1-0     B33

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Nd5 Be7 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.c3 Bg5 12.Nc2 Rb8 13.a4 bxa4 14.Ncb4 Bd7 15.Bxa6 Nxb4 16.cxb4 O-O 17.O-O Bc6 18.Rxa4!? Bxa4 19.Qxa4 Qe8?! 20.Qxe8! Rfxe8 21.b5 f5 22.b6 fxe4 23.h4 Bd2 24.b7

Grand Prix tournaments:

Full details at the 2006 Grand Prix site

Launceston Aussie Weekender; Tasmania; Jan 28-29; Cat 1 ACF GP; Launceston Chess Club; Adult Education Centre, 8 High Street Launceston; 7 round Swiss; 60 min per player. Entry fee $50/$45/$35. Special rate Under 12: $20. Entries close Wednesday 25th January 2006. Late entries close Saturday at 10:15am sharp and will attract $5.00 Surcharge. 1st Place: 40%, 2nd Place 20%, Third Place:10%. Rating: U1700, U1500--$75.00 (minimum) (Subject to minimum of three entries per division.) Junior (U18) 10%. Player are eligible only one prize. Encouragement Trophy: For best U12 Years old. (Trophy donated by the Launceston Chess Club.) Prize pool amount equals: entry fees less venue hire, running costs, ACF and TCA levies. For further information, please contact: Leo Minol 6344 7472 E-mail: leominol@hotkey.net.au

Australia Day Weekender; Jan 28-29; Category 2 Grand Prix; Norths, 12 Abbott St, Cammeray, Sydney. Seven rounds. Details Trent Parker 0419 469 764. http://www.nswca.org.au/

Toukley Open: Class 1 GP; Toukley RSL Club, Holmes Avenue, Toukley; Feb 11-12; Registration 9.30am Sat; Estimated prizes: Open $300/$200/$150; $150/$100 in three ratings divisions; Under 16 $50, Under 14 $50, Under 12 $50; Unrated $50. Entry fees: $45/$30. Cash only. Contact Gary Losh (02) 4390 8176 (most evenings, not Mondays). http://www.whiteknights.centralcoastchess.com/UpcomingEvent.htm http://www.nswca.org.au/06ToukleyAd.htm

Other events:

Gold Coast Tin Cup 2006 for players rated under 1750. Organised by Outreach Chess/Gold Coast Chess Club. February 18-19 at Somerset Sports Pavilion (300 metres West of Somerset College), Somerset Dr, Mudgeeraba. Organiser: Peter Bender 07 5556 0434. Entry forms available from email: outreachchess@bigpond.com

Hakoah Club events, 61 Hall Street Bondi, NSW
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:

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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