A quick update post/Australian Masters 2013

It's been a long time since my last post, due to general business and problems with access. In the meantime I've played a smattering of rapid events, the odd long-play club event and writing a column for BHCC's fortnightly newsletter (which can be found at http://canterburychess.org.au/8-archives/news-archives/)

Just completed at the Box Hill Chess Club only yesterday, was the Australian Masters. Traditionally an IM-norm qualifying event, this year it was expanded to a second division with GM-norm chances. There was no luck on the norm front in the GM event, where overseas GMs Miezis and Papin took shared first on 6/9 and 12 year-old Anton Smirnov narrowly missing out on an IM norm with a loss in the final round. There was more success in the IM norm event, where fast-improving junior Karl Zelesco made 7/9 to claim his first norm and equal first with the ever-solid Chris Wallis. Here's Karl's critical last round win over Singapore's Wang Sheng Lee.

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The perils of the sac/Croydon Classic 2013/Puzzle 03

The annual Croydon Classic Weekender concluded last Sunday, with the 51-strong field ending in a tie for first between Dusan Stojic and John Nemeth on 4.5/5. Equal third were James Morris, Chris Wallis and myself. This tournament, like many weekenders, had a tough 3-round first day, with my third round being no exception:

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I had seen the same Ng6 idea for White in an old Carlsen game, but the position is of course very different;

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The organising party have to be thanked for a well-run and thoroughly enjoyable tournament!

Victorian Junior Championships U08/10/12/Puzzle 02

The second leg of the Victorian Junior Championship wrapped up today at Box Hill, with the second tough 2-day struggle finishing in a 4-way tie for first between Kris Chan, Ryan Kam, Max Phillips and Bobby Yu on 6/7. Last weekend, Kris' brother Luis took out the under 10 title with a perfect score, while Christopher Lim gained the under 8 title with 6/7. Luis couldn't repeat the performance, stumbling in the last 2 rounds but Kris bounced back from a round 5 loss in style to come home strongly and take a share of first. See if you can spot his round 6 knock-out.

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Edit: It appears Bobby Yu has been awarded the under 12 title on tiebreak. Full results at http://www.ozchess.com.au/showthread.php?4688-2013-Victorian-Junior-Chess-Championships&p=65666&viewfull=1#post65666. Congratulations to all winners!

Victorian Championships 2013/Puzzle 01

As I write this, the Victorian Championships is wrapping up with the last round at Box Hill Chess Club. Bobby produced another dominant performance we have come to expect of him, winning with a round to spare while only Ari managed to stay on the board. His play was characterized by an apparent ease and simplicity in disposing of his relatively tough opposition. See if you can match Bobby's tactical ability and complete his victory over the dangerous Dusan Stojic.

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Full results can be found at http://www.chessvictoria.org.au/open-tournaments/the-2013-victorian-championship-and-reserves/2013vicchamps

Why did the chicken cross the freeway?

Does Australian chess need another blog, considering the already excellent examples out there? That's a rhetorical question, so I won't bother answering it and move swiftly on...

One of the most memorable chess-related phrases I have ever read comes from a chapter title in Rowson's Chess for Zebras called "The Importance of Not Having a Clue". I seem to take this advice quite literally and as a rule have very little clue what is going on, well-demonstrated in the following recent game.

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This also appeared in conjunction with another of my traits, a fascination with the absurd and strange, in my most recent game.

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Why did the chicken cross the freeway? To see what would happen.