The inaugural Sydney International Open finished yesterday, with the top 2 places going to visiting Grandmasters. GM Georgy Timoshenko (UKR) and GM Dejan Antic (SCG) finished equal first on 7.5/9, with Timoshenko finishing with the better tie break.
In equal third was another overseas GM, Victor Mikhalevski (IS), along with a trio of Australians, IM Zong Yuan Zhao, GM Darryl Johansen, and IM Gary Lane, all on 7.
Darryl Johansen leapfrogged long time tournament leader GM Ian Rogers with a brutal last round win. Rogers, who had gone into the final day on 6/7 only managed half a point on the final day and finished in a tie for 7th on 6.5/9
Canberra player Gareth Oliver scored an IM norm with a last round draw with Moulthan Ly. Olivers score of 6/9 was enough for the norm, having played a field that included 2 Gm's and 2 IM's during the tournament. Probably his key game was against IM David Smerdon in Round 7.
Gareth Oliver v IM David Smerdon
2007 Sydney International Open, Round 7
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bd2 Nb6 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.e4 Bg4 8.Be3 Bg7 9.d5 Ne5 10.Be2 Bxf3 11.gxf3 O-O 12.Qb3 Qc8 13.h3 c6 14.Rc1 Kh8 15.f4 Ned7 16.Bf3 Rd8 17.O-O e5 18.dxe6 fxe6 19.Qxe6 Ne5 20.Bg4 Qxe6 21.Bxe6 Nd3 22.Rc2 Re8 23.f5 gxf5 24.exf5 Nxb2 25.Ne4 N2c4 26.Bc5 Ne5 27.Nd6 Re7 28.f4 Nd3 29.Ba3 Bd4+ 30.Kh1 c5 31.Rd2 Rd8 32.Nf7+ Rxf7 33.Bxf7 Nb4 34.Bxb4 cxb4 35.Be6 1-0
Based on the number of entries, and the level of overseas interest, it is almost certain that there will be a 2008 Sydney International Open. Already discussions between the organisers of the SIO and the O2C Doeberl Cup have been held concerning the co-ordination of next years events. It is hoped that title norms will be available at both tournaments giving Australian (and overseas) players two chances at earning IM and GM titles.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment