Zhao closes in on GM Norm

Australian IM Zong Yuan Zhao is closing in on his second GM norm in a month as he continues to lead the Cerrado International Chess Festival. With 2 rounds to play Zhao is on 5.5/7 and needs 1/2 for the norm. However there is a complicating factor in that Zhao will be playing his final 2 games this today (Spanish time), and will play his round 9 game before he plays his Round 8 game. This is due to the fact he is starting another tournament tomorrow in Seville, as are a couple of other players from the event.
With any luck both Zhao and David Smerdon will return from their European tours with GM titles in their travel bags.

Zhao,Z (2491) - Larino Nieto,D (2428)
CERRADO GM Mondariz-Balneario (4.5), 29.12.2007

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bd7 5.Nf3 Bc6 6.Bd3 Nd7 7.0-0 Ngf6 8.Ng3 Bd6 9.Re1 Bxf3 10.Qxf3 c6 11.Nf5 Bf8 12.Bf4 Nd5 13.Nd6+ Bxd6 14.Bxd6 N7f6 15.Qg3 Nh5 16.Qe5 Nhf6 17.c4 Nb6 18.d5 Nbd7 19.Qg5 Nf8 20.Ba3 Rg8 21.dxc6 bxc6 22.Qc5 (D)
22. ... Qc7 23.Bc2 0-0-0 24.Ba4 Kb7 25.Bd1 Qb6 26.Bf3 Ng6 27.g3 Rd3 28.Bg2 Rgd8 29.Qb5 Kc7 30.Qa4 R8d4 31.Rac1 Rd2 32.Rf1 a5 33.b4 Ne4 34.bxa5 Qa6 35.Qb4 Nd6 36.Rb1 Nb7 37.Bb2 Rd6 38.c5 Rd8 39.Qb6+ Qxb6 40.cxb6+ Kb8 41.a6 Nc5 42.a7+ Kb7 43.Rfc1 Nd3 44.Rxc6 Rxb2 45.Rxb2 Nxb2 46.Rd6+ 1-0