Sunday 22 January 2012

Queenstown International 2012 - Final day action

The 2012 Queenstown International is set up for some nice final day action. The current leaders are Li Chao and Jun Zhao who are 7/8. Half a point back are Trevor Tao, Sune Berg Hansen and Darryl Johansen. Chao plays Tao, Hansen plays Zhao and Johansen plays Gawain Jones, who is on 6/8. The tournament winner can only be determined by the results on these boards.
For Trevor Tao this tournament has marked yet another amazing return to chess. A very infrequent player, when he does play, he often resumes at the same strength as when he started his break. In this tournament he has already secured his IM norm (probably the last one he needs), even if he loses tomorrow. It will be interesting to see how Li Chao deals with his approach to the game tomorrow.
The pairings involving the top New Zealand players will also have a bearing on the result of the New Zealand Championship. Mike Steadman did his chances no harm by beating Turkish GM Kivanc Haznedaroglu, and will play IM Herman Van Riemsdijk. IM Paul Garbett is the other joint leader, although he missed an opportunity today by only drawing with FM Max Illingworth from a position where he was material ahead.
There are also plenty of other results to watch for with title opportunities for Chris Wallis, Junta Ikeda and Irine Sukandar. Tune in to the live coverage from 3pm (1pm Canberra time) at www.queenstownchess.com

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Can Trevor get a GM norm?

Kevin Bonham said...

No he can't, unfortunately. There is a minimum average adjusted opponent rating for a GM norm which is 2380 and he is just below that. So even if he wins, which would give him a "GM strength" performance, there is no GM norm.

Anonymous said...

I though I told you to get back into your sewer Kevvy! Go on, nick orf!
Lonely are ya? LOL!

Anonymous said...

(*typo- thought)
I can't believe that no Taswegians entered this event! Not one!
Cowards! Utter Cowards with BIG excuses.

Anonymous said...

gg comments...

Anonymous said...

Congratulations to GM Daryl Johansen for his crushing win in the end over the way over-rated GM Gawain Jones, who very foolishly declined TWO opportunities for a draw. Onya Daryl!

Anonymous said...

Kevin Brown's rating performance was 1936! Very well done!
Whereas Brian Jones', man who got his FM title from a Wheeties Packet turned in a pathetic effort comparatively.
Time to read some of those books you sell!
Jean Watson did very well. Congratulations!

Anonymous said...

And Junta was a pleasure to watch, for he is a very good looking young man.
...and he is MINE!!! I love him!
However, some guy called Angelo Flaberakis is not a pleasure to watch.