2013 Australian Open - Cheng surges

After 8 rounds of the 2012 Australian Open, FM Bobby Cheng has taken the outright lead on 7/8. Cheng took a half point bye in round 1 after a late return from New Zealand, but has scored 6.5/7 to lead by half a point. In today's round he defeated tournament top seed GM Igor Khenkin to not only take first place, but also improve his chances of scoring an IM norm. In second place are IM Moulthun Ly who defeated IM Max Illingworth, and FM Gene Nakauchi he leapfrogged a number of higher seeded players with a win over FM Greg Canfell. Another crucial result was the drawn game between GM Zong Yuan Zhao, and FM Junta Ikeda. This leaves Ikeda needing only a draw in tomorrows game against fellow ACT player IM Andrew Brown to secure a second IM norm.
Tomorrow Chneg is up against Nakauchi, while Khenkin plays Ly. Illingworth and Zhao meet on the third board.
Full coverage of the event, as well as results and games can be found at the tournament website.


Cheng,Bobby - Khenkin,Igor [D30]
Australian Open Sydney, 10.01.2013

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 Nf6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Nbd2 Ne4 7. Bd3 f5 8. O-O Nd7 9. Bb2 O-O 10. a3 Bd6 11. b4 Qf6 12. Ne1 e5 13. cxd5 cxd5 14. Ndf3 exd4 15. Bxd4 Qf7 16. Bc2 b6 17. Bb3 Ba6 18. Be5 Ndf6 19. Nd3 Rac8 20. Re1 Nc3 21. Bxc3 Rxc3 22. Nf4 Bxf4 23. exf4 Rd3 24. Qb1 Qh5 25. b5 Bxb5 26. Bd1 Bc4 27. Ne5 Rxd1 28. Qxd1 Qxd1 29. Raxd1 Rc8 30. Nf3 Rc7 31. Re6 Kf7 32. Ng5+ Kg6 33. Re5 Rc5 34. Nf3 Ra5 35. Ra1 Bd3 36. Re7 Bb5 37. Nh4+ Kh5 38. Nxf5 g6 39. Nd4 Bd3 40. h3 Ra4 41. Ne6 Re4 42. Rd1 Bc4 43. g4+ Kh4 44. Kg2 h5 45. Nd4 hxg4 46. hxg4 Rxe7 47. f3 Nxg4 48. Rh1+ 1-0