The 70 player Premier was headed my a group of Grandmasters, followed by some talented and ambitious IM's. But it was a group of local Canberra players who provided some of the real surprises in the early rounds. Dr Andrey Bliznyuk, who is a researcher at the ANU held third seed GM SS Ganguly to a draw. Then Fred Litchfield, a first year ANU student, upset IM Bobby Cheng. It wasn't just locals doing the damage though, with Jonas Muller from Queensland really upsetting the form guide by beating GM Zong Yaun Zhao on board 4. Indian GM RB Ramesh also had an interesting experience, being paired against his wife WGM Aarthie Ramaswamy in the first round, taking a draw in game where she was better for quite a while.
Upsets continued in the second round when the top seed, GM Loek Van Wely, was beaten by IM Gary Lane. Young Victorians Ari Dale and Jack Puccini drew with their GM opponents, Karl Zelesco beat IM Trevor Tao, and Fred Litchfield scored a second win, this time against 2395 rated Mu Ke in a tricky knight and pawns versus lots of pawns ending.
So while there are still 9 players on 2/2, only 2 of them (Zhou and Johansen) are GM's, Round 3 begins at 1pm thus afternoon, which will also see the Major (Under 2000), Minor (Under 1600) and Mini (Under 1200) start. Even if you are not playing, you can come alog and watch, as well as listen to GM Ian Roger's commentary which normally starts abut 90 minutes into each round.
Full results, games, live coverage etc can be found at www.doeberlcup.com.au
Litchfield,Fred - Cheng,Bobby [B24]
O2C Doeberl Cup Premier Canberra (1.8), 02.04.2015
4 comments:
A few upsets on the first day of the 2015 Doeberl Cup. A few upsets - IM Lane winning against an obviously out of form GM Van Wely. Muller cleverly out foxing GM Zhou. On the lower boards it was good to see young FM Karl Zelesco win against IM Tao. The overrated Tasmanian Dowden was never in the hunt against Ross Lam and Dutta did very well to draw against Chew Lee.
Rogers' commentary normally starts about an hour into the games - at least that is what happened on the first day.
Day 2 was a disaster for Josh Christensen. Losing his first game against the Hobartian Dowden of all players! Then losing his second in disgust at losing his first. He was heard later bemoaning
"I can't believe I lost to Dowden ... Jeez!!"
IM Smirnov felt enormous pity for James Morris and spared many the spectacle of tears allowing a draw with 'The Man'.... (sic)
H.M.A.S Ganguly lost to Justin "Mao's Last Dancer" Tan in an exciting battle.
Tony Dowden is now resident in Queensland not Tasmania. If he's Tasmanian by birth then so is GM Rogers! Moreover when most recently resident in Tas, Dowden lived in Launceston, not Hobart.
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