His closest rival is another GM aspirant, IM Kanan Izzat. Izzat also won today and only needs 0.5/2 to secure a GM norm. He also has a slightly easier run to the finish, facing IM's Dale and Morris in the final two rounds.
In the IM tournament that is running alongside the Masters, IM Igor Bjelobrk is dominating the event, starting with 7 straight wins. He holds a 2 point lead over FM Chris Wallis, and with 2 rounds to play, looks like a certainty to win this event.
Morris,James (2407) - Illingworth,Max (2499) [D38]
2015 Australasian Masters GM Norm Event Melbourne Chess Club (7.2), 18.12.2015
1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. d4 Bb4 5. Qa4+ Nc6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. e3 O-O 10. Be2 Be6 11. O-O a6 12. Rfc1 Bd6 13. Qd1 Ne7 14. Na4 b6 15. b4 Rfb8 16. Qb3 g5 17. Nb2 g4 18. Ne5 Bxe5 19. dxe5 Qxe5 20. Nd3 Qg7 21. Qd1 c6 22. Nf4 Kh8 23. g3 Rg8 24. a4 Bc8 25. a5 b5 26. Ra2 Bf5 27. Bd3 Bd7 28. Rd2 f5 29. Bb1 Rad8 30. Rd4 Qf6 31. h3 gxh3 32. Qh5 Rg4 33. Qxh3 Rdg8 34. Kf1 Nc8 35. Kg2 Nd6 36. Rh1 Nf7 37. Bd3 Rf8 38. Be2 Rgg8 39. Nd3 Rd8 40. Nc5 Bc8 41. Qh5 Rd6 42. Rf4 Rg5 43. Qh4 Kg8 44. Bh5 Ne5 45. Rd1 Nd7 46. e4 Ne5 47. exf5 Rxf5 48. Rxf5 Qxf5 49. Re1 Rf6 50. f4 Ng6 51. Re8+ Kg7 52. Bxg6 Kxg6 53. Re2 d4 54. Ne4 Rf8 55. Qe7 Be6 56. Kf2 Bd5 57. Qd6+ Kg7 58. Nc5 Rf6 59. Qe7+ Bf7 60. Nd7 Rg6 61. Qf8+ Kh7 62. Ne5 Rg7 63. Rd2 Qh3 64. Rd3 Bc4 65. Rf3 Qh2+ 0-1
5 comments:
What a wonderful achievement this is! Max Illingworth has always impressed with his love of chess, fierce determination, and sheer hard work.
His games column in Brian Jones' much missed magazine was meticulously detailed. I, a mere wood-pusher, scanned those columns with something approaching awe (they were way over my head). It was clear this young man was headed for something BIG. Now Max has completed the requirements for the award of the GM title, and in due course will become Australia's fifth GM! May he achieve yet more for himself and Australian Chess.
Bravo!
Dennis Hale
Illingworth still writes for an Australian magazine - the new one called 50 Moves.
Well done Max Illingworth!
btw Why is the GM norm requirement only 7 games in this event?
It isn't. He required 6.5/9 for the norm, but reached the score after 7 rounds. He still played the remaining two rounds and finished with 7/9. Just a case of reporting early what was always going to be the outcome (barring exceptional circumstances).
Thanks. That answers my other question about playing three GMs.
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