2016 ANU Masters Week 2

Week 2 of the ANU Masters saw a couple of missed opportunities, and 2 decisive finishes. Alana Chibnall won a pawn against Adrian de Noskowski in the opening, but with more than enough compensation, it was more a gambit than anything else. With her king in the centre Chibnall always under pressure and once de Noskowski's queen got active, the game did not last long.
Harry Press had a very strong position against Victor Braguine, and a force win didn't look that far off. However appearances can be deceiving, and while Press won Bragunes queen, it was for Rook, Bishop and Pawn, and after that, neither could claim an advantage.
Dillon Hathiramani chanced his arm against Andrey Bliznyuk with a piece sacrifice in the early middlegame, but once the main follow up had been prevented, the material advantage was enough for Bliznyuk to win. Fred Litchfield had Miles Patterson under pressure for most of the game, but Litchfield's attack was always a tempo short, and eventually the players agreed to a draw in a double rook ending.
After 2 games Litchfield, Bliznyuk, Braguine and de Noskowksi are all on +1, with Patterson half a point behind.


Chibnall,Alana (1884) - de Noskowski,Adrian (1876)
2016 ANU Masters Canberra, Australia AUS (2.3), 10.02.2016

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Bc4 Bg7 6. c3 Nf6 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8. e5 Nd5 9. Bxd5 cxd5 10. Qxd5 Ba6 11. f4 O-O 12. Na3 Rb8 13. Kf2 d6 14. exd6 exd6 15. Rb1 Qh4+ 16. g3 Qh3 17. Qd1 Bb7 18. Qf1 Qh5 0-1