2016 ANU Masters Week 4

Three decisive games saw the field in the 2016 ANU Masters spread out a bit. At the halfway of the tournament Fred Litchfield and Andrey Bliznyuk now lead on 3/4, and their individual game may decide who finishes as champion.
Bliznuk defeated Harry Press, when the latter overlooked a knight being trapped on the queenside, and lost on time trying to work out a way to extricate it. Litchfield won a nice attacking game against Dillon Hathiramani which also featured an interesting opening plan.
Alana Chibnall scored her first win of the tournament, choosing 1.d4 against Victor Braguine, although it wasn't until Braguine missed a tactic in a block position that the game turned against him. Miles Patterson looked to have a slight edge against Adrian De Noskowski, but De Noskowski gained control of the open h file, and Patterson had to go on the defensive, although this was enough for a draw.


Litchfield,Frederick (2061) - Hathiramani,Dillon (1828)
2016 ANU Masters Canberra, Australia AUS (4.3), 24.02.2016

1. e4 c5 2. b3 Nc6 3. Bb2 e6 4. Bb5 Nge7 5. Qh5 a6 6. Bd3 Qc7 7. Nf3 Ng6 8. g3 d6 9. O-O Nce5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Be2 Nc6 12. f4 b5 13. d3 Bb7 14. Nd2 Nd4 15. Bd1 g6 16. Qh3 Bg7 17. c3 Nc6 18. f5 Qe7 19. fxe6 Qxe6 20. Bg4 Qe7 21. Bd7+ Kd8 22. Bxc6 Bxc6 23. d4 cxd4 24. cxd4 Qa7 25. Nf3 Bxe4 26. Qh4+ Qe7 27. Ng5 f5 28. Ne6+ Kd7 29. Qxe7+ Kxe7 30. Nxg7 Bd5 31. Rae1+ Kf7 32. Nxf5 gxf5 33. Rxf5+ 1-0