Bird is not the word

The 2019 British Championship finishes this evening (Canberra time), and GM Michael Adams currently leads on 6.5/8. There are 3 players half a point behind him, including IM Richard Palliser. While Palliser is probably better known as an author and opening analyst, he is a more than capable player as well. In round 8 he faced GM Daniel Fernandez (currently residing in Sydney, Australia) and played an aggressive line against the Bird's. 4.g3 seems to be the start of White's problems, and by move 7 Black was winning.
Other players with an Australian connection in this event are GM Justin Tan and IM Gary Lane. Tan has had a good tournament (including draws with Adams and Howell) and is on 5/8. A loss in round 8 derailed IM Gary Lane's hoped for a good finish, and he is currently on 4/8.


Fernandez,Daniel Howard (2466) - Palliser,Richard J D (2399) [A02]
106th ch-GBR 2019 Torquay ENG (8.4), 03.08.2019

1. f4 d6 2. b3 e5 3. fxe5 dxe5 4. g3 h5 5. Bb2 h4 6. Bg2 hxg3 7. hxg3 Rxh1 8. Bxh1 Qg5 9. Kf2 Nf6 10. Nc3 e4 11. e3 Ng4+ 12. Ke1 Qh5 13. Bxe4 Qh2 14. Qf3 Qxg1+ 15. Ke2 Qh2+ 16. Qg2 Qxg2+ 17. Bxg2 c6 18. Bh3 Na6 19. Ne4 Bf5 20. Nf2 Nh6 21. Bxf5 Nxf5 22. g4 Nd6 23. Rh1 f6 24. g5 fxg5 25. Ng4 Nc5 26. c4 Nf5 27. Rh8 O-O-O 28. d4 Ne4 29. Kf3 Nd2+ 30. Ke2 Ne4 31. Kf3 Nf6 32. Nxf6 gxf6 33. e4 Nh4+ 34. Kg4 Be7 35. Rh7 Re8 36. e5 fxe5 37. dxe5 Bd8 38. Rh6 Rf8 39. Bc1 Nf3 40. e6 Ne5+ 41. Kg3 Rf6 42. Bxg5 Rf3+ 43. Kh4 Rf4+ 0-1