2021 George Trundle Masters

 The Auckland Chess Club has just hosted the traditional George Trundle Masters, which is a series of RR events for top NZ and overseas players. Of course this year was missing the overseas players part, but the event still attracted a strong field. The top section was won by IM Anthony Paul Garbett with 7/9, while CM Richard Meng won the qualifiers with 7.5. Full results can be found at https://www.vegaresult.com/vega-trn/index.php?id=590 

While I wasn't really following the action while the tournament was taking place, I did have a look at a few games after the event was over. One that struck me as particularly interesting was this short game from the Masters, where the London System gets beaten up pretty badly. This may have been a prepared line for Black btw, as 6. ... e5 is perfectly sound, and after the exchange of pawns, is even winning (7.Qh5+ is better for White).

Zhang,Jasmine - Morrell,George [B13]
George Trundle Masters Chess.com, 07.2021

1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 c5 3. e3 cxd4 4. exd4 Nc6 5. c3 f6 6. Bd3 e5 7. dxe5 fxe5 8. Qh5+ g6 9. Bxg6+ hxg6 10. Qxh8 exf4 11. Qxg8 Bf5 12. Nf3 Qe7+ 13. Kd1 O-O-O 14. Re1 Qf6 15. Qh7 d4 16. Nbd2 dxc3 17. bxc3 Ba3 18. Qh4 Qxc3 0-1