2023 ACT Championship - Day 1

 The first round of the 2023 ACT Championship saw most of the top seeds get through without too much trouble. It wasn't until board 15 that the results started to go against rating. Mark Scully was beaten quite convincingly by Owen MacMullin, while Olaoluwa Fasakin upset fellow junior Larry Cheng. The top 4 boards saw fairly easy wins for the top seeds, although FM Michael Kethro had to overcome determined resistance from Joshua Liang. 

The tournament saw a larger than usual field of 55 players, which would have been larger (and stronger) if not for a few dop outs due to the flue and similar ailments (NB It was 1 degree above 0 when I left the venue this evening). The new venue (Eastlakes Club in Griffith) proved a winner with the players, both in terms of comfort, and facilities. 

Tomorrow will see rounds 2&3, and the results/live games can be found at http://tournaments.streetchess.net/actchampionship2023/

Extross,Eshaan - Pearce,Tim [B13]
2023 ACT Championship (1), 26.05.2023

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3 Nf6 6. h3 e5 7. dxe5 Nxe5 8. Nf3 Nxd3+ 9. Qxd3 Bd6 10. O-O O-O 11. Bg5 h6 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. Qxd5 Rd8 14. Qh5 Bf5 15. Nbd2 Rac8 16. Nd4 g6 17. Qd1 Bf4 18. N2f3 g5 19. Qa4 Be4 20. Rfe1 Bd5 21. Qxa7 h5 22. Rad1 g4 23. hxg4 hxg4 24. Nd2 Qh6 25. f3 Qh2+ 26. Kf1 Bxd2 27. Rxd2 Bc4+ 28. Ree2 g3 29. Nb3 Rxd2 30. Nxd2 Qh1+ 31. Qg1 Bxe2+ 0-1