2025 ANU Open - Entry List

 https://www.vegaresult.com/vr/4080

A public service announcement - re Titles and Ratings

 Anyone who is hoping to gain a title in the near (or far) future, or is planning to organise such an event, needs to read the latest articles from the FIDE Qualification Commission. They are published at https://qc.fide.com/category/news/ and cover the latest regulations on titles, as well as ratings. 

I am highlighting this for 2 reasons. Firstly, I wrote most of these articles (spelling an grammar errors are mine btw), and secondly, organisers and players are still invalidating norms by making basic mistakes in organising and running events. Some of the cases have been highlighted in the Case Studies sections of both, and the "You shouldn't punish players for arbiters mistakes" excuse isn't working any more. What does work instead, is players making sure that the tournaments they are playing in follow the correct regulations. It shouldn't be that hard.

Chess to enjoy, without the burden of study

 Not every chess game is a lesson. Sometimes you can lust enjoy the moves (even if it just a blitz game)

Abdusattorov,Nodirbek - Firouzja,Alireza [B55]
SuperUnited Croatia Blitz 05.07.2025

It pays to study the (new) classics

 To be fair the following game isn't really a classic. But it is an instructive handling of the Centre Game, a very much underrated opening (IMHO). 8.Qf4 is an interesting alternative the usual 8.Qg3, in that it allows a quick g4 and h4. The downside is that  8 ... Bxc3 allows Rxe4 with  complications to follow. White even allows (provokes?) Nxa3 getting enough compensation for the sacrificed wing pawn. However, the real interest is later in the game, where White provides a clear cut example of how to convert a position when an exchange ahead. At the club level, there might be enough inexact moves to save Black, but clearly not here

Duda,Jan-Krzysztof - Gukesh,D [C22]
SuperUnited Croatia Rapid, 02.07.2025

Always take the first pawn

 For myself, rapid chess is a lot more 'hit and hope' than standard chess. Although winning is still important, the path to victory is a lot looser, and often depends on who gets it right when short of time. Example no 1297 is below. I was looking for aggressive moves (21 ... Rd3) even if they weren't the soundest moves. But I guess pressure counts for something as while my opponent was hoovering up my stray pawns, my pieces ended where I wanted them to be. Nonetheless, the win was due to my opponent missing a threat or two, rather than his position become too hard to defend.

 

Madoc,James - Press,Shaun [C68]
Winter rapid, 01.07.2025

2025 ANU Open - 25th to 27th July 2025

 2025 ANU Open

ANU Open/Minor 2025

25th, 26th, 27th July

ACF Rated and FIDE rated*

Room 2.02, Marie Reay Teaching Centre, University Ave, ANU, ACT

Time control: 60m + 30s

Open and Under 1600 (ACF) sections (Both FIDE Rated)

6 round swiss (Round 1 Friday 25th July 7pm, Rd 2 10am Sat 26th, Rd 3 2pm, Rd 4 6pm, Rd 5 10am Sun 27th, Rd 6 2pm)

$4000 prize pool ($1100 1st prize Open, $600 1st Minor)

(* Games involving players FIDE 2400+ will not be rated as per FIDE Rating regulations. )

Friday 25 July 2025 7:00 PM - Sunday 27 July 2025 6:00 PM (UTC+10)

Location

Room 2.02 Marie Reay Teaching Centre

University Ave, Acton ACT 2600

Registration

https://www.trybooking.com/DDEIG

Turrets instead of Rooks

 The word 'rook' is  translation from Persian of the word Rukh which means 'Chariot'. This of course is a far more sensible description than both the English word, and indeed the English depiction for the piece. However, sometimes the Rook fulfils the traditional role of sitting in the corner of the board, and being unable, or unwilling to move. This is a bad thing.

Hosking,Ian - Fasakin,Oladoyin [B07]
2025 Belconnen Cup, Australia, 24.06.2025