2015 ANU Open Day 2

IM Andrew Brown has become the first player to win the ANU Open three years in a row, after an exciting final round. He started the day with a win of overnight leader IM Junta Ikeda, before maintaining his lead with a win over Jason Hu. In the final round he was paired against WIM Emma Guo, and after overpressing an attack fund himself down a piece. However he had some compensation, in the shape of a trapped opposition bishop, but the smart money was on an upset win for Guo. But with both players running short og time, he continually frustrated Guo's attempts to promote a pawn, and after one final misstep, was able to draw the game.
His score of 6/7 (+5=2) was enough to win the tournament by half a point over IM Anton Smirnov. Smirnov started the day badly, with a loss to Jason Hu, before finishing with 2 wins, including a crucial last round win over IM Junta Ikeda. As a result Ikeda finished in a tie for third place with Canberra junior player Michael Kethro.
The Minor event (Under 1600) was won by Nhorval Valle, who started the day with 2 more wins (to go with the 4 from yesterday) before being held to a draw by Hikaru Oka in the final round. The draw by Oka gave him a share of 2nd place, alongside Jared Plane and Bazli Karattiyattil. The 56 player event was very competitive with Joshua Lee (5/7) winning the Under 1200 prize and Ruofan Xu (4.5/7) winning the Under 1000 prize.
With 83 players taking part, this years event was a big success. The tournament ran smoothly (if a little overtime on the first day), and the competitors enjoyed themselves. The 7 round format can be tough (especially on older players), but everyone got their money's worth.
The rest of the ANU Chess Festival sees the ANU High Schools and Primary Schools Teams Championships, and numbers are already looking good for these events. Thanks for a succesful tournament should go to Shun Ikeda, Paul Dunn and IA Charles Zworestine, as well as all the volunteers who helped throughout the weekend.


Brown,Andrew - Guo,Emma [D85]
2015 ANU Open Canberra, Australia (7.1), 26.07.2015

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bb5+ Bd7 8. Be2 c5 9. Nf3 O-O 10. h3 Nc6 11. O-O b6 12. d5 Ne5 13. Ne1 b5 14. f4 Nc4 15. e5 Nb6 16. Bf3 Rc8 17. Nd3 e6 18. d6 Nd5 19. f5 Nxc3 20. Qe1 Nd5 21. Bxd5 exd5 22. f6 Bh8 23. Qh4 Re8 24. Qh6 Re6 25. Rf4 Qf8 26. Qg5 h6 27. Qg3 c4 28. Rh4 cxd3 29. Bxh6 Qe8 30. Bf4 d2 31. Rd1 Rc1 32. Rxc1 dxc1Q+ 33. Bxc1 Rxe5 34. Qf4 Re1+ 35. Kf2 Qe2+ 36. Kg3 Qe5 37. Qxe5 Rxe5 38. Rf4 Re6 39. Bb2 Rxd6 40. Bd4 a5 41. Kh4 Rc6 42. g4 b4 43. g5 Rc2 44. Rf2 Rc4 45. Rd2 a4 46. Kg3 Be6 47. h4 Kf8 48. Kf4 Ke8 49. Ke5 Kd7 50. Rh2 b3 51. axb3 axb3 52. Rb2 Rb4 53. Rh2 Kc6 54. Rd2 Bg4 55. Rg2 Bf3 56. Rf2 Be4 57. Re2 Bc2 58. Rd2 Kb5 59. Bb2 Be4 60. Rd4 Rc4 61. Rd2 Rc2 62. Rxc2 bxc2 63. Kd4 Kb4 64. Bc1 Kb3 65. Ke3 Ka2 66. Kd2 d4 67. Ke1 d3 68. Kd2 Kb3 69. Ke3 Bf5 70. Kd2 Kc4 71. Ba3 Kb3 72. Bc1 Be4 73. Ke3 Bf5 74. Kd2 Kc4 75. Bb2 Kd5 76. Ke3 Be4 77. Bc1 Ke5 78. Bb2+ Kf5 79. Bc1 Ke5 80. Bb2+ Kd5 81. Kd2 Bf5 82. Ke3 Kd6 83. Ba3+ Ke6 84. Bb2 Bxf6 85. gxf6 c1Q+ 86. Bxc1 Kxf6 87. Kf4 Ke6 88. Bd2 Bh3 89. Kg3 Bf1 90. Kf4 Kd5 91. Bc3 Kc4 92. Ba5 Kb3 93. Ke3 Kc2 94. Bb4 f5 95. Ba5 f4+ 96. Kxf4 d2 97. Bxd2 Kxd2 98. Kg5 Bd3 99. h5 1/2-1/2