2016 ANU Masters Week 2

Week 2 of the ANU Masters saw a couple of missed opportunities, and 2 decisive finishes. Alana Chibnall won a pawn against Adrian de Noskowski in the opening, but with more than enough compensation, it was more a gambit than anything else. With her king in the centre Chibnall always under pressure and once de Noskowski's queen got active, the game did not last long.
Harry Press had a very strong position against Victor Braguine, and a force win didn't look that far off. However appearances can be deceiving, and while Press won Bragunes queen, it was for Rook, Bishop and Pawn, and after that, neither could claim an advantage.
Dillon Hathiramani chanced his arm against Andrey Bliznyuk with a piece sacrifice in the early middlegame, but once the main follow up had been prevented, the material advantage was enough for Bliznyuk to win. Fred Litchfield had Miles Patterson under pressure for most of the game, but Litchfield's attack was always a tempo short, and eventually the players agreed to a draw in a double rook ending.
After 2 games Litchfield, Bliznyuk, Braguine and de Noskowksi are all on +1, with Patterson half a point behind.


Chibnall,Alana (1884) - de Noskowski,Adrian (1876)
2016 ANU Masters Canberra, Australia AUS (2.3), 10.02.2016