2009 Surfers Paradise Open

The 2009 Surfers Paradise Open was held from the 26-27th of September. It was a category 5 Grand Prix event. A large attraction was Latvian Super Grandmaster Alexei Shirov (2730), attending to play a simul. The turnout was strong with top seed being GM David Smerdon (2535).

Here are the results:
1st Moulthun Ly (2308) with 5/6
2nd-7th Phachara Wongwichit (2055), GM David Smerdon, IM Leonid Sandler (2240), Yi Liu (1835), Bruce Williams (1884) and Jonas Müller (1929) with 4/6

Next event to be reported on: 2009 Australian Young Masters

Chess Openings Videos

I have created a new YouTube series on chess openings. Currently three videos - Sicilian, King's Indian and Caro-Kann. More on the way!

2009 Nell Van De Graaff Classic

The 2009 Nell Van De Graaff Classic was a Class 3 Grand Prix event held at the Gardiner Chess Centre from the 19-20th of September. Top seed was IM Stephen Solomon (2370).

Here are the results:

1st IM Stephen Solomon with 5.5/6
2nd-4th Josu Tornay (2107), Phachara Wongwichit (2055) and FM Gene Nakauchi (2034) with 5/6

Click here for the full standings to the 2009 Nell Van De Graaff Classic.

2009 CV Secondary Schools Championship Finals

The 2009 CV Secondary Schools Championship Finals (or the 2009 Chess Victoria Schools Finals) was held at Box Hill Chess Club on the 10th of September. The turnout was very strong. Arbiter and organiser IM Leonid Sandler said that 90% of Victoria's best juniors were in attendance. Many of the strongest juniors are hardly playing since they have to concentrate on their studies and this tournament is one of the few in which most of them appear out of the woodwork.

Here are the final results:
1st Scotch College 22.5/28
2nd Balwyn High 20.5/28
3rd Melbourne High 18/28

Individual standings:
1st-2nd Eugene Schön (2173), Zhigen Lin (2146) with 6.5/7
3rd-4th Christopher Wallis (2234), Farn Ling Khung (1143) with 5.5/7

The Scotch College team comprised of Eugene Schön, Zhigen Lin, Derek Yu (2009), Nicholas Liu (1706) and Richard Owen.

Scotch College will now be advancing onto the nationals, which is being held at Melbourne this year.

Box Hill Chess Club September Allegro

The 2009 Box Hill Chess Club September Allegro was held at BHCC in Melbourne on the 4th of September. It was a strong turnout, especially for an allegro tournament. Christopher Wallis (2159), the top seed, won the event with 5/5.

Click here to see the final standings for the 2009 Box Hill Chess Club September Allegro.