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Enterprising young duo breaks Australian Chess Record
For some, chess is an enjoyable pastime spent indoors on a cool summer's day played with family and friends. For others, it's serious business. And serious business it has become as young Sydney duo Kevin Tan and Peter Yang have broken the Australian Chess Record for the biggest prize pool for any chess tournament held in Australia.
Peter Yang
Aboriginal man (left) and Kevin Tan (right) posing for the camera
The Australian Open Chess tournament (not to be confused with the tennis tournament!) is being held 2-11 Jan 2015 at Castle Hill RSL and is attended by a multitude of professional and club players from both Australian and overseas.
Castle Hill Lyceum
Castle Hill
Upon getting given the rights to hold event from the Australian Chess Federation, Peter and Kevin have taken Australian Chess to the next level by promising a massive $25,000 prize pool with $8000 for first place, the largest ever promised for an Australian Chess tournament.
Chess kings in front of Sydney Harbour Brigde
"The $25,000 prize pool for an Australian Chess tournament is huge." Says Kevin Tan, a Chief organiser of the tournament. "Many players including ourselves entered the chess scene with a love for the game but without a way to support ourselves financially by just playing, we were left to our own devices to make money to pay the bills. Now with this record breaking prize pool, we believe we've planted the seeds for an Australian Chess scene that is financially rewarding for the players."
Players of all strengths are eligible to play in the tournament, and with separate prize pools for players based on their chess rating, mostly everyone has a shot of getting a piece of the pie.
Bobby Cheng, Australian Open Champion 2013
13 year old Australian talent IM Anton Smirnov (center) shows his father (left) what he could have done.
Australian GM Ian Rogers (left) doing commentary and talking with GM Igor Khenkin
With the World Chess Championship set to be held in November and a Million dollar prize pool chess tournament being held in Las Vegas a month earlier, Peter and Kevin are riding the wave of chess revolution around the world. Although they think globally, they are acting locally and are currently actively looking for companies and brands to promote at what could be the most attended Australian Chess Open tournament in its history.
More information is available from Kevin Tan at info@ausopenchess.com or the tournament website at ausopenchess.com
Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge
Sydney Opera House
Australia is not densely populated, but looking at Sydney's Bondi Beach on a hot day that is easy to forget
Koala at Featherdale Wildlife Park
Not a participant - definitely dangerous but too lazy to play chess
Kangaroos
More Australian wildlife
Make a move, come to Sydney and take part in the Australian Open
Pictures: Elliott Renzies and Kevin Tan
Information: Kevin Tan at info@ausopenchess.com
