New Zealand Open

by Murray Chandler
1/4/2015 – As far as Chess Centres go, it must be one of the quaintest around – a 1916 Church, and adjacent Church Hall. Last March, Nigel Short played a simul to open the New Zealand National Chess Centre - and now it is the venue for the 2015 New Zealand Open Championship. A pictorial report from Devonport, Auckland, with comments by GM and chess philanthropist Murray Chandler.

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As far as Chess Centres go, it must be one of the quaintest around – a 1916 Church, and adjacent Church Hall. Last March, while on the FIDE election campaign trail, GM Nigel Short played a simul to open the New Zealand National Chess Centre - and now it is the venue for the 2015 New Zealand Open Championship. There are four Grandmasters playing – and a fifth one organising. A pictorial report from Devonport, Auckland, with comments by GM and chess philanthropist Murray Chandler.

Sometimes in life, as in chess, we do impulsive things. In late 2013 I was a bit bored, so I bought a Church. Unfortunately, unlike in chess, Fritz is refusing to tell me whether this was a good move or not.

Having said “A” you have to say “B” (apparently a Russian proverb). So next step? Set up a chess centre of course.

Inveterate globe-trotter Nigel Short popped by to give simul last March, getting the centre off to a wonderful start.

Young and old flocked in to take on the famous grandmaster.

The local Member of Parliament Maggie Barry was there to welcome everyone with an amusing speech. She is already ‘world famous in New Zealand’ for having presented a TV gardening show for many years.

There is a chess connection too. Maggie’s partner Grant Kerr (pictured here playing Nigel) is a former New Zealand International and Olympiad player.

For the Championship, starting 1st January, half a dozen well-known overseas players were invited, with some kind assistance from the NZCF (New Zealand Chess Federation). Here is Danish GM Allan Stig Rasmussen at a pre-tournament barbeque for the overseas guests. On the right is me,  trying to remember how the pieces move.

Devonport boasts wonderful water views over the harbour to the Auckland CBD. Here Alexandra Jule and Darcy Mendoza play a friendly on New Year’s Eve. They are with the Gardiner Chess group coming from Queensland, Australia.

Perhaps next year this inspiring setting should be board 1 for the tournament. Our old friend IM Herman van Riemsdijk (Brazil) is playing Layla Timergazi, one of New Zealand’s brightest junior prospects. The red blossoms to the left are on a Pohutukawa - the “New Zealand Christmas Tree”.

Onto the main event. Wow, our own banner across the main street. Thanks to the Devonport Business Association. 

Play kicks off, in the biggest of three playing areas in the Church Hall. 115 players from 15 different countries. Hopefully the playing conditions are ok; it’s our first big chess event at the venue.

Top seed – by a margin of 144 rating points – is English Grandmaster David Howell, rated 2670. If you are paired against him you may wish to nip next door for a quick prayer.

What’s this super-cool strategy? Local Auckland Chess Centre player Nathan Goodhue, black against a German Grandmaster, has not appeared 15 minutes after start time…

Stuck in traffic! We are tolerant in New Zealand – 1 hour default time, like the good old days.

Round 3 and the pairings get tougher. Fedja Zulfic (Australia) faces Grandmaster and third seed Zhao Xue from China.

Post-mortems are naturally held in the Church building across the courtyard.

Matthew Drummond (Australia) and Helen Milligan (ex-Scotland, now NZ) go over their draw.

The New Zealand Championship has a history dating back to 1879. The famous Silver Rook (as pictured) is still around, and the top NZ player in our tournament will have their name engraved on it.

Popular IM Irene Sukandar has a fan club even in faraway Auckland. This Indonesian enthusiast has popped in for a look.  

And some free tips for Boy Reinhard Gunawan after his game, another Indonesian player living locally.

Arbiters and NZCF officials enjoy the summer sunshine during round one. The New Zealand seasons are the opposite of Europe, so January is a perfect time of year to visit. Hopefully we may see some of you readers next year.

Standings

Pos T NAME Rtg PRtg Fed Pts
1 GM Zhao, Xue 2514 2811 CHN 3.0
2 GM Bischoff, Klaus 2490 2822 GER 3.0
3 IM Sukandar, Irine Kharisma 2392 2881 INA 3.0
4 IM DIVE, Russell J 2441 2852 NZL 3.0
5 GM Howell, David W L 2670 2132 ENG 3.0
6 IM KER, Anthony F 2435 2824 NZL 3.0
7 -- Zelesco, Karl 2210 2363 AUS 2.5
8 GM Rasmussen, Allan Stig 2526 2298 DEN 2.5
9 FM HAGUE, Ben 2462 2376 NZL 2.5
10 FM CROAD, Nicholas 2366 2317 NZL 2.5
11 FM Le Roy, Brice 2290 2441 FRA 2.5
12 IM GARBETT, Paul A 2355 2376 NZL 2.5
13 FM SMITH, Robert W 2367 2348 NZL 2.5
14 -- GAO, Hans 2293 2344 NZL 2.5
15 -- MCNABB, Matthew D 2100 2205 NZL 2.5
16 FM Reilly, Tim 2238 2240 AUS 2.5
17 -- Drummond, Matthew 2231 2255 AUS 2.5
18 IM Van Riemsdijk, Herman C. 2356 2222 BRA 2.5
19 FM STEADMAN, Michael V R 2311 2330 NZL 2.5
20 -- KRSTEV, Antonio 2071 2207 NZL 2.5

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1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Bd7 5.Nf3 Qb6 6.c4 Nc6 7.cxd5 exd5 8.Be2 cxd4 9.0-0 Nge7 10.Nbd2 Nb4 11.Ne1 Ng6 12.Ndf3 Be7 13.a3 Nc6 14.Nd3 a5 15.g3 Bh3 16.Re1 0-0 17.Bg5 Rae8 18.Qd2 Bf5 19.h4 Bxg5 20.Qxg5 Be4 21.Rad1 Re7 22.Qd2 Rfe8 23.h5 Bxd3 24.Bxd3 Ngxe5 25.Nxe5 Nxe5 26.Kg2 Qf6 27.Be2 d3 28.Bxd3 Qf3+ 29.Kg1 Qxh5 30.Be2 Qf5 31.Kg2 Nc6 32.Bf3 Rxe1 33.Rxe1 Rxe1 34.Qxe1 Qe6 35.Qd2 d4 36.Kg1 Qe5 37.Qc2 Qd6 38.Qe4 g6 39.Kf1 h5 40.Qd5 Qf6 41.b4 axb4 42.axb4 Nxb4 43.Qxb7 Nd3 44.Qe4 Nc5 45.Qd5 Ne6 46.Be2 h4 47.Kg2 hxg3 48.fxg3 Qg5 49.Qe4 Kg7 50.Kf2 Kf6 51.Kg2 Qe3 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Stojic,D2123Howell,D26700–12015C02New Zealand Open 20153.1
Rasmussen,A2526Le Roy,B2290½–½2015E61New Zealand Open 20153.2
Zulfic,F2114Zhao,X25140–12015E20New Zealand Open 20153.3
Bischoff,K2490GOODHUE,N21181–02015B06New Zealand Open 20153.4
MCLAREN,L2299Sukandar,I23920–12015B14New Zealand Open 20153.5
SMITH,R2367HAGUE,B2462½–½2015A11New Zealand Open 20153.6
DIVE,R2441THORNTON,G21951–02015E34New Zealand Open 20153.7
Teh,E2300KER,A24350–12015A21New Zealand Open 20153.8
GARBETT,P2355GAO,H2293½–½2015D73New Zealand Open 20153.9
CROAD,N2366Zelesco,K2210½–½2015D15New Zealand Open 20153.10
Van Riemsdijk,H2356Schmitz,A20661–02015C18New Zealand Open 20153.11
MORRELL,G2190STEADMAN,M23110–12015E14New Zealand Open 20153.12
LI,W2167Reilly,T22380–12015B06New Zealand Open 20153.13
HAIR,P1912Drummond,M22310–12015B26New Zealand Open 20153.14
MILLIGAN,H2098DOWDEN,R2194½–½2015C16New Zealand Open 20153.15
KRSTEV,A2071Lauterbach,I20891–02015A21New Zealand Open 20153.16
MCNABB,M2100Louie,R19271–02015A00New Zealand Open 20153.17
LEE,E2061DUNEAS,J2180½–½2015A00New Zealand Open 20153.18
VINCENTI,D2125Williams,D17541–02015A00New Zealand Open 20153.19
ALDRIDGE,A1966ANG,A21040–12015A00New Zealand Open 20153.20
BENNETT,H2130JAMES,J20320–12015A00New Zealand Open 20153.21
GONG,D2044FUATAI,F20891–02015A00New Zealand Open 20153.22
FORSTER,W2081RAINS,E21060–12015A00New Zealand Open 20153.23
Watharow,S1876LIM,B2109½–½2015A00New Zealand Open 20153.24
MACDONALD,P1957TAYLOR,R18911–02015A00New Zealand Open 20153.25
ZHANG,L2098Boy,R19801–02015A00New Zealand Open 20153.26
ZHU,L1978Maris,N18241–02015A00New Zealand Open 20153.27
EADE,D1977Schmitz,M19661–02015A00New Zealand Open 20153.28
POWER,P1939Jule,A19390–12015A00New Zealand Open 20153.29
Hielscher,U1845TIMERGAZI,L20740–12015A00New Zealand Open 20153.30
JACKSON,L1977D`arcy,M19161–02015A00New Zealand Open 20153.31
Burke,M1833Maris,R18950–12015A00New Zealand Open 20153.32
Shaw,R1813CARPINTER,B18730–12015A00New Zealand Open 20153.33
LYALL,S1823Tsagarakis,A18551–02015A00New Zealand Open 20153.34
MUKKATTU,P1736SEABROOK,R18861–02015A00New Zealand Open 20153.35
NICHOLLS,L1925FAIRLEY,N18161–02015A00New Zealand Open 20153.36
ROSSITER,P1935SMITH,V1836½–½2015A00New Zealand Open 20153.37
Opasiak,D1729ZHU,K16890–12015A00New Zealand Open 20153.38
YAN,C1557Turner,J1434½–½2015A00New Zealand Open 20153.39
Zibung,R-Lourenco,E-0–12015A00New Zealand Open 20153.40
HUANG,A2114Louie,J17830–12015A00New Zealand Open 20153.41
FAN,A2000RAINS,T20500–12015A00New Zealand Open 20153.42
SHEN,T1722LAMERTON,T17310–12015A00New Zealand Open 20153.43
PICKEN,O1433COOPER,N18150–12015A00New Zealand Open 20153.44
PAKENHAM,J1704MENG,R11061–02015A00New Zealand Open 20153.45
ZHANG,J1594HOLDO,K1606½–½2015A00New Zealand Open 20153.46
WEI,L1423LAUGHLAND,A15591–02015A00New Zealand Open 20153.47
HOLDAWAY,S1387BROCKWAY,A1791½–½2015A00New Zealand Open 20153.48
Brockman,R1652Maris,F1519½–½2015A00New Zealand Open 20153.49
LI,R1379NYLUND,B14531–02015A00New Zealand Open 20153.50
Mendoza,D612WANG,A14090–12015A00New Zealand Open 20153.51
NYLUND,T1405YAN,S13900–12015A00New Zealand Open 20153.52
MCRAE,J1133BRAGANZA,N13341–02015A00New Zealand Open 20153.53
NYLUND,M1200LI,L9551–02015A00New Zealand Open 20153.54
RYU,R684MALLELA,R11900–12015A00New Zealand Open 20153.55
STEADMAN,M1103YUAN,K10381–02015A00New Zealand Open 20153.56
BARRY,J965Chandraveer,S-1–02015A00New Zealand Open 20153.57
Howell,D2670Zibung,R-1–02015D20New Zealand Open 20152.1
Maris,R1895Rasmussen,A25260–12015D04New Zealand Open 20152.2
Zhao,X2514Watharow,S18761–02015A44New Zealand Open 20152.3
D`arcy,M1916Bischoff,K24900–12015B33New Zealand Open 20152.4
Sukandar,I2392ALDRIDGE,A19661–02015B18New Zealand Open 20152.5
Louie,R1927Van Riemsdijk,H2356½–½2015E05New Zealand Open 20152.6
HAGUE,B2462ZHANG,L20981–02015B86New Zealand Open 20152.7
TIMERGAZI,L2074DIVE,R24410–12015B12New Zealand Open 20152.8
KER,A2435POWER,P19391–02015B22New Zealand Open 20152.9
Jule,A1939Teh,E23000–12015D30New Zealand Open 20152.10
Le Roy,B2290JACKSON,L19770–12015A11New Zealand Open 20152.11
Schmitz,M1966GARBETT,P23550–12015E14New Zealand Open 20152.12
STEADMAN,M2311LI,W2167½–½2015D43New Zealand Open 20152.13
RAINS,E2106CROAD,N23660–12015B23New Zealand Open 20152.14
Reilly,T2238HAIR,P1912½–½2015A85New Zealand Open 20152.15
Boy,R1980SMITH,R23670–12015E65New Zealand Open 20152.16
Drummond,M2231MILLIGAN,H2098½–½2015A65New Zealand Open 20152.17
LIM,B2109MCLAREN,L22990–12015B81New Zealand Open 20152.18
Zelesco,K2210ZHU,L19781–02015B22New Zealand Open 20152.19
THORNTON,G2195MACDONALD,P19571–02015B07New Zealand Open 20152.20
FUATAI,F2089Stojic,D21230–12015B86New Zealand Open 20152.21
GAO,H2293BENNETT,H21301–02015B09New Zealand Open 20152.22
ANG,A2104Zulfic,F21140–12015D85New Zealand Open 20152.23
DOWDEN,R2194KRSTEV,A2071½–½2015A11New Zealand Open 20152.24
GOODHUE,N2118VINCENTI,D21251–02015A10New Zealand Open 20152.25
DUNEAS,J2180MCNABB,M2100½–½2015E98New Zealand Open 20152.26
Schmitz,A2066LEE,E2061½–½2015B11New Zealand Open 20152.27
Turner,J1434MORRELL,G21900–12015A40New Zealand Open 20152.28
Lauterbach,I2089HUANG,A21141–02015A05New Zealand Open 20152.29
Williams,D1754PAKENHAM,J17041–02015B06New Zealand Open 20152.30
LAUGHLAND,A1559FORSTER,W20810–12015B07New Zealand Open 20152.31
CARPINTER,B1873Mendoza,D6121–02015D07New Zealand Open 20152.32
TAYLOR,R1891RYU,R6841–02015C04New Zealand Open 20152.33
Chandraveer,S-GONG,D20440–12015B50New Zealand Open 20152.34
JAMES,J2032BARRY,J9651–02015C44New Zealand Open 20152.35
LEE,A644EADE,D19770–12015B23New Zealand Open 20152.36
Tsagarakis,A1855STEADMAN,M11031–02015A49New Zealand Open 20152.37
LI,L955Hielscher,U18450–12015C02New Zealand Open 20152.38
SEABROOK,R1886MCRAE,J11331–02015D53New Zealand Open 20152.39
YUAN,K1038Burke,M18330–12015D13New Zealand Open 20152.40
Maris,N1824NYLUND,M12001–02015B21New Zealand Open 20152.41
MENG,R1106FAN,A2000½–½2015E92New Zealand Open 20152.42
RAINS,T2050HOLDAWAY,S1387½–½2015E73New Zealand Open 20152.43
MALLELA,R1190Shaw,R18130–12015A80New Zealand Open 20152.44
FAIRLEY,N1816NYLUND,T14051–02015B06New Zealand Open 20152.45
BRAGANZA,N1334LYALL,S18230–12015C42New Zealand Open 20152.46
Louie,J1783WEI,L1423½–½2015D78New Zealand Open 20152.47
YAN,S1390ROSSITER,P19350–12015E11New Zealand Open 20152.48
SMITH,V1836LI,R13791–02015C56New Zealand Open 20152.49
WANG,A1409NICHOLLS,L19250–12015A39New Zealand Open 20152.50
NYLUND,B1453MUKKATTU,P17360–12015D13New Zealand Open 20152.51
LAMERTON,T1731PICKEN,O1433½–½2015D02New Zealand Open 20152.52
Maris,F1519Opasiak,D17290–12015B28New Zealand Open 20152.53
BROCKWAY,A1791YAN,C15570–12015C06New Zealand Open 20152.54
HOLDO,K1606SHEN,T1722½–½2015E65New Zealand Open 20152.55
COOPER,N1815ZHANG,J1594½–½2015A03New Zealand Open 20152.56
ZHU,K1689Brockman,R16521–02015C45New Zealand Open 20152.57
Lourenco,E-BYE-1–02015A00New Zealand Open 20152.58
CARPINTER,B1873Howell,D26700–12015D03New Zealand Open 20151.1
Rasmussen,A2526TAYLOR,R18911–02015A34New Zealand Open 20151.2
GONG,D2044Zhao,X25140–12015B01New Zealand Open 20151.3
Bischoff,K2490JAMES,J20321–02015A53New Zealand Open 20151.4
EADE,D1977Sukandar,I23920–12015B07New Zealand Open 20151.5
Van Riemsdijk,H2356Tsagarakis,A18551–02015B00New Zealand Open 20151.6
Hielscher,U1845HAGUE,B24620–12015E32New Zealand Open 20151.7
DIVE,R2441SEABROOK,R18861–02015A26New Zealand Open 20151.8
Burke,M1833KER,A24350–12015B07New Zealand Open 20151.9
Teh,E2300Maris,N18241–02015E38New Zealand Open 20151.10
FAN,A2000Le Roy,B22900–12015A09New Zealand Open 20151.11
GARBETT,P2355RAINS,T20501–02015D23New Zealand Open 20151.12
Shaw,R1813STEADMAN,M23110–12015A00New Zealand Open 20151.13
CROAD,N2366FAIRLEY,N18161–02015D94New Zealand Open 20151.14
LYALL,S1823Reilly,T22380–12015B09New Zealand Open 20151.15
SMITH,R2367Louie,J17831–02015B53New Zealand Open 20151.16
ROSSITER,P1935Drummond,M22310–12015A00New Zealand Open 20151.17
MCLAREN,L2299SMITH,V18361–02015B07New Zealand Open 20151.18
NICHOLLS,L1925Zelesco,K22100–12015C01New Zealand Open 20151.19
MORRELL,G2190Williams,D1754½–½2015A26New Zealand Open 20151.20
MUKKATTU,P1736THORNTON,G21950–12015E32New Zealand Open 20151.21
Stojic,D2123LAMERTON,T17311–02015E06New Zealand Open 20151.22
Opasiak,D1729GAO,H22930–12015A00New Zealand Open 20151.23
Zulfic,F2114BROCKWAY,A17911–02015A00New Zealand Open 20151.24
SHEN,T1722DOWDEN,R21940–12015A66New Zealand Open 20151.25
VINCENTI,D2125COOPER,N18151–02015E81New Zealand Open 20151.26
PAKENHAM,J1704Lauterbach,I2089½–½2015A00New Zealand Open 20151.27
MCNABB,M2100ZHU,K16891–02015D46New Zealand Open 20151.28
Brockman,R1652Schmitz,A20660–12015D22New Zealand Open 20151.29
LEE,E2061HOLDO,K16061–02015B12New Zealand Open 20151.30
ZHANG,J1594DUNEAS,J21800–12015D10New Zealand Open 20151.31
HUANG,A2114LAUGHLAND,A1559½–½2015B09New Zealand Open 20151.32
YAN,C1557GOODHUE,N21180–12015A84New Zealand Open 20151.33
KRSTEV,A2071Maris,F15191–02015D15New Zealand Open 20151.34
PICKEN,O1433ANG,A21040–12015B00New Zealand Open 20151.35
BENNETT,H2130NYLUND,B14531–02015B23New Zealand Open 20151.36
LI,R1379FUATAI,F20890–12015B98New Zealand Open 20151.37
FORSTER,W2081Turner,J14340–12015A05New Zealand Open 20151.38
WEI,L1423LIM,B21090–12015D00New Zealand Open 20151.39
MACDONALD,P1957WANG,A14091–02015E76New Zealand Open 20151.40
NYLUND,T1405Boy,R19800–12015E06New Zealand Open 20151.41
ZHU,L1978YAN,S13901–02015C18New Zealand Open 20151.42
HOLDAWAY,S1387RAINS,E21060–12015A05New Zealand Open 20151.43
MILLIGAN,H2098BRAGANZA,N13341–02015C42New Zealand Open 20151.44
NYLUND,M1200Schmitz,M19660–12015C01New Zealand Open 20151.45
HAIR,P1912MALLELA,R11901–02015B24New Zealand Open 20151.46
MCRAE,J1133Jule,A19390–12015D00New Zealand Open 20151.47
LI,W2167MENG,R11061–02015C78New Zealand Open 20151.48
STEADMAN,M1103TIMERGAZI,L20740–12015B13New Zealand Open 20151.49
JACKSON,L1977YUAN,K10381–02015D35New Zealand Open 20151.50
BARRY,J965Louie,R19270–12015B23New Zealand Open 20151.51
POWER,P1939LI,L9551–02015D26New Zealand Open 20151.52
RYU,R684D`arcy,M19160–12015B23New Zealand Open 20151.53
ZHANG,L2098LEE,A6441–02015D35New Zealand Open 20151.54
Mendoza,D612Maris,R18950–12015B01New Zealand Open 20151.55
ALDRIDGE,A1966Chandraveer,S-1–02015A50New Zealand Open 20151.56
Lourenco,E-Watharow,S18760–12015B31New Zealand Open 20151.57
Zibung,R-BYE-1–02015A00New Zealand Open 20151.58

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Murray Chandler is chess grandmaster from New Zealand. He has played at the Olympiad representing both New Zealand and England. He is a prolific chess writer, chess organizer, philanthropist, and recently - an owner of a church in Auckland, New Zealand.

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