Sunday, September 24, 2006

Smerdon Draws Super-GM

Playing a sort of simul with their web browsers, with the World Champs in one browser, last night Aussie chess fans were also treated an entertaining game between Aussie IM David Smerdon versus super-GM Vassily Ivanchuk.

The Australian, playing White against the Caro-Kann, held the titan Ivanchuk to a draw! Here's is the game score.

Smerdon, D.
Ivanchuk, V.

1.e4 c6 2.c4 d5 3.exd5 Nf6 4.Nc3 cxd5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Nf3 e6 7.Qb3 a6 8.d4 Nc6 9.Bg5 Qb6 10.Bc4 Qxb3 11.Bxb3 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Na5 13.Ba4+ b5 14.Bc2 Bb7 15.0-0 f6 16.Bf4 g5 17.Nxg5 fxg5 18.Be5 Rg8 19.Bxh7 Rg7 20.Bxg7 Bxg7 21.Rae1 Kd7 22.f4 gxf4 23.Rxf4 Rf8 24.Rxf8 Bxf8 25.h4 Bh6 26.Re2 Nc4 27.Be4 Bxe4 28.Rxe4 Nd6 29.Re2 Nf5 30.a4 Nxh4 31.axb5 axb5 32.Re5 1/2-1/2

Commentating on the game IM Tea Lanchava, of the Netherlands, said, "And indeed...not too much happened, although we ended up with a rook against bishop plus knight endgame...The big man from Lvov couldn't win this and that is a real sensation. No win OK, but not even advantage anywhere along the line. Our congratulations go to Smerdon."

(I'll just slip this in as it's another good news. The Aussie women's basketball squad, "The Opals", has just won the women's World Championship titles by beating the Russians in the gold medal match. Final score was 91-74. Good hunting for the Australians then!)

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