2008 AUSTRALIAN JUNIOR CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS Cranbrook School, Sydney Bulletin 11 – 29th January, 2008 Editor s: Heather Huddleston & Michael Lip It is important at the end of the day to reiterate what Gene’s victory in the playoff handed the Under 14 title Ian Rogers said at the Opening Ceremony. It is not to ACT’s Yi Yuan. Yi easily defeated E ugene Schon in important if you win or l ose, it is about having fun – “at their round eleven encounter and then faced an the end of the day, chess is only a game” . No matter anxious wait while Gene’s playoff took place. Had Gene what results you achieved during the two weeks – lost, Gene would have taken the Under 14 title instead, whether they were good or bad, we hope you enjoyed pushing Yi back into 2 nd place Under 14. yourselves playing chess and sightseeing in the best city in the World! Dancing Deborah! This final bulletin instalment is a rather large issue The titles just get worse and worse ! In a bit of an anti- (mainly because we don’t have to photocopy and climax, Deborah Ng swapped off most of the pieces staple 200 copies!) . We hope you enjoyed reading the and played a quick 24-move draw with Charmian Zhang daily bulletins as much as we enjoyed producing them. to give her the Under 18 title. This result confirmed Sal ly Yu as the Under 16 champion despite stopping Jumping Junta! Shan-Shan Qiao’s recent string of victories . It was Sally’s third Under 16 Girls title in a row – an amazing Just when you thought the bulletin titles could not get achievement, especially considering that she is still any lamer, Michael continues to impress. Junta Ikeda eligible for the Under 14 title ! won his final round game against Samuel Dalton to finish on 10.5/11 – the highest score since David Third-seeded Deborah played consistent , solid chess Smerdon (now an International Master) acheived the over the two weeks, only losing the one game – a third same result in Hervey Bay, 1999. Junta dominated the round loss to Sally. A fantastic nine -game winning tournament, finishing two whole points ahead of his streak in the middle of the tournament after that loss nearest competitors. Junta was undefeated on his way gave Deborah the luxury of only requiring a draw in the to winning three tournament s (lightning and rapid play final round. included), with his only draw in the ma in competition Megan Setiabudi bene fited from Sally’s strong coming in the fourth round with Eugene Schon – when performance in the tournament to claim the Under 14 he was completely losing in the final position ! title. Megan held a half point lead over her nearest The main focus for the final round was on the chasing challengers heading into the final round and a win pack, as those results would determine the Under 16 against Miranda Webb-Liddle would be enough to and Under 14 age titles. Gene Nakau chi won his game keep them at bay . She manag ed the victory and even against fellow Queenslander Sammy Grigg quite easily stretched her victory margin to a full point after her and then faced a nervous wait to see if a playoff would nearest challengers drew their final round games. be required to determine the Under 16 Champion. The Under 18 Girls should be congratulated for their Fedja Zulfic needed to defeat Andrew Brown to force a efforts over the two weeks. Instead of the normal 11- playoff with Gene and manage d to do this after a hard - round swiss tournamen t, the girls played a gruelling fought endgame. 13-round, round-robin tournament with a couple of The playoff for the Under 16 title between Gene and double round days. The extra rounds , combined with Fedja , the only two participants on 8.5/11, needed five their games being the last to finish on most days, games to determine a winner. The final Armageddon* tested their endurance as well as their chess ability. tie break was required after both the rapid and lightning playoff rounds finished 1–1. Gene won the Majestic Matheson! Armageddon playoff with the black pieces, despite the time disadvantage , to claim the Under 16 title. Thanks must go to Microsoft Word thesaurus for this title. Laurence Matheson’s 26 -move draw with Harry * Armageddon Playoff Procedure: “If the tie is still not resolved a single game Ruan ensured Laurence won the Under 12 title without shall be played in which White has 5 minutes and the need for a playoff. Laurence dominated the Black 4 minutes for the whole game, a draw for Black being regarded as a win. Colours for this tournament from start to finish and was the most game shall be drawn by lot.” – ACF by -laws 1 consistent performer by far in the Under 12 Open. He on 5.5/10, half a point ahead of a chasing group of four was undefeated in the tournament, only conceding players, but also had one of the more difficult final three draws. Yi Liu, Laurence’s nearest rival, won his round pairings against third-placed Clarise Koh. final round game against Pasan Perera to secure Katherine McGregor, one of the girls in the chasing second place in the tournament, half a point behind group, received the final round bye to move to 6/11, so Laurence. Grace would have to win to claim the title or draw to force a playoff. Clarise proved too strong for Grace in Harry’s final round draw with Laurence gave Anurag the end, so it was up to the three remaining players on Sannidhanam and Michael Chan the chance to force a 5/10 to see if they could catch Katherine on 6 points. playoff with Harry for the Under 10 title if either could Helen Pretorius and Maria Ditu, two of the Under 10 manage to win their final round. Anurag managed to title contenders on 5 points, lost to their older win, but Michael could only draw meaning that a opponents, but Kashish Christian, the final player able playoff would be required to split Harry and Anurag – to catch Katherine, won her final round game to force the Under 10 Rapid Play Champion. The first rapid yet another playoff! playoff match finished as a draw, but Harry defeated Anurag in the second rapid game to win the playoff After another close playoff battle where the rapid and and the title 1½–½. lightning playoff games finished 1–1, we saw another Armageddon tie breaker, this time between Katherine A playoff was also required to determine the Under 8 and Kashish. Kashish had the luxury of being assured of champion. Peter Wallmueller held a one point lead in at least the Under 8 Girls title, even if she lost the the race for the title over Anton Smirnov and Daniel playoff. Kashish, however, was not willing to settle for Yuan, but had a difficult final round pairing with Cedric the Under 8 Girls title and played with an amazing Koh. Peter’s eventual loss to Cedric gave Anton or amount of poise, in the end winning the final Daniel the chance to catch him. Anton defeated Ethan Armageddon playoff on time. Derwent, but Daniel lost to Anand Gupte leaving Peter and Anton to playoff for the Under 8 title. Kashish’s victory in the Under 10 title race saw Charlie- Rose MacLennan take out the Under 8 title with some The playoff was a fascinating encounter with the game very strong play, scoring 3/11 in the tournament. quality belittling their young age. The first game was a great tussle throughout – all the way to the drawn rook ending. Both players played excellent moves despite Bulletin Awards the rapid play time control. The final game was The following awards are presented by the bulletin decided by an unfortunate mistake. Anton captured staff. Unfortunately no prizes are available due to with the wrong piece, allowing a back-rank checkmate. budgetary restraints and general disorganisation, but If he had captured the other way, he would have been your names will be etched into history forever a piece up and the result could have been very nonetheless. different. Peter pounced on the miscalculation, winning the playoff and the title 1½–½. Neatest Scoresheets – Bulletin Editor’s Favourites! The following players write scoresheets with such Leaping Leteisha! grace and precision that we wish they could notate every game in the tournament! Thank you for making OK, I promise to stop with the bad titles. I am our lives much easier. beginning to sound more and more like our beloved Chief Arbiter! Leteisha Simmonds won her final round 1st Place: game against Joanne Mason to win the Under 12 Girls 1. Under 18 Open – Michael Gearing (QLD) title. Abbie Kanagarajah also won to finish half a point 2. Under 18 Girls – Shan-Shan Qiao (NSW)* behind Leteisha. The two leaders won their final five 3. Under 12 Open – Isaac Ng (VIC) games in the tournament, pushing each other all the 4. Under 12 Girls – Caroline Shan (NSW) way to the end! Honourable Mentions: Leteisha’s only dropped point in the tournament was a 1. Under 18 Open – Joseph Nguyen (NSW) loss to Abbie in round five. Abbie then suffered an 2. Under 18 Girls – Winnie Yum (QLD)* unfortunate setback in round six when she lost to 3. Under 12 Open – Pasan Perera (NSW) Jenny Yum in a winning position. This gave Leteisha a 4.