Is your name Igor? You Lose! Your name Canfell? At least half a point...

We're off and racing in the 2008 Australian Championships.

I was the first one to post a result as my opponent overlooked a mate in one on move 9. Those young Koreans seem to be a little out of their league and need a little more coaching...... good on 'em for having a go though. Its going to be a bit of a Korean Round Robin on the lower boards I think.

As for the Championship division GM Dejan Antic accounted for Malcolm Pike after Malcolm blundered a bishop in a R v 2B endgame with Queens still on the board and another set of rooks still on the board. looked a bit dodgy for both sides but with correct play by both sides it probably would have been a draw.

Board two saw GM Darryl Johansen play against a friend in David Hacche but the game was not a friendly encounter with Hacches knights dancing all over the board in the opening and then Johansen sacrificing an exchange at a precise moment to ensure the full potential of his passed d pawn.

Stephen solomon on board three commanded the white pieces against Gareth Charles and ended up winning in a Sicilian Sheveningen!? i think its called.

Board 4 saw the biggest upset of the tournament as IM George Xie was routed by Gareth Oliver in a bit of a risky encounter in a Nimzo indian defence. Olivers Q and R ended up infiltrating with the Queen munching a couple of Q side pices while black tried counterplay with passed pawns. One passed pawn eventually Queened when it was too late and it was clear that Oliver's attack would be able to crash through.

Board 5 saw Gary Lane play a closed sicilian against Dusan Stojic who sacrificed a bishop for the attack but resigned after it was clear that the attack would not bear any fruit.

If your name was Igor you had a bad day at the office in round one: Igor Goldenburg losing to Max Illingworth, Igor Bjelobrk losing to Ben Lazarus were included in the upsets of the day as were Sales losing to Vincent Suttor, Yadao Israel losing to Paul Broekhuyse and Sam Chow going down to Ascaro Pecori.

In the Major top seed Adrian Rose built a huge centre for Dragan Djukovic to break down but blundered when he tried to establish a strong centre for himself. Board two saw visiting Korean Candidate master Sanghoon Lee defeat the human NSW history book Lloyd Fell. Lee's Maroczy bind against Fell's Dragon resulted in an attack which did not bear any fruit until the endgame. The Eccentric Mr Johny Bolens is third seed. His opponent dropped a rook out of nowhere and handed Bolens the win. Winning in not much longer time as my win. Fourth seed and Western Australian Representative in the Major - Tim Hare defeated David Webster.

It is rare that you get to see both father and son Canfells in the same room. Greg's father Mike Canfell drew with Phil Viner. Former New South Welshman Bill Egain (who is now from the capital Territory) drew with Richard Lilly. Upsets included Rebecca Harris upsetting Korean Junic Choi, Frank Barisic holding on to a pawn advantage in the endgame after a closed sicilian and Frank low defeating Vasil Tulevski.

In the minor Eddy Katnic had to withdraw late leaving David Evans to fill the top seed void. He accounted for andrew pan. David evans won the exchange in a Kings indian defence and ended up converting into a rook. Pan decided to resign when his position became untenable. Board two saw Anthony vilanueva play his london system against Accola's Kings indian system where Villanueva ended up coming through with the goods. Hey Howie where's that banana suit you been talking about? :D Duggan, the sole Queenslander, ended up winning against Far north coast New South Welsh man David Sole. Young up and coming Junior Alex Mehan defeated Parramatta local Mario Pleno. My board was next with my miniature and then a host of wins over the hapless Korean Juniors.

Hopefully happiness for all can be obtained tomorrow..... Except for my opponent.