All Tied Up! Scott, Smirnov and Bolens tie for first.

My Newcastle Open adventure this year started on the friday as I decided to not risk missing the first round of the tournmaent due to being bussed around the cityrail Network. I still got bussed around! A chemical spill on the southern highlands line meant I had to catch a bus to Campbelltown and catch a train from campbelltown. And then I had to get bussed from Gosford and Wyong.
What Is it with cabs? do they have a magnetic attraction to other cars? On my way from Adamstown to the Accomodation at Charlestown the taxi i was in had a prang withing eyeshot of my accomodation. (The Cabbie didnt know where the Motel was.... hence why he was going slow).
Anyway I'm here and healthy and ready for some good chess!
Round 1
Top Seed Vladimir Smirnov defeated Victorian Sarah Anton. Board two saw second seed Ronald Scott defeat George Lithgow where Lithgow was an exchange up for a pawn but Scott's central pawn roller was to strong for Lithgow to take advantage of the exchange. Board three saw Johny Bolen got out of "trouble" against Graeme Deacon.
Round one upsets started on board 4 where Luthien Russell drew with Bernard O'Riordan. The other upset of the round was unrated Adam Lenskyj defeating Benjamin Young in a game where both kings were out in the open. The Game of the round must be David Behne Smith's game agains Colin Parsons in an Attacking display.
Round 2
I was unable to take many notes for this round as my game with Ronald Scott went for quite a long time. There were only two games left running. Dion Sampson (1778) drew with Gary Losh (1462) in an endgame where Sampson had 4pNQR v Losh's 6pQR. In the other game Sarah Anton drew with George Lithgow where they had opposite coloured bishops with an equal number of pawns which liquidated to a draw. The top boards saw Alex Mehan become Vladimir Smirnov's second victim. and on board three Norm Greenwood lost to Johny Bolens. Other upsets included Helen Aylwin (1007) drawing with Greg Wilson (1221), and Graeme Deacon (1361) fell fictim to that little junior..... Anton Smirnov (1043).
Round 3
Once again I had a game which I ended up defeating Col Parsons in a time scramble and didnt take many notes. Top board saw Vladimir Smirnov take care of business against Johny Bolens. Ronald Scott defeated David Behne-Smith and Gary Losh lost to O'riordan. the only upset for the round was Anton Smirnov defeating Ben Young.
Round 4
Finally the top two seeds fought it out on the top board. And it was not a Grandmaster draw like in Toukley. Ronald Scott's minor pieces and passed pawns were too strong for Smirnov's Rook and bishop. O'riordan defeated Dion Sampson on board two. Johny Bolens accounted for Anton Smirnov. Greg Wilson played a fire and brimstone type of game against Gary Losh. With accurate play Gary should have won the game but made an error and ended up having his king going back and forth with perpetual check:
Wilson,G - Losh,G [A45]
Newcastle Open 2008 (4.1), 16.02.2008
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 e6 3.e3 Be7 4.Nf3 0–0 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nbd2 Nbd7 7.c3 a6 8.Qc2 h6 9.a4 b6 10.0–0–0 Bb7 11.Ne5 c5 12.Nxf7 Rxf7 13.Bg6 Rf8 14.Nf3 Ng4 15.Bh7+ Kh8 16.Qg6 Bf6 17.Qc2 Nxf2 18.Bxh6 gxh6 19.Ng5 Nxd1 20.Qg6 Qe7 21.Qxh6 Qg7 22.Qh5 Rae8 23.Bg6+ Kg8 24.Bh7+ Kh8 25.Bg6+ Kg8 26.Bh7+ ½–½
In the battle of the young ladies Sarah Anton (1414) misplayed an attack and Luthien Russell (1316) was able to counterattack where Anton blundered in the defence of that attack. This was the only upset for the round other than the top board.
Round 5 saw
Bernard O'Riordan lost to Ronald Scott on the top board, Vladimir Smirnov defeated David Behne-smith and after a really tough tussle Johny bolens defeated me. I had an excellent position in the middlegame but Bolens was able to wriggle out of the restraints to either force mate or win my queen.
Upsets for the round included Anton Smirnov drawing with Michael Weltner, Luthien Russell defeated Norm Greenwood in a miniature. .e4 c5 2.Nf3 b6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bb7 5.Nc3 e6 6.Bf4 a6 7.Be2 Bb4 8.Qd3 d5 9.0–0 Bxc3 10.Qxc3 b5 11.Nxb5 axb5 12.Qxg7 Qf6 13.Bxb5+ Ke7 14.Bg5 1–0
It was a game of youth v Experience in yet another battle of the ladies. Mary Wilkie (1223) defeated Sarah Anton (1414). Gary Losh lost to the careful colin Parsons. and Adam Lenskyj drew with Greg wilson.
Round 6 saw Johny Bolens and Ronald Scott duel and Bolens caused the upset to defeat Scott and thus creating a three way tie for first place after six rounds after Vladimir Smirnov Accounted for Bernard O'Riordan. I defeated David Behne smith in a mutual attacking position. The other upset for the round saw Michael Weltner drawint with George Lithgow. And Alex Momot racked up another win against Helen Aylwin.
Round 7
The top three seeds made easy work of their lower rated opponents Vladimir Smirnov defeated Luthien Russell, Alex Mehan lost to Johny Bolens and Ronald Scott defeated Dion Sampson. Colin Parsons was up in his game against Sarah Anton but blundered in time pressure to turn the game into a drawn endgame. A draw was agreed. In the battle of the Wise and Experienced ladies from Armidale it was Mary Wilkie who defeated Helen Aylwin. Alex Momot drew with Adam Lenskyj.
So the Three top seeds won the tournament with 6/7 a piece with the pack following with Bernard O'riordan and Luthien Russell coming equal fourth with 4/5/7.
An enjoyable tournament all round! I'll be back in newcastle in August for the Hunter Valley Open