Khamparia takes the first place and IM norm at Sydney Open

Sydney International Open
FM Akshat Khamparia takes the first place and IM norm

The Sydney International Open was held from 27th April to 1st May at the Parramatta Town Hall in Sydney, Australia. The New South Wales Chess Association managed two 9-round tournaments, the Open which allowed all players to enter and the Sydney International Challengers which was designed for players rated under 2000.

Indian FM Akshat Khamparia had a crushing start with five straight wins, and the further four draws enabled him to claim a clear first place with a total of 7 points. Akshat also fulfilled requirements for an IM norm, his second within only a week in Australia. Previously he shared the 4th place at the 2011 Doeberl Cup.

A group of seven players is sharing the second place with 6.5 points each. Among them are FM Christopher Wallis, who also won IM norm, and Doeberl Cup winner GM Andrei Deviatkin.

Harry Press, rated only 1423, is the surprising winner of the Challengers group. Press shared the first place with much higher seeded Maros Zajac and Tony Davis, but was declared the winner on superior tiebreak.

Open Group Final Standings (top 15):

1 FM Akshat Khamparia IND 2328 - 7
2 GM Arutinian David GEO 2575 - 6.5
3 GM Deviatkin Andrei RUS 2566 - 6.5
4 IM Goh Wei Ming Kevin SIN 2382 - 6.5
5 FM Wallis Christopher AUS 2305 - 6.5
6 IM Solomon Stephen J AUS 2398 - 6.5
7 GM Zhao Zong-Yuan AUS 2579 - 6.5
8 FM Steadman Michael NZL 2217 - 6.5
9 GM Bojkov Dejan BUL 2523 - 6
10 FM Smirnov Vladimir RUS 2395 - 6
11 FM Ikeda Junta AUS 2296 - 6
12 FM Ly Moulthun AUS 2381 - 6
13 FM Illingworth Max AUS 2345 - 6
14 GM Johansen Darryl K AUS 2419 - 5.5
15 FM Canfell Gregory AUS 2313 - 5.5
16 GM Hansen Sune Berg DEN 2603 - 5.5
17 Samar Raul AUS 2236 - 5.5
18 Hu Jason AUS 2190 - 5.5

King of Manly Village

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Ben Tapsell, king of chess, rules Manly Village
2 Dec 10 @ 05:24pm by John Morcombe

MANLY Village Public School’s inaugural chess tournament came down to a nail-biting end yesterday when Ben Tapsell, 8, checkmated 11-year-old Yeong Kweon in a tense lunchtime final.

Although the school’s chess club has around 50 members, including about 30 regulars, the tournament was open to all students at the school.

Manly Village Public School teacher Peter Hopper said 25 students took part in the fiveweek tournament, supervised by fellow teacher Cherie Johnson- Read.

‘‘The growing interest in chess at our school will ensure the tournament becomes an annual competition,’’ she said.

Yesterday, young Ben proved the winner, but not before being checked by Yeong several times.

Semi-finalists were Liam McGregor, 10, and Calvin Bruun Plener, 11.

Source: http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au

Wacky or Creative?

"Tree-Cycle," is made of 100 old bikes in Sydney, Australia - "Power Eater", made of 320 refrigerators in Hamburg, Germany

Travel Thursday on Empty Streets: Sydney Australia

Back to the Australian topic for the month and today am featuring a cool place to be, which also is considered as one of the most desired places to live in - Sydney Australia.

When one thinks of Sydney, Australia - the most common thing that pops into people's minds is the Sydney Opera house that has proven to be one of man's greatest structural feats. But Sydney isn't just about that - it is a melting pot of culture and tradition. One can be see a mix between Caucasians, Asian, and Aborigines. The food and the people equally as enticing as the land they live in. The beaches are blue and clear, with nature and man living in harmony with each other. Being able to have seen this place since I was a child has caused me to long to see it yet again.

For tourists and residents alike there is a website that I found that has made a comprehensive but easy to digest guide of this beautiful city of Sydney - Lonely Planet Sydney

Aside from that check out this youtube video presentation of Sydney to show you exactly what I was talking about and much more:

Travel Thursday on Empty Streets: Brisbane, Australia

I am going to be a little biased for this topic about Australia because am starting off at a place that I remember from long ago. The very first place I have ever been to within this majestic place - Brisbane.

Brisbane is known for so many things, but mostly of how nature and man has coexisted and it's beautiful beaches. I have to say that I really miss it. Childhood memories haunt me every now and then and I guess as I am getting older I am seeking to revisit my past. :)

Now as for the things to do in Brisbane I found a cool link in Yahoo that actually listed down 178 different things one can visit and do there :) Yahoo - Things to do in Brisbane

Now being a firm believer that pictures can say a thousand words - can you imagine how much a video of the place can say :)

Travel Thursday on Empty Streets: Australia

Australia has always been a country of fascination for me. Not only is it one of the largest countries in the world but it is also one of the largest continents. With Flora and Fauna as unique as the terrain and with a touch of all races in a nation that makes it a melting pot of culture and tradition. Mysteries of all sorts come from every nook and cranny in this beautiful country and you are guaranteed to see much more than one would ever bargain for.

Here is a video I found in youtube to show you just what I mean:

Amazing isn't it :) Till the next travel article - this is a continent that I shall be focusing on in the next couple of weeks :) xoxo