Murray Chandler Grabs Lead

Grandmaster Murray Chandler has taken the lead in the NZ Chess Championships. The ex-champ has 6 points, just a slim half-point lead going into the ninth round. Michael Steadman is presently in sole second place on 5.5, followed by a half dozen players with five. Chandler will play FM Robert Smith in the next round.

In the second round, Smith lost out to IM Herman Van Riemsdijk. A fine win by the visiting Brazilian.

115th New Zealand Chess Championships
Van Riemsdijk, Herman
Smith, Robert
B41

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Qc7 7. Bd3 Nc6 8. Nde2 Bc5 9. h3 h6 10. O-O d6 11. Bf4 Bd7 12. Rc1 Rc8 13. a3 Ne5 14. Qd2 g5 15. Bh2 g4 16. h4 Qd8 17. Nf4 Ng8 18. Bg3 h5 19. Be2 a5 20. Nb5 Bxb5 21. cxb5 Nf6 22. Bd3 a4 23. Qe2 Ke7 24. Rfe1 Qa5 25. Rcd1 Rhd8 26. Bb1 Ba7 27. Ba2 Rc5 28. Nd3 Rxb5 29. Nxe5 dxe5 30. Rxd8 Kxd8 31. Rd1+ Ke7 32. Bc4 Rc5 33. Qd3 Bb8 34. f3 b5 35. Ba2 Rc6 36. Be1 Qa7+ 37. Kh2 Qd7 38. Qe2 Qb7 39. Bd2 gxf3 40. Qxf3 Ng4+ 41. Kg3 f6 42. Rf1 Rc8

Position after 42...Rc8

43. Bxe6!! Rf8 43... Kxe6 44. Qf5+ Kd6 (44... Ke7 45. Qh7+) 45. Bb4+ Kc7 46. Ba5+ Kd6 47. Rd1+ will lead to mate 44. Bxg4 hxg4 45. Qxg4 Bd6 46. h5 Qc8 47. Qxc8 Rxc8 48. Rc1 Rg8+ 49. Kf3 Kd7 50. Bb4 Bc7 51. h6 Rh8 52. Rh1 Ke6 53. Bd2 Bb6 54. Be3 Bxe3 55. Kxe3 Kf7 56. h7 Kg7 57. Kf3 Rxh7 58. Rxh7+ Kxh7 59. Kg4 Kg6 60. g3 Kg7 61. Kf5 Kf7 62. g4 Ke7 63. g5 fxg5 64. Kxe5 Kd7 65. Kf5 Kd6 66. e5+ 1-0

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