Still Got Some Moves

Thanks to one of our posters for this tip. Arianne Caoili seems to be on some sort of comeback, not just to our TV screens, but hopefully to some good over-the-board play. Over the weekend she played in the Surfers Paradise Open where she collected four points from 6 games. One of those points was a win over GM Johansen.

Surfers Paradise Open 2008
Johansen, Darryl
Caoili, Arianne
A22

1. c4 e5 2. e3 Nf6 3. Nc3 c6 4. d4 e4 5. Nge2 h5 6. a3 Qe7 7. Qc2 h4 8. f3 exf3 9. gxf3 c5 10. dxc5 Qxc5 11. Nf4 d6 12. Bd3 Nbd7 13. b4 Qc6 14. Ncd5 Ne5 15. b5 Qc5 16. Nxf6+ gxf6 17. Be2 Bd7 18. a4 Rc8 19. Ra3 d5 20. Rc3 dxc4 21. Kf2 Bh6 22. Ba3 Qb6 23. Nd5 Qe6 24. Bxc4

After 24. Bxc4

24...Rxc4 25. Rxc4 Qxd5 26. Re4 Bf8 27. Rd1 Qe6 28. Bb2 Qh3 29. Bxe5 fxe5 30. Rxe5+ Be7 31. Qe4 Qxh2+ 32. Ke1 Be6 33. Rd2 Qg1+ 34. Ke2 Rg8 35. Kd3 Qb1+ 36. Kd4 Qb4+ 37. Kd3 Qb3+ 38. Ke2 Rg2+ 39. Ke1 Bb4 40. Rxe6+ fxe6 41. Qg6+ 0-1

But in the last game, Caoili was helpless against IM Smerdon who won the event with 5.5 points.

UPDATE: And as if the god's were smiling on her, there is further positive news for Arianne. The ACF has just announced on their bulletin board, Chess Chat, that IM Irina Berezina has pulled out of the women's team due to work and family commitments. Everyone below her is promoted one position up.