Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Caoili Wins Womens Invitational

Australia's WIM Arianne Caoili finished outright first in the London Chess Classic Women's Invitational with an emphatic 8 points from nine games. Her nearest rival and the only player to steal a full point was IM Susan Lalic who ended the tournament with 6 points.

For Caoili, it was yet another successful campaign after her win in the women's Oceania Zonal earlier this year. And for the Aussie selectors, the only question that matters now is who will fill boards 2 to four in the next women's Olympiad team.

London Classic - Womens Invitational
Ikonomopoulou, Maria
Caoili, Arianne
A89

1. d4 f5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. Rb1 e5 9. d5 Ne7 10. b4 h6 11. Ba3 g5 12. c5 f4 13. Nd2 fxg3 14. hxg3 Ng4 15. Bf3 Qe8 16. Kg2 Qh5 17. Rh1 Qf7 18. Nde4 Ne3+ 19. fxe3 g4 20. cxd6 Nf5 21. Bc1 gxf3+ 22. exf3 cxd6 23. Qe2 Bd7 24. b5 Qg6 25. g4 h5 both players were now down to their last half-minute 26. Rxh5 Nh6 27. Rg5 Qh7 28. Bd2 Nf7 29. Rh5 Qg6 30. Rbh1 Rac8 31. Nd1 Rc2 32. Ndf2 Rxa2 33. Nd3 Bxb5 34. Nc3 Qxd3 35. Qf2 Rb2 36. Kg3 a6 37. Kh4 time, but black was clearly winning anyway 0-1

In the main event, GM Magnus Carlsen was victorious finishing with 13 points ("football scoring system" in case you're wondering), while Kramnik secured second place with 12.

Last round. Photo courtesy of John Saunders

Chessvibes has a vid interview with the winner here. And by the way, a mate of mine keeps telling me that Carlsen once called Kasparov an idiot.

5 comments:

Denis Jessop said...

Actually boards 2 - 5 as both Open and Women's teams now comprise 4 players and 1 reserve.

That aside it's a fine result for Arianne.

DJ

Anonymous said...

Why on earth wasn't she playing for a norm and some real experience in the FIDE Open?

Denis Jessop said...

I'll upgrade my "fine" to "superb" as apparently Arianne's TPR was 2462.

DJ

jhoravi said...

What can you expect from someone with Aronian as his second?

Anonymous said...

"Aronian as his second" - Last time i checked Arianne was a woman. She has to make the moves not him so instead on demeaning other people's achievements why dont you get off your sorry backside and do something constructive with your life.