ODT070605

=**Zhao wins Oceania Zonal**=


 * Problem:** Black to play and mate in 3.

The Oceania Zonal tournament is held every two years to determine the qualifier from this region to the FIDE World Cup. In addition, there is one International Master title and two Fide Master titles awarded to the highest placed competitiors who do not already hold the title. This usually ensures a strong turnout of title seekers.

The 2007 Oceania Zonal was hosted by the Fiji Chess Federation in Nadi. Top seeded IM Zong-Yuan Zhao of Australia proved too good for the rest of the field, finishing alone in first place on 7/9 and claiming the spot in next year's World Cup. The competition for the IM title was fierce with four contenders going into the last round. The result was a three-way tie for second place on 6½ between Australian FM Igor Goldenberg and New Zealand FMs Puchen Wang and Bob Smith. The countback system awarded the instant IM title to Puchen, but the other two achieved IM norms (part qualification towards the title).

Today's game is from the sixth round of the Zonal. This crucial victory with Black over the previous Zonal winner of two years ago, IM Gary Lane, enabled Zhao to catch up with the then leader, Goldenberg. media type="custom" key="26858034" An interesting response to the aggressive Sicilan Rauzer Attack, where normally White makes the pawn moves on the kingside. White's last move weakened the g4 square, so after gaining a tempo on the Bg5, Black plans to blockade the g4 square with his knights keeping the kingside closed. The Black counterattack begins. The b4 pawn is safe since 17 Qxb4? e5 would lose a piece. Kicking away a key defender of c2, but not without risk to his own king. Black must allow the opening of the h-file since 21 ... Nxg4? 22 Bxe7 Qxe7 23 Qxb4 wins a safe pawn. Here White overestimates his threats down the h-file. The more prudent 23 Bxe7 Qxe7 would have saved a tempo by removing the mate threat on c2, resulting in a draw by perpetual check after 24 Rh1 Nxg3 25 Qh2! Nxh1 26 Rxh1 f6 27 Qh7+ Kf7 28 Qg6+ Kg8 etc. Holding the h-file blockade on h5. White now plays to release his queen from defending c2, but this was better achieved with 25 Rh2! when Nxg3 26 Qg2 Nh5 27 Qxg4 allows White to just hold thanks to Black's exposed king and weak pawns on b4 and d6. Now 26 Qg2 Nxh1 or 26 Qh2 Nh5 is fine for Black, so White pins his hopes on the h-file and a Black mistake. Losing material, but if 27 Qh2 Nh5! 28 b3 Qf4+ 29 Qxf4 exf4 and Black's connected passed pawns win the ending. Or 28 Qxe2 Qxe2 29 Rdh1 Qe3+ 30 Nd2 Qh3 defends the mate threat remaining an exchange up. 30 Rdh1 would again have restricted damage to the exchange but with no chances in the ending. Black now forces catastrophic loses thanks to the counter attack finally breaking through. After 31 Rd2 e4! the threat of 32 ... e3 wins a whole rook, so White resigned.
 * 1. e4 c5**
 * 2. Nf3 d6**
 * 3. d4 cxd4**
 * 4. Nxd4 Nf6**
 * 5. Nc3 Nc6**
 * 6. Bg5 e6**
 * 7. Qd2 a6**
 * 8. 0-0-0 Bd7**
 * 9. f3 Rc8**
 * 10. h4 h6!?**
 * 11. Be3 h5**
 * 12. Bg5 Ne5**
 * 13. f4 Neg4**
 * 14. g3 b5**
 * 15. Bg2 b4**
 * 16. Nb1 Qc7**
 * 17. Rhe1 Be7**
 * 18. Bf3 e5!?**
 * 19. Nf5 Bxf5**
 * 20. exf5 0-0**
 * 21. Bxg4! hxg4**
 * 22. h5! Nxh5**
 * 23. Rh1? ---**
 * 24. --- Bxg5!**
 * 24. fxg5 g6**
 * 25. c3?! Nxg3!**
 * 26. f6!? Qc4**
 * 27. Rh4 ---**
 * 27. --- Ne2+**
 * 28. Kc2 ---**
 * 28. --- Nd4+**
 * 29. Kc1 Nf3**
 * 30. Qf2 ---**
 * 30. --- Qf4+!**


 * 0-1**


 * Solution:** 1 ... Bh3+ 2 Nxh3 (2 Kh1 or Kh2 Bxf1+ 3 Nh3 Qxh3#) Qg3+ 3 Kh1 Qxh3#