ODT150721

=**Illingworth and Guo Oceania Zone Champions**=




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

The 2015 Oceania Zonal Championship was held in Sydney, Australia earlier this month. IM Max Illingworth of Sydney and WIM Emma Guo of Canberra emerged victorious in the Open and Women's Championships respectively. Guo won the 14-player Women's Swiss outright on 7/9, half a point ahead of WIM Nancy Lane of Sydney. Illingworth looked to be even more convincing after starting with seven straight wins. However, in his final game against Brodie McClymont of Brisbane, Illingworth let his advantage slip, succumbing to his opponent’s sustained attack. That resulted in a tie for first on 7½/9 between these two and a two-game rapid play-off for the championship, which Illingworth secured 1½-½. McClymont earned the International Master title for his performance. Today's game is McClymont – Illingworth from the Open championship, displaying the fighting qualities of both players. media type="custom" key="27706381" **1.Nf3 Nf6** **2.g3 d5** **3.Bg2 c6** **4.O-O Bf5** **5.d3 h6** **6.Nbd2 e6** **7.Qe1 Bh7** **8.e4 Be7** **9.Qe2 O-O** **10.b3 a5** **11.a4 Na6** **12.Bb2 Nb4** **13.Ne1 Qb8** In the Reti opening, White develops quietly, training his fianchettoed bishops on the centre and awaiting developments. Now he launches a slow attack with his kingside pawns, trusting his fluid position not to present Black with any obvious targets for counterattack. **14.f4 b5** **15.Kh1 Re8** **16.g4 Nd7** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**17.axb5 Qxb5** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**18.Qf3 Bh4!** A provocative move, threatening 19... Bxe1 encouraging the white pawns forward. White is up for the challenge – involving a pawn sacrifice. Black had an alternative plan in 18... Nc5 (threatening to take on e4) 19.Qe3 a4 with play on the queenside. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**19.g5!? hxg5** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**20.fxg5 Bg6** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**21.c4 Qb8** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**22.Qh3** The g-pawn can't be defended: 22.Qe3?! (or 22.Qg4?) due to 22... Bxe1 winning material. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**22... Bxg5** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**23.Ndf3 Bf4!** An original idea to block the f-file and long diagonal. 23... Be7 24.Nh4 Bxh4 25.Qxh4 eliminates the dangerous knight but leaves the bishop on b2 unopposed. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**24.Nh4 Nf8** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**25.Qf3 e5** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**26.Nf5!** Superior to 26.exd5 cxd5 27.cxd5 Qd8 28.Nxg6 Nxg6 which recovers the pawn temporarily but leaves the black pieces dominant. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**26... dxe4** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**27.dxe4 Bxf5** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**28.exf5 Nh7** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**29.Qg4 Nf6** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**30.Qh4 Qd6** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**31.Rf3 Nh7** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**32.Rh3 Qh6** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**33.Qg4!?** White's attack has been rebuffed, but after exchanging queens 33.Qxh6 Bxh6 34.Nd3 Nxd3 35.Rxd3 his active bishops would offer drawing chances a pawn down. Instead he offers a second pawn to keep the position complex in an all-or-nothing attempt to win. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**33... Qg5** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**34.Qe2 Qxf5** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**35.Rh5 Qe6** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**36.Nf3 Nf6** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**37.Rh4 Qf5** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**38.Bc3 Qd3** The White forces are scattered and uncoordinated – especially the rook on h4, while the black pieces look set to take over the attack. Here and on the next move Black had the chance to remove all risk by 38... Qc2! forcing the exchange of queens 39.Qxc2 Nxc2 and keeping his two pawn plus as 40.Rxa5? Rxa5 41.Bxa5 g5! wins a piece thanks to the trapped rook. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**39.Qb2 Qd6** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**40.Rg1 Nd3** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**41.Qe2 Rab8** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**42.Nd2 Bxd2?!** Despite winning a third pawn, after this White is able to coordinate his pieces in attack. Also problematic was winning the exchange 42... Bg5 43.Be4! Bxh4 44.Bxd3 when White pieces are lined up against the king. Perhaps safest was contesting e4 42... Nc5 when 43.Bxa5 Nxb3 44.Nxb3 Rxb3 leaves Blacks defences intact. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**43.Qxd2 Rxb3** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**44.Bf1! Nf2+** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**45.Qxf2 Rxc3** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**46.Qg2 g6** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**47.Qg5 Kf8** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**48.Be2! Rc2?** Black errs under the renewed pressure. 48... Ng8 maintained a winning advantage, but with still some hard defensive work to do. White continues to skillfully execute his attack, switching threats between various points until the defence breaks. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**49.Rd1! Qe6** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**50.Rf1! Ke7?!** More resilient was 50... Ng8, when after 51.Bd3 Ra2! 52.Bxg6! Ra1! 53.Rxa1 fxg6 54.Rxa5 Qd6 Black has some drawing chances thanks to the exposed white king. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**51.Bg4 Qd6** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**52.Rd1 Qxd1+?** After the adverse turn of events Black collapses. But 52... Qc7 53.Rd7+ Qxd7 54.Bxd7 Kxd7 55.Qxf6 Re7 with a rook and three pawns for the queen held only swindling chances. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**53.Bxd1 Rf2** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**54.Qxe5+ Kd7** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**55.Qd4+ Resigns**

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**1-0**


 * Solution:** 1... Nxg3+! 2.Nxg3 (2.Kh2 Qh4+ 3.Bh3 Qxh3#) 2... Qh4+ 3.Bh3 Qxh3#