MCC Open Round 3 live

Round 3 of the MCC open began about 45 minutes ago. It is officially the deadline for entries so we can now say the field is closed. We have 44 players of varying standards, including 2 International Masters playing. The only matter of interest so far has been a no show by Jack Puccini, which is a shame after his excellent draw last round with superkid Karl Zelesco. Anyway, the first winner of the night is Jim Papadinis. The MCC displays one game live per week on its DGT board, and tonight IM Mirko Rujevic is playing our American visitor, John Dowling. I will be picking up some of the action as it happens as long as my role of arbiter permits.

Early news includes the surprising fact that Eddy Levi hasn't sacrificed anything yet while most of the spectators seemed fixed on the game between Stead and Morris. I'll bring some positions here soon.

1 Hour down

A quick walk round the boards sees some intersting points. Board 2 is a cracker. Kerry Stead has ditched a pawn on the white side of a Benoni, but has great piece play against James Morris. Dragicevic has chosen the Levenfish variation against Beaumont's Dragon. The game started 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. f4 Qa5 7. Bb5+ Bd7. Besides this we have a Leningrad type structure, some Stonewall Attack type positions, a couple of opposite castling Sicilians, a queenless stodge and a couple of games where neither king looks as if it will ever find safety. However, the worst looking king belongs to Felix Wyss. It is a white king sitting on g3, with pawns behind it on g2 and f2, and a black knight on g4 stopping it returning home!

The position Wyss-Garner where black played here ..Nh5!?

There's nothing quite like an opposite side castling hack to get the blood pumping. On board 6, Justin Tan and Sarah Anton have reached the following position with black to move.

Meanwhile, Kerry Stead offers an exchange to James Morris.

Dragicevic plays TN! According to my database, after the moves 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. f4 Qa5 7. Bb5+ Bd7 the only move to have been tested is 8.O-O. Dragicevic plays 8.Qe2 and the game continues 8..Nc6 9.Bxc6. Both players have used a great deal of time to get this far!

2 Hours down

Early winners include Peter Fry and Abdullah Durani. Their opponents were succinct with their appraisals. Stephen Jago is a welcome visitor back at the club with his down to earth attitude. "It was level then i dropped a piece". Damien Feaine, who is making the brave step up from novice night to main tournament night was also succinct when he noted "things looked good but I missed his mate!"

Dragicevic-Beaumont gas continued interestingly 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. f4 Qa5 7. Bb5+ Bd7 8.Qe2 Nc6 9. Bxc6 bxc6 10. e5 Nd5 11. Bd2 Qb6 12. Nxd5 My little engine thinks the position is level after 12..cxd5, but both players seem uneasy. Morris has taken the exchange againt Stead but doesn't look entirely happy with his position. Malcolm Pyke appears a solid pawn up against Ari Dale, while Sarah Anton is also a pawn up against Justin Tan but it is anything but solid.  Shane Lawson also looks to be a solid pawn up, but Roger Beattie can be a slippery customer. The game between Chmiel and Lekkas is heading to an ending. Which way should black recapture the queen?

The game between Kevin brown and Karl Zelesco is an absolute mess that I will try to reproduce later. I have no idea what has been happening as both players seem to have made concessions. Richard McCart and Richard Voon seem to have winning material advantages but there is a very interesting position on the lower board game between Gary Bekker and Endre Simon. Here it is Gary as white to move:

 Computer assisted post mortems...Anthony Hain and Damien Feaine

Traditional analysis methods....Ben Gavine and Riley Lenard being watched by Elie Beranjia

2.5 Hours down

Most of the bottom boards have finished but things are heating up on some of the top boards. On board 2, Stead and Morris have played a most interesting game that has resulted in this position:

Meanwhile the Tan-Anton game has also seen interesting play and now sees Justin a piece up, but it looks as if Sarah might be able to take back the pinned bishop on c1. Or can she? It's white's move here:

The following interesting pawn ending has arisen in the game Chmiel-Lekkas with white to move:

Time to go, but I'll leave you with Birthday boy, Gary Bekker. Behind is Kerry Stead who celebrated his birthday yesterday.