Australian summer of chess

Traditionally 3 summer months are the busiest chess time in Australia.

At the moment Australasian Masters GM Norm Invitational tournament is being held in Melbourne Chess Club, the oldest chess club in Southern hemisphere. In 2016 the Club will celebrate 150th birthday. The format of this exciting tournament is designed with idea to give a chance for International Masters to have a chance for GM Norm (6.5 points form 9 games).

This event is the strongest round robin tournament in Australian history.

Games can be viewed live here

Full results, games plus daily bulletins here

Facebook page here

After 6 rounds 3 players have a chances for GM Norm result.

Australian Champion International Master Max Illingworth is leading with 5.5 points, followed by International Master from Azerbaijan Kanan Izzat with 5 points.

International Master James Morris is on 4 points together with top seed of the event Latvian Grandmaster Arturs Neiksans.

Arturs already won 2 Rapid play tournaments in Melbourne and will participate in the Victorian Blitz Championship Dec 21.

Another visiting Grandmaster Vasily Papin (this is his third trip down under) after the Australasian Masters will spend another 3 weeks participating in the different competitions around the country.

In Australasian Masters IM Norm event after 6 rounds International Master Igor Bjelobrk won all his games, he is followed by FIDE Master Chris Wallis with 5 points (he needs to score 2 points for IM Norm result).

Some notable events being held in Australia in the next month.

Dec 21---Victorian Blitz Championship (Melbourne)
Dec 26---Australian Allegro Championship (Adelaide)
Dec 26-30---Canterbury Summer Swiss (Melbourne)
Jan 2-12--Australian Championship (Melbourne)
Jan 14-22--Australian Women's Masters (Melbourne)