Khamparia takes the first place and IM norm at Sydney Open

Sydney International OpenFM Akshat Khamparia takes the first place and IM norm

The Sydney International Open was held from 27th April to 1st May at the Parramatta Town Hall in Sydney, Australia. The New South Wales Chess Association managed two 9-round tournaments, the Open which allowed all players to enter and the Sydney International Challengers which was designed for players rated under 2000.

Indian FM Akshat Khamparia had a crushing start with five straight wins, and the further four draws enabled him to claim a clear first place with a total of 7 points. Akshat also fulfilled requirements for an IM norm, his second within only a week in Australia. Previously he shared the 4th place at the 2011 Doeberl Cup.

A group of seven players is sharing the second place with 6.5 points each. Among them are FM Christopher Wallis, who also won IM norm, and Doeberl Cup winner GM Andrei Deviatkin.

Harry Press, rated only 1423, is the surprising winner of the Challengers group. Press shared the first place with much higher seeded Maros Zajac and Tony Davis, but was declared the winner on superior tiebreak.

Open Group Final Standings (top 15):

1 FM Akshat Khamparia IND 2328 - 7
2 GM Arutinian David GEO 2575 - 6.5
3 GM Deviatkin Andrei RUS 2566 - 6.5
4 IM Goh Wei Ming Kevin SIN 2382 - 6.5
5 FM Wallis Christopher AUS 2305 - 6.5
6 IM Solomon Stephen J AUS 2398 - 6.5
7 GM Zhao Zong-Yuan AUS 2579 - 6.5
8 FM Steadman Michael NZL 2217 - 6.5
9 GM Bojkov Dejan BUL 2523 - 6
10 FM Smirnov Vladimir RUS 2395 - 6
11 FM Ikeda Junta AUS 2296 - 6
12 FM Ly Moulthun AUS 2381 - 6
13 FM Illingworth Max AUS 2345 - 6
14 GM Johansen Darryl K AUS 2419 - 5.5
15 FM Canfell Gregory AUS 2313 - 5.5
16 GM Hansen Sune Berg DEN 2603 - 5.5
17 Samar Raul AUS 2236 - 5.5
18 Hu Jason AUS 2190 - 5.5