Australian Open Chess 2011

Firstable it is a hard time for Aussie staying in Brisbane QLD because of the notorious flood on their riverside area. I hope there will be encouragements for those those affected. Moving south, there was Australian Open Chess Championships 2011 happening in Cammeray NSW. This year edition finished with three players on tie. GM Zhao Zongyuan , GM George Xie Wendi and Moulthun Ly altogether finished at 8.5/11. The chess result page give the number 1 spot for GM Zhao Zongyuan, but I read on Shaun's blog it is George Xie to win the tie break (?). Official site.

Compared to last year, this year edition looks a bit less strong, only Zhao Zongyuan holding a GM. But it is also hard for him to pace a smooth way to the top. He was lost (only) ot FM Ikeda Junta, in a tight Sicilian Kan game below. White is losing on time (as noted in PGN file), in maybe a very interesting unbalance late middle game:

[Event "Australian Open"]
[Site "NSLCC, Cammeray, NSW"]
[Date "2011.01.06"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Zhao, Zong Yuan"]
[Black "Ikeda, Junta"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2586"]
[BlackElo "2262"]
[ECO "B43"]
[EventDate "2011.01.02"]
[PlyCount "77"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Bd3 Nf6 7.O-O Bc5 8.Nb3 Be7 9.a4 O-O 10.a5 d6 11.Be3 Nbd7 12.f4 g6 13.Qe2 Re8 14.Na4 Bf8 15.c4 Nh5 16.Nb6 Nxb6 17.Bxb6 Qe7 18.e5 Bh6 19.g3 f6 20.exd6 Qxd6 21.Rad1 Qe7 22.Be4 Ng7 23.Nc5 Rb8 24.b4 g5 25.Rd3 Kh8 26.Kh1 Qf7 27.fxg5 Bxg5 28.Bg2 e5 29.Ne4 Bf5 30.Nxg5 fxg5 31.Rd5 Qe7 32.Bc5 Qe6 33.Rd6 Qc8 34.Rf6 Qd7 35.Bd5 Bg6 36.Qe3 Nh5 37.Rd6 Qg4 38.Qf3 Qh3 0-1

White lost on time while playing, otherwise it probaly went on 39.Qg2 Nxg3+ 40.Kg1 Qxg2+ 41.Kxg2 Nxf1 42.Kxf1 , with unbalance endgame in slightly favor to Black.