Trio Of Winners In Queenstown
The 2012 Queenstown Chess Classic ran from 15-23 January in Queenstown, New Zealand (previewed here).
Over 140 players competed in the Open event incorporating the 119th New Zealand Chess Championships, with a guaranteed prize fund of NZD 30,000 (approx USD 24,000).
The tournament is the inspiration of New Zealand chess Grandmaster Murray Chandler, and is the third edition following two previous events in 2006 and 2009.
After 9 hard-fought rounds at the Millenium Hotel 3 players shared first prize with a score of 7½/9 - Australian GM Darryl Johansen (pictured), and Chinese GMs Li Chao and Zhao Jun.
FM Michael Steadman took the NZ Championship with his 6½/9 score.
The top standings:
| Name | Nat | Elo | Pts | |
| 1 | Johansen Darryl K | AUS | 2403 | 7.5 |
| 2 | Li Chao B | CHN | 2693 | 7.5 |
| 3 | Zhao Jun | CHN | 2569 | 7.5 |
| 4 | Akshat Khamparia | IND | 2414 | 7.0 |
| 5 | Rozentalis Eduardas | LTU | 2592 | 7.0 |
| 6 | Tao Trevor | AUS | 2422 | 7.0 |
| 7 | Hansen Sune Berg | DEN | 2572 | 7.0 |
| 8 | Ganguly Surya Shekhar | IND | 2639 | 7.0 |
| 9 | Bojkov Dejan | BUL | 2553 | 6.5 |
| 10 | Ikeda Junta | AUS | 2349 | 6.5 |
| 11 | Bird Andrew | AUS | 2216 | 6.5 |
| 12 | Steadman Michael | NZL | 2258 | 6.5 |
| 13 | Sukandar Irine Kharisma | INA | 2325 | 6.5 |
| 14 | Dragicevic Domagoj | AUS | 2277 | 6.5 |
| 15 | Illingworth Max | AUS | 2388 | 6.5 |
| 16 | Cheng Bobby | AUS | 2375 | 6.0 |
| 17 | Smith Robert W | NZL | 2273 | 6.0 |
| 18 | Zelesco Karl | AUS | 1990 | 6.0 |
| 19 | Stojic Dusan | AUS | 2294 | 6.0 |
| 20 | Bischoff Klaus | GER | 2537 | 6.0 |
The opening of the competition
The playing hall
Lake Wakatipu, near Queenstown
Event photos from the official tournament website.
