2006 Spielvogel Memorial - Round 3
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The two leaders joined battle in this round with Patrick Cook facing Jamie Brotheridge. Jamie spent a week preparing for the Larsen or the English, but was confronted by 1. d4 instead. The classical variation of the Nimzo-Indian was played and neither player was able to gain a decisive edge, the game petering out to a draw. Tim Commons played Peter Miitel and was met by the Sicilian Defence. Peter gained a pawn in the early middlegame and later returned it to win positional ascendancy which he quickly converted to a win. Peter now joins the two leaders on 2½. Michael Schreenan faced Darren Young who played the ancient Philidor (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6). In a quickly played game, Darren was able to expose Michael's king and then trap his queen, forcing Michael's resignation. John Abson versus Shane Sporle was a Ruy Lopez positional battle with both sides manoeuvring their pieces with all material still on the board well into the middle game. John made a bold bid for victory by sacrificing a piece for a few pawns but missed his chance for a decisive follow up that would have regained the piece with interest. Shane eventually won a lengthy game. James Eldridge and Rob Bailey fought
out a tough theoretical battle in the Sicilian Najdorf. The
game was even throughout and appropriately ended in a draw.
Gene Bell offered another weird opening (1. e3) against Joel
Beggs who quickly gained the upper hand and traded down to a
"winning pawn ending". Joel then incautiously marched
his king to the other side of the board only to discover that
he'd left himself in a losing position and his opponent grinning
like a cheshire cat. Gene made no mistake and caused the biggest
upset int he event so far. John Frangakis had the bye.
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