In an upset result two NZ legends Grandmaster Murray Chandler and International Master Bob Wade drew their game today at the Queenstown Chess Classic. Chandler is one of only 4 Grandmasters in the 192 player field and was expected to win the game.The two former New Zealand Champions have been trailblazers for New Zealand chess; Chandler, now 45, is New Zealand's only ever Grandmaster while 84 year old Bob Wade was the first New Zealander to be awarded the International Master title back in 1950. Both players now live in England and are far more likely to meet socially in London than over the board in New Zealand. However for the New Zealand chess public, the Queenstown Classic has provided not only the opportunity to see New Zealand's most famous living players in action but also a rare head to head encounter between the two.

The game did not disappoint. It was a most exciting struggle drawing the crowds around the board when Chandler had at times only seconds left on his clock. "My position was better but he found incredible defensive tactics. I thought I was winning and he just played this queen sacrifice I hadn't seen at all. Suddenly it was a complete mess. I even had losing chances" was Chandler's comment after the game. Wade's comment after the game was less analytical "I am completely exhausted" he said.

Chandler left New Zealand as a teenager to become a professional chessplayer and had early success becoming an International Master in 1977 after winning the Asian Junior Championship. The Grandmaster title followed in 1983 after winning elite tournaments in New York and Amsterdam. Chandler has played in 9 Chess Olympics (3 for New Zealand and 6 for England) and been the English Captain at the 1994 Moscow Chess Olympics. He is without doubt the greatest player that New Zealand has ever produced. Chandler has now semi retired from professional play using his skills to write chess books and run a chess publishing business - Gambit Publications. However, at the height of his chess career he was ranked 16th in the world and is one of the favourites to win here in Queenstown.

Chandler's draw was the not the only draw by a Grandmaster. German Hans-Joachim Hecht also dropped a draw to Singapore's Ravindran Shanmugam.

Play begins at 3 pm every day until 26th January at the Millenium Hotel in Queenstown.

Leading Results Round 2:

M Ly          (AUS)   0 - 1    I Rogers     (AUS)
M Chandler    (ENG)    1/2     R Wade       (NZL)
Q Johnson     (NZL)   0 - 1    D Sermek     (SLO)
ZY Zhao       (AUS)   1 - 0    M Dizdarevic (BIH)
D Bourmistrov (AUS)   0 - 1    A Wohl       (AUS)
G Lane        (AUS)   1 - 0    D Dragicevic (AUS)
J Chan        (AUS)   0 - 1    D Smerdon    (AUS)
S Solomon     (AUS)   1 - 0    R Perry      (NZL)
M Armstrong   (ENG)   0 - 1    T Civin      (CZE)
HJ Hecht      (GER)    1/2     R Shanmugam  (SIN)

Board 1, Moulthun Ly vs GM Ian Rogers. Photo by Cathy Rogers.

Board 2, GM Murray Chandler vs IM Bob Wade. Photo by Cathy Rogers.