Grandmaster Murray Chandler who was born in Wainuiomata 45 year ago has taken the outright lead in the strongest ever international open to be held in New Zealand - the Queenstown Chess Classic. Chandler defeated Australian International Master Aleks Wohl in round 7 after four and a half hours play and in round 8 will play Australia's top player Grandmaster Ian Rogers who trails Chandler by half a point.

By today's standards Chandler began to play chess rather late - during the Fischer - Spassky era of 1972 when he was already 12 years of age. However, by the time he was 14 he had already crossed the Tasman and won the Australian Junior Championship and by age 17 he had won the Asian Junior Championship gaining the International Master title in the process. Chandler was awarded the Grandmaster title in 1983 at only 23 years of age and at his peak was ranked number 16 in the world. Chandler left New Zealand as a bare footed teenager to play the European circuit where he had considerable success both in playing the game he loves and in chess business. He has established a number of chess publishing companies, owned a chess shop, been owner and editor of British Chess Magazine and written chess books. He is currently the Managing Director of Gambit Publications. After more than 30 years living in London Chandler is spending more time in New Zealand and is the major sponsor of the Queenstown Chess Classic.

In other games Rogers defeated New Zealand's newest International Master five time NZ Champion, Paul Garbett , and Australian International Master David Smerdon defeated fellow Aussie Greg Canfell. New Zealand's Igor Bjelobrk kept his IM-norm chances alive, and remains favourite to take the New Zealand Championship title, after defeating Australian IM Zong Yuan Zhao.

The classical tournament has three more rounds to run beginning each day at 3 pm. On 25th and 26th January a rapidplay and a lightning tournament will take place beginning at 9.30am. Spectators are welcome.

Leading Results Round 7:

 
A Wohl          (AUS)    0 - 1    M Chandler  (ENG)
I Rogers        (AUS)    1 - 0    P Garbett   (NZL)
I Bjelobrk      (NZL)    1 - 0    ZY Zhao     (AUS)
D Smerdon       (AUS)    1 - 0    G Canfell   (AUS)
H Van Riemsdijk (BRA)     1/2     H-J Hecht   (GER)
D Sermek        (SLO)    1 - 0    S Wastney   (NZL)
T Reilly        (AUS)     1/2     G Lane      (AUS)
S Solomon       (AUS)    1 - 0    R Smith     (NZL)
D Stojic        (AUS)    0 - 1    T Civin     (CZE)
P Froehlich     (GER)     1/2     R Nokes     (NZL)
R Wade          (NZL)    0 - 1    P Green     (NZL)

Leading Scores:
M Chandler (ENG) 6.5
I Rogers, D Smerdon (AUS), I Bjelobrk (NZL) 6
D Sermek (SLO), H-J Hecht (GER), H Van Riemsdijk (BRA),
T Civin (CZE), A Wohl, S Solomon, G West (all AUS) 5.5

Photos:

Board 1, IM Wohl vs GM Chandler. Chandler gained an advantage out of the opening
and never looked back, gaining the tournament lead. Photo by Cathy Rogers.

Board 3, Igor Bjelobrk vs IM Zhao. NZ Olympiad Team candidate Igor Bjelobrk
defeated IM Zhao, after recovering from illness earlier in the tournament, to
retain a chance of gaining an IM-norm. Photo by Cathy Rogers.