Cathy Rogers, publicity officer for the Sydney International Open, wrote on Friday: "The biggest disappointment of the tournament has been the dismal showing of top seed, Russian Grandmaster Sergei Shipov, formerly ranked among the best 25 in the world. His world ranking will suffer enormously from this result." She actually wrote this before learning about his dramatic loss in game 8 against Bernardino, from the Philipines, a player rated 2146 (around 450 points below the Russian GM!).

But Shipov's run in this tournament is one to forget: a draw against Chow (elo 2220) on round 2, a loss agaisnt Chokshi (elo 2168) on round 4, another draw against Bennett, rated 2134 on round 5, and draw against local player Zvedeniouk (rated 2121) on round 6. After his game in round 8, he's on 4.5/8.

Something must be affecting the Russian GM. One can only speculate, but my bet is that it has to do with this tournament's unusual playing schedule (most rounds start at 9:30 in the morning, whereas most tournaments in Europe are played in the afternoons).

[pgn] 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.e3 Bd6 6.Bd3 0-0 7.0-0 Nbd7 Javier: A rather passive variation. 7...dxc! is the main line of the Meran variation of the Semi-Slav defence. 8.e4 dxe4 9.Nxe4 Nxe4 10.Bxe4 Nf6 11.Bc2 b6 [11...h6 Javier: This is considered a better move for black.] 12.Bg5 Javier: Without having done anything special, white enjoys a small advantage. 12...Bb7 13.Qd3 g6 14.Rad1 Be7 15.Qe3 Qc7 16.Qe5 Qd8 17.Rfe1 Javier: Whites initial slight advantage is growing... 17...Re8 18.Qe3 Nh5 19.c5 Ng7 20.g4!? Javier: My first impression was: sure, this takes away the f5 square from blacks Knight, but is this weakening of the Kingside really necessary? However, I now believe that g4 is actually quite a good move. What happens over the next few moves, however, is very strange indeed. [20.Bxe7 Qxe7 21.Be4 Javier: With a slight advantage.(21.Qh6 f6) ] 20...h5? Javier: Looks very tempting, but this is actually a serious error. 21.Ne5?? Javier: Absolutely unbelieveable. Not only does white miss what looks like a forced win, he blunders a Bishop instead. [21.Bxe7 Qxe7 22.Qh6! Javier: And the threat of Knight g5 leads to a winning attack for white. Unlike other variations where black hasnt moved his h pawn, ...f6 is not available now as g6 would be on.] 21...f6?? Javier: 21...Bxg5 wins a piece for nothing. ADDED NOTE: theres probably some transcription error, Ive copied the game from SIOs site, but this is just too hard to believe, white must have played h4 at some point. 22.Bxf6 Bxf6 23.Qh6 [23.Bxg6 Javier: This was interesting also.] 23...Bxe5 24.dxe5 Qh4 25.Bxg6? [25.f3 Javier: With threats such as Rd7, or taking on g6. Blacks h Pawn remains pinned.] 25...Qxg4+ 26.Kf1?? [26.Kh1 Javier: And given whites threat of Qh7 and Qh8, black must force perpetual with ...Qf3 and ...Qg4.] 26...Ba6+ 27.Rd3 Bxd3+ 28.Bxd3 Nf5 Javier: Blocking the white Bishop. Whites attack vanishes now. 29.Bxf5 exf5 30.e6 Qc4+ 31.Kg1 Re7 Javier: And white resigned. [/pgn]