Silence cloaks high-tension rivalry of master tacticians

Zhao Zong Yuan and grandmaster Ian Rogers, both of Australia, in the final round. Picture / Otago Daily Times

Total silence cloaked an international sporting clash in New Zealand's adventure capital last night.

Tucked away on the fifth floor of a hotel the tension was palpable as a melting pot of nationalities squared off over their chess boards during the 2006 Queenstown Chess Classic.

Hundreds of players and spectators crammed inside the hall - but there was not a sound.

Only the rush of air from the air conditioner, the click of the players' time counters, or competitors coughing or clearing their throats could be heard.

No one wanted to risk breaking the concentration of the competitors.

"Even outside we get people to speak in a whisper," murmured tournament spokeswoman Cathy Rogers.

"Mobile phones have to be off. If a player's phone were to go off, in theory they would forfeit."

A spectator was this week caught out with a ringing phone "and he ran away and that was that".

Competitors from 19 countries gathered for the chess tournament, the most prestigious ever staged in New Zealand.

A record prize fund of $30,000 was up for grabs in the event, organised by NZ-born grandmaster Murray Chandler.

Chandler, now living in London, recently bought a home in Queenstown and decided the town would be the perfect venue for the tournament.

He also managed to win overall last night, scoring 8.5 out of a possible 10 points in a system that awards a point per win and a half point per draw. It was his first NZ championship since 1976.

His prize followed a grande finale with fellow grandmaster Slovenian Drazen Sermek, which kicked off yesterday afternoon.

Chandler periodically rose to his feet to pace back and forth past the table like a lion stalking his prey.

Pondering counter-moves, Sermek wandered further afield and inspected the games in progress around him.

The match was a long, intense affair - 3 1/2 hours - even though seasoned observers noted it seemed to progress quickly towards the "end game".

It was not the longest match: one game lasted 7 1/2 hours.

Last night Chandler said his main goal was to organise "the perfect tournament at the perfect venue". Winning just made it "even more perfect".