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Gosford Open

The Gosford Open is the third of the Big 3 tournaments hosted by Gosford Chess Club at the Central Coast Leagues Club. The first being the Gosford Summer Blitz Open and the second being the Gosford Winter Rapid Open. The Big 3 feature Blitz, Rapid and Classical time controls. The 2025 Gosford Open will be held on Saturday and Sunday on October 25th and 26th.

2024 Gosford Open Photos

1st - WCM Bayasgalan Khishigbaatar

Congratulations to WCM Bayasgalan Khishigbaatar (right) for finishing on 5.5/6. Awarded by club President Rodney Tiffen (left).

2024 NSW Country Champion

Local player Patrick Christie (left) at the 2024 Gosford Open with Rod Tiffen (middle) and Rick Keuning (right). Pat finished tied 4th on 4.5/6. Way to go mate! Here are his games from the event, including a draw in round 6 against 11 year-old CM Yifei Hu.

2024 Gosford Open Crosstable

ACF rated 60|10, 26/10/2024-27/10/2024

A strong first place finish for WCM Bayasgalan Khisigbaatar on 5.5/6, while CM Yifei Hu and Ian Welch tied for second on 5/6. Local Patrick Christie took claimed the title of Country Champion for 2024, tying on 4.5 with former Gosford player CM Paul Russell who has since moved to Victoria. A great turnout with 57 players!

The History

2023 Gosford Open Crosstable

ACF rated 60|10, 26/10/2025-27/10/2025

Local player Braiden Cox had a fantastic result taking clear first with 6/6. Daniel Lee came second with 5.5/6 while unrated player Ben Gordon finished third on 5/6. Youngster Chengji Ryan Liu and Local Shane Dibley had a good results, finishing on 4.5 and 4/6 respectively.

2022 Gosford Open Crosstable

ACF rated 60|10, 29/10/2022-30/10/2022

2022 had a 4-way tie for first with first on 5/6 points; local Paul Broekhuyse, unrated player Ian Stalker, Cristian Borsa and the NSW youngster Yifei Hu (now a CM). Local Ian Bull had a good result closing on 4/6 tying with several others, including developing NSW youngster Reyaansh Chakrabarty (now an FM) who had an ACF rating of 1381 at the time. The Gosford Open had a fantastic turnout in it's return post-COVID with 42 players.

2019 Gosford Open Crosstable

ACF rated 60|10

Newcastle's Matthew Clarke (now an FM) tied with Andriy Bukreyev in the final standings and their round 5 match, finishing the tournament on 5/6. Peter Abbott took third with 4/6. Local up and comer Patrick Christie had a great result of 3.5/6 for his ACF rating of 1364 at the time.

2018 Gosford Open Crosstable

ACF rated 60|10 20/10/2018-21/10/2018

British FM Brandon Clarke beat out NSW legend Gary Lane for first place, who had just obtained his IM title the year prior. Son Matthew Clarke (now an FM, the family resides in Newcastle) came tied third with Ryan Lane and Cristian Borsa. Local Braiden Cox had a great result for his ACF rating of 1348 at the time. Even Adam Spencer played! A great field of 37.

2017 Gosford Open Crosstable

ACF rated 60|10, 28/10/2017-29/10/2017

Welsh IM Richard Jones, the clear favorite based on rating did finish first on 5.5/6 accepting a draw against Aussie WFM Vaness Reid in round 6; a great result for her. Korean CM came second on 5/6 while youngster Matthew Clarke (now an FM) tied third with strong Vietnamese player Hoai Nam Nguyen. Locals Gary Losh and Ian Bull had a good result, both finishing on 4/6.

2016 Gosford Open Crosstable

ACF rated 60|10, 29/10/2016-30/10/2016

Spainard FM Eric Domingues Pons finished clear first on 6/6. David Lovejoy, Mike Duffin and Alana Chibnall (now a WFM) ended tied second on 4.5/6.

2015 Gosford Open Crosstable

ACF rated 60|10, 7/11/2015-8/11/2015

IM Anton Smirnov (now a GM) played his last Gosford Open in recent history in 2017, proving his strength with 6/6 and clear first. Up and coming Matthew Clarke, a mere 1458 at the time, took second with 5/6, very impressive! Gosford/Ettalong player Shane Dibley also played well with 4.5/6, a great performance for his rating of 1431 at the time.

2014 Gosford Open Crosstable

ACF rated 60|10, 25/10/2014-26/10/2014

IM Anton Smirnov (now a GM) won the event with 5/6, a young prodigy! There was a 3-way tie for second on 4.5/6 of Jason Hu (now an FM), Pertti Sirkka and CM Bruce Murray.

2013 Gosford Open Crosstable

ACF rated 60|10, 12/10/2013-13/10/2013

Newly titled IM Max Illingworth (now a GM) from Sydney won the event on 6.5/7. Max drew with Arthur Huynh in round 6, who tied for 3rd with FM Joost Van Ruitenburg from the Netherlands. Ronald Scott finished second with 6/7.

2012 Gosford Open Crosstable

ACF rated 60|10, 27/10/2012-28/10/2012

Gosford hero Paul Broekhuyse had a great even finishing tied first on 6/6, alongside Arthur Huynh. Herman Rachmadi came third on 5.5/6. Good to see locals Norman Greenwood and Paul Russell in there battling, tied 4th with several others.

2011 Gosford Open Standings

ACF rated 60|10, 10/9/2011-11/9/2011

Strong NSW IM George Wendi Xi won the event on 6.5/7, beating out father and son Aussie Anton Smirnov (now a GM) and Russian IM Vladimir Smirnov who finished tied third on 5.5/7. Anton, 10 years old at the time with an ACF rating of 2104, would go onto obtain the FM title in 2013. Regular country visitor Trent Parker had a great result finishing tied 4th on 5/6 with fellow country player Alex Mehan.

2010 Gosford Open Crosstable

ACF rated 60|10, 16/10/2010-17/10/2010

Russian IM Vladimir Smirnov came first on 6/6 with his son Anton (now a GM) also playing. CM Mandla Blair tied second with Rachmadi Herman (who had a great result) on 5.5/6. Local Gary Losh finished on 4.5/6 which is was solid result for him. Go Gary!