Daniel Lapitan finished with a draw with one of the top chess players in the world - Super Grandmaster Alexei Shirov of Spain - in a Simul game held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. Shirov played against 26 players from across Australia, including juniors, adults and seniors. Shirov defeated all of the challengers except for Daniel, who offered him a draw after almost three hours of playing. Shirov accepted the draw. The match was streamed live on the internet via Monroi for the world to see. (see his game here http://www.surfersparadiseopen.kingsofchess.biz/Live%20games%202.html. After the game, Shirov called on Daniel and told the crowd that he agreed to the draw because Daniel had a better position.

Shirov gave Daniel his new book entitled “Fire on Board Part II”, along with an autographed chess board. This was the second time Daniel finished in a draw with a Grandmaster in a Simul chess game. He was only eight years old on the first occasion when he finished in a draw with Grandmaster Dejan Antic from Serbia/Montenegro.

For the results of the main tournament, and other info click here

Main tournament