2026 MCC City of Melbourne Open Rounds 2-5
Open SwissStandard
66 players participated in this 5-round tournament, held from 04 May 2026 to 25 May 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. 7 titled players from 8 federations. Top 10 Elo average was 2015, and top seed was Kai Jie Soo (🇦🇺 AUS, FM, 2297).
Khushal Lingineni (🇦🇺 AUS, CM, 1997) won with 3.5/5, ahead of Paul Rehill (3.5) and Anh Kiet Nguyen (3.0). Lingineni shared the lead from round 2, winning on tie-break.
The biggest upset came in round 4: Alex Rooke (1626) beat Joshua Culbert (1956), a +330-point gap.
Location
🇦🇺Melbourne, Australia
Dates
04 May 2026 → 25 May 2026
Time control
Standard: 90 minutes with 30 second increment from move 1
System
Swiss · 5 rounds
Titled players · 7
FM×1
CM×6
Federations · 8 represented
🇦🇺Australia×57
FIDE (no federation)×1
🇱🇰Sri Lanka×1
🇮🇪Ireland×1
🇮🇳India×1
🇭🇰Hong Kong China×1
🇧🇪Belgium×1
🇬🇧England×1
Top 3
- 🥇
- 🥈
- 🥉
How it unfolded
Top 6 · 5 roundsTight race until R5; 2 players tied at 3.5/5, decided on Buchholz. Title race narrowed from 2 co-leaders at R4 to 2 at the finish.
Co-leaders
67
20
7
2
2
R5 · TIEBREAK CLUSTER
2 players finish on 3.5/5. Lingineni takes the title on Buchholz Cut1 (9.0).
WIN STREAKS · 2 top finishers
CM Khushal Lingineni 3 wins (R2–R4)Paul Rehill 3 wins (R2–R4)
Key matchups · top 4
Head-to-head between the four finishers| Player | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1CMKhushal Lingineni | * | — | ½ | — |
| 2Paul Rehill | — | * | — | — |
| 3CMAnh Kiet Nguyen | ½ | — | * | — |
| 4Ryan Zheng | — | — | — | * |
Grille américaine
| # | Player | Elo | Fed | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | Pts | Bu C1 | Bu | SB | Perf | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lingineni, KhushalCM | 1997 | AUS | F | +45N | +18B | +5N | =3B | 3.5 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 7.50 | 2115 | +16.8 |
| 2 | Rehill, Paul | 1669 | AUS | F | +62N | +42B | +23N | =16B | 3.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 4.25 | 1967 | +23.4 |
| 3 | Nguyen, Anh KietCM | 1995 | AUS | F | +4B | =29N | +9B | =1N | 3.0 | 11.0 | 11.0 | 8.50 | 2048 | +23.2 |
| 4 | Dakic, Dusan | 1771 | AUS | F | −3N | +17B | +35B | +22N | 3.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 6.00 | 1936 | +16.4 |
| 5 | Shepherd, Samuel | 1828 | AUS | F | +36B | +13N | −1B | +29N | 3.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 5.50 | 1955 | +14.0 |
| 6 | Zheng, Ryan | 1881 | AUS | F | +60B | +7B | −10N | +15B | 3.0 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 5.50 | 2114 | +24.2 |
| 7 | Smith, DeclanCM | 2060 | AUS | F | +22B | −6N | +29B | +19N | 3.0 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 5.50 | 1978 | -1.6 |
| 8 | Zafirakos, JesseCM | 2155 | AUS | F | F | +31B | +14B | +20N | 3.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 6.00 | 2570 | +7.0 |
| 9 | Bodke, Krishna | 1826 | AUS | F | +51N | +59B | −3N | +18B | 3.0 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 2.50 | 1828 | +4.4 |
| 10 | Soo, Kai JieFM | 2297 | AUS | F | +52N | F | +6B | +30N | 3.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.00 | 2689 | +6.4 |
| 11 | Ly, Thai | 1897 | AUS | F | =53N | =12B | +46N | +63B | 3.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 2.50 | 1837 | -3.8 |
| 12 | Fry, Peter | 1652 | AUS | F | +44N | =11N | +21B | −14N | 2.5 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 4.50 | 1851 | +20.4 |
| 13 | Pasukov, Leo | 1658 | AUS | F | +34N | −5B | +25N | =33B | 2.5 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 4.25 | 1927 | +27.4 |
| 14 | Shanks, Jack | 1851 | AUS | F | =31N | +46B | −8N | +12B | 2.5 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 4.25 | 1858 | +0.8 |
| 15 | Daffy, Joseph | 1891 | AUS | F | +35B | +19N | =30B | −6N | 2.5 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 4.25 | 1894 | -2.2 |
| 16 | Hong, Xavier | 1855 | AUS | F | +61B | −20N | +45B | =2N | 2.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 2.75 | 1742 | -10.6 |
| 17 | Wilson, Andrew | 1608 | AUS | F | +65B | −4N | =50B | +59N | 2.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 0.25 | 1677 | +12.0 |
| 18 | Rooke, Alex | 1626 | AUS | F | +21B | −1N | +34B | −9N | 2.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 3.50 | 1889 | +20.4 |
| 19 | Duane, John | 1689 | AUS | F | +26B | −15B | +33N | −7B | 2.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 3.50 | 1881 | +36.4 |
| 20 | Davis, Sophie | 1689 | AUS | F | F | +16B | +49N | −8B | 2.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 3.50 | 2086 | +27.4 |
| 21 | Marchegiani, Davide | 1771 | AUS | F | −18N | +24B | −12N | +43B | 2.0 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 3.00 | 1464 | -44.8 |
| 22 | Hill, James | 1774 | AUS | F | −7N | +57B | +43N | −4B | 2.0 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 1.50 | 1705 | -4.6 |
| 23 | Zheng, Matthew | 1716 | AUS | F | F | +50N | −2B | +36N | 2.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 2.00 | 1616 | -12.4 |
| 24 | FIDE 561015962 | 0 | — | F | =37B | −21N | +47B | =38N | 2.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 2.50 | 1604 | 0.0 |
| 25 | Russell, PaulCM | 1747 | AUS | F | F | +61N | −13B | +54N | 2.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 0.50 | 1666 | -6.0 |
| 26 | Koh, Shannon | 1811 | AUS | F | −19N | +53B | +27N | F | 2.0 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 2.50 | 1793 | -1.8 |
| 27 | Nowak, Ruben | 1684 | AUS | F | +48B | +60N | −26B | F | 2.0 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 1.00 | 1745 | +7.0 |
| 28 | Yu, Lok Lan | 1734 | AUS | F | −30N | −43B | +51N | +42B | 2.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 1.50 | 1493 | -34.0 |
| 29 | Grey, Tom | 1806 | IRL | F | +50B | =3B | −7N | −5B | 1.5 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 2.00 | 1646 | -10.6 |
| 30 | Bekker, Gary DCM | 1917 | AUS | F | +28B | F | =15N | −10B | 1.5 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 3.25 | 1961 | +1.2 |
| 31 | Kovacevic, Paul | 1723 | AUS | F | =14B | −8N | =32B | =35N | 1.5 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 2.75 | 1820 | +5.8 |
| 32 | Gallagher, Ian G | 1985 | ENG | F | F | +37N | =31N | F | 1.5 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 2.25 | 1854 | -4.4 |
| 33 | Buhagiar, Aden | 1803 | AUS | F | +42N | F | −19B | =13N | 1.5 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 2.25 | 1489 | -15.8 |
| 34 | Culbert, Joshua | 1956 | AUS | F | −13B | =36N | −18N | +44B | 1.5 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 1.75 | 1533 | -40.2 |
| 35 | Batyrbekov, Kaisar | 1686 | AUS | F | −15N | +64B | −4N | =31B | 1.5 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 0.75 | 1538 | -19.6 |
| 36 | Blaskovic, Sam | 1567 | AUS | F | −5N | =34B | +64N | −23B | 1.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 0.75 | 1563 | -3.6 |
| 37 | Kolak, Tanya | 1599 | AUS | F | =24N | −32B | +55N | F | 1.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 1.50 | 1701 | +4.2 |
| 38 | Bredin, Jonathan | 1550 | AUS | F | F | +56N | F | =24B | 1.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 1.50 | 2305 | +9.0 |
| 39 | Savige, Colin B | 1775 | AUS | F | F | =51B | +44N | F | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.25 | 1697 | -3.0 |
| 40 | Huysman, Arthur | 1673 | BEL | F | =55B | F | F | +50N | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.75 | 1422 | -12.4 |
| 41 | Papadinis, Jim | 1638 | AUS | F | +54N | =52B | F | F | 1.5 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.75 | 1799 | +9.2 |
| 42 | Jayanty, Aryan | 0 | AUS | F | −33B | −2N | +58B | −28N | 1.0 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 0.50 | 1478 | 0.0 |
| 43 | Lacey, Daniel | 1439 | AUS | F | F | +28N | −22B | −21N | 1.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 2.00 | 1618 | +23.2 |
| 44 | Ly, Jordan | 1530 | AUS | F | −12B | +47N | −39B | −34N | 1.0 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 1.00 | 1527 | -3.2 |
| 45 | Chmiel, Rad | 1701 | AUS | F | −1B | F | −16N | +62B | 1.0 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 0.00 | 1660 | -3.0 |
| 46 | Batyrbekov, Aidan | 1530 | AUS | F | F | −14N | −11B | +58N | 1.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 0.50 | 1633 | +8.8 |
| 47 | Warren, Elizabeth | 1587 | AUS | F | F | −44B | −24N | +66B | 1.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 0.00 | 722 | -20.4 |
| 48 | Akok, Benjamin | 1539 | AUS | F | −27N | F | F | +51B | 1.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 0.50 | 1571 | +2.2 |
| 49 | Arthur, James | 1888 | AUS | F | F | +63N | −20B | F | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.00 | 1722 | -20.0 |
| 50 | Sebarg, David | 0 | AUS | F | −29N | −23B | =17N | −40B | 0.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 1.25 | 1379 | 0.0 |
| 51 | Lovegrove, Adam | 1480 | AUS | F | −9B | =39N | −28B | −48N | 0.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 0.75 | 1393 | -8.4 |
| 52 | Yang, Corey | 1787 | AUS | F | −10B | =41N | F | F | 0.5 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 0.75 | 1716 | -6.0 |
| 53 | Parth Sehra | 1640 | AUS | F | =11B | −26N | F | F | 0.5 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 1.50 | 1659 | +0.4 |
| 54 | Wood, Joshua | 1442 | AUS | F | −41B | F | =57N | −25B | 0.5 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 0.25 | 1393 | -4.8 |
| 55 | Biju, Alberto | 1520 | AUS | F | =40N | F | −37B | F | 0.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 0.75 | 1434 | +0.8 |
| 56 | Nong, Bunchannarong | 0 | FID | F | =58N | −38B | F | F | 0.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 0.25 | 1344 | -16.4 |
| 57 | Vu, Khanh | 1614 | AUS | F | F | −22N | =54B | F | 0.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 0.25 | 1396 | -21.6 |
| 58 | Chen, Yi Yang | 1564 | HKG | F | =56B | F | −42N | −46B | 0.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 0.25 | 1332 | -20.8 |
| 59 | Wijeysooriya, Sanuka Dulmina W A | 1408 | SRI | F | F | −9N | F | −17B | 0.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 0.00 | 912 | -13.6 |
| 60 | Beckman, John | 1536 | AUS | F | −6N | −27B | F | F | 0.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 0.00 | 970 | -8.2 |
| 61 | Clark, Peter | 1565 | AUS | F | −16N | −25B | F | F | 0.0 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 0.00 | 1008 | -7.2 |
| 62 | Bhavikkumar Thakkar | 1547 | IND | F | −2B | F | F | −45N | 0.0 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 0.00 | 867 | -22.4 |
| 63 | Pramod, Rishaan | 1746 | AUS | F | F | −49B | F | −11N | 0.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 0.00 | 1104 | -22.0 |
| 64 | Chatha, Harmandeep | 0 | AUS | F | F | −35N | −36B | F | 0.0 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 0.00 | 829 | 0.0 |
| 65 | Smith, Warren | 1469 | AUS | F | −17N | F | F | F | 0.0 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 0.00 | 802 | -6.2 |
| 66 | FIDE 573001384 | 0 | — | F | F | F | F | −47N | 0.0 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 0.00 | 731 | 0.0 |
Key insights
Biggest movers and upsets — the story behind the numbers.
Top rating gainers
- 1Duane, JohnAUS+36.42.0 pts · #20
- 2Davis, SophieAUS+27.42.0 pts · #22
- 3Pasukov, LeoAUS+27.42.5 pts · #11
Top rating losers
- 1Marchegiani, DavideAUS-44.82.0 pts · #40
- 2Culbert, JoshuaAUS-40.21.5 pts · #28
- 3Yu, Lok LanAUS-34.02.0 pts · #42
Biggest upsets
- R4+330 Elo gap
- R2+298 Elo gap
- R3+295 Elo gap