Having escaped with a fortunate draw in round 6, I offered the same gift to my opponent in round 7. Playing a mainline Gruenfeld, I reached the usual sort of position where Black is holding on, but always at risk if the White d pawn breaks loose. All the action kicked off around move 24 where I played 24 ... e6? which just encouraged the formulaic hack down the f file with f5 (24 ... Bd5! was the move). Then the next sequence of moves was not the best for both sides, but by move 31 I thought I would eb able to take the d pawn and survive. But just as in game 6, both my opponent and I missed the correct follow up to 34.Bg5. He assume he was winning material due the threat of Bxd8, while I thought I would get enough pawns as compensation for the piece after 34. ... Bxe5. It turns out both of missed the idea of 34. ... e6!! 35.exf6 Qe6! The threat is to take the knight on e2, or play Bxg2+, winning the queen. With best (computer calculated) play, I would have 3 pawns for the exchange, and definite winning chances. Instead everything came off and reducing his pawns meant that a draw by perpetual was the best result. (NB The live broadcast shows an incorrect ending, due to my opponent demonstrating how I could self mate by avoiding the perp).
2025 Hilton Bennett Memorial (7.3), 16.01.2025
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