Now that the championship is over, I was thinking about sharing some of my analysis, to whomever wants to read it.

Before the start of the tournament I thought the 3 highest ranked players would be my most competitive opponents. They were Dave, Petr Trojek, and Anatole Purdy. I had never had the opportunity to play any of these three, so estimates were very difficult. With Dave being the champion from the second round, I really wanted to put a lot of effort into this game. And I think this game turned out to be my best of the tournament.

**Dave-Mightyking

1.c4 Nf6

2.g3 g6

3.Bg2 Bg7

4.Nc3 0-0

5.d3** So Dave is opting for a solid approach. After d4 I would have chosen the Grunfeld defence (…d5), which is an all-time favorite of mine.

**5…c5

6.Bg5 h6

7.Bd2 Nc6

8.Nf3 d6

9.0-0 Be6

10.h3 Qd7

11.Kh2** Now the opening phase is almost over, and it is time to make some long-term plans. Looking at the position, it is almost symmetrical, which is not unusual when White opts for a solid approach. There are however some important differences, for example the d5-square in the Black camp is weaker then the d4-square of White. Since Black has a bishop on e6, it cannot chase anything away from d5 with an e7-e6 kick. Furthermore, if the f6-knight takes anything on d5, the c6 knight and the e6 bishop would get attacked by a white d5 pawn.

Since I cannot get any further in the center, and the kingside doesn't look interesting yet either, my game should concentrate on the queenside, so…

**11…a6

12.a4** I am still not really sure whether this is a mistake or not. At the time I was looking at the position, I thought it was a mistake, but I did not see the hideous consequences of White taking the a-file with his rook. For this moment I was just glad that the b4-square, was now a pewrmanent weakness in the white camp.

12…Rab8 Continuing my plans on the queenside.

13.e4!? g5! Seeing I cannot improve on the queenside anymore, I am now trying to make room on the kingside. There are now possibilities of playing g5-g4 in the future, and white has to be constantly aware of it.

14.Nd5 The long-awaited seizure of the d5-square.

**14…b5

15.axb5 axb5

16.Ra6** This is what I had missed. Black is threatening to take on c6, making it possible to capture on e7 with his knight. Any categoric …Rc8, was not what I was aiming for, and seeing I could get 3 pawns for my piece, I just decided to stick with my plan, and continue my play on the queenside.

**16…bxc4

17.Rxc6 Nxd5

18.exd5 Bxd5

19.Ra6 Rxb2!** Of course 19…Bxb2? had to be considered, but in fact it is losing, because of 20.Ne5!! White is shutting the black bishop out of play, and suddenly the black king comes under attack. The next variation, is pretty much forced. 20…dxe5 21.Rxh6 e4 Black needs to clear the long diagonal to make it possible for the bishop to return. 22.dxe4 Be6 23.Qh5 Qxd2 24.e5 Bxe5 25.Be4 f5 26.Qg6+ Bg7 27.Qxe6+ Rf7 28.Bd5 Bxh6 29.Qxf7+ Kh8 30.Be6 The weak white squares around the black king will probably be enough for white to win this game.

**20.Ra3 cxd3

21.Bc1** Now for example Rb4 would lead into an unclear game. Perhaps a draw with 22.Bd2 Rb2 is up for grabs. However, Black has a trump: his pawns…

21…c4!! Probably winning the game instantly. Black can create a central pawn roller. Ironicly enough this is not the only game from me in this tournament with exactly the same theme.

**22.Bxb2 Bxb2

23.Ra5 e6

24.Qd2 Bf6** Just Bg7 is good enough, but any h4 tricks are now out of the game.

**25.Rb1 Qc6

26.Ne1 Bxg2

27.Nxg2 Bd4** Just start the pawn rolloer with either e5 or d5, is OK as well. But Black can play around with White, cause he's completely helpless.

**28.Ne3 Qf3

29.Ra2 d5** Finally!

**30.Ng2 e5

31.Ne1 Qf5

32.Rc1 e4

33.Ng2 Qe5

34.Qa5 c3

35.Ne3 Bxe3** The knight is the last good defender of the Black position. Rooks are no good defending. And the queen is too precious.

**36.fxe3 d2

37.Rf1 h5

38.Qa4 h4

39.Rg1 d4

40.exd4 Qf5

41.gxh4 e3** Of course this had to be calculated precisely, but it all shows the helplessness of the white position. Even getting rid of the last active Black piece, the queen, cannot save White from losing.

**42.Rg2 Qf4+

43.Kg1 Qf3

44.Ra1 e2**

Here White saw the hopelessness of his position, and resigned. I am most proud of this game. Perhaps I'll take time to share more on this forum.