Jordan's last chance at salvaging the game appears to be 35. Raa1 protected the back rank and keeping his a-passer.
The July TNT winner, Alex Nikouline survived a difficult Rook endgame against Carl Pottinger, that appears losing after 43...Kxg4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcG3dyEt1H_JuZBntBmjVR0NWWFnqtqP15H9uOFw9mWRcstmAjGEtUcmafT2NRrdseRz2fligj7ChHX5IwMssFyIvZ3CtqvHcdd_YjtcTCyCHNOAdiXkKCYD0ZB3jRLfcWEhUmauW8EfoR/s320/borlaur.jpg)
After Alex's 44. Kxc6, Kf3 will provide an escort for the e pawn. However, after 44...Rc8+ White was able to scoop both the d and e pawns. Rook endings are difficult and time was perhaps a factor as well.
One half upset was James Atem drawing with Black with Edward Tang (although he has drawn Ed before). The following position occurred after 17...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGbIzGbY37FV4h2TIRaHeKJwG6fCrcyWM_Y-JXonOJDMuxTzeHqOSSfYgx-2ZEhvSd28oAE7ehrZi45MvbTfnC4xscFPC6YJ9INV1JV_zbhAgWy7Ahfpf5FsZi3kQ5FkdiuKh_AIa9IUVM/s320/borlaur.jpg)
So for White there are two obvious Candidate moves ---Qxc3 and gxh7+. Which is best ? let's take a look without the assistance of the computer. If 18. Qxc3 threatening mate...f6 looks forced, and White wins an exchange and still has some dangerous threats. If 18. gxh7+ K xh7 19. Bxf8 discovered check. etc. If 18...Kh8 19. Qxc3+ f6 20. Bxf8 is similar to 18. Qxc3. So my puny sub-20000 brain says it doesn't make much difference, and really there is no practical difference. What actually happened ? Well James managed to generate a stalemate partially because of gxh7. Ok, I am stretching that a bit. Go to http://www.chessmanitoba.com to see the finale.
Another upset: Waldemar Schulz flagged against Weixi Liu in a much better, but tricky position.
Another half upset: Nathan Wood agreed to draw with Daniel Oberton.
Here is an interesting variation on a common tactic in the Sicilian.
White to move in Letain - Lauritson... Black has just played 12...Qh5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwNuQ8zJp_wRNEq9CAUXnHA2D8ajnb3CfJPwNjYEPtJN_FrRV3iPPwchjcyS1-r8AkB_UNy94J4ql3D_yXJQJ6T5vxJnOqZ_usToIWUv_55G8g2shGPQp8wL2ytKyT8QeLdN7FhYbylWzk/s320/borlaur.jpg)
13. Nxd5 looks like it wins a pawn, although it is difficult to see that knight can survive a sortie to e7 in some lines after 13...Ng4. But it is a good practical try.
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