Australian Open: Part 3

In the final rounds I managed 2/3, despite facing extremely unpleasant endgames in rounds 9 and 10, and an objectively losing position in the 11th.

In round 9, I completely misevaluated the IQP position, thinking that I had a strong attack. My opponent defended easily and his pieces were more active in the Queen and Rook endgame that followed.

Round 10 was absolute torture. My opponent managed to achieve a double rook endgame in which he could press forever at no cost, and proceeded to do so. Everytime I thought I had achieved the draw, he found some other way to try to break through. Eventually he did, and we reached a Queen and pawn endgame where he offered a draw in a position that I think he could have won.

After that, the final game - which lasted less than 30 moves - was a huge relief. Except that I was losing.

I achieved a very promising position from the opening, but after I played my Knight to f5 too early my opponent reached a dominating position. I sacrificed a Bishop to confuse matters, and it paid off when my opponent allowed a decisive combination.