August Game in 60 Challenge

I played in my first over-the-board chess tournament since the pandemic. It was the August Game in 60 Challenge at the Phoenix Chess Academy in north Phoenix.

https://www.uschess.org/msa/XtblMain.php?202208271152.1

The time control was game in 60 minutes with 5 second increment. Overall, I thought I played well. My biggest problem was I got tired. The tournament lasted all day (9am-6pm) and by 11am, I was tired.

Round 1

White: C. Song (accuracy 81.8)

Black: me (accuracy 78.6)

A tough game. Next time I should go for 9...e4 and not be afraid of Nf4. The game was in the balance until 23...Nxe5?  My last hope was for my opponent to play 33. Qxc7 (idea: Rxc7 Rf8#), but then black has a perpetual with 33...Qb1+.

Round 2

White: me (accuracy 88.1)

Black: J. Senczakowicz-Gibo (accuracy 81.0)

I was able to outplay my opponent and get the upper hand. On move 22, I spent over 10 minutes but couldn't find a knockout punch. So I floundered, and my opponent put up resistance. Eventually though, my opponent cracked with 30...Qe6.

Round 3

White: E. Malladi (accuracy 72.8)

Black: me (accuracy 82.4)

I was able to play quickly and build a time advantage.  By the end of the game, my opponent had a few seconds on the clock and I had more than 10 minutes.

24. Rb1 was a good move. I was secretly hoping for 24. hxg5??

After 30...Bd7, my opponent kept offering me a draw every few moves .

I'm glad I found 44...Bxf6 (44...Rf7 was tempting but it's not as good).

Round 4

White: me (accuracy 84.0)

Black: C. Boteo (accuracy 82.6)

I was able to build a nice advantage (+2 by move 18 according to the computer) but I was not able to close the deal. I tried to force through f4-f5 but couldn't.  I should have tried for c2-c4. My opponent offered a draw on move 34, which I took.