Chess on the Beach US VI Day5 Rd8

Up until this round my toughest game was the 5th round war versus Niceguy. Until the unfortunate blunder on the 40th move, ...f5. The game was exhausting, both clocks running down in single digits and remained a strategic stalemate.

At 5 - 2 - 0 (win-loss-draw) I had relinquished the pole position with the tournaments highest rated player to play in the finale.

Coming off of consecutive defeats I was wary of my next opponent; a gold medal winner at a recent caribbean junior tournament.

This game shows us though, that unless the trees are moving and your walls crumbling like Macbeth's; it is better to stand firm, defend doggedly, than run when your castle is attacked. Pictured, an 18th century structure in down town Christiansted, St Croix that has withstood all attacks.