Tan, Blocker take first place at YNMCC G/15 Tournament

IM Calvin Blocker and Ralph Tan shared victory at the YNMCC G/15 tournament held on September 25th. 

Despite different formats, the tournaments continue to be dominated by familiar faces. Of the 5 tournaments, only Tan, Blocker, and NM Wilson Spaqi (who did not participate but did spectate for a while) have captured victory. 

Tan and Blocker showed their class early on and were the only individuals with a perfect score after 2 rounds. Although it was only the third game, their individual match felt like the championship round and was of particular interest to the spectators. 

The game was a bit topsy-turvy. Blocker, employing a Panov-Botvinnik attack, achieved a positional advantage early on.  However, he failed to find the right plan on his 21st move, which Tan capitalized upon to earn a pawn-up endgame. 

Below is the critical middlegame position: Blocker embarks on the plan Qa5-a7, but this costs him both the queenside pawns after the black response Nf6-d6-b5. Instead of Qa5, the move a3-a4, would protect the b5 pawn and preserve his advantage.

 Tan played the resulting position well, simplifying without allowing Blocker much counterplay. However, rook-endgames are notorious for their drawn properties. In the below position, Tan trades minor pieces, but should likely improve his king position first with a move like Kg7 (this also protects the f6 pawn incidentally).

Ultimately, Blocker found a nice drawing formation during an instructive endgame. I suggest the reader study the final position - note how white's king and rook completely prevent black's pieces from making any progress whatsoever.

Standings