AN UNBEATEN RUN! (PART 3)

Hello, Hola and Namaste to all!

Welcome to PART 3 of the An unbeaten run blog. If you have missed the previous blog here's the link for the same, PART 1, PART 2

In PART 2 of the blog, I covered my ROUND 4,5,6 games from the SILVER LAKE OPEN TOURNAMENT. With 3 more rounds to go, I had secured 4/6 points. The remaining rounds were really crucial.

ROUND 7

In the 7th round, I was facing another title player from Serbia, International master, Rabrenovic Vladan. He was rated 2332. It was great to face titled players in consecutive rounds.

With this draw, I was on 4.5/7. I had made 4 consecutive draws. It was really long since my win in the tournament. But with higher opposition in all rounds till now, I felt even draw isn't a bad result.

ROUND 8

In the penultimate round, I was up against my 2nd untitled player from the tournament, Milan Popovic from Serbia. He was rated 2324. This was my 7th Serbian opponent, except the one in the 1st round, from round 2 to round 8 all the players were from Serbia.

ROUND 9

In the 9th round, I was facing Hierneise Jens from Germany. he was rated 2375 and was a Fide master. From here the real tragedy began. The arbiter informed me that I needed a win to get my norm, as I had already fulfilled all the other required things for the norm. As he told me that my performance would be 2449 if I make a draw, and I need to have 2450 to get the norm. 

I simply couldn't accept the fact that I ended up drawing such a position. And I felt that it was the end of the story. But no there were still many twists and turns. After the draw, my friends informed me that even a draw was sufficient for me to claim the norm. According to my rating, I had tick marked all the requirements. I was a relief but was a bit annoyed that I was informed wrongly about it by the arbiter. But I hardly could do anything about it. But unfortunately, the system wasn't showing up the norm. So after a conversation with him, I got to know that I had missed the norm because of technicalities, which hardly anyone is aware of. He told me that I had faced opponents of the same federation on 7 occasions and a maximum of 6 is allowed. And due to which there was another clause that if such a situation arises titled players from 10 countries should have completed the tournament. And here only 9 had!

It was very unfortunate to miss the norm in such a tragic manner! But it wasn't the end of the world. I was overall happy with the performance. Yes, a norm would have been cheery on the cake! But even this wasn't bad. As I bagged the prize for the Best U-2200 rating category and finished 20th in the main ranking.

All in all, it was a tournament to be remembered, a place well explored, and a lesson learned! I would like to end this "An unbeaten run blog" with a quote, which I personally like a lot.

“Nothing in the world can replace perseverance. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost legendary. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Perseverance and determination alone are omnipotent.”– Calvin Coolidge