My Road to IM: Shreyas' Results in Review

Hi ChessKids! Shreyas here, continuing my fantastic IM Norm experience and success. Click here for Part 1.

Game Recap

Round 5: FM Shreyas Royal (2272) vs. IM Jose Collados Camacho (2400)

I was now playing the top seed and eventual winner of the tournament. He surprised me with the dynamic Benoni, and the game was once again an interesting battle. I had the bishop pair, carrying better luck than his weak compensation for a pawn. However, the game fizzled out into a draw when I did not find the top engine moves. We later went to analyze the game (Reminder: Analyze games to improve, especially losing games and those without an engine. Extra bonus if you analyze your opponent!)

End of Round 5: 3/5

Round 6: IM David Eggleston (2343) vs. FM Shreyas Royal (2272)

Eggleston has quite a few Grandmaster Norms and even beaten 2650 GM Luke Mcshane once! This made me a bit scared before the game, but then I remembered some good advice of not playing chess with emotions, as it affects your concentration. It was a Ruy Lopez, in which I answered with the strategical and maneuvering Breyer. I slowly outplayed him, activating my pieces, and when the time was right, I opened the position. He miscalculated and blundered into a losing line. He offered me a draw and somehow, I also missed the best move and accepted.

Can you find the simple winning tactic I missed?

1... Qxa5 is the move! The queens will likely trade, and then I'll have two minor pieces for a rook.

I was also too scared to lose after so many draws, but even then I should play on! (Reminder: Don't be afraid to lose and enjoy the battle!)

End of Round 6: 3.5/6

Round 7: FM Shreyas Royal (2272) vs FM Jonah Willow (2365)

Jonah is a very tactical and talented young player who always tries different openings (Reminder: Practice a lot of tactics on ChessKids to be as good as him!). He played an interesting line in the Catalan where I sacrificed a pawn but had full control over the dark squares compared to his inactive pieces. I slowly improved my pieces (Reminder: Improve your pieces if you have time to do so) but he defended well, and I eventually drew that better position.

End of Round 7: 4/7

I needed to win both games on the last day for my norm….

Round 8: FM Claridge-Hansen William (2338) vs FM Shreyas Royal (2272)

It was Catalan with me, playing from the Black side, which I had an insanely good score against! I got comforted even more when I outplayed him to a better position, but it slowly slipped from my grasp as I pushed too hard to a drawn endgame. I was at a dead loss! We were both in time pressure and he missed the best move.

Can you find the only move to win as White here?

1. Kc6 is right! After 1...Ke6 then comes h4, forcing me into a Zugzwang and soon outflanking me.

My heart almost froze for those few moments, since it was the only game, I was losing in the tournament, and at this rate, I was happy I escaped with a draw, even though it meant I could not get a norm anymore.

End of Round 8: 4.5/8

I needed to win the last round to come in the top three…

Round 9: FM Shreyas Royal (2272) VS Zala Urh (2307)

Zala had won a few of these norm tournaments by the organizer and was extremely strong, being the only person in this tournament to beat all 3 IMs! She surprised me with the complicated and imbalanced Blumenfield, therefore I decided to simplify it into an endgame where I did an epic pawn storm and eventually weakened her king. It came to a drawn endgame, but extremely accurate play was required, I ground out a winning position in the extremely instructive ‘Lucena Position,’ which most of you may know as "Bridge Building," and won soon after that feeling elated!

End of Round 9: 5.5/9