Ben approaches the last round with cautious, knowing that only a win would see him squeeze into the top 10. He cannot ask for a more heated encounter after looking at his last round pairing - he was paired with Melissa Lo AGAIN.
The two met in a gritty encounter in the National Age Group barely a month ago. The conclusion of the game saw Ben edging out his tough opponent. Melissa went all the way down to 2 minutes plus in the 2 hours per side game.
Ben opted for an interesting and deep bishop sacrifice some 25 plus move into the game, only to activate his pieces tie his opponent's position up and win back the piece 10 moves later, reducing the position to king and pawns before promoting an extra pawn.
This time he knew it would be more challenging. With only 25 minutes on the clock, the time-pressured Russian star knew that he would have to think and act fast. He started the game with his trademark Benjamin Tan Opening (1. d4 d5 2. c3), Melissa looks like she has expected Queens Gambit, but it's not to be. An unknown spectator who witness the brilliant game jokingly said that the game was as good as won when Ben played 2. c3. The game ended in extreme gore when Ben (this time) sacrificed a knight to smash Melissa's kingside's pawn shelter, only to win it back some 5 moves later. The defending king was brutally exposed and checkmated in cold blood just only after 25 moves.
Both players left the playing table immediately after the game without even shaking hands or muttering 'good game'
Ben personally commented that 'it feels very good to defeat her in both standard and rapid!'
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