IM Levy Rozman confessed between games that “I think my biggest strength is somehow getting it done in time scrambles.” His ability with seconds on the clock saved him from losing positions in three different rapid games. After the rapid portion of their match, Rozman leads IM Julien Song by a score of 8-6. The players will play eight blitz games on Sunday, with each game worth one point, to determine the winner.
Game Three: Rozman Escapes, Wins
After two draws in classical games, the rapid section began with a decisive result. Rozman explained that he wanted to complicate things, and his double fianchetto setup led to a complex game, but one where he was in some trouble. Song was between slightly better and winning for most of the game, but Rozman handled the time pressure better and emerged in a pawn-up rook endgame. One endgame mistake from Song allowed Rozman to reach a Lucena Position and score the first win of the match.
After the game, Rozman said, “It feels good to win for sure, but I don’t think I can survive 11 more games of this. I need a few more calm games.”
Game Four: Another Rozman Swindle
Rozman managed to calm the next game only momentarily. He equalized in a Queen’s Gambit Declined but admitted afterward that he got too confident and missed Song’s 33.g4!. From that point on, White’s was in control. However, in the closing seconds of the game, one blunder allowed Rozman to trap the white queen, and Song let his time expire.
One move before the end of the game, White had a remarkable winning tactic. Can you spot it?
Game Five: Song Strikes Back
Rozman played the Horwitz Attack against Song’s French Defense in game five and built a strong attack. However, he chose the wrong move order for what could have been a decisive sacrifice, and Black emerged with an extra piece. Song sacrificed the piece back for a brutal mating attack to score his first win of the event.
After the game Song admitted, “I am so happy to have won this game. It’s a nightmare. It feels like in all the games I’m always winning and then I don’t manage to convert.”
Game Six: Rozman Defends Again
Like in the previous games of the day, Song built a winning advantage in game six. Yet, once again, Rozman managed to complicate matters in time pressure. They reached a rook endgame on move 53 where Song’s a-pawn should have been enough to decide the game, but only if he found several critical moves. He correctly walked his king toward the pawn, but 56.Rd7? was only a draw, while 56.Rc7! would have won the game.
The match continues on Sunday, with Rozman needing to score only 4.5/8 or better in blitz to claim victory.
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