One cannot help, but describe the dramatic course of the fourth round game between the Greek grandmaster Stelios Halkias and Belarus' Vitaly Meribanov.
By the 31st move both players were in extreme time trouble. Both had mere few seconds left on the clocks (plus 30 seconds time-increment). Halkias, playing white, had plenty of quality and an excellent position. White rooks were positioned on the seventh rank threatening the black king. The queen was aiming in the same direction. For the black, the only chance was to use its passed pawns on а3 and b4. However, the Greek had an opportunity to practically end the game in one move. A pretty move placing a rook on the sixth rank would have made it impossible for the opponent to avoid mate threats.
However, under the time pressure Halkias was unable to see the proper continuation and instead sacrificed a rook, which lost his win, leaving him with nothing but a possible perpetual check. The Greek buried his face in his hands, unable to believe what had happened. He was so stunned that instead of offering the draw, he lost on time. When the beep of the electronic clock snapped Stelios out of his paralysis, Vitaly jumped to his feet unable to believe his good fortune.
Halkias was a personification of the unhappiest man on Earth. He first moaned, then let out a flood cursing in Greek. The Hellene was cursing his self. Meribanov, quickly signed the result sheet, and fled the room to avoid being the object in a moment of passion.
- Vitaly, you really lucked out.
- It happens, I knew my position was not the best, but I couldn't see where Halkias could have won in one move... but in time trouble anything can happen.
- What did Stelios tell you after the game? He was quite emotional.
- Frankly, I did not understand a word of it.
- He was devastated.
- It's chess - in time trouble even the strongest grandmasters made mistakes. There is a reason why they keep a clock on the table - so you don't forget about them.
- Now you have 3.5 points out of 4.
- It's the same score as the rating-favorite Yan Nepomniachtchi - It would be interesting to play against such a grandmaster with points on the line.