[Event "Spielvogel 2026"]
[Site "Ballarat"]
[Date "2026-02-26"]
[White "Scott Stewart"]
[Black "CM Declan Smith"]
[WhiteElo "0"]
[BlackElo "0"]
[Result "0-1"]

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 d6 6. Bc4 a6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Qe2 Bg4 9. Rd1 e6 10. Bf4? { The first error of the game was played by me, having already misplayed the opening not terminally and trying to protect e5, but the attack that is coming after the next move scared me into admiting defeat and move the Bishop again. } (10. h3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Be7 12. Bf1) 10... Nh5 11. Bg5 (11. Bg3 Nxg3 12. hxg3 h5 { This looks very strong for Black }) 11... Qxg5 12. Nxg5 Bxe2 13. Bxe2 Nf4 14. Bf1 h6 15. Nf3 Be7 16. Rac1 { White has nothing for the gambit and Black begins to apply the screws, poking and prodding applying the clamps. } 16... Rc8 17. g3 Ng6 18. a3 O-O 19. Ne1 { Rerouting the e3 to help prevent d5. I am playing only for the half point now and tried to make life as difficult as I could for as long as I could. } 19... Na5 20. Na4 Nb3 21. Rxc8 Rxc8 22. Nb6 Rc6 23. Nc4 b5 24. Ne3 { I got a knight to e3 but not the languishing donkey sitting on e1. White is in full turtle mode but managing to hold down the ship. } 24... Bf6 25. Nd3 Ne5 26. Nb4 Rb6 27. Kg2 { holding f3 } 27... a5 28. Nbc2 Nd7 29. Ng4 Be7 (29... Bxb2 { Is of coarse met by Rb1 }) 30. Nd4 Nxd4 31. Rxd4 h5 32. Ne3 Bf6 33. Rd2 Nc5 34. f3 Kf8 35. Rc2 { [%csl Ga5] } 35... a4 36. Kf2 Ke7 37. Ke2 Kd7 38. Bg2 Nb3 39. Kd3 Rc6 40. Rxc6 Kxc6 41. Nd1 Kc5 42. f4 Na5 43. Kc2 Bd4 44. h3 f5 45. exf5 exf5 46. Bf3 g6 47. g4 hxg4?? (47... fxg4 48. hxg4 h4 { [%csl Gh4] }) 48. hxg4 Nc4 49. gxf5 gxf5 50. Bb7 Nb6 51. Bg2 Nd5 52. Bh3 Ne7 53. Kd3 Bg7 54. Nc3 Bxc3 55. bxc3 Nd5 56. Bxf5 Nxf4+ 57. Kc2 Nd5 58. Bd3 Ne3+ 59. Kb2 Nc4+ 60. Ka2 Kd5 61. Bg6 Ne5 62. Be8 Kc4 63. Kb2 Nd3+ 64. Kc2 Nf4 65. Kd2 Kb3 66. Bxb5 Kxa3 67. Ke3 { I went for the idea of saccing my Bishop on a4and attemping to trade pawns but it was the wrong choice, I overlooked this beautiful box I had for his King. } (67. Kc2 $10 { [%cal Gc2c1,Gc1c2] } 67... Nh3 68. Bc6 Nf4 69. Bd7 Ng2 70. Bc6 Ne3+ 71. Kd3 Ng4 72. Kc2 Ne5 73. Be8 Nc4 74. Bd7 Ne3+ 75. Kd3 Nd5 76. Kc2) 67... Nd5+ 68. Kd4 Nc7 69. Kc4 Nxb5 { Declan played the last 20 moves on the increment and managed to squander a winning position to a dead drawn one, I hit the increment 15 moves later and failed to convert my chance of holding the draw missing the holding idea.. But a good scrappy fight nonetheless and shows why we need to be as stubborn as possible even when the going get's tough. You will get your chances and hopefully you will take yours. :) } 0-1