Ben didn't play his best, his rating is high compared to mine. Earlier, after experimenting with Bd7 and a few moves later I thought I was completely lost. But then I thought maybe I could at least create some potential threats.

18. Qd4 is clearly better. I depended on distracting my opponent into taking the pawn.

As I say earlier I knew I was in a positionally lost position I had tried the Classical Var just on an impulse, no prep as can be seen! But I didn't play it well.

But what I think was good was that at Bove 17 I thought, "What say I play 17. ... Nf8 18. Nxf6# as then I would have an amusing game finish for Ben, NZ's highest rated tournament player. Also he had much more chance than I to get place in the Zonal, even to win it. It may have given him an IM norm or something. But also I noticed he seemed a bit unwell.

Later that year I nearly beat him from the opening using the Polugaevsky, but made some tactical errors. I had played the Najdorf mostly but knew he would know it well. Also I had done well with the Classical in one other game in 2015.

But from my existential crisis in the game I decided, no, it is one of those pretty hopeless positions you've been in so many times before and been able to swindle your way out of. So it from memory it depended on him cooperating of course.

Later he even blundered so now I was in the game.

I suppose this illustrates the maxim that 'No one ever won a game by resigning.' But it says in all the how to books to rally when you are losing. Of course if their had been a Justice looking down for Ben he would have won. He is a nice fellow, but I think he was playing too much chess....