[Event "2025 National K-12 Chess Championship"] [Site "Spokane, WI USA, United State"] [Date "2025.12.14"] [Round "7.2"] [White "Safranek, William"] [Black "Singi, Advay"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2343"] [WhiteTeam "USA"] [BlackElo "1987"] [BlackTeam "USA"] [Annotator "Foisor,Sabina"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "?"] [Opening "?"] [StudyName "2025 National K-12 Grade Championships, Pt. 2"] [ChapterName "Safranek, William - Singi, Advay"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/NnKpzTbl/T6XBMpD4"] [FEN "r1b2rk1/pp3ppp/2p5/4b3/4N3/1BP5/PP4PP/R4R1K w - - 0 22"] [SetUp "1"] [Orientation "white"] { It is here that William began to slowly improve his position to claim a share of the title and first on tiebreaks! Here, he comes up with a cute tactical idea that helps White gain activity with his rook on the seventh rank! It is far from winning, but sometimes psychology helps in confusing the opponent and inducing some mistakes! } 22. Rxf7 Rxf7 23. Rf1 Kf8 24. Rxf7+ Ke8 25. Nc5 b6 26. Nd3?! (26. Rf2 { Black has some activity that needs to be stopped first. If we are being objective, this position should be equal if Black finds activity. But if delays finding activity, as was the case in the game, White gains the edge! } 26... Bg4 27. h3 bxc5 28. hxg4 Ke7 $10) 26... Bf6 27. Nf4 Bg4? (27... a5! { was the necessary counter for Black that could have changed the path of this game! I feel for Advay, who has had two though losses in the last two rounds. I know these were some tough lessons, but if he plays his cards right he will come back stronger next year in the Pan-American Collegiate Championship! } 28. a4 b5) 28. h3 Bd1 29. Be6 Be5 30. Nd3 Bf6 31. Nb4 Ba4?? { The mistake that cost Black the game! } (31... Rd8 { Activity is what the position required for Black to stay in the game! } 32. Rxa7 Rd6 33. Bc4 Kd8) (31... Bh5 32. Rc7 c5 33. Nc6 Kf8 34. Rxa7 Rxa7 35. Nxa7 Ke7 { and Black should hold with the active bishops, despite being down a pawn. }) 32. Na6! Be5 33. Nc7+ Bxc7 34. Rxc7 Bc2 35. Rxg7 Rd8 36. Bg4 a5 37. Bf3 Rd6 38. Rb7 c5 39. Kh2 Kd8 40. Kg3 h6 41. Kf4 Kc8 42. Ke5 Rg6 43. h4 Bd1 44. Be4 { 1-0 White wins. } 1-0