[Event "US Open - Invitationals"] [Site "Middleton, WI, United States"] [Date "2025.07.31"] [Round "6.7"] [White "Wongso, Steve"] [Black "Putnam, Liam Henry"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2277"] [WhiteTeam "USA"] [BlackElo "2562"] [Variant "Standard"] [Annotator "Foisor,Sabina"] [FEN "8/8/3Q4/5ppk/7q/7P/7K/8 w - - 0 76"] [WhiteClock "0:03:26"] [BlackClock "0:03:31"] [ECO "?"] [Opening "?"] [StudyName "125th US Open Rds 1-4 and Invitationals"] [ChapterName "Wongso, Steve - Putnam, Liam Henry"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/foytapOs/WQeSug4P"] [FEN "8/8/3Q4/5ppk/7q/7P/7K/8 w - - 0 76"] [SetUp "1"] [Orientation "white"] { After fighting and defending valiantly, Steve failed to draw this position. It must have been heartbreaking for him. Had he drawn, he would have joined Putnam in a tie for second place. In this position there are a few ways for White to save the game. } 76. Qf6?? (76. Qe5! { seems the easiest way! } 76... Qf2+ 77. Kh1 Kh4 78. Qh8+ Kg3 { And now for the cute stalemate: } 79. Qh4+! Kf3 (79... gxh4) 80. Qxg5 $10) (76. Qd1+ { This works as well, but it may be more scary to allow ... g5-g4 without being able to trade pawns. } 76... g4 77. Qf1 Kg6 78. Qg2 Kg5 79. Qd2+) 76... Qf2+! { Liam finds the right way to convert and catches up with IM Bach Ngo to share first in the Denker! Nicely done Liam! Despite a couple of draws as the top seed, he still finished atop the leaderboard, although Ngo took first on tie-breaks. } 77. Kh1 Qe1+ 78. Kh2 Qd2+ 79. Kg1 Kh4 80. Qe6 Qd4+ 81. Kf1 Qf4+ 82. Kg1 Qg3+ 83. Kf1 Qxh3+ 84. Kf2 Qg3+ 85. Kf1 Qf4+ 86. Kg1 Qe4 87. Qh6+ Kg4 88. Qh8 Qe1+ 89. Kg2 Qg3+ { 0-1 Black wins. } 0-1