Last morning game in Cappelle

vs.
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[Event "Cappelle la Grande"] [Site "France"] [Date "2011.03.05"] [Round "9"] [White "Ravot, S."] [Black "Messam-Sparks, L."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B81"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "1rb2rk1/2q2ppp/pn2p3/8/1p1BNbP1/7P/PPP2QB1/1K1R3R w - - 0 19"] [PlyCount "19"] 19. Bc5 {Here I was calmly waiting for Re8 when 20.Nd6 is just winning.} Nc4 $1 {I thought "ok she saw that Re8 lost and she just sacrifices the exchange for a pawn". I briefly checked if some Qe2 or Qd4 would be better before taking in f8 but then simply grabbed the rook...} (19... Re8 $2 20. Nd6 Rf8 (20... Rd8 21. Nb5 $1 $18 (21. Qxf4 Qxc5 22. Qxf7+ Kh8 23. Ne8 $18) 21... axb5 22. Qxf4) 21. Bxb6 Rxb6 22. Qxf4 Rd8 23. Nxc8 $18 (23. Nc4 $18)) 20. Bxf8 Na3+ {played instantaneously! I did not even consider this move! How is that possible : it's a very well known tactical motif in the sicilian!! I must have been completely sleepy! What an adrenaline rush... Trying to calm down myself I began to calculate variations. The first thing I thought was : maybe I could sacrifice the queen with Ka1 Nxc2+ Qxc2 Qxc2 Rd8 ? But of course it doesn't work. Then I saw I had to take the knight and put my king in the corner... I have to say that I did not even think to accept the draw by repetition...} 21. bxa3 (21. Ka1 Nxc2+ 22. Kb1 Na3+ 23. Ka1 $11) 21... bxa3+ 22. Ka1 Be5+ {she took too much time to play this (obvious) move and was left with only 5 min on the clock to reach the 40th move (with 30 sec for each move).} 23. Rd4 { I was not comfortable at all but still had 25 minutes on my clock.} Rb2 $6 ( 23... Kxf8 {was the logical continuation} 24. c3 f5 (24... Rb2 25. Rd2 $1 Rxd2 26. Qxd2 Bb7 27. Kb1 $16) 25. Rhd1 Bxd4 (25... Ke7 26. gxf5 exf5 27. Nc5 $1 $18 ) 26. cxd4 Rb2 27. Qf3 Rxg2 28. Qxg2 fxe4 29. Qd2 Bb7 $44 { with an unclear endgame}) (23... Bb7 $1 {was difficult to find because it blocks the rook. But the Bxe4 threat is very serious.} 24. Qd2 Kxf8 25. c3 Bd5 {threatening Rb2} 26. Rb1 Rxb1+ 27. Kxb1 Bxd4 28. Qxd4 Qb7+ 29. Kc2 Qb2+ 30. Kd3 Qb1+ 31. Ke2 Qxa2+ 32. Nd2 $13 {with another confused situation}) { here I thought "ok now Bc5 must be very fine for me". But then I began to calculate Bd6 and I had the feeling that it was better to simplify... So I played it :} 24. Bd6 $2 (24. Bc5 $18 {was just winning}) 24... Qb6 {played in a fraction of a second! I immediately saw the threat of mate in 2 but was another time very shocked : like for 20...Na3+ I did not even calculate this simple move!! I was only looking for black sacrifices. Another adrenaline rush for me this morning... That's somehow classic : when you are surprised with Na3+ you wake up and tell to yourself to be careful for the rest of the game. Then you calculate variations, some moves are played and you begin to be more relaxed because you understand that your position is playable. Then after 23...Rb2 you see Bc5 with absolutely nothing for black and you are relieved for good... That's exactly the kind of situation where you can let your attention slowly wander... And bang! Finally I saw the only winning miraculous move.} 25. Rb4 $18 (25. Bxa3 Bxd4 26. Qxd4 Rxa2+ 27. Kxa2 Qxd4 28. Rb1 Qc4+ 29. Kb2 Qe2 30. Bh1 f5 $13 {was unclear}) 25... Qa5 (25... Qxb4 26. Bxb4 Rxc2+ 27. Kb1 $18) ( 25... Rxb4+ 26. Bxe5 $18) (25... Qxf2 26. Nxf2 Bxd6 27. Rxb2 $18) 26. Rxb2 Bxb2+ 27. Kb1 Qb5 28. Qc5 {What a lucky win... But every chessplayer in the world will agree with me that a chessplayer can't play chess in the morning :-) } 1-0

Final results of this very strong tournament