The prize had to be given to Pavel Eljanov who played down a rook for several moves…
Eljanov with his prize
Cheparinov,Ivan (2709) – Eljanov,Pavel (2678)
17…Nxb6!? 18.Nxb6 Qc5 19.Rf3 Bf6 20.Nxa8 Rd8 21.Qe1 Nc6 22.Nb6
Black is a rook down (OK, for one pawn) but his compensation is not immediately clear. Impressive judgement by Eljanov! 22…Bd4 23.Kf2 e5! This is the key move.
24.b4!? The best try. 24…Nxb4 25.fxe5 Nc6!
26.Qd2? White should have played 26.Nbxc4 Bxc4 27.Kf1 Nxe5 28.Nxc4 Nxc4 and now 29.Rd1 or 29.Rd3 might hold. 26…c3 27.Qc2 Nxe5 It’s over. 28.Qf5 g6 29.Qf4
29…Re8! Making the threat stronger than the execution. 30.Nbd5 Qxd5 31.Kf1 Nxf3! and resigned. 32.Nxd5 Bxe2
is a pretty mate, isn’t it?
A big super honorable mention to Simon Williams….this wasn’t a “correct” game but it sure was a beauty and captured the attention of the audience….
Bekker-Jensen,Simon (2405) – Williams,Simon K
21.Nf7! At first White defends nicely. 21…Nf3+ 22.Kh1 Nd4
23.Rxc4 White should have continued in the same style: 23.Nd6+! Bxd6 24.Rxc4+ Kb8 25.Qxd4 Bxg2+ 26.Kg1 just wins. 23…Bxg2+ 24.Kg1? Much better is 24.Kh2 Nf3+ 25.Qxf3 and the complications seem to favour White. 24…Nxh3+
25.Kxg2? 25.Bxh3 Qxh3 26.Rxc5+ Kb8 27.Rh5 Nf3+ 28.Qxf3 Qxf3 29.Rb5+ Ka8 30.Rc1 a6 and the game continues. 25…Nf4+ 26.Kg1 Nde2+
and here White resigned because of 27.Bxe2 Qg3+ and mate.
The whole game in replayer: