Two years ago, a GM norm event and two IM norm events were held in parallel at the Talbot Hotel in Stillorgan. Only the GM norm event had a report posted here; the other two have been listed as “pending” for the past two years. A report has finally been posted for the first IM norm event.
Killian Delaney and Tarun Kanyamarala tied for first with 6½/9. Each just missed an IM norm, for which 7 was necessary; Killian missed out only by letting a winning ending slip in his last round game against Björn Ahlander. However, he achieved a live rating of 2300 either during the event or very close to it (the order in which games are rated is not that straightforward to reconstruct), and thereby qualified for the FM title.
The encounter between the two joint winners produced another interesting ending. In the diagrammed position, Tarun (White, to play) did not find the best continuation, and the game ended in a draw.
36. ?
What should he have played here? I think it is no exaggeration to say in this case that the solution is “study-like”.
For the solution, see the full game.