[Event "ch-PHI Grand Final"] [Site "Boracay PHI"] [Date "2012.07.22"] [Round "10.5"] [White "Rogelio Antonio Jr"] [Black "Roderick Nava"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B22"] [WhiteElo "2548"] [BlackElo "2397"] [PlyCount "105"] [EventDate "2012.07.15"] 1. e4 c5 {The Sicilian Defense} 2. c3 {The Alapin Variation: sharp and fierce line versus the Sicilian Defense} d5 {This line is typical Centre-counter or French defense set-up with early c5.} 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nc6 5. Nf3 cxd4 ({If} 5... Nf6 6. Be3 e6 7. Na3 cxd4 8. Nb5 Qd8 9. Nbxd4) 6. cxd4 e5 {Yes, black wants an open game and quick castling.} 7. Nc3 Bb4 8. Bd2 Bxc3 9. Bxc3 e4 ({If } 9... exd4 10. Nxd4 Nge7 11. Nxc6 Qxc6 12. Be2 Qxg2 13. Bb5+ Nc6 14. Qe2+ Be6 15. O-O-O Qg5+ 16. Kb1 {White is pawn down but black's position is not good: king at the center.}) 10. Ne5 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Ne7 12. Qa4+ Bd7 13. Qa3 {With 2 bishops, white must enjoy the multi-diagonal coordinates.} Qe6 {Black must castle. IM Nava is known for playing solid yet strategic games as shown.} 14. Rd1 {GM Antonio, Jr. is finding the best square for his pieces, not allowing black to counter play.} O-O 15. Be2 Bc6 {To tighten the grip on holding the e4's vital position, well, same with the e5 pawn. Based on my judgment, Queen at a3 is great placed due to checking on the a7 pawn in case black will move Rfd8.} 16. Qd6 {Now, white sees something, why he is exchanging queens? ANALYZE IT.} Nd5 {If ends up exchanging white's light bishop to the knight at d5 via c4, draw is probable.} 17. Bc4 Rfd8 18. Qxe6 fxe6 19. O-O {The e6 pawn hangs if black knight takes the bishop at c3.} Kf7 {Your highness: TO PROTECT AND SERVE...} 20. Bd2 {Keeping 2 bishops, maintain lots of possibilities but black must hold grip at d5 square, not allowing white an easy play.} Nb6 21. Bb3 Ba4 {Yes... indeed} 22. f3 {This is a timely tactic ...} e3 (22... exf3 {If } 23. Rxf3+ Kg8 24. Bxe6+ Kh8 25. b3) 23. Bxe3 {White is pawn-up, does black aware of this before 21...Ba4 move? Your opinion is as good as mine...} Bxb3 24. axb3 {Yes, black attained the plan for the knight to occupy the d5 square uncontested.} Rxd1 {Exchanging rooks is to lessen pressure but white will not allow another exchange of rooks to maintain the advantage, thou, black's position is tough nut to crack.} 25. Rxd1 Nd5 26. Bd2 Rc8 {Whoa!!! looks like exchange of rooks is unavoidable due to the c2 square is a strategic square for the black rook.} 27. Rc1 Rxc1+ 28. Bxc1 {Now, we reach a position what seems a plus for black at a glance. PLEASE STOP HERE. GIVE 5 MINUTES TO EVALUATE THE POSITION. what do you envision from this position?} Nb4 29. Be3 Nd3 {Interesting endgame here...} 30. Bxa7 Nxe5 {Again, pawn up for white but its not winnable as of the moment.} 31. Bd4 Nc6 32. Bc3 {This endgame position deserves a place in every chess school as Endgame Lesson. Will white win here? But how?} e5 {Do you think this is the right plan? Rule: Do not place pawns same color as the bishop, but that's IM Nava's judgment with respect on his experience.} 33. Kf2 {Your highness is reporting for duty.} Ke6 34. Ke3 Nd8 { Yes, knight must precisely place the best manuever to not allow white king to control the light squares e4 and c4.} 35. f4 {Hmmm, I see now. White will find a way for his king to get to b6 square which is possible.} exf4+ 36. Kxf4 g6 37. Ke4 {Yes!!! this is winnable for white.} Nc6 38. h3 h5 39. Bd2 Kd6 40. Be3 Ke6 41. Bf4 {Black king can't move, otherwise, white king advances.} Na5 { I realize now the product of GM Joey's imagination. This is very easy for him to win this position.} 42. Kd4 {Giving up the pawn at b3 to gain access to penetrate the weak b7 pawn.} Nxb3+ 43. Kc4 {Here he comes...} Na5+ 44. Kb5 Nc6 45. Kb6 {Mission accomplished!!! But not yet til its a win.} Nb4 {White must watch over knights maneuver...} 46. Bd2 Nd3 47. b4 {Inch by inch white is slowly winning...} g5 48. b5 {No more words but: !!!!!!!} g4 49. Kxb7 Kd7 50. Be3 {Limiting knight's access to vital square: c5} gxh3 51. gxh3 Ne5 {This is clearly a win for white since if black exchanges the knight on white's b pawn. The color of h8 square is same color of white's bishop is a WIN.} 52. Ka8 Nc4 53. b6 {Black Resigned: Fantastic game by GM Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. Its very educational, how to win a difficult endgame?} 1-0