[Event "11th Sinquefield Cup"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2024.08.22"] [Round "4"] [White "So, W."] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, I."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A06"] [WhiteElo "2751"] [BlackElo "2767"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "99"] [GameId "2081522907888864"] [EventDate "2024.08.19"] {[%evp 0,99,18,27,20,20,13,4,6,-17,6,6,5,-7,-7,18,20,15,27,-3,9,-19,1,0,17,16,25,13,23,13,28,15,23,33,25,25,31,43,38,48,48,48,47,34,45,40,69,36,41,43,36,34,77,63,98,96,68,66,62,69,161,112,101,97,112,80,115,80,130,65,104,98,76,95,100,102,101,83,83,88,66,55,28,65,52,86,104,136,108,181,144,221,308,243,308,308,700,626,817,742,940,962]} 1. Nf3 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. b3 Be7 5. Bb2 O-O 6. Nc3 c5 7. cxd5 exd5 8. d4 Ne4 (8... Nc6 {is literally 50 times more common.}) 9. dxc5 (9. Bd3) 9... Bf6 10. Nd4 Qa5 11. Rc1 Nc6 12. Be2 {Abruptly transposing to a bunch of games, virtually all of which came from the 8...Nc6 move order.} Nxc5 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. O-O Ne4 15. Qc2 Nxc3 16. Bxc3 Bxc3 17. Qxc3 Qxa2 {All still theory; in fact, So had the black side of this in one of the few games not to see 18.Rc2.} 18. Rc2 (18. Bf3 Qa6 19. Qxc6 Qxc6 20. Rxc6 Be6 21. Rd1 Rab8 22. Rc7 Rxb3 23. Rxa7 Rfb8 24. Raa1 R3b5 25. h4 g6 26. Kh2 Kg7 27. Kg3 Kf6 28. Ra6 R8b6 29. Rxb6 Rxb6 30. Bxd5 Bxd5 31. Rxd5 h5 32. Rd2 Rb4 33. f3 Ra4 34. e4 Ra1 35. Kf4 Rh1 36. g3 Rg1 37. e5+ Kg7 38. Rd7 Re1 39. Ra7 Re2 40. Ra3 Re1 41. Ra5 Re2 42. Ra6 Re1 43. Ra4 Re2 44. Re4 Ra2 45. Re1 Ra4+ 46. Ke3 Ra3+ 47. Kf2 Kf8 48. Re3 Ra5 49. f4 Ke7 50. Rb3 Ra1 51. Rb7+ Ke6 52. Rb6+ Ke7 53. f5 Ra2+ 54. Kf3 Ra3+ 55. Kf4 Ra4+ 56. Kg5 Rg4+ 57. Kh6 gxf5 58. Rf6 Rxg3 59. Rxf5 Ke6 60. Rf6+ Kxe5 61. Rxf7 Ke6 62. Ra7 Kf6 63. Kxh5 Rg8 64. Rh7 Rg2 65. Rh6+ Kf7 66. Rg6 Rxg6 {½-½ Nakamura,H (2768)-So,W (2761) American Cup Champ Saint Louis 2023 (5.1)}) 18... Qa3 19. Ra1 Qe7 20. Qxc6 Be6 21. Qc5 Qxc5 22. Rxc5 {Still nothing new, but Nepo's next is a novelty.} Rfc8 $146 {Also equalizing, but it doesn't seem like an improvement over the known moves.} (22... Rfd8) ({and} 22... Rab8 {had been played in previous games. Both equalize, and generally led to draws.}) 23. Rca5 (23. Rxc8+ Rxc8 24. Kf1 a5 25. Bb5 Kf8 26. Rxa5 Rc1+ 27. Ke2 Rc2+ 28. Ke1 Rb2 {should be a fairly comfortable hold.}) 23... Rab8 24. Bd1 d4 25. exd4 Bxb3 26. Rxa7 Bxd1 (26... Bd5 $11) 27. Rxd1 Rc2 28. g3 g6 {Black hopes to double on the 2nd rank and tie White down to the defense of the f-pawn.} (28... h5) (28... g5 $5) 29. Rd3 $1 {Now doubling on the second rank would be harmless or even counter-productive, as Rf3 not only defends the pawn but gives Black dire difficulties with his own f-pawn.} Rcb2 $1 30. Kg2 R8b3 {Forcing a trade of rooks brings the draw closer.} 31. Rf3 $1 Rxf3 32. Kxf3 Kg7 (32... Kf8 $1 $11) 33. g4 h6 $6 (33... h5 $1) (33... Rb3+ 34. Ke4 Rb2 $11) 34. Re7 $6 (34. h4 $1 $16) 34... Rd2 (34... Kf6 $11) 35. Ke3 Rd1 36. Re4 {With his king cut off, Black must be careful.} Kf6 $2 {A lax move that proves surprisingly consequential. Black needed to ruin White's setup before White goes Ke2-d3-c4 and starts ushering the d-pawn up the board.} (36... f5 $1 37. gxf5 gxf5 38. Re5 Kf6 $11) 37. h4 $1 $18 (37. Ke2 Ra1 38. h4 Ra2+ $1 39. Ke3 Ra3+ $1 40. Kd2 h5 $1 {and because White's king isn't on e3 Black can meet} 41. g5+ {with} Kf5 $11 {. With White's king on e3, 42.Re5 would be mate.}) 37... Ra1 38. Kd3 $1 Ra2 39. f3 Ra3+ 40. Kc4 $1 Rxf3 41. d5 Ra3 (41... Rf1 42. d6 Rd1 43. Rd4 Rxd4+ 44. Kxd4 Ke6 45. Kc5 Kd7 46. g5 $1 {demonstrates the importance of 37.h4.} hxg5 47. hxg5 Kd8 48. Kc6 Kc8 49. d7+ Kd8 50. Kd6 {forces Black to self-destruct. This quasi-stalemate trick is one worth knowing.} f5 51. gxf6 g5 52. f7 g4 53. f8=R#) 42. Re8 Ra1 43. d6 Rd1 44. Kc5 h5 45. g5+ Kf5 46. Re2 {Allowing the king to go to e7 without suffering checks from the Black rook.} Kf4 47. Kc6 Kf3 48. Rc2 Rd4 49. d7 Kg3 50. Rc5 (50. Rc5 $1 Rxd7 51. Kxd7 Kxh4 52. Ke7 Kg3 53. Kxf7 h4 54. Kxg6 {is obviously an easy win - White can give up his rook for the h-pawn and promote the g-pawn.}) 1-0 [Event "11th Sinquefield Cup"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2024.08.22"] [Round "4"] [White "Ding Liren"] [Black "Caruana, F."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D38"] [WhiteElo "2745"] [BlackElo "2793"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "101"] [GameId "2081522907892961"] [EventDate "2024.08.19"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Qa4+ Nc6 6. e3 O-O 7. Qc2 (7. Bd2) 7... b6 (7... Re8) 8. Bd2 Bb7 9. a3 Bd6 10. cxd5 (10. Nb5 Be7 11. Be2 a6 12. Nc3 Bd6 13. O-O Ne7 14. b4 dxc4 15. e4 c5 16. dxc5 Bc7 17. Be3 b5 18. Rfd1 Qb8 19. h3 Ng6 20. a4 Bf4 21. Bxf4 Nxf4 22. Bf1 a5 23. axb5 axb4 24. c6 Rxa1 25. Rxa1 bxc3 26. Qxc3 Bc8 27. Qxc4 e5 28. Qc5 Nxe4 29. Qxe5 Qxe5 30. Nxe5 Nd5 31. Nc4 Nc5 32. b6 g6 33. c7 Ne6 34. Ra7 Bd7 35. Be2 Kg7 36. Bf3 Nb4 37. Ne5 Bb5 38. b7 Nxc7 39. b8=Q Rxb8 40. Rxc7 Be8 41. Rc4 Na6 42. Rc1 Nb4 43. Rb1 Na6 44. Rxb8 Nxb8 45. Nd3 f6 46. Nc5 Bf7 47. g3 Be8 48. Nd3 Nd7 49. Bc6 Kf8 50. Bxd7 Bxd7 51. h4 Ke7 52. Nf4 g5 53. hxg5 fxg5 54. Ng2 Kf6 55. f4 gxf4 56. Nxf4 Kg5 {½-½ Ter Sahakyan,S (2640)-Caruana,F (2804) Titled Tuesday intern op 06th Feb Early Chess.com INT blitz 2024 (6)}) 10... exd5 11. Nb5 Be7 12. Bd3 a6 13. Nc3 Bd6 {Still well within theory.} 14. O-O Re8 (14... Ne7 15. b4 Ng6 {is usual.}) 15. b4 Nb8 16. Rfb1 $146 {A new move, but as it's Stockfish's top choice I'm sure Caruana was well prepared.} (16. Rfd1) (16. Rfc1) (16. b5) ({and} 16. Ne2 {had been played in prior games.}) 16... Ne4 17. b5 a5 {Not bad, but there's no need to for this either.} (17... Nxd2 18. Nxd2 g6 $11) 18. a4 Nd7 19. Bc1 Qe7 $6 (19... Rc8 $11 {is more precise, letting White know the clock is ticking on his free ride: ...c6/5 is coming.}) 20. Qb3 (20. Rb3 $1 $14 {is best, preparing Ba3.}) 20... Ndf6 21. Ra2 $1 {Preparing Ba3, which was impossible right away because of a simple tactic.} (21. Ba3 $4 Nxf2 $19 22. Kxf2 $2 Qxe3+ 23. Kf1 Qxd3+ {is obviously disastrous for White.}) 21... Rac8 (21... c5 $1 {can be played immediately. After} 22. bxc6 Bxc6 23. Ne2 Ng4 24. Nf4 {Black is okay thanks to the surprising} b5 $3 25. axb5 (25. Bxb5 Bxb5 26. axb5 (26. Qxb5 $4 Bxf4 (26... Nc3 $4 27. Nxd5 $1 $18) 27. exf4 Nc3 $19) 26... a4 $1 27. Qd3 Ngxf2 28. Rxf2 Nxf2 29. Kxf2 Bxf4 30. exf4 a3 31. Ra1 a2 32. Qd2 $8 $11) 25... a4 26. Rxa4 Rxa4 27. Qxa4 Bb7 {Threatening both ...Ra8-a3 and ...Ngxf2.} 28. Bxe4 Qxe4 29. Nd2 Qe7 30. Nf1 Bxf4 31. h3 $1 (31. exf4 $4 Qe1 $19) 31... Nxf2 32. Kxf2 Bb8 $44) 22. Ba3 $14 {White is a little better, and impressively outplays Caruana over the next 15 moves or so, step by step. But just when it looks like the old Ding was back, something snapped...} Ng4 (22... h5 $142) 23. Bxd6 cxd6 24. Nd1 g6 25. Qa3 Ngf6 26. Rc1 $16 Rxc1 27. Qxc1 Rc8 28. Rc2 Rxc2 29. Qxc2 Kg7 30. Nd2 Nxd2 31. Qxd2 h5 32. f3 h4 33. Nc3 Nh7 34. Kf2 f5 35. Ne2 Nf6 36. Qc1 (36. Nf4 $16 {/+-}) 36... Nh5 {White has several decent plans that would bring Black to the precipice of defeat.} 37. Nf4 $2 {This is terrible, and obviously terrible. After the swap there's no way for White to make progress - Black has an instant fortress.} (37. Ng1 {is an interesting idea, intending f4 followed by Nf3-g5.}) (37. Ke1 {followed by Kd2 and Qe1 is another way of stepping up the pressure.}) 37... Nxf4 38. exf4 Qd8 $11 39. Bb1 Qc8 40. Qxc8 {Now it's really over. All that's left is to manufacture a repetition.} Bxc8 41. g3 hxg3+ 42. hxg3 Be6 43. Kg2 Kf6 44. Kh3 Bf7 45. Kh4 Be6 46. Bd3 Bf7 47. g4 Be8 48. Bc2 Bf7 49. Bd3 Be8 50. Bc2 Bf7 51. Bd3 1/2-1/2 [Event "11th Sinquefield Cup"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2024.08.22"] [Round "4"] [White "Giri, A."] [Black "Praggnanandhaa, R."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A28"] [WhiteElo "2746"] [BlackElo "2749"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "66"] [GameId "2081522907892962"] [EventDate "2024.08.19"] {[%evp 0,66,18,-20,-10,-9,-20,-20,-13,-23,8,4,1,-23,-2,-4,-5,6,2,-1,1,0,11,2,-3,6,16,11,19,14,27,59,33,33,43,6,14,12,20,19,15,-2,0,0,4,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,-4,10,0,11,-4,6,0,6,-4,3]} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. g3 Bc5 7. Bg2 O-O 8. O-O h6 9. Nxd5 Qxd5 {This line has been pretty popular in super-GM play the past several years.} 10. a3 (10. Bd2 {followed by Bc3 is more usual.}) 10... a5 11. Bd2 Qe6 {Rare, but 2/3 of the prior games featured interesting players.} (11... Qd6) ({and} 11... Rd8 {are more common.}) 12. Rc1 (12. Qc2 Bb6 13. e3 Rd8 14. Bc3 Qd6 15. Rfd1 Bf5 16. Qa4 Qe6 17. Ne1 Bg4 18. Rd2 Bh3 19. Bh1 Qf6 20. Re2 h5 21. Be4 Bg4 22. Rc2 Bh3 23. Nf3 Bg4 24. Kg2 Bd7 25. Qc4 Re8 26. h4 Be6 27. Qb5 Bd7 28. Ng5 Rad8 29. Qc4 Bf5 30. b4 axb4 31. axb4 Na7 32. Rf1 Nc8 33. Bxf5 Qxf5 34. e4 Qd7 35. Qb3 Re7 36. Rd2 Nd6 37. Nf3 Qe8 38. Ng5 Nb5 39. Bb2 Qd7 40. Rdd1 Bd4 41. f4 Bxb2 42. Qxb2 f6 43. Nh3 Ra8 44. fxe5 Rxe5 45. Nf4 Kh7 46. Rc1 c6 47. Rc5 Rxc5 48. bxc5 Qd4 49. Qxd4 Nxd4 50. Rb1 Ra2+ 51. Kh3 Kh6 52. Rxb7 g5 53. Nxh5 Kxh5 54. g4+ Kh6 55. h5 Rf2 56. Rd7 Ne6 57. d4 Rf3+ 58. Kg2 Rf4 59. d5 cxd5 60. c6 Rxg4+ 61. Kf2 {0-1 Niemann,H (2674)-Aditya,M (2563) Astana Zhuldyzdary op-A 2023 (9)}) 12... Qe7 13. Qa4 $146 (13. Bc3 {Now we've also transposed to the Radjabov game as well.} Nd4 (13... Rd8 14. Qc2 Bb6 15. Rfe1 Bf5 16. Nd2 Qc5 17. Rf1 Rab8 18. Nc4 Qxc4 19. dxc4 Bxc2 20. Rxc2 Nd4 21. Bxd4 Bxd4 22. b4 axb4 23. axb4 b5 24. e3 bxc4 25. exd4 Rxd4 26. Rb1 c3 27. Rxc3 Rdxb4 28. Rxb4 Rxb4 29. Rxc7 Rd4 30. Rc5 f6 31. h4 h5 32. Bf3 g6 33. Rc7 f5 34. Kf1 Rd2 35. Be2 Rd6 36. Bc4+ Kh8 37. Ke2 Rb6 38. Re7 e4 39. Ke3 Rc6 40. Be6 Rc2 41. Kf4 {1-0 Radjabov,T (2723)-Suleymanli,A (2609) Gashimov Memorial Blitz 9th Baku 2023 (2)}) 14. e3 Nxf3+ 15. Qxf3 Bd6 16. Qh5 c6 17. f4 exf4 18. gxf4 Qxe3+ 19. Kh1 Rd8 20. Rce1 Qc5 21. f5 Bf8 22. Be4 Rd5 23. Rf3 b5 24. Rg1 Ra7 25. Bf6 g6 26. Qh3 Rd6 27. Qh4 Rxf6 28. Qxf6 Be7 29. Qxc6 Qxc6 30. Bxc6 Kg7 31. fxg6 fxg6 32. d4 a4 33. d5 b4 34. Be8 Bg5 35. h4 Bxh4 36. Rxg6+ Kh7 37. Rc6 Bg4 38. Rf4 Rg7 {1-0 Carlsen,M (2845)-Giri,A (2797) Gashimov Memorial 6th Shamkir 2019 (7)}) 13... Ra6 $5 {The rook might get activated through this square, and it also takes b2-b4 off the table as the a5-pawn is no longer pinned.} (13... Bb6) (13... Bd7) 14. Qh4 (14. e3) (14. Bc3) 14... Re8 $6 {Objectively fine, but Black is barely holding on the in following complications.} (14... Qxh4 15. Nxh4 Bd6 {should be fine for Black, even if White takes on c6.} 16. Bxc6 bxc6 $8 17. Rc2 a4 18. Rfc1 Bd7 $11) 15. b4 $1 axb4 16. axb4 Qxh4 (16... Nxb4 {is more precise, though Black is living on the edge in many lines.} 17. Rxc5 Qxc5 18. Bxb4 (18. Qxb4 Qxb4 19. Bxb4 {is only okay for Black because of} e4 {, thanks to the fork after a trade on e4.} 20. Nd2 exd3 21. exd3 Bf5 22. Ne4 Rd8 $11) 18... Qc2 $1 19. Nxe5 $1 c5 $1 20. Be1 Qxe2 21. Bc3 g5 $1 22. Qe4 Qxe4 23. Bxe4 Ra3 24. Bb2 Ra2 25. Bc3 Ra3 26. Bb2 Ra2 $11) 17. Nxh4 {This acquieces to the draw.} (17. gxh4 {is more testing.} Bxb4 18. Rxc6 Rxc6 19. Bxb4 $11 {/?}) 17... Ra2 18. Rxc5 Rxd2 19. Re1 Nd4 20. Nf3 Rxe2 21. Rxe2 Nxe2+ 22. Kf1 Nd4 23. Nxd4 exd4 24. Rxc7 Bf5 25. Be4 Bxe4 26. dxe4 Rxe4 27. Rxb7 d3 28. Rd7 Rxb4 29. Rxd3 Ra4 30. Rc3 Rb4 31. Rd3 Ra4 32. Rc3 Rb4 33. Rd3 Ra4 1/2-1/2 [Event "11th Sinquefield Cup"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2024.08.22"] [Round "4"] [White "Vachier Lagrave, M."] [Black "Abdusattorov, Nodirbek"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C64"] [WhiteElo "2721"] [BlackElo "2762"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "56"] [GameId "2081522907897059"] [EventDate "2024.08.19"] {[%evp 0,56,18,15,25,26,26,16,29,18,38,19,45,-2,44,49,45,42,43,35,33,24,27,28,17,22,14,20,13,8,17,1,12,4,7,0,15,3,3,2,7,10,7,7,7,7,9,6,13,9,3,9,3,8,3,3,8,3,3]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5 4. O-O d6 (4... Nd4 {has been the most successful move.}) 5. c3 a6 6. Ba4 Bd7 7. d4 Ba7 8. Bxc6 {Basically a draw offer. The commentators' hypothesis was that MVL hadn't recovered from not managing to finish Firouzja off in the previous round.} (8. h3) (8. Re1) (8. Be3) 8... Bxc6 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. Nxe5 Qxd1 11. Rxd1 Bxe4 12. Re1 f5 13. Nd2 Nf6 14. Nxe4 Nxe4 $146 (14... fxe4 {was played in a couple of earlier games that were also drawn. It's equal either way.} 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. Rxe3 O-O 17. Rae1 Rad8 18. h3 {½-½ Stojanovic,D (2458)-Indjic,A (2606) SRB-chT Premier Bajina Basta 2023 (3.5)}) 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. Rxe3 O-O 17. Rd1 Nc5 (17... Rfe8 $11) (17... Rfd8 $11) (17... Rad8 $11) 18. Nd7 Rad8 19. Re7 Rxd7 20. Rdxd7 Nxd7 21. Rxd7 Rf7 22. Rd8+ Rf8 23. Rd5 {Pretending to be interested in playing a real game. The pretense ends momentarily.} c6 24. Rd7 Rf7 25. Rd8+ Rf8 26. Rd7 Rf7 27. Rd8+ Rf8 28. Rd7 Rf7 1/2-1/2 [Event "11th Sinquefield Cup"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2024.08.22"] [Round "4"] [White "Gukesh, D."] [Black "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C67"] [WhiteElo "2766"] [BlackElo "2751"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "146"] [GameId "2081522907897060"] [EventDate "2024.08.19"] {[%evp 0,69,18,15,22,22,40,25,16,11,30,32,62,48,76,63,70,63,57,57,59,64,86,85,79,77,80,74,74,76,79,68,60,79,61,56,79,48,46,46,46,39,60,55,88,54,61,12,12,27,18,14,21,19,29,28,1,41,42,34,34,42,24,30,24,31,19,29,22,27,27,27]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 {The original main line against the Berlin; nowadays 9.h3 is the normal move.} Ke8 10. h3 Ne7 (10... h5) 11. Rd1 {A strange move. It transposes to games where Rd1(+) was played on move 9 or 10, but at this point it's considered better to put the f-rook on e1 and the a-rook on d1.} (11. Re1 $142) (11. Ne4 $142) 11... Ng6 $11 12. b3 Be7 13. Bb2 h5 14. Re1 {Well sure, but this only makes 11.Rd1 all the weirder.} h4 (14... Nf4) 15. Ne4 Kf8 16. Rad1 Rb8 $146 (16... Rh5 17. Nd6 Nf4 (17... Be6 18. Nxb7 Bd5 19. Re3 Rb8 20. Na5 Rb5 21. Bc3 Bc5 22. Ree1 Nf4 23. Kf1 Bb6 24. Nc4 Nxg2 25. Nxb6 Bxf3 26. Nc8 Ke8 27. e6 Nxe1 28. exf7+ Kxf7 29. Rxe1 Rhg5 30. Re3 Bg2+ 31. Ke2 Rb8 32. Re7+ Kg8 33. Rxc7 Bxh3 34. Ne7+ Kh7 35. f4 Rg2+ 36. Ke1 Rd8 37. Nxc6 Rd7 {0-1 Czarnota,P (2547)-Kryvoruchko,Y (2536) Rubinstein Memorial 38th Polanica Zdroj 2006 (1)}) 18. Nxc8 Rxc8 19. Re4 Ne6 20. Nd4 Ng5 21. Rg4 c5 22. Ne2 Rd8 23. Rxd8+ Bxd8 24. Kf1 Ne6 25. Nf4 Nxf4 26. Rxf4 Ke7 27. Ra4 a6 28. Ra5 c4 29. bxc4 Ke6 30. c5 c6 31. Ra4 Be7 32. Rc4 Rh8 33. Ke2 Rd8 34. f4 g6 35. Bc1 Rd5 36. Be3 Kf5 37. Rc3 g5 38. Rc4 gxf4 39. Rxf4+ Ke6 40. Re4 Kf5 41. Rf4+ Ke6 42. Re4 Kf5 43. Rf4+ Kxe5 {½-½ Efimenko,Z (2652)-Melkumyan,H (2633) TUR-chT2 Konya 2015 (7.3)}) (16... Bf5 17. Nd4 Bxe4 (17... Bd7 18. Nb5 Bxh3 19. Nxc7 Rc8 20. gxh3 Rxc7 21. Kg2 Rh5 22. Nd6 b6 23. Re4 Rg5+ 24. Kh2 Bxd6 25. exd6 Rd7 26. Rc4 c5 27. b4 Rf5 28. bxc5 bxc5 29. Bd4 Rxd6 30. Rxc5 Rxf2+ 31. Kg1 Rf3 32. Bxg7+ Ke7 33. Rc7+ Kd8 34. Rxd6+ {½-½ Goreczny,G (2155)-Khlopov,S (2214) RA-2016-0-00473 LSS email}) 18. Rxe4 Rd8 19. Rde1 Rh5 20. Kf1 Kg8 21. Nf3 Nf8 22. Rd4 Rc8 23. Rdd1 a6 24. Re4 Ne6 25. Ke2 c5 26. Nh2 Kf8 27. Nf3 Ke8 28. Bc1 b5 29. Be3 Rd8 30. Ra1 Kd7 31. a4 Kc6 32. c4 b4 33. Rd1 Rxd1 34. Kxd1 Kd7 35. Ne1 Bg5 36. f4 Be7 37. Nd3 Kc6 38. Bf2 g6 39. Ke2 Rh8 40. Ne1 Ng7 41. Re3 Ne6 42. Rf3 Rh5 43. Be3 Bf8 44. Nd3 Be7 45. Rf1 Ng7 46. Nf2 f6 47. Nd3 Ne6 48. Re1 f5 49. Rf1 Kd7 50. Ne1 a5 51. Nf3 Ke8 52. Rd1 Rh7 53. Kf2 Rh5 54. Ke2 Rh7 55. Kf2 Rh5 56. Ke2 Rh7 57. Kf2 {½-½ Bologan,V (2681)-Aronian,L (2815) Beijing Sportaccord rap rapid 2012 (3)}) 17. Nf6 $1 {Not the last such sac we'll see in this game.} Nf4 $1 (17... gxf6 $2 18. exf6 $18 Bd6 19. Ba3 {Threatening Rxd6, exploiting the loose rook on b8.} Kg8 20. Re8+ Nf8 (20... Kh7 21. Ng5+ Kh6 22. Nxf7+ Kh7 23. Nxh8 Bxa3 24. Rdd8 $18) 21. Rxd6 cxd6 22. Bxd6 Ra8 $2 23. Ng5 $18 {and Black will be mated by Rxf8.}) 18. Nd7+ Bxd7 19. Rxd7 Ke8 20. Rdd1 c5 21. Nd2 Kd7 $5 (21... Rd8 $1 $11 {is simpler, looking to swap this rook on the d-file and to activate the other rook via h6.}) 22. Nc4+ Ke6 $1 23. Rd6+ $1 {A nice move, looking to put serious pressure on Black's king.} cxd6 $8 24. exd6+ Kd5 $1 {The only move.} 25. Re5+ ({White has a draw for the asking with} 25. Rd1+ Ke6 $8 26. Re1+ Kd5 {. Of course Gukesh didn't want a draw, but could have repeated once to gain some time on the clock, and possibly take some time off Firouzja's clock. (The tournament has just one time control, but with a 30-second increment after every move.)}) (25. dxe7 f6 $8 26. Bc1 Ng6 27. f4 $8 $44) (25. Bxg7 Rhg8 26. dxe7 Rxg7 27. e8=Q Rxe8 28. Rxe8 Rxg2+ 29. Kf1 Rh2 $11 {is equal, but it's White who is probably more eager to prove the draw at this point.}) (25. Rxe7 b5 26. Ne3+ Kxd6 27. Nf5+ Kc6 28. Bxg7 Rhe8 29. Rxa7 Ra8 $1 30. Rxf7 $8 Rxa2 $11 {is complicated and not safe at all for White.}) 25... Kc6 26. Rxe7 f6 (26... b5 27. Rc7+ Kd5 28. Ne3+ Kxd6 29. Rxf7 Rhf8 ({There are other good moves for Black as well, including} 29... Nd5 $11) 30. Rxa7 Ra8 31. Bxg7 Rxa7 32. Bxf8+ Kc6 33. a4 bxa4 34. bxa4 Rxa4 35. Bh6 Ne6 36. g3 $11 {It's equal, but since White's c-pawn is protected by the knight, which is in turn protected by the bishop, it's hard to see how Black generates meaningful play. The burden seems to be on Black to hold the game.}) 27. Rxg7 Rhg8 $2 (27... Nd5 $1 {was best, even necessary, protecting f6 and covering c7.} 28. a4 Rhg8 29. Rf7 Rgf8 30. Rxf8 (30. Rh7 Rh8 31. Rf7 Rbf8 32. Rg7 Rhg8 33. Rh7 Rh8 $11) 30... Rxf8 31. Na5+ Kxd6 32. Nxb7+ Kc6 33. Nxc5 $1 Kxc5 34. Ba3+ Nb4 35. a5 $1 (35. c3 a5 36. Kf1 $8 $11) 35... Re8 36. c3 Re1+ 37. Kh2 Re2 38. Bxb4+ Kd5 39. c4+ Kd4 40. Kg1 $11) 28. Rc7+ $16 Kd5 29. Kf1 $2 (29. Bxf6 b5 30. Ne3+ Kxd6 31. Rh7 $1 Nxh3+ 32. Kf1 Nf4 33. Bxh4 Kc6 34. g3 Rh8 $1 35. Rxa7 Nd5 36. Nxd5 Kxd5 37. a4 c4 $16 {Black may yet hold this.}) 29... b5 $11 30. Ne3+ Kxd6 31. Rh7 $1 (31. Rxa7 {isn't terrible, but White should avoid allowing Black the counterplay that results after} Ra8) 31... Rbf8 (31... Rh8 $1 32. Rxh8 Rxh8 33. Bxf6 Rh5 34. Bxh4 $1 Ke6 $1 35. Bg3 Nd5 $11 {Surprisingly, Black's activity is enough to compensate for White's having three pawns for the exchange.}) 32. Rxh4 Nd5 33. Nxd5 Kxd5 34. c4+ bxc4 35. Rxc4 $14 f5 (35... a5 $142) 36. h4 Rg4 $2 {This may not be fatal, but it is an error. Did Firouzja think White had to take on g4?} (36... f4) 37. h5 $1 {Oops!} f4 (37... Rxc4 $4 38. bxc4+ Kxc4 39. h6 Kb4 (39... Rf7 40. Bg7 $18) 40. h7 c4 41. h8=Q Rxh8 42. Bxh8 Ka3 43. f4 Kxa2 44. g4 $18) 38. h6 Rh4 39. g3 $6 (39. Rxc5+ $5 Kxc5 40. Ba3+ Kd5 41. Bxf8 Ke6 42. Ke2 Kf7 43. Bg7 a5 44. Kf3 Kg6 45. a3 Rh1 $8 46. Kxf4 {White has four pawns for the exchange, and yet it's a draw. Chess is tough.} (46. b4 Rb1 47. bxa5 Rb3+ 48. Kxf4 {Five pawns for the exchange(!), if only for a moment.} Rxa3 49. f3 Rxa5 $14) 46... Rb1 47. b4 axb4 48. axb4 Rxb4+ 49. Kg3 $14) (39. Bg7 $1 Rh1+ 40. Ke2 f3+ $1 41. gxf3 Re8+ 42. Kd3 Rh3 43. Rf4 a5 $1 $14 {/? White keeps winning chances, though I think it's still a draw with best play.}) 39... Rh2 $2 {This mistake *does* give Black a lost position.} (39... Rh1+ $8 40. Kg2 $8 (40. Ke2 $4 fxg3 41. fxg3 Rh2+ $19) 40... fxg3 $1 41. fxg3 Rff1 $1 $11 42. Bg7 Rfg1+ $1 43. Kf3 Rh3 44. Rg4 Ke6 $1 $11) 40. Bg7 $18 Rf7 (40... fxg3 41. Bxf8 Rxf2+ 42. Kg1 Rxf8 43. Rh4 Rh8 44. h7 $18 {White grabs the g-pawn with his king, then either goes up the board to promote the h-pawn or collects the queenside in case Black's king heads toward the h-pawn.}) 41. gxf4 Rf5 42. Ke2 a6 43. Ra4 Rh3 44. f3 Rh1 45. Ke3 Re1+ 46. Kf2 Rh1 47. Re4 (47. Kg2 $142 Rfh5 48. Rxa6 $18 {Black doesn't have a perpetual, so White will be able to convert his large material advantage.}) 47... Kd6 48. Ke3 (48. Kg3 {is the path to progress.}) 48... Re1+ 49. Kd2 Rh1 50. Ra4 Kd5 51. Rxa6 $2 ({It was time to head back to the kingside, to g3 and up.} 51. Ke3) 51... Rxf4 $14 52. Ke3 Rf7 53. Rg6 (53. Ra4 $14) 53... Rh3 $1 $11 54. Bf6 Ke6 55. Bh4+ Kf5 56. Rg5+ Kf6 57. Rg4+ Ke6 $6 (57... Kf5 $142) 58. Rg6+ (58. Ke4 Rd7 59. Rg6+ Kf7 60. Rf6+ Kg8 61. Bg5 Kh7 62. a4 Rh5 $11) 58... Kf5 59. Rg7 Ke6 60. Rxf7 Kxf7 61. Bg5 {If White's queenside pawns were secure he'd be winning.} Rh2 62. h7 $1 {A nice try, surrendering his main trump straight away to keep the queenside pawns alive.} Rxh7 63. Kd3 Rh3 64. Be3 Rxf3 65. Ke4 Rh3 66. Bxc5 {This is about the best White could have done after the trade of rooks. Unfortunately for him, it's not good enough for several reasons. The most fundamental is that Black can give up his rook for the b-pawn (as long as White can't recapture with the pawn) and park his king on a8 with a well-known draw.} Ke6 67. Kd4 Rh4+ 68. Kc3 Kd5 69. Ba7 {Giving Black the chance for a cute way to force the draw.} Kc6 (69... Ra4 $1 {Taking is an immediate draw, but so is allowing ...Rxa2.} 70. bxa4 Kc6 71. Kb4 Kb7 72. Be3 Ka8 {is a basic draw. For those who may not be aware of it, the problem is that when a rook's pawn (an a- or an h-pawn) queens on a square of the opposite color of its bishop there's no way to safely promote. White's choices are to stalemate Black's king, to give up his a-pawn(s), or to eventually allow a 50-move rule draw.} 73. Kb5 Kb8 74. a5 Ka8 75. Kb6 Kb8 76. a6 Ka8 77. a4 (77. Bf4 $11) (77. a7 $11) 77... Kb8 78. Bf4+ Ka8 79. a7 $11) 70. a4 {There's no reason to pretend. The rest is only necessary because of the Sofia rules.} Rxa4 71. bxa4 Kb7 72. a5 Kxa7 73. a6 Kxa6 1/2-1/2