Manage Your Favourite Games

[Event "World Blitz Women Final"] [White "Vaishali, Rameshbabu"] [Black "Zhu, Jiner"] [Site "New York USA"] [Round "1.1"] [Result "0-1"] [Date "2024.12.31"] [ECO "B93"] [WhiteElo "2476"] [BlackElo "2514"] [PlyCount "60"] [GameId "2130205581903963"] [EventDate "2024.12.31"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f4 e5 7. Nf3 Qc7 8. Bd3 Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Qe1 Re8 11. Kh1 b5 12. fxe5 dxe5 13. Bg5 Nbd7 14. a3 Bb7 15. Nh4 h6 16. Bd2 Bf8 17. Nf5 Kh7 18. Qh4 Ng8 19. Nd5 Bxd5 20. exd5 Kh8 21. Nxh6 gxh6 22. Rxf7 Re7 23. Raf1 Qd6 24. Be4 Rae8 25. Qh5 Rxf7 26. Rxf7 Ndf6 27. Qg6 Re7 28. Bg5 Rxf7 29. Qxf7 Qe7 30. Qxe7 Bxe7 0-1 [Event "World Blitz Women Final"] [White "Lei, Tingjie"] [Black "Assaubayeva, Bibisara"] [Site "New York USA"] [Round "1.1"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.31"] [ECO "E60"] [WhiteElo "2549"] [BlackElo "2492"] [PlyCount "234"] [GameId "2130186025678573"] [EventDate "2024.12.31"] [EventType "k.o."] {[%evp 0,234,17,34,22,20,31,29,38,22,20,0,2,0,7,12,24,28,23,30,42,108,14,130,35,12,30,24,40,-3,22,-2,32,32,29,32,35,75,19,21,3,22,43,64,39,21,-109,51,143,70,59,66,80,87,232,91,82,83,79,184,77,85,90,96,90,82,62,78,76,70,85,87,137,98,118,98,97,85,89,73,87,74,72,66,70,42,116,41,92,50,83,71,98,39,55,62,57,64,51,52,60,46,67,48,56,39,37,27,-1,31,176,83,71,68,50,45,47,29,33,29,28,28,31,31,35,33,43,39,26,29,25,31,25,29,26,27,33,36,27,25,61,25,28,24,23,25,31,31,30,28,35,30,24,27,25,26,39,33,33,29,25,33,31,30,30,34,25,32,29,19,24,25,7,29,22,1,41,35,29,0,0,0,31,37,34,38,37,31,25,28,29,31,29,11,29,45,34,33,29,0,0,0,30,0,0,0,31,0,0,0,31,37,27,31,41,0,29,0,23,37,33,1,26,0,28,27,39,0,0,0,45,1,32,18,24,0,1]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. e3 O-O 5. Be2 c5 6. d5 e6 7. Nc3 exd5 8. cxd5 d6 9. O-O Bg4 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 Na6 12. Be2 Nc7 13. a4 a6 14. Re1 b5 15. axb5 axb5 16. Rxa8 Qxa8 17. Nxb5 Nxb5 18. Bxb5 Qxd5 19. Qxd5 Nxd5 20. Rd1 Nc7 21. Bc6 Rd8 22. Bd2 Rb8 23. Ba5 Nb5 24. b3 Kf8 25. Bxb5 Rxb5 26. Bc7 Rxb3 27. Bxd6+ Ke8 28. Bxc5 Bf6 29. g3 h5 30. Kg2 Rc3 31. Bd6 Rc2 32. h4 Ra2 33. Bf4 Ke7 34. Rc1 Ra7 35. Rc6 Rb7 36. Ra6 Rd7 37. Kf3 Rb7 38. Rc6 Ra7 39. Rc2 Rb7 40. Re2 Ra7 41. e4 Ra3+ 42. Re3 Rxe3+ 43. Bxe3 {The first of two consecutive games that reach bishop endings where one side has an extra pawn. In this one, Lei wins - not because Lei finds a great idea or her opponent errs, but because Assaubayeva loses on time in a position that's still drawn. Worse, she could have claimed a draw by the 50-move rule. You have to keep your wits about you - but easier said than done.} Be5 44. Bf4 Bd4 45. Be3 Be5 46. Kg2 Ke6 47. f3 Bc3 48. Bf4 Bb4 49. Kh3 Bc3 50. g4 hxg4+ 51. Kxg4 Bf6 52. Bg5 Bd4 53. f4 f5+ 54. exf5+ gxf5+ {The count begins.} 55. Kf3 Kf7 56. h5 Bc5 57. Ke2 Ke6 58. Kd3 Bf8 59. Kd4 Bg7+ 60. Kc5 Bf8+ 61. Kc6 Bb4 62. Kc7 Bc3 63. Kd8 Kf7 64. Kd7 Bb4 65. Bd8 Bd2 66. Bg5 Bb4 67. Kc6 Ke6 68. Kb5 Bc3 69. Kc4 Bg7 70. Kc5 Bc3 71. Bh6 Bb2 72. Kc4 Ba1 73. Kd3 Bf6 74. Ke3 Bc3 75. Kf3 Bd4 76. Kg3 Kf7 77. Kh4 Bf6+ 78. Bg5 Bd4 79. Kg3 Ke6 80. Kf3 Bc3 81. Ke3 Bb2 82. Bd8 Bc3 83. Bc7 Bb4 84. Be5 Bc5+ 85. Kf3 Kf7 86. Ke2 Bf8 87. Kd3 Ke6 88. Kc4 Bh6 89. Kb5 Kd5 90. Kb6 Ke6 91. Kc6 Bf8 92. Kc7 Bh6 93. Kd8 Kf7 94. Kd7 Bf8 95. Bd6 Bh6 96. Kd8 Ke6 97. Be5 Kf7 98. Kc7 Bf8 99. Kd7 Bc5 100. Bd6 Bd4 101. Kd8 Bf6+ 102. Kd7 Bd4 103. Be5 Bc5 {Time to claim a draw. By the way, the arbiters will step in when it has been 75 moves, but regardless: the defender should claim the draw when it "feels" like it has been around 50 moves. If she's wrong, who cares? The opponent gets an extra minute, but in return you get to know how many moves remain, plus you get a little time to think while the claim is being evaluated.} 104. Bc7 Bf8 105. Bd6 Bh6 106. Be5 Bf8 107. Kc6 Ke6 108. Bh8 Bh6 109. Be5 Bf8 110. Kb5 Kd5 111. Kb6 Ke6 112. Kc7 Kf7 113. Kd8 Be7+ 114. Kd7 Bf8 115. Bc3 Bh6 116. Bd2 Bf8 117. Be3 {Stop the clock, Assaubayeva! Instead, she froze an instant too long, and ran out of time before executing her next move. The position remains completely drawn, of course, even aside from the 50-move rule.} Bb4 1-0 [Event "World Blitz Women Final"] [White "Yip, Carissa"] [Black "Lagno, Kateryna"] [Site "New York USA"] [Round "1.1"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.31"] [ECO "A07"] [WhiteElo "2432"] [BlackElo "2515"] [PlyCount "80"] [GameId "2130205582469213"] [EventDate "2024.12.31"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. d3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Nbd2 b6 7. e4 dxe4 8. dxe4 Bb7 9. e5 Ne4 10. Nxe4 Qxd1 11. Rxd1 Bxe4 12. Be3 c5 13. Nd2 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 Nc6 15. Nc4 Rfd8 16. c3 Rd5 17. Kf1 Rad8 18. Ke2 Nxe5 19. Nxe5 Rxe5 20. c4 Kf8 21. b3 Ke8 22. Kf3 Rf5+ 23. Ke4 Bf6 24. Rxd8+ Kxd8 25. Rd1+ Ke7 26. f4 Rh5 27. h4 e5 28. Rd5 g6 29. fxe5 Bg7 30. Bg5+ f6 31. exf6+ Bxf6 32. Bxf6+ Kxf6 33. Rxh5 gxh5 34. Kf4 h6 35. Ke4 Ke6 36. a3 a6 37. a4 a5 38. Kf4 Kf6 39. Ke4 Ke6 40. Kf4 Kf6 1/2-1/2 [Event "World Blitz Women Final"] [White "Ju, Wenjun"] [Black "Gunina, Valentina"] [Site "New York USA"] [Round "1.1"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.31"] [ECO "D10"] [WhiteElo "2563"] [BlackElo "2425"] [PlyCount "117"] [GameId "2130187440609026"] [EventDate "2024.12.31"] [EventType "k.o."] {[%evp 0,117,24,30,12,12,23,16,114,26,27,11,20,-25,20,6,21,16,14,17,15,0,75,152,110,87,55,105,98,80,109,79,142,155,148,144,145,76,125,144,134,128,133,122,145,173,164,69,129,209,158,162,151,123,260,145,102,145,167,117,165,141,115,214,165,192,266,279,344,285,239,174,178,142,168,174,175,176,182,181,227,215,238,204,198,192,245,214,206,160,209,159,237,163,191,173,237,212,198,35,78,27,52,101,90,29,505,594,601,684,682,714,703,536,572,637,29989,29990,29991,29992]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 {Gunina is known as a crazy tactician, so this is exactly the thing to play against her. No guarantees, of course, but it's a good approach, and in this game it seems to work to perfection. (Granted, it helps to be the women's world champion.)} cxd5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. e3 a6 7. Rc1 Bf5 8. Nf3 e6 9. Qb3 Bb4 10. Ne5 O-O 11. Nxc6 Bxc3+ 12. Qxc3 bxc6 13. Be2 Ne4 14. Qa3 Qb6 15. O-O Rfc8 16. f3 Nf6 17. Rc3 a5 18. Rb3 Qa7 19. Rc1 a4 20. Rbc3 Qb6 21. h3 h6 22. Bd6 Nd7 23. Qb4 Qxb4 24. Bxb4 Nb8 25. a3 f6 26. Rc5 e5 27. Ra5 Rxa5 28. Bxa5 exd4 29. exd4 Nd7 30. Bd1 Rb8 31. Bxa4 Rxb2 32. Bxc6 Kh7 33. a4 Ra2 34. Bc7 Nf8 35. g4 Bd3 36. Bxd5 Rxa4 37. Rd1 Bc2 38. Rd2 Bb1 39. h4 Ng6 40. h5 Ne7 41. Bf7 Ra7 42. Bg3 Nc6 43. Be6 Nd8 44. Bc4 Ra4 45. Be2 f5 46. d5 fxg4 47. fxg4 Be4 48. d6 Bc6 49. Be5 Nf7 50. Bc3 Bd7 51. Kf2 Ng5 52. Rd4 Ne4+ 53. Rxe4 Rxe4 54. Bd3 Kg8 55. Bxe4 Bxg4 56. Bc6 Kf7 57. d7 Ke7 58. Bb4+ Kd8 59. Ba5+ 1-0 [Event "World Blitz Women Final"] [White "Zhu, Jiner"] [Black "Vaishali, Rameshbabu"] [Site "New York USA"] [Round "1.2"] [Result "0-1"] [Date "2024.12.31"] [ECO "C79"] [WhiteElo "2514"] [BlackElo "2476"] [PlyCount "104"] [GameId "2130205582473311"] [EventDate "2024.12.31"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O d6 6. c3 Bd7 7. d4 g6 8. dxe5 Nxe5 9. Nxe5 dxe5 10. Bg5 Bg7 11. Bxd7+ Qxd7 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Qxd7+ Kxd7 14. Rd1+ Ke6 15. a4 Rad8 16. Na3 h5 17. Kf1 h4 18. h3 Rxd1+ 19. Rxd1 Be7 20. Nc2 Rd8 21. Ke2 Rxd1 22. Kxd1 Bc5 23. Ke2 f5 24. exf5+ gxf5 25. Ne1 e4 26. f3 Ke5 27. fxe4 fxe4 28. b3 Kf4 29. Nc2 Kg3 30. Kf1 a5 31. Ne1 Be3 32. Nc2 Bd2 33. c4 Bc3 34. Ne3 c6 35. Nf5+ Kf4 36. Nxh4 Kg5 37. g3 Be5 38. Kg2 Bd4 39. Kh2 Bf2 40. Ng2 e3 41. Nf4 Kf5 42. Kg2 Ke4 43. Ne2 Be1 44. h4 Bb4 45. g4 Bd6 46. h5 Bf8 47. Kg3 Bh6 48. Kh4 Kd3 49. Ng3 Bf4 50. h6 Bxg3+ 51. Kg5 e2 52. h7 Be5 0-1 [Event "World Blitz Women Final"] [White "Assaubayeva, Bibisara"] [Black "Lei, Tingjie"] [Site "New York USA"] [Round "1.2"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.31"] [ECO "D27"] [WhiteElo "2492"] [BlackElo "2549"] [PlyCount "145"] [GameId "2130203588233235"] [EventDate "2024.12.31"] [EventType "k.o."] {[%evp 0,145,11,27,22,0,15,8,-3,18,25,29,22,15,40,14,51,15,35,44,34,25,28,19,-15,-10,18,0,31,3,-65,-20,22,87,14,29,24,24,34,39,19,5,8,24,62,13,5,26,-1,1,23,132,31,17,20,28,94,35,46,58,104,28,112,34,112,106,114,97,77,113,123,107,100,37,100,34,108,90,87,103,101,90,83,76,54,69,85,74,75,-5,64,38,102,45,90,93,117,90,101,164,80,95,81,69,77,94,91,82,91,84,67,76,79,76,88,39,74,36,90,60,113,336,152,152,153,152,140,141,141,131,131,136,137,128,135,84,100,50,178,95,95,-13,114,61,98,110,109,101]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 a6 6. O-O c5 7. b3 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Be7 9. Bb2 O-O 10. Be2 Bd7 11. Bf3 e5 12. Nc2 Nc6 13. Bxc6 Bxc6 14. Qxd8 Rfxd8 15. Bxe5 Nd7 16. Bd4 Be4 17. Rc1 Rac8 18. Nc3 Bc6 19. Ne1 Nc5 20. Ne2 Ne6 21. Bb6 Rd2 22. Nd4 Nxd4 23. Bxd4 Ba3 24. Rd1 Rxd1 25. Rxd1 f6 26. f3 Kf7 27. Kf2 Bb5 28. e4 Bb4 29. Be3 Bxe1+ 30. Kxe1 Rc2 31. Rd2 Rxd2 32. Bxd2 {This time it's Lei's turn to defend a pawn-down bishop ending, and she succeeds.} g6 33. Kf2 Ke6 34. Ke3 f5 35. g3 fxe4 36. Kxe4 Bc6+ 37. Kf4 Kf7 38. Ke3 Ke6 39. Kf4 Kf7 40. Bc3 Ke6 41. a3 Bd5 42. b4 Bc6 43. Kg4 Kf7 44. f4 Bd7+ 45. Kg5 Bh3 46. Kh6 Kg8 47. Bd4 Bd7 48. h4 Bg4 49. Kg5 Bf3 50. Kf6 Be2 51. Ke7 Bf3 52. Kf6 Be2 53. Kg5 Kf7 54. Kh6 Kg8 55. Bc3 Bf3 56. Kg5 Kf7 57. Bd4 Bd1 58. g4 Be2 59. h5 gxh5 60. Kxh5 Bf3 61. Kg5 Bd1 62. f5 Be2 63. Kf4 Bd1 64. g5 Bc2 65. Ke5 Bb1 66. Be3 Bc2 67. f6 Bd3 68. Kd5 Be2 69. Kd6 Bf3 70. Kc7 Be4 71. Kd6 Bg2 72. Ke5 Bh1 73. a4 1/2-1/2 [Event "World Blitz Women Final"] [White "Lagno, Kateryna"] [Black "Yip, Carissa"] [Site "New York USA"] [Round "1.2"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.31"] [ECO "C63"] [WhiteElo "2515"] [BlackElo "2432"] [PlyCount "59"] [GameId "2130187853313817"] [EventDate "2024.12.31"] [EventType "k.o."] {[%evp 0,59,19,13,-33,20,8,14,43,18,37,26,32,21,19,-12,-11,-18,-14,-22,-20,-28,-38,-38,-6,-18,40,-65,-48,-50,96,-57,50,75,25,19,21,130,-17,-47,52,-42,-66,-84,-102,-99,-109,-103,19,-100,-97,-90,338,432,675,1071,1232,799,796,811,29997,29998]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 {Gotta give Yip her props for daring to play this. She wins the theoretical battle, too, and her loss cannot be attributed to the Schliemann.} 4. d3 fxe4 5. dxe4 Nf6 6. Nc3 $6 {This has been considered inferior since I was a kid, before the universe had cooled enough for the heavier elements to form. It's hard to believe that Lagno is unaware of this - the Schliemann isn't as popular as the Berlin, to put it mildly - but it has been a serious enough line that elite players like Carlsen, Aronian, Erigaisi, Radjabov, Andreikin and others have used it in multiple games.} Bb4 $11 7. Bc4 $6 {Another inaccuracy.} (7. Qd3 {is the best try, when it's still equal but there are some tricky possibilities.}) 7... Na5 (7... Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 d6 9. O-O Na5 $15 {is the most precise way.}) 8. Bd3 (8. Qd3) 8... Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 d6 10. h3 O-O 11. O-O Kh8 {I don't see the rush for this. There aren't any tricks coming on the a2-g8 diagonal just yet, so it's better to start building the attack (or at least to bring the knight back to civilization).} (11... Nc6) (11... Qe8) 12. c4 $6 b6 $1 13. Nd2 Be6 (13... Qe7 $142 $17) (13... Qe8) 14. Qe2 (14. f4 $142) 14... Qe8 $2 (14... Nd7 $1 $17 {is best, clearing a path for the queen while preventing f4.}) 15. Nb3 $6 (15. f4 $11) 15... Qa4 $6 {Yes, White's queenside is weak, but it will remain weak. Don't let White swap off her terrible knight.} (15... Nc6) 16. Nxa5 Qxa5 17. a4 $11 Qc5 $6 (17... Nd7) 18. Be3 (18. Ba3 $1 Qc6 19. f4 $1 exf4 20. e5 {and now White's bishops are turning into monsters. Black needs to precise to avoid a disaster.} Nd7 $1 21. exd6 Nc5 $1 22. dxc7 Rae8 $14) 18... Qc6 $11 19. Bd2 (19. f4 $1 Nxe4 $4 20. Qf3 $18 {wins a piece.} d5 (20... Bf5 21. g4 Bg6 22. f5 $18) 21. cxd5 Bxd5 22. c4 $18) 19... a5 $1 $15 {/?} 20. f4 exf4 21. Rxf4 Nd7 22. Rh4 $6 Ne5 $17 23. Qh5 Bg8 (23... Qc5+ $1 24. Kh1 Bg8 $19) 24. Bc3 (24. Be3 $17 {/-+}) 24... Qc5+ $19 25. Kh1 Nxc4 $4 {Yip thought it was a safe time to cash in, but this is a blunder.} (25... Rae8 $19 {is a good move, stabilizing everything in Black's position. As long as Black maintains the knight on e5 White won't be able to do anything. One reasonable plan for Black is to bring the queen back to the kingside, expel the invaders, and only then start chomping down on White's four weak pawns.}) 26. e5 $1 $18 {Ouch. Now the game is over, and not the way Yip had in mind.} (26. Bxg7+ {also won, and White had other moves that were at least not losing. Black's previous move wasn't just bad because of one lucky tactic.}) 26... Nxe5 (26... h6 27. exd6 Qxh5 28. Rxh5 {leaves Black without a sensible answer to the threatened Rxh6+.} Bf7 {is the most obvious try, but after} 29. Rxh6+ Kg8 30. Rh7 $18 {Black could stop the clocks and put the kings on e4 and d5 with a clear conscience.}) 27. Bxh7 g6 28. Bxg6+ (28. Qh6 $1) 28... Kg7 29. Qg5 Qxc3 $6 30. Be8+ $1 (30. Be8+ $1 Ng6 31. Qxg6#) 1-0 [Event "World Blitz Women Final"] [White "Gunina, Valentina"] [Black "Ju, Wenjun"] [Site "New York USA"] [Round "1.2"] [Result "0-1"] [Date "2024.12.31"] [ECO "D38"] [WhiteElo "2425"] [BlackElo "2563"] [PlyCount "70"] [GameId "2130205582477410"] [EventDate "2024.12.31"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 O-O 8. Rc1 dxc4 9. Bxc4 c5 10. O-O cxd4 11. Ne4 Qe7 12. a3 Ba5 13. Qxd4 Rd8 14. Qe5 Bb6 15. g4 Nd7 16. Qg3 Nf6 17. Nxf6+ Qxf6 18. h4 g5 19. hxg5 hxg5 20. Qh3 Bd7 21. Bd3 Bc6 22. Qh7+ Kf8 23. Be4 Bb5 24. Rfe1 Rd7 25. Kg2 Ke7 26. Rh1 Be2 27. Rc2 Bxf3+ 28. Bxf3 Rad8 29. Rh6 Qe5 30. Rh1 Rd2 31. Rxd2 Rxd2 32. Rf1 Bxe3 33. Qg8 Bb6 34. Qc8 Bc7 35. Re1 Qg3+ 0-1 [Event "World Blitz Women Final"] [White "Vaishali, Rameshbabu"] [Black "Zhu, Jiner"] [Site "New York USA"] [Round "1.3"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.31"] [ECO "B93"] [WhiteElo "2476"] [BlackElo "2514"] [PlyCount "97"] [GameId "2130205582477411"] [EventDate "2024.12.31"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f4 e5 7. Nf3 Qc7 8. Bd3 Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Qe1 Nbd7 11. a4 Nc5 12. Kh1 Re8 13. fxe5 dxe5 14. Bg5 Be6 15. Qg3 Nxd3 16. cxd3 Qd8 17. Rad1 Nh5 18. Qh4 Bxg5 19. Nxg5 h6 20. Qxh5 Qxg5 21. Qxg5 hxg5 22. d4 exd4 23. Rxd4 Rad8 24. Rfd1 Rxd4 25. Rxd4 Kf8 26. Kg1 Rc8 27. Kf2 Ke7 28. Rb4 Rc7 29. Rb6 Rd7 30. Ke3 Kd8 31. a5 Kc7 32. Rb4 Rd8 33. h3 Rd7 34. Rd4 Rxd4 35. Kxd4 Kc6 36. b4 Bb3 37. Ke5 Be6 38. Kd4 Bb3 39. Ke5 Be6 40. Nd5 Kd7 41. Ne3 Kc6 42. Nd5 Kd7 43. Kd4 Kc6 44. Ke5 Kd7 45. Kd4 Kd6 46. Nc3 Kc6 47. Ke5 Bd7 48. Kd4 Be6 49. Ke5 1/2-1/2 [Event "World Blitz Women Final"] [White "Lei, Tingjie"] [Black "Assaubayeva, Bibisara"] [Site "New York USA"] [Round "1.3"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.31"] [ECO "E97"] [WhiteElo "2549"] [BlackElo "2492"] [PlyCount "63"] [GameId "2130205582477412"] [EventDate "2024.12.31"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. dxe5 dxe5 9. Qxd8 Rxd8 10. Bg5 Rf8 11. Rfd1 Bg4 12. Be3 Rad8 13. Nd5 Nxe4 14. Nxc7 Rc8 15. Nd5 Nf6 16. h3 Nxd5 17. cxd5 Bxf3 18. Bxf3 Nd4 19. Rac1 Rfd8 20. Bxd4 exd4 21. Kf1 Kf8 22. Ke2 Ke7 23. Kd3 Kd6 24. Re1 Re8 25. Rxe8 Rxe8 26. h4 h5 27. Rd1 Bf6 28. g3 Re7 29. Rc1 Re8 30. Rd1 Re7 31. Rc1 Re8 32. Rd1 1/2-1/2 [Event "World Blitz Women Final"] [White "Yip, Carissa"] [Black "Lagno, Kateryna"] [Site "New York USA"] [Round "1.3"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.31"] [ECO "A07"] [WhiteElo "2432"] [BlackElo "2515"] [PlyCount "95"] [GameId "2130195288360160"] [EventDate "2024.12.31"] [EventType "k.o."] {[%evp 0,95,12,22,15,-2,-9,-3,3,15,20,0,0,0,13,-6,10,2,16,-38,-2,12,10,0,-5,27,0,12,7,11,2,2,29,13,22,9,51,145,40,10,8,62,59,34,34,32,26,-9,17,2,-9,-144,27,100,47,-6,25,17,279,303,291,286,336,321,355,318,412,513,420,420,489,387,483,298,368,400,530,407,442,431,406,441,440,499,550,540,556,544,594,446,700,376,708,699,680,779,837,549]} 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. d3 O-O 6. Nbd2 Nc6 7. c3 a5 8. a4 b6 9. Qc2 Ba6 10. Rd1 e5 11. e4 dxe4 12. Nxe4 Nxe4 13. dxe4 Qc8 14. Be3 Qe6 15. h4 f6 16. b3 Rad8 17. Rd5 Nb8 18. Rad1 Bb7 19. R5d2 Rxd2 20. Nxd2 Rd8 21. Kh2 Qf7 22. Nc4 Bc8 23. Bc1 Be6 24. Bf1 Nd7 25. Bh3 Bxh3 26. Kxh3 Nc5 27. Rxd8+ Bxd8 28. Be3 Nxa4 $4 {This time it's Lagno who blunders, but it only costs her half a point rather than the full point Yip lost in the previous round.} (28... Be7 $14) 29. Qd3 $1 $18 Be7 30. bxa4 Qe6+ 31. Kg2 Kf7 32. Qd5 Qxd5 33. exd5 Bd8 34. f4 e4 35. f5 Ke7 36. Bf4 Kd7 37. Nd2 b5 38. Nxe4 Be7 39. axb5 a4 40. c4 Bb4 41. Bd2 Be7 42. c5 a3 43. Bc3 a2 44. Ba1 h5 45. Kf3 Bf8 46. Ke3 Be7 47. Kd3 Bd8 48. Kc4 1-0 [Event "World Blitz Women Final"] [White "Ju, Wenjun"] [Black "Gunina, Valentina"] [Site "New York USA"] [Round "1.3"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.31"] [ECO "D10"] [WhiteElo "2563"] [BlackElo "2425"] [PlyCount "143"] [GameId "2130205582481510"] [EventDate "2024.12.31"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. e3 a6 7. Rc1 Bg4 8. Be2 Bxe2 9. Ngxe2 e6 10. h3 Be7 11. O-O O-O 12. Na4 Qa5 13. a3 Rfc8 14. Bg5 b5 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Nc5 Be7 17. Nf4 b4 18. axb4 Nxb4 19. Nfd3 Nxd3 20. Nxd3 h6 21. Qe2 Bd6 22. Rc2 Rc4 23. b3 Rc3 24. Rb1 Rac8 25. Rxc3 Qxc3 26. g3 Rb8 27. b4 Qc4 28. Qd2 Qb5 29. Ra1 Rb6 30. Nc5 g6 31. Kg2 h5 32. h4 Kg7 33. Qc3 Qc4 34. Qxc4 dxc4 35. Nxa6 c3 36. Nc5 Rxb4 37. Ne4 c2 38. Rc1 Bb8 39. Rxc2 e5 40. Rd2 Ba7 41. Ng5 exd4 42. exd4 Bxd4 43. Nf3 Bb6 44. Rc2 Kf6 45. Rc6+ Ke7 46. Rc2 f6 47. Re2+ Kd6 48. Rd2+ Ke6 49. Re2+ Kf5 50. Rd2 Ke4 51. Re2+ Kd5 52. Rd2+ Kc6 53. Re2 Kd7 54. Rd2+ Ke7 55. Re2+ Kf7 56. Rc2 Rb5 57. Re2 Kg7 58. Re7+ Kf8 59. Re6 Kf7 60. Re2 g5 61. hxg5 fxg5 62. Nd2 Rb2 63. Kf1 g4 64. Nc4 Rb1+ 65. Re1 Rxe1+ 66. Kxe1 Bd4 67. Ke2 Ke6 68. f3 h4 69. gxh4 g3 70. Kf1 Kf5 71. Kg2 Kf4 72. Nd2 1/2-1/2 [Event "World Blitz Women Final"] [White "Zhu, Jiner"] [Black "Vaishali, Rameshbabu"] [Site "New York USA"] [Round "1.4"] [Result "0-1"] [Date "2024.12.31"] [ECO "C72"] [WhiteElo "2514"] [BlackElo "2476"] [PlyCount "98"] [GameId "2130205582481511"] [EventDate "2024.12.31"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. O-O Bd7 6. c3 g6 7. d4 Bg7 8. dxe5 dxe5 9. Be3 Nge7 10. Bc2 O-O 11. Nbd2 Kh8 12. Re1 f5 13. exf5 gxf5 14. Bc5 b6 15. Ba3 Qe8 16. Nf1 Rd8 17. Qe2 e4 18. N3d2 Ne5 19. f3 Bc6 20. fxe4 f4 21. Nf3 Bf6 22. N1d2 Rg8 23. Nxe5 Bxe5 24. Nf3 Ng6 25. Bb3 Rg7 26. Rad1 Bb5 27. Qf2 Rc8 28. Rd2 h6 29. Red1 c5 30. Bd5 a5 31. b3 Bd7 32. c4 Bg4 33. Kh1 Kh7 34. Bb2 Bxb2 35. Rxb2 Ne5 36. Rg1 Nd3 37. Qc2 Nxb2 38. Ne1 Qe5 39. h3 Bh5 40. Rf1 Rf8 41. Rf2 Nd1 42. Rd2 Ne3 43. Qd3 Kh8 44. Rf2 Qa1 45. Re2 Bxe2 46. Qxe2 Nxd5 47. cxd5 f3 48. gxf3 Rfg8 49. Kh2 Qe5+ 0-1 [Event "World Blitz Women Final"] [White "Assaubayeva, Bibisara"] [Black "Lei, Tingjie"] [Site "New York USA"] [Round "1.4"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.31"] [ECO "A14"] [WhiteElo "2492"] [BlackElo "2549"] [PlyCount "55"] [GameId "2130205582481512"] [EventDate "2024.12.31"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 b6 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. d4 Bb7 9. e4 Nf6 10. e5 Nd5 11. Nc3 c5 12. dxc5 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Qxd1 14. Rxd1 Bxc5 15. Nd4 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Na6 17. Nb5 h6 18. a4 Rfd8 19. Bb2 Be7 20. a5 Rxd1 21. Rxd1 bxa5 22. Ra1 Nc5 23. Rxa5 Nd3 24. Ba3 Bxa3 25. Nxa3 Rc8 26. c4 Nb2 27. c5 Nd3 28. Rxa7 1/2-1/2 [Event "World Blitz Women Final"] [White "Lagno, Kateryna"] [Black "Yip, Carissa"] [Site "New York USA"] [Round "1.4"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.31"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "2515"] [BlackElo "2432"] [PlyCount "70"] [GameId "2130195628508416"] [EventDate "2024.12.31"] [EventType "k.o."] {[%evp 0,70,29,26,28,125,24,78,49,37,6,14,18,29,33,101,34,27,25,25,34,30,24,44,32,25,65,33,34,46,82,80,77,76,77,52,61,63,174,176,208,192,190,202,269,201,325,256,310,395,481,256,102,141,97,212,247,244,212,277,287,213,280,313,349,265,306,242,319,243,437,217,517]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 {Many players switched from the Ruy to the Italian because of the Berlin. But because of the Schliemann?! Alas for the American youngster, it worked, and Lagno won this game to win the match and advance to the semis.} Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Na4 Bb6 7. Nxb6 axb6 8. c3 h6 9. O-O Bg4 (9... O-O 10. h3 Ne7 {followed by ...Ng6, ...Re8, and ...d5 is a likely equalizer.}) 10. Re1 Qd7 11. b4 O-O 12. a4 Kh8 $6 {It wasn't good in the Schliemann game, and it's not good now.} (12... Rfe8 13. h3 Bh5 $11 {and ...d5, possibly but not necessarily prefaced by ...Ne7-g6, gives Black full equality.}) 13. Bb3 Nh7 14. h3 $16 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 f5 {The point of Black's play the last few moves, but the whole plan is bad. It cannot work, given White's beautiful bishops, especially the light-squared bishop, and White wins easily (and impressively).} 16. exf5 Rxf5 17. Qg3 Raf8 18. Ra2 (18. f3 {is fine, putting an immediate end to the fun. Now White will prepare the d4 advance.}) 18... d5 $2 (18... Nf6 $142) 19. Rae2 $18 d4 20. b5 Na5 21. Bc2 dxc3 22. d4 {Black's position collapses.} e4 23. Bxe4 R5f7 24. Bg6 Rf6 25. Re7 (25. Bxh7 $142 Kxh7 26. Re7 $18) 25... Qd6 26. Qxd6 (26. Bxh6 $142 $1) 26... Rxd6 (26... cxd6 $142) 27. Bc2 Nf6 28. Rxc7 Nd5 29. Ba3 Re6 30. Rxe6 Nxc7 31. Re7 Rc8 32. Rd7 Ne6 33. Bb4 Nc4 34. Bxc3 Na3 35. Bf5 Rxc3 1-0 [Event "World Blitz Women Final"] [White "Vaishali, Rameshbabu"] [Black "Ju, Wenjun"] [Site "New York USA"] [Round "2.1"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.31"] [ECO "C48"] [WhiteElo "2476"] [BlackElo "2563"] [PlyCount "169"] [GameId "2130197907450660"] [EventDate "2024.12.31"] [EventType "k.o."] {[%evp 0,169,15,35,41,75,16,1,24,2,3,-4,-1,-3,11,74,-12,-10,-11,-10,-57,-7,11,19,37,57,1,23,29,46,61,35,68,40,48,-8,48,51,48,24,22,23,57,30,35,41,-66,23,1,-1,-41,58,50,51,-4,28,-34,-2,-73,-7,14,20,-77,25,107,101,87,119,75,105,204,15,5,-37,133,41,25,20,25,25,25,7,23,112,74,58,89,113,115,230,107,188,108,97,110,110,103,140,114,78,104,96,120,120,85,81,36,24,87,87,197,240,178,72,31,112,77,49,23,1,55,42,24,1,3,2,1,11,1,43,1,32,1,1,18,15,20,18,7,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,1,1,20,1,17,1,33,14,6,10,12,17,15,24,8,5,5,5,5,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nd4 5. O-O c6 6. Bc4 d6 7. h3 b5 8. Bb3 a5 9. a3 a4 10. Ba2 Nxf3+ 11. Qxf3 g5 12. d4 g4 13. hxg4 Bxg4 14. Qd3 Rg8 15. f3 Bd7 16. Be3 Nh5 17. Ne2 exd4 18. Qxd4 Qh4 19. Rf2 Rg6 20. Rd1 Rd8 21. Qd2 Ng3 22. Nxg3 Qxg3 23. Bf4 Qh4 24. Qe3 Be7 25. c4 bxc4 26. Bxc4 Kf8 27. Bf1 Be6 28. Rfd2 Bb3 29. Rc1 c5 30. Bc4 Bxc4 31. Rxc4 Kg7 32. e5 d5 33. Rxa4 d4 34. Qe4 Rg8 35. e6 Rxe6 36. Be5+ Kh6 37. Qxh4+ Bxh4 38. Bf4+ Bg5 39. Bxg5+ Rxg5 40. b4 cxb4 41. Rxb4 Ra5 42. a4 Rea6 43. Rdxd4 f5 44. Kh2 Kg5 45. Kg3 Rc5 46. Rb8 Rca5 47. Rbb4 Rc5 48. Rbc4 Rca5 49. f4+ Kg6 50. Kh4 Kh6 51. g3 Kg6 52. Rd7 Rxa4 53. Rcc7 Ra1 54. Rg7+ Kf6 55. Rcf7+ Ke6 56. Rxh7 {This ending is objectively drawn, but it's not easy.} Rh1+ $2 {This works out, but it should have lost.} 57. Kg5 Rxh7 58. Rxh7 Ra3 59. Rh6+ (59. g4 $1 {was the key.} fxg4 60. f5+ {and the Black king will be cut off.} Ke5 (60... Kd6 61. Kxg4 Ra1 62. Kg5 $1 {If White gets to play Kf6 the Lucena position is inevitable, but the only move that stops it,} Ke5 {, fails to the obvious} 63. Re7+ Kd6 64. f6 $18 {, when Black will be "Lucena'd" all the same.}) 61. Re7+ Kd6 62. Re6+ Kd5 63. Kxg4 $18) 59... Kf7 60. Rh7+ Ke6 61. Rh3 $2 (61. g4 $1 $18) 61... Rb3 $2 (61... Rf3 $1 62. Rh6+ Kf7 63. Rh7+ Ke6 64. g4 fxg4 {and now there's no f5+, so Black draws.}) 62. Kg6 $2 (62. Rh6+ $1 Kf7 63. Rh7+ $1 Ke6 64. g4 $1 $18) 62... Rc3 63. Kg5 Rb3 $2 (63... Rf3 $1 $11) 64. Rh6+ Kf7 65. Rh7+ Ke6 {One more opportunity.} 66. Kh4 $2 (66. g4 $1 $18) 66... Rc3 67. Rh6+ Kf7 68. Rb6 Kg7 69. Kg5 {After this, the draw is trivial - basic Philidor.} Rxg3+ 70. Kxf5 Rf3 71. Rb7+ Kf8 72. Ke5 Rf1 73. Ra7 Rb1 74. f5 Rb6 75. Kf4 Rc6 76. Ra5 Rb6 77. Kg5 Rc6 78. Ra8+ Kf7 79. Ra7+ Kf8 80. Rh7 Rb6 81. f6 Rb1 82. Rh8+ Kf7 83. Rh7+ Kf8 84. Rh8+ Kf7 85. Rh7+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "World Blitz Women Final"] [White "Lei, Tingjie"] [Black "Lagno, Kateryna"] [Site "New York USA"] [Round "2.1"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.31"] [ECO "D35"] [WhiteElo "2549"] [BlackElo "2515"] [PlyCount "157"] [GameId "2130205582489707"] [EventDate "2024.12.31"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. Nf3 Re8 9. O-O h6 10. Bh4 Bg4 11. Qb3 Na6 12. a3 Nc7 13. Qxb7 Bxf3 14. gxf3 Qd7 15. Qb3 Qh3 16. Bg3 Bxg3 17. fxg3 Rxe3 18. Nd1 Re7 19. Qc3 Ne6 20. Rc1 Ng5 21. Qd2 Rae8 22. Qg2 Qd7 23. Nc3 Re3 24. Rcd1 a5 25. Bb1 Qd6 26. h4 Ne6 27. Qf2 Nh5 28. Kg2 Nc7 29. Rfe1 Rxe1 30. Rxe1 Rxe1 31. Qxe1 Ne6 32. Ne2 c5 33. dxc5 Qxc5 34. Qd2 Nf6 35. Bd3 d4 36. b4 axb4 37. Qxb4 Qe5 38. Qd2 Nd5 39. Be4 Ne3+ 40. Kf2 Qc5 41. Qd3 Nc4 42. Kg2 Nxa3 43. Bf5 Nb5 44. Be4 Nc3 45. Bf5 Nxe2 46. Bxe6 Qe5 47. Bc4 Qxg3+ 48. Kf1 Nf4 49. Qxd4 Qxf3+ 50. Ke1 Qg3+ 51. Kd2 Ne6 52. Bxe6 fxe6 53. Qe4 Qd6+ 54. Ke2 Qd5 55. Qg6 Qf5 56. Qe8+ Kh7 57. h5 e5 58. Ke3 Qf4+ 59. Ke2 Qg4+ 60. Ke3 Qg5+ 61. Ke2 Qf6 62. Ke3 Qd6 63. Ke2 Qa6+ 64. Ke3 Qa3+ 65. Ke4 Qb4+ 66. Ke3 Qf4+ 67. Ke2 Qf5 68. Ke3 Qg5+ 69. Ke2 Qf4 70. Qg6+ Kg8 71. Qe8+ Qf8 72. Qxe5 Qf7 73. Ke3 g5 74. hxg6 Qxg6 75. Kf3 Qf7+ 76. Kg4 Qg6+ 77. Kh4 Qg5+ 78. Qxg5+ hxg5+ 79. Kxg5 1/2-1/2 [Event "World Blitz Women Final"] [White "Ju, Wenjun"] [Black "Vaishali, Rameshbabu"] [Site "New York USA"] [Round "2.2"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.31"] [ECO "A50"] [WhiteElo "2563"] [BlackElo "2476"] [PlyCount "171"] [GameId "2130205582489708"] [EventDate "2024.12.31"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. Nc3 Bb7 4. Qc2 d5 5. Bg5 e6 6. Nf3 Be7 7. e3 O-O 8. Be2 Nbd7 9. O-O h6 10. Bh4 Ne4 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12. cxd5 exd5 13. Rac1 c5 14. dxc5 Ndxc5 15. Rfd1 Rfd8 16. Nd4 Rac8 17. Bg4 Ra8 18. b4 Nxc3 19. Qxc3 Ne4 20. Qb2 a5 21. bxa5 bxa5 22. Nf5 Qg5 23. h3 Ba6 24. Rc7 h5 25. f4 Qf6 26. Qxf6 Nxf6 27. Bf3 Kf8 28. a3 Bc4 29. Rd2 Rab8 30. Ra7 Rb3 31. Rxa5 g6 32. Nd4 Rxe3 33. Nc6 Rde8 34. Ne5 Re7 35. Kf2 Rc3 36. a4 Kg7 37. Rc5 Ra3 38. Nxc4 dxc4 39. Rxc4 Ra7 40. Bc6 h4 41. Rdc2 Nh5 42. Bf3 Nf6 43. Bc6 Nh5 44. Rd4 Ng3 45. Rd7 Rxd7 46. Bxd7 Ra1 47. Bb5 Ra3 48. Rc7 Ne4+ 49. Ke1 Nc3 50. Bc4 Nxa4 51. Rxf7+ Kh6 52. Rf8 Kg7 53. Rg8+ Kh7 54. Ra8 Ra1+ 55. Kf2 Ra3 56. Kg1 Ra1+ 57. Kh2 Nb6 58. Rxa1 Nxc4 59. Rc1 Ne3 60. Rc3 Nf5 61. Kg1 Kg7 62. Kf2 Kf6 63. Kf3 Nd4+ 64. Kg4 Nf5 65. Rc5 Ne3+ 66. Kxh4 Nxg2+ 67. Kg3 Ne3 68. Kf3 Nf5 69. Rc6+ Kg7 70. Kg4 Kh6 71. Re6 Nd4 72. Rf6 Kg7 73. Ra6 Kh6 74. h4 Kg7 75. h5 gxh5+ 76. Kxh5 Kf7 77. Kg4 Kg7 78. f5 Kf7 79. Kg5 Nf3+ 80. Kf4 Nd4 81. Rd6 Ne2+ 82. Kg5 Ng3 83. Rd7+ Ke8 84. Ra7 Ne4+ 85. Kg6 Kf8 86. f6 1-0 [Event "World Blitz Women Final"] [White "Lagno, Kateryna"] [Black "Lei, Tingjie"] [Site "New York USA"] [Round "2.2"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.31"] [ECO "C78"] [WhiteElo "2515"] [BlackElo "2549"] [PlyCount "93"] [GameId "2130205582489709"] [EventDate "2024.12.31"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. c3 d6 8. a4 Bg4 9. d3 O-O 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Qxa8 12. Bg5 Nd7 13. h3 Bh5 14. g4 Bg6 15. Nh4 Kh8 16. Qf3 Qe8 17. Nxg6+ fxg6 18. Qg3 Nd8 19. Nd2 Ne6 20. Be3 Nf4 21. Bxf4 Rxf4 22. Kg2 c6 23. f3 Be3 24. Qe1 Bxd2 25. Qxd2 Nc5 26. Ba2 Rf8 27. b4 Ne6 28. Bxe6 Qxe6 29. f4 exf4 30. Rxf4 Ra8 31. Rf2 Kg8 32. Qf4 h6 33. d4 Kh7 34. e5 Qd5+ 35. Qf3 dxe5 36. Qxd5 cxd5 37. dxe5 Rc8 38. Rd2 Rxc3 39. Rxd5 Kg8 40. Rxb5 Kf7 41. Rb6 Rb3 42. b5 g5 43. Rb8 Ke6 44. b6 Ke7 45. b7 Kf7 46. e6+ Ke7 47. Rg8 1-0 [Event "World Blitz Women Final"] [White "Vaishali, Rameshbabu"] [Black "Ju, Wenjun"] [Site "New York USA"] [Round "2.3"] [Result "0-1"] [Date "2024.12.31"] [ECO "D02"] [WhiteElo "2476"] [BlackElo "2563"] [PlyCount "72"] [GameId "2130205582489710"] [EventDate "2024.12.31"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 e6 5. Nbd2 Qb6 6. Rb1 Bd6 7. Bxd6 Qxd6 8. Bb5+ Bd7 9. Bxd7+ Nbxd7 10. O-O O-O 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. c4 Rfd8 13. Qe2 Qa6 14. b4 Nce4 15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16. Rfc1 Rac8 17. b5 Qa3 18. Ra1 Nc3 19. Qd3 dxc4 20. Qc2 Nxb5 21. Ng5 Qd3 22. Qb2 c3 23. Qb4 c2 24. h4 h6 25. Nf3 Nc3 26. Kh2 Ne2 27. Qxb7 Nxc1 28. Rxc1 Qd6+ 29. g3 Qd5 30. Qxd5 Rxd5 31. Nd4 Rdc5 32. Kg2 e5 33. Nb3 Rd5 34. Kf3 Rd1 35. Ke2 Rxc1 36. Nxc1 Rd8 0-1 [Event "World Blitz Women Final"] [White "Lei, Tingjie"] [Black "Lagno, Kateryna"] [Site "New York USA"] [Round "2.3"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.31"] [ECO "D35"] [WhiteElo "2549"] [BlackElo "2515"] [PlyCount "113"] [GameId "2130205582493807"] [EventDate "2024.12.31"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. Nf3 Re8 9. O-O Bg4 10. Qb3 Na6 11. Nd2 Rb8 12. Rae1 Bh5 13. Kh1 Be7 14. f3 Bg6 15. Bxg6 hxg6 16. Bh4 Nc7 17. Qd1 Ne6 18. Bf2 Qd7 19. e4 dxe4 20. fxe4 Nxd4 21. e5 Ng4 22. Bg1 Nh6 23. Nf3 c5 24. e6 fxe6 25. Ne5 Qd6 26. Nxg6 Rbd8 27. Qh5 Ndf5 28. Ne4 Qd5 29. Nxe7+ Nxe7 30. Nf6+ gxf6 31. Qxh6 Qg5 32. Qxf6 Qxf6 33. Rxf6 Nd5 34. Rfxe6 Rxe6 35. Rxe6 b6 36. g3 Nb4 37. a3 Nd3 38. Re2 Nc1 39. Rc2 Rd1 40. b4 Nd3 41. bxc5 bxc5 42. Rc3 Kf7 43. Kg2 Rd2+ 44. Kh3 Ke6 45. Bxc5 a5 46. Be3 Rd1 47. Bf4 Kd5 48. Kg4 Kd4 49. Rc8 Ra1 50. Rd8+ Kc4 51. Ra8 Rxa3 52. h4 Nf2+ 53. Kf5 Ra1 54. h5 a4 55. h6 a3 56. h7 Rh1 57. h8=Q 1-0 [Event "World Blitz Women Final"] [White "Ju, Wenjun"] [Black "Vaishali, Rameshbabu"] [Site "New York USA"] [Round "2.4"] [Result "*"] [Date "2024.12.31"] [WhiteElo "2563"] [BlackElo "2476"] [PlyCount "0"] [GameId "2130205582493808"] [EventDate "2024.12.31"] [EventType "k.o."] * [Event "World Blitz Women Final"] [White "Lagno, Kateryna"] [Black "Lei, Tingjie"] [Site "New York USA"] [Round "2.4"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.31"] [ECO "B23"] [WhiteElo "2515"] [BlackElo "2549"] [PlyCount "170"] [GameId "2130205582493809"] [EventDate "2024.12.31"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Qe3 Nf6 6. Nf3 d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Nxd5 Qxd5 9. Bd3 Be7 10. O-O Bd7 11. Rd1 Rd8 12. c3 Qh5 13. Be2 O-O 14. Ng5 Qh4 15. g3 Qa4 16. Ne4 Bc8 17. b3 Qa5 18. Bb2 Rxd1+ 19. Bxd1 Qe5 20. Qe2 Rd8 21. Bc2 h6 22. a4 b6 23. Rd1 Bb7 24. Rxd8+ Nxd8 25. Qd3 f5 26. Nd2 Qe1+ 27. Nf1 Be4 28. Qe3 Qxe3 29. Nxe3 Bxc2 30. Nxc2 Bf6 31. Kf1 Nc6 32. Ke2 Na5 33. Na1 Kf7 34. Kd3 Ke8 35. b4 Nc6 36. f4 Nxb4+ 37. Kc4 Nc6 38. Kb5 Kd7 39. Nc2 g5 40. Ne3 gxf4 41. gxf4 Kc7 42. Nc4 Be7 43. a5 bxa5 44. Nxa5 Nxa5 45. Kxa5 Bd6 46. Bc1 Kb7 47. Be3 h5 48. c4 h4 49. h3 e5 50. fxe5 Bxe5 51. Kb5 a6+ 52. Kc5 f4 53. Bf2 Bf6 54. Kd6 a5 55. Kc5 Bd8 56. Kb5 Kc8 57. c5 Kb7 58. c6+ Kc8 59. Be1 f3 60. Bf2 Kb8 61. Be1 Kc7 62. Bxa5+ Kc8 63. Be1 Kc7 64. Bf2 Kd6 65. Be1 Kc7 66. Kc5 Be7+ 67. Kd5 Kb6 68. Bf2+ Kc7 69. Be1 Bg5 70. Ba5+ Kc8 71. Bb6 Bd8 72. Bf2 Bg5 73. Ke4 Kc7 74. Kxf3 Kxc6 75. Kg4 Be7 76. Bxh4 Bxh4 77. Kxh4 Kd7 78. Kg5 Ke8 79. Kg6 Kf8 80. Kh7 Kf7 81. h4 Kf8 82. h5 Kf7 83. h6 Kf8 84. Kh8 Kf7 85. h7 Kf8 1/2-1/2 [Event "World Blitz Women Final"] [White "Lei, Tingjie"] [Black "Lagno, Kateryna"] [Site "New York USA"] [Round "2.5"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.31"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "2549"] [BlackElo "2515"] [PlyCount "57"] [GameId "2130205582493810"] [EventDate "2024.12.31"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Na4 Bb6 7. a3 h6 8. b4 Ne7 9. O-O Ng6 10. h3 O-O 11. Nxb6 axb6 12. Re1 Qe7 13. d4 Be6 14. Bf1 c5 15. bxc5 bxc5 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. Bb2 Nd7 18. Nd2 Nb6 19. Qf3 Rfd8 20. Qe3 Na4 21. Bc1 f6 22. g3 Bf7 23. Rb1 Nf8 24. Nc4 Ne6 25. c3 Qc7 26. Nb2 Nb6 27. Nc4 Na4 28. Nb2 Nb6 29. Nc4 1/2-1/2 [Event "World Blitz Women Final"] [White "Lagno, Kateryna"] [Black "Lei, Tingjie"] [Site "New York USA"] [Round "2.6"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [Result "0-1"] [Date "2024.12.31"] [ECO "B44"] [WhiteElo "2515"] [BlackElo "2549"] [PlyCount "68"] [GameId "2130199591981004"] [EventDate "2024.12.31"] [EventType "k.o."] {Lagno and Lei tied their match 2-2, and the first sudden death game was drawn. Lei wins this game, the second in sudden death, and advances to the final.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. Bd3 d5 7. O-O a5 8. Re1 Ba6 9. Bxa6 Rxa6 10. Nd2 Nf6 11. Qe2 Ra8 12. c4 Be7 13. e5 Nd7 14. Qg4 g6 15. Nf3 Qb6 $2 (15... h5 $14) 16. Re2 $2 (16. Bh6 $1 $18) 16... a4 $2 (16... h5) 17. Bh6 $18 Qb4 18. Rc1 Nb6 19. a3 Qb3 20. Nd4 Qd3 21. Nxc6 {Winning, but there were even better options.} (21. Rd2 Qe4 22. Qxe4 dxe4 23. Nxc6 $18) (21. Re3 Qd2 22. Rc2 Qa5 23. Nxc6 $18) 21... Nxc4 $2 (21... Bf8) 22. Ree1 $2 (22. Nxe7 Kxe7 {and now the coolest win is} 23. Rd2 $1 Qf5 (23... Nxd2 24. Qb4+ $1 Ke8 25. Bg5 f6 26. exf6 $18 {with inevitable mate.}) 24. Rxc4 $1 dxc4 25. Qh4+ Ke8 26. Qd4 {and Black must surrender her queen to avoid an immediate mate.} Qb1+ 27. Rd1 Qxd1+ 28. Qxd1 $18) 22... Bc5 23. Qh4 $2 $16 (23. Red1 $142 $18) 23... Rc8 $2 (23... Rg8 $142) 24. Bg7 $4 (24. Rc3 Qf5 25. Rf3 Qh5 26. Qf6 $18) 24... Rg8 25. Qxh7 Rxg7 $1 26. Qxg7 Rxc6 $19 {White's attack is over, but Black's is just beginning.} 27. Qg8+ Bf8 28. Rc3 Qd2 29. Rf1 Nxe5 30. Rh3 Rc1 31. g3 Rxf1+ 32. Kxf1 Qd1+ 33. Kg2 Qf3+ 34. Kf1 Nd3 0-1 [Event "World Blitz Women Final"] [White "Lei, Tingjie"] [Black "Ju, Wenjun"] [Site "New York USA"] [Round "3.1"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.31"] [ECO "D35"] [WhiteElo "2549"] [BlackElo "2563"] [PlyCount "79"] [GameId "2130205582497908"] [EventDate "2024.12.31"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Nge2 Nbd7 8. Ng3 Be6 9. h4 h6 10. Bf4 Nb6 11. Bd3 Bd6 12. Bxd6 Qxd6 13. Nf5 Bxf5 14. Bxf5 O-O 15. Qf3 Nc4 16. Rb1 Qb4 17. Qe2 Rfe8 18. O-O a5 19. Bd3 Nd6 20. a3 Qb6 21. b4 axb4 22. axb4 Nfe4 23. Bxe4 Nxe4 24. Qc2 Nd6 25. b5 Rac8 26. Qd3 Qc7 27. bxc6 bxc6 28. Rfc1 Nc4 29. g3 Qd6 30. Kg2 Rb8 31. e4 Rxb1 32. Rxb1 Qa3 33. exd5 cxd5 34. Rb5 Rc8 35. Rc5 Rxc5 36. dxc5 Qxc5 37. Nxd5 Ne5 38. Qe4 Qd6 39. Ne3 Qc6 40. Qxc6 1/2-1/2 [Event "World Blitz Women Final"] [White "Ju, Wenjun"] [Black "Lei, Tingjie"] [Site "New York USA"] [Round "3.2"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.31"] [ECO "D35"] [WhiteElo "2563"] [BlackElo "2549"] [PlyCount "148"] [GameId "2130205582497909"] [EventDate "2024.12.31"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 Be7 8. Bd3 O-O 9. Nge2 Re8 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Qd2 Ne4 12. Bxe4 Bxh4 13. Bd3 Nf8 14. b4 a6 15. a4 Ne6 16. b5 axb5 17. axb5 Rxa1 18. Rxa1 Bf6 19. bxc6 bxc6 20. Rc1 Bd7 21. h3 Qa8 22. Qc2 c5 23. dxc5 Rc8 24. Qd2 Rxc5 25. Bf5 Qa5 26. Nb1 Qxd2 27. Nxd2 Rxc1+ 28. Nxc1 d4 29. Ne4 dxe3 30. Nxf6+ gxf6 31. fxe3 Bb5 32. Kf2 Nc5 33. Ne2 Kg7 34. Nd4 Bd3 35. Kf3 Bxf5 36. Nxf5+ Kg6 37. Ne7+ Kg7 38. Kf4 Nd3+ 39. Kf5 Ne1 40. g4 Ng2 41. Nd5 Nh4+ 42. Kf4 Ng6+ 43. Ke4 Nh4 44. Ne7 Kh7 45. Nf5 Ng2 46. Kf3 Ne1+ 47. Kf4 Ng2+ 48. Ke4 Kg6 49. Kf3 Ne1+ 50. Kg3 h5 51. Ne7+ Kh6 52. Kh4 hxg4 53. Kxg4 Nc2 54. e4 Ne3+ 55. Kf3 Nc4 56. Kf4 Kg7 57. Nf5+ Kg6 58. Ne3 Ne5 59. Nf5 Nd3+ 60. Kg3 Nc5 61. Kf3 Nd3 62. Ke3 Ne5 63. Kd4 Kg5 64. Ke3 Nc4+ 65. Kf3 Ne5+ 66. Kg3 Kg6 67. h4 Kh5 68. Ne7 Ng6 69. Nd5 Nxh4 70. Nxf6+ Kg6 71. Kxh4 Kxf6 72. Kg4 Ke5 73. Kf3 f5 74. exf5 Kxf5 1/2-1/2 [Event "World Blitz Women Final"] [White "Lei, Tingjie"] [Black "Ju, Wenjun"] [Site "New York USA"] [Round "3.3"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.31"] [ECO "C55"] [WhiteElo "2549"] [BlackElo "2563"] [PlyCount "305"] [GameId "2130205582497910"] [EventDate "2024.12.31"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Bb3 a5 7. a4 d5 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. h3 Be6 10. Re1 Bf6 11. Nbd2 Kh8 12. Ne4 h6 13. Nxf6 Qxf6 14. Qe2 Rae8 15. Bc4 Nf4 16. Bxf4 Qxf4 17. Bb5 Bd5 18. Bxc6 Bxc6 19. Nxe5 Qg5 20. f4 Qxf4 21. Qf2 Qxf2+ 22. Kxf2 Bd5 23. Re3 g5 24. Rae1 Kg7 25. Nd7 Rxe3 26. Rxe3 Rd8 27. Re7 b6 28. b3 Be6 29. Ne5 Kf6 30. Nc6 Rc8 31. c4 h5 32. Ke3 h4 33. d4 Bf5 34. Kd2 g4 35. hxg4 Bxg4 36. Re4 Rg8 37. Ne5 Bf5 38. Rxh4 Rxg2+ 39. Kc1 Rc2+ 40. Kd1 Rb2 41. Rh6+ Kg5 42. Rc6 Kf4 43. Rf6 Ke4 44. Rxf7 Kxd4 45. Rxf5 Rxb3 46. Kd2 Rb2+ 47. Kc1 Ra2 48. Nc6+ Kxc4 49. Rf4+ Kc5 50. Ne5 Kd5 51. Nd3 c6 52. Nb2 Ra3 53. Kc2 Rh3 54. Nd3 b5 55. axb5 cxb5 56. Rf5+ Kd4 57. Rf4+ Kd5 58. Rf8 Rh2+ 59. Kc3 b4+ 60. Kb3 Rh3 61. Rd8+ Kc6 62. Ka4 Kc7 63. Rd4 Kb6 64. Rd5 Kc6 65. Rd8 Kc7 66. Rd4 Kb6 67. Kb3 Kb5 68. Rd5+ Kc6 69. Rd8 Kb5 70. Kc2 Rh2+ 71. Kb1 Kc4 72. Nb2+ Kb5 73. Rd5+ Ka6 74. Nc4 Rh4 75. Rxa5+ Kb7 76. Rc5 Rg4 77. Kb2 Rg3 78. Ne5 Kb6 79. Nd7+ Kb7 80. Rc4 Rg2+ 81. Kb3 Rg3+ 82. Kxb4 Rg5 83. Nc5+ Kb6 84. Na4+ Kb7 85. Nc3 Rh5 86. Re4 Rg5 87. Na4 Kc6 88. Rd4 Rd5 89. Re4 Rg5 90. Nc3 Rf5 91. Re6+ Kd7 92. Ra6 Re5 93. Kc4 Re6 94. Ra7+ Kd6 95. Kd4 Kc6 96. Nd5 Rd6 97. Ra6+ Kd7 98. Ra7+ Ke6 99. Re7+ Kf5 100. Re5+ Kg4 101. Ke4 Ra6 102. Ne3+ Kg3 103. Rg5+ Kh4 104. Rg1 Ra4+ 105. Kf3 Kh5 106. Rg2 Kh6 107. Nf5+ Kh7 108. Nd6 Rd4 109. Ne4 Kh6 110. Kf4 Ra4 111. Kf5 Ra5+ 112. Ke6 Ra6+ 113. Nd6 Kh5 114. Ke5 Kh4 115. Nf5+ Kh3 116. Rg8 Ra4 117. Nd4 Rb4 118. Ke4 Ra4 119. Kf3 Ra3+ 120. Kf4 Ra4 121. Ke5 Ra5+ 122. Ke4 Ra4 123. Rg7 Rb4 124. Kf3 Kh4 125. Nf5+ Kh5 126. Ne3 Kh6 127. Rg1 Kh7 128. Nf5 Ra4 129. Ke3 Rb4 130. Nd4 Ra4 131. Ke4 Rb4 132. Ke5 Ra4 133. Ne6 Kh6 134. Nf4 Ra5+ 135. Kf6 Kh7 136. Rh1+ Kg8 137. Ne6 Ra2 138. Rg1+ Kh8 139. Nf4 Ra6+ 140. Kf5 Ra5+ 141. Kf6 Ra6+ 142. Ne6 Ra2 143. Rg3 Rf2+ 144. Kg6 Ra2 145. Rc3 Ra8 146. Rc7 Kg8 147. Re7 Rb8 148. Rd7 Ra8 149. Rd6 Rb8 150. Ng5 Ra8 151. Nh7 Rb8 152. Nf6+ Kh8 153. Rd7 1/2-1/2 [Event "World Blitz Women Final"] [White "Ju, Wenjun"] [Black "Lei, Tingjie"] [Site "New York USA"] [Round "3.4"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.31"] [ECO "D35"] [WhiteElo "2563"] [BlackElo "2549"] [PlyCount "157"] [GameId "2130205582497911"] [EventDate "2024.12.31"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 Be7 8. Bd3 O-O 9. Nge2 Re8 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Qd2 Ne4 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Bc4 Nf6 15. Rac1 a5 16. a3 Qd6 17. h3 Bd7 18. Rc2 g6 19. Rfc1 Kg7 20. Ba2 h5 21. Qc3 b6 22. Qd2 Re7 23. Rc3 Rd8 24. Qc2 Qb8 25. Nf4 Qd6 26. Qe2 Ra8 27. Bb3 Kh6 28. Qc2 Kg7 29. Ba4 b5 30. Bb3 a4 31. Ba2 Rd8 32. Rc5 Be8 33. Qc3 Kh7 34. Qa5 Qb8 35. Qb4 Qd6 36. Qc3 Bd7 37. Re5 Rde8 38. Rxe7 Qxe7 39. Qc5 Kg7 40. Kf1 Qxc5 41. Rxc5 Rb8 42. Ke1 b4 43. axb4 Rxb4 44. Rc2 Kf8 45. Kd2 Ke7 46. Ne2 Ne8 47. Kc1 Nd6 48. Rc5 f5 49. Nc3 Nb7 50. Re5+ Kf6 51. Bb1 Be6 52. Bc2 Bb3 53. Bxb3 axb3 54. Re8 Nd6 55. Rf8+ Ke7 56. Rg8 Kf7 57. Ra8 Rc4 58. Ra3 Rb4 59. Ra6 Rc4 60. Rb6 Nb5 61. Kd2 Kg7 62. Rb7+ Kf6 63. Rb6 Kg7 64. h4 Kf7 65. g3 Kg7 66. Ra6 Kf7 67. Rb6 Kg7 68. d5 Nxc3 69. bxc3 cxd5 70. Rxb3 Rc5 71. Rb6 Ra5 72. Rd6 Kf7 73. Rd7+ Ke6 74. Rg7 Ra2+ 75. Ke1 Kf6 76. Rd7 Ke6 77. Rg7 Kf6 78. Rd7 Ke6 79. Rg7 1/2-1/2 [Event "World Blitz Women Final"] [White "Lei, Tingjie"] [Black "Ju, Wenjun"] [Site "New York USA"] [Round "3.5"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.31"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "2549"] [BlackElo "2563"] [PlyCount "75"] [GameId "2130205582506104"] [EventDate "2024.12.31"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O O-O 6. Nbd2 d6 7. c3 a5 8. h3 Be6 9. Bb5 Bb6 10. Re1 Ne7 11. d4 Ng6 12. Nf1 exd4 13. Nxd4 Bd7 14. Bd3 Re8 15. Ng3 d5 16. exd5 Nxd5 17. Rxe8+ Qxe8 18. Bc4 c6 19. Bxd5 cxd5 20. Be3 Bc7 21. Nde2 Bc6 22. Nf5 Qe6 23. Neg3 Re8 24. Qg4 Bd7 25. Rd1 Bxg3 26. Nxg3 Qxg4 27. hxg4 Bc6 28. Nf5 f6 29. f3 Ne5 30. Kf2 Nc4 31. Bc1 a4 32. b3 axb3 33. axb3 Na5 34. Nd4 Nxb3 35. Nxb3 Ba4 36. Rxd5 Bxb3 37. Rb5 Re2+ 38. Kxe2 1/2-1/2 [Event "World Blitz Women Final"] [White "Ju, Wenjun"] [Black "Lei, Tingjie"] [Site "New York USA"] [Round "3.6"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.31"] [ECO "D32"] [WhiteElo "2563"] [BlackElo "2549"] [PlyCount "87"] [GameId "2130201085755945"] [EventDate "2024.12.31"] [EventType "k.o."] {[%evp 0,87,21,33,12,12,25,17,22,50,26,22,19,19,19,25,25,41,33,41,22,38,51,37,37,38,37,37,52,28,48,37,17,23,-116,47,72,88,61,22,83,45,113,123,152,152,152,23,187,175,160,193,245,71,139,60,77,150,118,148,201,144,187,182,169,194,202,208,217,214,212,210,206,242,345,274,658,449,576,543,546,657,606,716,545,712,764,339,415,395]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 cxd4 $6 {Not a bad choice for a must-win situation, but an insane one when a draw is fine and you've been holding in game after game.} 5. Qa4+ Bd7 6. Qxd4 exd5 7. Qxd5 Nc6 $6 {The old-fashioned move isn't considered very good nowadays.} (7... Nf6 {is what the cool kids play, not worrying about the b-pawn.}) 8. Nf3 Nf6 9. Qd1 Bc5 10. a3 {Probably better than the old standard, 10.e3.} a6 $2 {This slow move is almost a novelty.} 11. e3 $6 (11. Bf4 $142 $16) 11... O-O (11... Qe7 $142) 12. Be2 (12. b4 $142 $16) 12... Qe7 13. O-O Rfd8 14. Qc2 Rac8 15. Bd2 Ne5 16. Rfd1 Bc6 17. Qf5 $16 (17. Be1 $16) 17... Ng6 18. Rac1 {Black's pieces look nice, but there's not much for them to do. White is essentially up a pawn for nothing.} Bd7 19. Qb1 Bc6 20. Be1 Ng4 21. Nd4 $1 Bd7 $2 (21... Bxd4 22. Bxg4 Bxc3 23. Bxc3 Ra8 {was the best Black could do, which is a sad commentary on her position.}) 22. h3 $18 Nf6 23. Bf3 Rb8 24. Ne4 Bxd4 25. Rxd4 Bf5 26. Nxf6+ $6 (26. Bb4 $142) 26... Qxf6 27. Be4 $2 (27. Rxd8+ Rxd8 28. Bc3 $1 Qg5 29. Be4 $1 Bxh3 30. Qc2 $18) 27... Rxd4 28. exd4 Bxe4 $2 (28... Nf4 $1 {is not easy to see with the clock ticking down after a marathon day, but this would have brought Lei right back into the game. White is only slightly better after something like} 29. Rc5 (29. Bxf5 $6 Ne2+ 30. Kf1 Nxc1 31. Bxh7+ Kh8 32. Qf5 Qxf5 33. Bxf5 Nb3 34. d5 Nc5 $11 {is equal, though as a practical matter White is for choice with the bishop pair.}) 29... Bg6 30. Qc2 Rd8 $14) 29. Qxe4 $18 Nf4 $2 30. Bd2 Ne6 31. Be3 {Everything's nice and tidy for White, and now it's time to make progress.} h6 32. d5 Nf8 33. Bd4 Qg5 34. Rd1 Rd8 35. Bc3 Ng6 36. d6 b5 37. d7 Nf4 38. Kh2 f5 39. Qf3 Ne6 40. Ba5 Rf8 41. Qd5 Qf4+ 42. Kg1 Qe4 43. Qxe4 fxe4 44. d8=Q {If only Lei had drawn a couple more games, perhaps Ju would have proposed that they share the title? Nah, that could never happen.} 1-0

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