[Event "American Cup Champ"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2023.03.17"] [Round "1.1"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Sevian, Samuel"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C77"] [WhiteElo "2768"] [BlackElo "2687"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "103"] [EventDate "2023.03.17"] {[%evp 0,103,32,34,28,28,32,18,20,-2,8,8,9,-5,8,3,8,14,14,11,16,13,21,30,11,26,39,51,45,62,64,63,45,47,65,51,51,40,53,42,70,71,68,87,94,100,117,103,136,137,129,132,132,105,156,135,154,144,158,157,158,158,158,157,162,162,145,175,163,164,175,175,175,142,175,175,175,175,175,140,240,246,290,291,299,302,302,302,315,314,314,314,445,453,524,532,536,582,561,586,595,595,664,769,873,908]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c4 {This has become moderately popular the last several years.} Bg4 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 Nd7 9. Be3 Be7 10. Nc3 Nf8 {Doubling down on the ...Nd4 idea.} (10... O-O) 11. Ne2 $146 ({In a previous game White played} 11. Nd5 Ne6 12. Nb4 {, which also insures that there will not be a Black knight on d4 for more than half a move.}) 11... Ne6 12. d4 exd4 13. Nxd4 Nexd4 14. Bxd4 O-O 15. Bxc6 bxc6 16. Rd1 ({The engine prefers the bold-looking} 16. O-O-O $14 {, confident that Black's attacking chances will be slower than White's.}) 16... Re8 (16... Bf6 $1 {is bold in a different way: Black can take on numerous weak-looking pawns, because they are almost impossible to pressure.}) 17. O-O $14 Bf6 18. c5 {It's all very smooth. If Black takes, then his c-pawns are especially vulnerable while White's kingside majority will (eventually) be able to advance. If he doesn't, then he may well end up with weak hanging pawns on the c- and d-files.} Re6 19. Bxf6 Qxf6 20. Qxf6 gxf6 $6 (20... Rxf6 $142 21. Rd2 $14) 21. f3 Rb8 22. Rf2 Rb5 23. Rc2 $16 dxc5 24. Rd7 Rd6 25. Rxc7 c4 $1 26. Kf2 Rb6 27. Ke3 Kg7 28. Ra7 $1 $18 {Black's rooks are doing as good a job as can be done, keeping his pawns guarded and staying on the ready for counterplay. But against accurate play by White, having six(!) isolated pawns is too much.} Rd3+ 29. Kf4 Rd4 30. h4 Kg6 31. h5+ Kg7 32. Ra8 (32. h6+ $1 Kg6 33. Ra8 $1 Kxh6 34. Rg8 $18 {will cost Black a rook if he wants to avoid mate from the c2-rook.}) 32... h6 33. a4 c5 34. a5 Rc6 35. Rb8 Kh7 36. Ke3 Kg7 37. Ke2 Re6 38. g4 Rc6 39. Rd2 Rc7 40. Rb6 {Finally, White is ready to start collecting.} Rcd7 41. Rxd4 cxd4 42. Rxa6 Rc7 43. Rd6 Rb7 44. Rb6 Rc7 45. a6 c3 46. bxc3 Rxc3 (46... dxc3 47. Kd1 $18) 47. a7 Ra3 48. Rb7 Re3+ 49. Kd2 Ra3 50. Rc7 f5 51. e5 $1 {Not letting Black's king into the game. Worse still, for Black, he must deal with the threat of 52.e6, and he can't avoid it by moving his king to the back rank as White plays 52.Rc8+ and then promotes.} fxg4 52. fxg4 {A very smooth win by Nakamura, ready for the textbooks.} 1-0 [Event "American Cup Champ"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2023.03.18"] [Round "1.2"] [White "Sevian, Samuel"] [Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D37"] [WhiteElo "2687"] [BlackElo "2768"] [PlyCount "88"] [EventDate "2023.03.17"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 h6 5. Bf4 Bd6 6. Bxd6 Qxd6 7. e3 O-O 8. Rc1 a6 9. a3 b6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Be2 Nbd7 12. O-O Bb7 13. b4 c6 14. Qb3 a5 15. Rfd1 axb4 16. axb4 Ra7 17. Ra1 Rfa8 18. Rxa7 Rxa7 19. Ne1 Ne4 20. Nxe4 dxe4 21. f3 Nf6 22. fxe4 Nxe4 23. Nf3 Bc8 24. Qc2 Bf5 25. Ne5 Qf6 26. Bd3 Qg5 27. Re1 Ra1 28. Rxa1 Qxe3+ 29. Kf1 Nd2+ 30. Qxd2 Qxd2 31. Ra8+ Kh7 32. Bxf5+ g6 33. Bd3 Qc1+ 34. Ke2 Qb2+ 35. Ke3 c5 36. bxc5 bxc5 37. Rd8 cxd4+ 38. Rxd4 Qxg2 39. Rd7 Qg1+ 40. Ke4 Qe1+ 41. Kd5 Qa5+ 42. Ke4 Qe1+ 43. Kd5 Qa5+ 44. Ke4 Qe1+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "American Cup Champ"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2023.03.17"] [Round "1.1"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D35"] [WhiteElo "2745"] [BlackElo "2743"] [PlyCount "205"] [EventDate "2023.03.17"] 1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Qf3 Bg6 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Qxf6 gxf6 10. Nf3 Nd7 11. Nh4 Be7 12. Ne2 f5 13. Nf3 Bb4+ 14. Kd1 Bd6 15. Ne1 Ke7 16. Nd3 Bh5 17. f3 Bg6 18. Nef4 a5 19. Ke1 Nf8 20. g3 Ne6 21. Rc1 Rhe8 22. Kf2 Kf6 23. Be2 Re7 24. Bd1 Kg7 25. Re1 Ree8 26. Re2 Re7 27. Rc3 Kf8 28. a3 Bxf4 29. Nxf4 Nxf4 30. exf4 f6 31. Rb3 Rxe2+ 32. Bxe2 b5 33. Rc3 Be8 34. Bd3 Bd7 35. g4 Ke7 36. Bxf5 Bxf5 37. gxf5 Kd7 38. Rc1 a4 39. Rg1 Re8 40. h4 Re7 41. h5 c5 42. dxc5 Kc6 43. h6 Kxc5 44. Rg6 Kc4 45. Rxf6 Rb7 46. Re6 Kb3 47. Re2 Rb6 48. Ke3 Rf6 49. Rg2 Rf8 50. Kd4 Rxf5 51. Rf2 Ka2 52. Ke3 Kb3 53. Rd2 Kc4 54. Rd3 Kc5 55. Rc3+ Kd6 56. Rc8 Rf6 57. Rd8+ Kc5 58. Rc8+ Kd6 59. Re8 Rxh6 60. f5 Rh4 61. Rd8+ Ke5 62. f4+ Kxf5 63. Rxd5+ Kf6 64. Rxb5 Rh2 65. Ke4 Re2+ 66. Kf3 Rd2 67. Kg3 Re2 68. Rb7 Kf5 69. Kf3 Rh2 70. Rb5+ Kf6 71. Ke4 Re2+ 72. Kd3 Rf2 73. Rb7 h5 74. Ke3 Rg2 75. Kf3 Rd2 76. Kg3 Re2 77. Rb6+ Kf5 78. Rb5+ Kf6 79. Kf3 Rd2 80. Ke3 Rg2 81. Kf3 Rd2 82. Ke4 Re2+ 83. Kd3 Rf2 84. Ke3 Rg2 85. Rb6+ Kf5 86. Kf3 Rd2 87. Rb4 Rc2 88. Kg3 Rd2 89. Rb8 Re2 90. Rf8+ Kg6 91. Rg8+ Kf6 92. Rb8 Kf5 93. Rb4 Rd2 94. Rxa4 Rxb2 95. Ra5+ Kf6 96. Kf3 Rb3+ 97. Ke4 h4 98. Rh5 Rxa3 99. Rh6+ Kf7 100. Rh7+ Kf6 101. Rh6+ Kf7 102. Rh7+ Kf6 103. Rh6+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "American Cup Champ"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2023.03.18"] [Round "1.2"] [White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C67"] [WhiteElo "2743"] [BlackElo "2745"] [PlyCount "132"] [EventDate "2023.03.17"] 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. h3 Be7 10. Nc3 Nh4 11. Nxh4 Bxh4 12. Rd1+ Ke8 13. Ne2 h5 14. f3 Bf5 15. c3 Rd8 16. Be3 Be7 17. g4 Be6 18. Rxd8+ Kxd8 19. Nf4 hxg4 20. Nxe6+ fxe6 21. hxg4 a6 22. Kg2 g6 23. f4 Ke8 24. Rd1 Rh7 25. Rh1 Rxh1 26. Kxh1 Bf8 27. Bf2 Bh6 28. Bg3 Kd7 29. Kg2 Ke8 30. Kf3 Kd7 31. Ke4 Ke8 32. Be1 Kd7 33. Bf2 Ke8 34. Be3 Kd7 35. Kd3 Bf8 36. Ke4 Bh6 37. Bc5 Ke8 38. Bb4 Kd7 39. Ba3 Ke8 40. Bc5 Kd7 41. Bb4 Ke8 42. c4 Kd7 43. b3 Ke8 44. Ba5 Kd7 45. f5 gxf5+ 46. gxf5 exf5+ 47. Kxf5 Be3 48. e6+ Ke8 49. Bxc7 Bf2 50. Bd6 Bd4 51. Ke4 Bf2 52. Kd3 Bh4 53. Ke4 Bf2 54. Kf5 Bd4 55. Kf4 Bf2 56. Be5 Ke7 57. Kf5 Ke8 58. Bf6 Be1 59. Bg5 Bb4 60. Ke5 Bc5 61. Bh4 Be3 62. Be1 Bg1 63. Bc3 Bh2+ 64. Kf5 Bg3 65. Be5 Bf2 66. Bd6 Bd4 1/2-1/2 [Event "American Cup Champ"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2023.03.18"] [Round "1.3"] [White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C67"] [WhiteElo "2743"] [BlackElo "2745"] [PlyCount "86"] [EventDate "2023.03.17"] 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. h3 Be7 10. Nc3 Nh4 11. Nxh4 Bxh4 12. Rd1+ Ke8 13. Ne2 Be7 14. g4 f5 15. exf6 Bxf6 16. Ng3 Kf7 17. Ne4 Be6 18. Bf4 Bd5 19. Nxf6 gxf6 20. Kh2 h5 21. Kg3 hxg4 22. hxg4 Rh7 23. c4 Bxc4 24. Rd7+ Kg6 25. Rxh7 Kxh7 26. Re1 Rg8 27. b3 Bd5 28. Re7+ Rg7 29. Rxc7 Rxc7 30. Bxc7 c5 31. f4 c4 32. bxc4 Bxc4 33. a3 Kg6 34. f5+ Kf7 35. Kf4 a6 36. Bb6 Bb3 37. Bd4 Bc4 38. a4 b5 39. axb5 axb5 40. Bc3 Be2 41. Bb4 Bd1 42. Bc3 Be2 43. Bb4 Bd1 1/2-1/2 [Event "American Cup Champ"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2023.03.19"] [Round "1.4"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A30"] [WhiteElo "2745"] [BlackElo "2743"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "54"] [EventDate "2023.03.17"] {[%evp 0,54,28,-16,31,16,19,11,13,8,44,45,33,10,16,20,34,39,32,35,38,42,40,33,33,-4,-16,-26,5,11,48,-18,-16,12,14,15,-12,-34,-19,-31,-22,-40,-74,-128,-155,-180,-141,-180,-173,-406,-406,-381,-381,-482,-431,-29983,-29986] It's rare that a super-GM loses in 27 moves - and with White! - but it happens. Schadenfreude lovers, rejoice.} 1. c4 c5 2. e3 Nf6 3. d4 cxd4 4. exd4 g6 $5 (4... d5 {transposes to a Panov/Botvinnik Attack vs. the Caro-Kann.}) 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. d5 {As for this, I don't know what to call it.} (6. Nf3 d5 {is also a Caro-Kann transposition.}) 6... O-O 7. Be2 (7. Nf3 {is more common, but a transposition is likely.}) 7... e6 8. Nf3 exd5 9. cxd5 d6 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Bg5 (11. Be3 Nc5 12. Rc1 Bd7 13. Nd2 Re8 14. Nc4 Nce4 15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16. Bd4 Bb5 17. Re1 Bxc4 18. Bxc4 Rc8 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Qd4+ Nf6 21. Bb3 Rxc1 22. Rxc1 Qa5 23. Kf1 Re4 24. Qc3 Qb5+ 25. Kg1 Re5 26. Qd4 Qa5 27. Kf1 h5 28. h3 g5 29. Rc3 Nxd5 30. Rc1 Nf4 31. Rd1 Qb5+ 32. Bc4 Qc6 33. f3 Qc5 34. h4 Qxd4 35. Rxd4 d5 36. hxg5 Nxg2 37. Bb3 Ne3+ 38. Kf2 b6 39. Rd3 Nc4 40. f4 Re4 41. Kf3 b5 42. Bxc4 Rxc4 43. Rxd5 a6 44. Rd6 a5 45. Rd5 Rb4 46. b3 a4 47. Rd3 axb3 48. axb3 Kg6 49. Rd6+ Kg7 50. Rd3 Kg6 51. Rd6+ Kg7 52. Rd3 Kg6 {½-½ Shankland,S (2709)-Dominguez Perez,L (2756) American Cup-ch Saint Louis 2022 (1.3)}) (11. Bf4 Nc5 12. Rc1 Nce4 13. Nxe4 Nxe4 14. Qa4 Nc5 15. Qa3 Qf6 16. Bxd6 Qxd6 17. Qxc5 Qxc5 18. Rxc5 Bxb2 19. Rd1 Ba3 20. Rc3 Bd6 21. Nd2 Rd8 22. Ne4 Be5 23. Rc4 Bf5 24. f4 b5 25. Rb4 a5 26. Rxb5 Bxf4 27. Bf3 Bxe4 28. Bxe4 Bd6 29. g3 a4 30. Rc1 Rdb8 31. Rxb8+ Rxb8 32. Rc6 Rb6 33. Rxb6 Bc5+ 34. Kg2 Bxb6 35. d6 Kf8 36. a3 Bc5 37. d7 Ke7 38. Bc6 Bxa3 39. Bxa4 Bd6 40. Bb3 Kxd7 41. Bxf7 Ke7 42. Bg8 h6 43. Kf3 Kf6 44. Bc4 h5 45. h4 g5 46. hxg5+ Kxg5 47. Be2 Bxg3 48. Kxg3 h4+ 49. Kh3 Kf4 50. Kxh4 {½-½ Carlsen,M (2855)-Giri,A (2777) Meltwater Tour Final chess24.com INT rapid 2021 (6.2)}) 11... h6 12. Bh4 $146 Re8 $11 (12... Qb6) 13. Nd2 Nc5 14. f3 {Weakening the dark squares a bit, but since White's bishop can retreat to f2 it's not so bad.} (14. b4 $142 Ncd7 15. Rc1 $11) 14... Bf5 15. Nb3 Nxb3 16. Qxb3 g5 17. Bf2 Nd7 $1 18. Bb5 $1 a6 19. Bxd7 Qxd7 20. Na4 $6 (20. a4 $11) 20... Qb5 $15 21. Qa3 $4 {Black would be somewhat better after a swap on b3, but this is just opening the front door for the thieves.} (21. Rfe1 $142) 21... Re2 $19 22. Rae1 Rc2 $1 {Threatening ...Bd3, for starters.} 23. Re7 Rac8 24. h3 Rxf2 $1 {It was in the air.} 25. Rxf2 (25. Kxf2 Bd4+ 26. Kg3 (26. Ke1 Rc1+ $19) (26. Re3 Rc2+ $19) 26... Qxf1) 25... Bd4 26. Qxd6 Qxa4 (26... Rc1+ $19) 27. Qxh6 Qd1+ (27... Qd1+ 28. Kh2 Bxf2 29. Qxg5+ Bg6 30. h4 Qg1+ 31. Kh3 Qh1+ 32. Kg4 Qxg2+ 33. Kf4 Qh2+ 34. Kg4 Qg3#) 0-1 [Event "American Cup Champ"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2023.03.17"] [Round "1.1"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Shankland, Sam"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C78"] [WhiteElo "2761"] [BlackElo "2710"] [PlyCount "74"] [EventDate "2023.03.17"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 6. c3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a4 Ba7 9. d3 b4 10. a5 Rb8 11. Re1 O-O 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Rxe3 Be6 14. Bxe6 fxe6 15. Nbd2 bxc3 16. bxc3 d5 17. exd5 Nxd5 18. Re1 Nf4 19. Qa4 Qd7 20. Rad1 Rb5 21. Qe4 Rxa5 22. g3 Nd5 23. Nxe5 Nxe5 24. Qxe5 Ra3 25. Ne4 Nxc3 26. Nxc3 Rf5 27. Qxe6+ Qxe6 28. Rxe6 Rxc3 29. Rxa6 Rd5 30. d4 Rc4 31. Re1 Rdxd4 32. Re7 Kf8 33. Rae6 Rc2 34. Re8+ Kf7 35. R8e7+ Kf8 36. Re8+ Kf7 37. R8e7+ Kf8 1/2-1/2 [Event "American Cup Champ"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2023.03.18"] [Round "1.2"] [White "Shankland, Sam"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C67"] [WhiteElo "2710"] [BlackElo "2761"] [PlyCount "72"] [EventDate "2023.03.17"] 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 Ke8 10. h3 h5 11. Ne2 b6 12. Bg5 c5 13. Rad1 Bb7 14. Nc3 Bxf3 15. gxf3 c6 16. Ne4 Be7 17. f4 Bxg5 18. fxg5 Ke7 19. Nd6 Ke6 20. Rd3 Nxd6 21. exd6 Kd7 22. Rf3 f6 23. gxf6 gxf6 24. Rxf6 Raf8 25. Rg6 Rhg8 26. Rg3 Kxd6 27. Kg2 Ke5 28. Re1+ Kf5 29. Re7 Rxg3+ 30. fxg3 Rd8 31. Rf7+ Kg6 32. Rf2 c4 33. Re2 Kf5 34. Rf2+ Kg6 35. Re2 Kf5 36. Rf2+ Kg6 1/2-1/2 [Event "American Cup Champ"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2023.03.18"] [Round "1.3"] [White "Shankland, Sam"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C67"] [WhiteElo "2710"] [BlackElo "2761"] [PlyCount "245"] [EventDate "2023.03.17"] 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 Be7 10. Bf4 Nh4 11. Rad1+ Ke8 12. Nxh4 Bxh4 13. Ne2 a6 14. Rfe1 g5 15. Bd2 g4 16. e6 Bxe6 17. Bc3 Rg8 18. Nf4 Rd8 19. Rxd8+ Kxd8 20. Nxe6+ fxe6 21. Rxe6 Bg5 22. Kf1 Kd7 23. Re4 Be7 24. g3 Bd6 25. Kg2 h5 26. h3 b5 27. Bd2 c5 28. b3 Rg6 29. c4 b4 30. Be1 a5 31. f3 gxf3+ 32. Kxf3 a4 33. Bf2 Rf6+ 34. Ke2 Rf8 35. g4 hxg4 36. hxg4 Rh8 37. g5 Rg8 38. Be3 Be7 39. bxa4 Ra8 40. g6 Rxa4 41. g7 Rxa2+ 42. Bd2 Ra8 43. Rg4 Rg8 44. Kd3 Ke6 45. Kc2 Kf5 46. Rg2 Bf6 47. Kb3 Bd4 48. Bc1 Ke6 49. Bh6 Kf7 50. Bf4 Bxg7 51. Bxc7 Ra8 52. Ra2 Rh8 53. Rh2 Re8 54. Rf2+ Kg8 55. Rg2 Re3+ 56. Ka4 Kf7 57. Rg3 Re8 58. Rf3+ Kg6 59. Rg3+ Kh7 60. Rh3+ Kg8 61. Rg3 Kh7 62. Rh3+ Kg8 63. Rg3 Kf7 64. Rf3+ Bf6 65. Bd6 Ra8+ 66. Kb5 Ra3 67. Rf1 Ke6 68. Bxc5 Ra8 69. Bxb4 Rb8+ 70. Ka4 Ra8+ 71. Kb3 Be5 72. Re1 Rb8 73. Re2 Kf5 74. c5 Rg8 75. Kc4 Rg4+ 76. Kb5 Rg8 77. Ba5 Rb8+ 78. Bb6 Ra8 79. c6 Rb8 80. Kc5 Rc8 81. Kd5 Bf4 82. Re7 Kf6 83. Rd7 Bg3 84. Bd4+ Kf5 85. Rf7+ Kg4 86. Rg7+ Kf3 87. Re7 Rd8+ 88. Rd7 Rc8 89. Bc5 Bc7 90. Bd6 Ba5 91. Ra7 Be1 92. Rf7+ Kg4 93. Re7 Ba5 94. Ra7 Be1 95. Rf7 Ba5 96. Rf8 Rxf8 97. Bxf8 Kf5 98. Kd6 Ke4 99. Kd7 Kd5 100. Bd6 Bb6 101. Bc7 Bf2 102. Bf4 Bb6 103. Bd2 Kc4 104. Kc8 Kb5 105. Kb7 Bd8 106. Be1 Bb6 107. Bg3 Ba5 108. Bc7 Bc3 109. Bd6 Ba5 110. Bf4 Bb6 111. Bd2 Bd8 112. Be1 Bb6 113. Bg3 Ba5 114. Bc7 Bc3 115. Bb6 Be5 116. Ba7 Bf4 117. Be3 Be5 118. Bb6 Bf4 119. Bc7 Bd2 120. Bb8 Ba5 121. Ba7 Bd8 122. c7 Bxc7 123. Kxc7 1/2-1/2 [Event "American Cup Champ"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2023.03.19"] [Round "1.4"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Shankland, Sam"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C55"] [WhiteElo "2761"] [BlackElo "2710"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "83"] [EventDate "2023.03.17"] {[%evp 0,83,17,22,19,19,19,14,9,25,20,24,23,23,23,-10,37,22,11,14,14,-7,1,-36,-6,-20,-19,-28,-13,-30,-30,-30,-44,-66,-36,-23,-23,-20,-5,-8,-22,-36,-28,-24,-24,-19,-27,6,-4,-23,-53,-27,32,-3,15,-3,29,-4,9,-2,52,-4,67,112,139,13,145,13,12,0,137,99,116,106,311,371,379,388,343,576,625,680,706,710,704,720]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Nc3 d6 7. a4 Na5 8. Ba2 Nc6 $146 {An odd idea that probably wouldn't occur to anyone if it weren't suggested by you-know-who/what.} (8... c5 {is normal, with obvious echoes of the Chigorin Variation in the Main Line Closed Ruy.}) 9. h3 (9. Ne2 {also makes sense, preparing c3 and Ng3.}) 9... Be6 10. Bxe6 {Not bad, not forced.} fxe6 11. Ne2 (11. a5) 11... a5 12. Ng3 d5 $11 13. c3 Nd7 14. Re1 (14. d4 $142) 14... d4 {Black may even be a touch better. Shankland's opening surprise has been a success.} 15. cxd4 $6 (15. Qb3 $142 Nc5 16. Qc4 dxc3 17. Nf5 $1 {This keeps the balance, but it's obviously not an easy move to spot - why would White even look at 15.Qb3 with the idea that this is here?}) 15... exd4 $15 {/?} 16. e5 (16. Rf1 $142) 16... Nc5 $17 (16... Qe8 $142) 17. Ne4 Qd5 $6 ({The unobvious} 17... Na6 $17 {was better, keeping more pieces in play.}) 18. Bg5 (18. Nxc5 $142 Bxc5 19. Re4 $11) 18... Bxg5 (18... Na6 $142 $15) (18... Nd7 $142 $15) 19. Nfxg5 Nxe4 20. Rxe4 h6 21. Nf3 $11 Rf5 22. Rc1 Raf8 23. Qe2 Rf4 24. Rc4 Rxe4 25. Qxe4 Rd8 26. Kf1 Rd7 27. Ke2 Kf8 28. h4 Ke7 29. Qh7 Kf7 30. h5 {The position is still equal, though it feels like the trend has been in White's favor. Sure enough, Black cracks:} Kf8 $2 (30... Nxe5 $5 31. Rxd4 Qxf3+ 32. gxf3 Rxd4 $11) (30... Re7 $11) 31. Qh8+ Kf7 32. Qh7 $2 (32. Qa8 $1 $18 {wins material.}) 32... Kf8 $2 33. Kf1 $2 Kf7 $11 34. b3 Kf8 $2 35. Qh8+ Kf7 36. Qa8 $1 {This time, So spots it. Black is lost.} Ke7 37. Qg8 $1 Nxe5 38. Rxd4 Qc6 39. Qxg7+ Nf7 40. Rxd7+ Qxd7 41. Ne5 Qe8 42. g4 {White can win by trading everything off, but it turns out that things are even worse for Black. If he moves the king or the queen anywhere sensible (except for ...Qf8, which loses her majesty to Ng6+), the knight drops for nothing, and since White can run Black out of pawn moves that could happen. Unfortunately for Black - though that's already bad enough - White can do even better and play g5, and after ...hxg5 play h6, h7, and then swap twice on f7 and promote the h-pawn.} 1-0 [Event "American Cup Champ"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2023.03.17"] [Round "1.1"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Robson, Ray"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "E10"] [WhiteElo "2766"] [BlackElo "2702"] [PlyCount "162"] [EventDate "2023.03.17"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Nbd2 O-O 6. Bg2 dxc4 7. O-O b5 8. a4 c6 9. Ne1 Ba6 10. Nc2 Be7 11. axb5 Bxb5 12. Nb1 Nbd7 13. Nc3 Nd5 14. e4 Nxc3 15. bxc3 Nb6 16. h4 a6 17. Qh5 Qe8 18. Re1 Rd8 19. Na3 Na4 20. Qf3 c5 21. d5 Bf6 22. Bd2 exd5 23. exd5 Qd7 24. Rab1 Nb6 25. Bg5 Bxg5 26. hxg5 Qxd5 27. Qxd5 Nxd5 28. Nxb5 axb5 29. Rxb5 Nxc3 30. Rxc5 Rc8 31. Rxc8 Rxc8 32. Bh3 Rd8 33. Bf1 Kf8 34. Bxc4 Rd4 35. Be2 Ne4 36. Rd1 Rxd1+ 37. Bxd1 Nxg5 38. Kg2 Ke7 39. f4 Ne6 40. Kf3 Kf6 41. Ba4 h6 42. Ke3 g6 43. Bc6 Ng7 44. Bd5 Nf5+ 45. Kf2 Ke7 46. Bc4 f6 47. Bd3 Kd6 48. Bc4 Kc5 49. Bf7 g5 50. Kf3 Kd4 51. Be6 Nd6 52. Bd7 Kd3 53. Kg4 Ne4 54. Kf3 Nd2+ 55. Kg4 Ne4 56. Kf3 Kd4 57. Bc6 Nd6 58. Bd7 Kd3 59. Kg4 Ke4 60. Kh5 Nf5 61. fxg5 hxg5 62. Kg6 Nxg3 63. Kxf6 Kf4 64. Bc8 Nf1 65. Kg6 Ne3 66. Be6 Nc2 67. Bc8 Nb4 68. Bh3 Nc6 69. Kf6 Ne5 70. Bc8 Ng4+ 71. Kg6 Nh2 72. Kf6 Nf3 73. Bh3 Nd4 74. Bd7 Nb3 75. Bc8 Nc5 76. Kg6 Ne4 77. Bh3 Nd2 78. Bc8 Nc4 79. Bh3 Ne5+ 80. Kf6 g4 81. Bxg4 Nxg4+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "American Cup Champ"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2023.03.18"] [Round "1.2"] [White "Robson, Ray"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C47"] [WhiteElo "2702"] [BlackElo "2766"] [PlyCount "64"] [EventDate "2023.03.17"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 d5 8. Bd2 O-O 9. O-O Bxc3 10. Bxc3 dxe4 11. Bxf6 Qxf6 12. Bxe4 Qxb2 13. Bxc6 Rb8 14. Rb1 Qxb1 15. Qxb1 Rxb1 16. Rxb1 Rd8 17. Bf3 Kf8 18. Rb8 Re8 19. h4 Ba6 20. Rb3 Be2 21. Bxe2 Rxe2 22. Rc3 Re4 23. g3 Ra4 24. Rxc7 Rxa2 25. c4 a5 26. Ra7 Rc2 27. Rxa5 Rxc4 28. Kg2 g6 29. Kf3 Kg7 30. Kg2 Kf8 31. Kf3 Kg7 32. Kg2 Kf8 1/2-1/2 [Event "American Cup Champ"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2023.03.18"] [Round "1.3"] [White "Robson, Ray"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "E50"] [WhiteElo "2702"] [BlackElo "2766"] [PlyCount "137"] [EventDate "2023.03.17"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Nf3 b6 6. Bd3 Bb7 7. O-O c5 8. Re1 d5 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Bd2 cxd4 11. exd4 Be7 12. Ne4 Nd7 13. a3 h6 14. Qe2 Rc8 15. Ne5 N5f6 16. Ng3 Bd5 17. Bf4 Nxe5 18. dxe5 Nd7 19. Qg4 Bg5 20. Nh5 f5 21. exf6 Nxf6 22. Nxf6+ Qxf6 23. Bg3 Bf4 24. Bxf4 Qxf4 25. Qxf4 Rxf4 26. f3 Rf7 27. Rac1 Rfc7 28. Rxc7 Rxc7 29. Kf2 Kf7 30. Ke3 Kf6 31. h4 a5 32. Rg1 Rc5 33. g4 Bc4 34. g5+ hxg5 35. hxg5+ Ke7 36. b4 axb4 37. axb4 Rc8 38. Rc1 b5 39. Bxc4 bxc4 40. Kd4 Rd8+ 41. Ke4 Rc8 42. Kd4 Rd8+ 43. Ke4 Rc8 44. f4 Kd6 45. Kd4 Rf8 46. Ke4 Rc8 47. Rc3 g6 48. Kd4 Rf8 49. Ke4 Rc8 50. Kd4 Rf8 51. Rf3 Rc8 52. Ra3 Rf8 53. Ra6+ Kd7 54. Kxc4 Rxf4+ 55. Kc3 Rf5 56. Ra5 e5 57. Ra7+ Kc8 58. Kc4 Rxg5 59. Kd5 Rf5 60. Rg7 e4+ 61. Kxe4 Rb5 62. Rxg6 Rxb4+ 63. Kd5 Kb7 64. Kc5 Rb1 65. Rh6 Ka7 66. Rg6 Kb7 67. Rh6 Ka7 68. Rg6 Kb7 69. Rh6 1/2-1/2 [Event "American Cup Champ"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2023.03.19"] [Round "1.4"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Robson, Ray"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E01"] [WhiteElo "2766"] [BlackElo "2702"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "107"] [EventDate "2023.03.17"] {[%evp 0,107,28,28,30,6,14,-24,-11,-11,-8,-28,3,3,-15,-34,21,-31,24,31,31,33,38,61,61,51,79,79,80,85,148,170,140,175,171,170,168,170,168,168,168,168,167,178,177,160,170,172,181,163,377,350,358,256,295,328,299,418,418,273,278,296,296,315,315,352,352,354,354,351,381,398,475,460,602,428,441,435,435,452,479,472,478,474,474,432,468,492,534,533,606,606,606,567,578,568,582,547,573,564,566,562,676,705,713,711,964,817,814,825]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Bb4+ 5. Nd2 (5. Bd2 {is the most common move, but there are plenty of games with 5.Nd2.}) 5... O-O 6. Ngf3 dxc4 7. Qc2 c5 (7... a5 {is the primary alternative at the moment.}) 8. O-O {Rare.} (8. dxc5) 8... cxd4 (8... Bxd2 $142 $146 {followed by ...cxd4 looks likelier to equalize.}) 9. Nxc4 Nc6 (9... d3 $1 10. exd3 Nc6) 10. Rd1 $146 {?} (10. a3 Bd6 11. Rd1 e5 12. b4 a6 13. h3 Be6 14. Nxd6 Qxd6 15. e3 Rac8 16. Qb2 d3 17. Ng5 Bc4 18. Ne4 Nxe4 19. Bxe4 f5 20. Bxd3 Bxd3 21. Qb3+ Kh8 22. Qxd3 Qh6 23. Qf1 Rf7 24. Bb2 f4 25. exf4 exf4 26. g4 f3 27. Rd5 Re8 28. Rad1 Qe6 29. Qd3 Kg8 30. Rh5 h6 31. Rd5 Rfe7 32. Bc3 Rf7 33. Rd7 Rxd7 34. Qxd7 Qxd7 35. Rxd7 Re7 36. Rd3 Rf7 37. Kh2 Ne7 38. Kg3 Kf8 39. Rd8# {1-0 Fridman,D (2626)-Gajewski,G (2589) Wch Blitz Warsaw 2021 (13)}) 10... Qe7 $2 (10... a5 $14) 11. a3 Bd6 12. Nxd4 $16 Nxd4 13. Rxd4 Bc7 $6 (13... Bc5 $142) 14. Rd1 $16 {/+-} (14. Bd2 $1 a5 15. Nxa5 $3 Bxa5 16. Ra4 $18 {is best. Still, Caruana's less tactical approach gives him a nearly winning position. His fine preparation paid off.}) 14... Rb8 $2 (14... Bd7) (14... a5) 15. Bd2 $18 {White is winning. What an opening disaster for Robson!} Rd8 16. Bb4 Qe8 17. Nd6 Bxd6 18. Bxd6 Ra8 19. Bc7 Rd7 20. Rxd7 Nxd7 21. Rd1 a5 22. Qb3 h6 23. Qb5 a4 24. Rd4 Qe7 25. Bxb7 {Robson could resign here with the proverbial clear conscience.} e5 26. Bxe5 Ra7 27. Bxc8 Nxe5 28. Re4 f6 29. Rxa4 Rc7 30. Bf5 g6 31. Ra8+ Kh7 32. Qb8 Qg7 33. Be6 h5 34. b4 f5 35. b5 h4 36. gxh4 Kh6 37. Qh8+ Qxh8 38. Rxh8+ Kg7 39. Rc8 {Seriously, why is the game continuing? Is Robson getting paid by the move?} Rb7 40. a4 Kf6 41. Bd5 Rd7 42. Rc5 Ke7 43. b6 Kd6 44. Rb5 Rh7 45. a5 Nd7 46. Bf3 Nb8 47. Rd5+ Ke7 48. Rd4 Rh8 49. Kg2 Ke6 50. e3 Ke5 51. Bb7 f4 52. a6 fxe3 53. fxe3 Nxa6 54. Bxa6 1-0 [Event "American Cup Champ"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2023.03.19"] [Round "2.1"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "2768"] [BlackElo "2743"] [PlyCount "103"] [EventDate "2023.03.17"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nd3 Nxe4 5. Qe2 Qe7 6. Nf4 Nf6 7. d4 Qxe2+ 8. Bxe2 Nc6 9. c3 d5 10. Bf3 Ne7 11. h4 h5 12. g3 Bf5 13. O-O O-O-O 14. Re1 c6 15. Nd2 Ng6 16. Ng2 Bd6 17. Ne3 Rde8 18. a4 Ng4 19. Ndf1 Nxe3 20. Nxe3 Bd3 21. Bg2 Ne7 22. Rd1 Bf5 23. Nxf5 Nxf5 24. b4 Bc7 25. Bh3 g6 26. Kf1 Kb8 27. Bxf5 gxf5 28. Rd3 f4 29. Bxf4 Bxf4 30. gxf4 Rhg8 31. Rg3 Rxg3 32. fxg3 f5 33. Kf2 Kc7 34. a5 Re4 35. Rb1 a6 36. Rc1 Kd6 37. Rc2 Ke6 38. Re2 Rxe2+ 39. Kxe2 Kd7 40. Kd2 Kd6 41. Kc2 Ke6 42. Kb3 Kd7 43. c4 Kc7 44. Kc3 Kd7 45. cxd5 cxd5 46. b5 axb5 47. Kb4 Kc6 48. Kb3 Kd7 49. Kc3 Kd6 50. Kb3 Kd7 51. Kc3 Kd6 52. Kb3 1/2-1/2 [Event "American Cup Champ"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2023.03.20"] [Round "2.2"] [White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"] [Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B32"] [WhiteElo "2743"] [BlackElo "2768"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "98"] [EventDate "2023.03.17"] {[%evp 0,98,28,19,51,55,41,36,36,43,33,23,38,3,-1,6,18,0,34,24,54,39,48,55,63,67,68,73,73,88,57,52,54,59,67,43,70,66,50,50,56,47,50,60,69,54,43,-4,0,-17,-4,1,-25,0,0,0,0,0,-15,-15,34,29,83,41,5,7,0,-33,-12,-108,-75,-65,-114,-112,-35,-95,-54,-37,-65,-92,-39,-65,-31,-41,-42,-42,-20,-52,-8,-16,-115,-68,-82,-136,-153,-207,-316,-426,-589,-29997,-29998]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nb5 d6 6. N1c3 (6. c4 {leads to very different sorts of positions.}) 6... a6 7. Na3 Be6 (7... b5 8. Nd5 Nf6 9. Bg5 {turns it into a Sveshnikov.}) 8. Nc4 Rb8 9. Nd5 Bxd5 10. exd5 Nce7 11. g3 (11. a4 $14 {Probably best.} Nf6 12. g3 (12. Ne3 {isn't bad.}) 12... Nexd5 13. Bg2 Nc7 14. a5 $14) (11. g4 $5 {This is rather extreme for my taste, but Stockfish thinks this is a splendid way to play, and it suggests a further shove with h4 in many cases as well. Thanks, but no thanks.}) 11... b5 12. Ne3 g6 13. a4 Nf6 $6 (13... Bh6 $1) 14. axb5 (14. c4 $1 $14 {/?}) 14... axb5 15. Bg2 (15. c4 $142 $14) 15... Bh6 $11 16. O-O O-O 17. Qd3 Nd7 (17... Qb6 18. Bd2 Ra8 $11) 18. Bd2 Nc5 19. Qe2 Qc7 (19... b4 $142) 20. b4 (20. Bb4) (20. Ba5) 20... Nd7 21. Ra5 Bxe3 22. Bxe3 Nf5 23. Ra7 Rb7 24. Rxb7 Qxb7 25. Bd2 Ra8 26. Qd3 Ra2 27. Rd1 Nf6 28. Bg5 Kg7 29. Bh3 Nd4 30. c3 Nc2 31. Qf3 Ng8 32. Bf1 Ra3 33. Bc1 Rb3 34. Qe4 {After a very long stretch of error-free chess by both players, a small inaccuracy by Dominguez.} (34. Qd3 {was correct, but it required a number of further precise moves to suffice for continued equality.} Nxb4 35. Qd2 $1 Na6 36. Qc2 $1 Nc5 37. Be3 b4 38. cxb4 Rxb4 39. Bxc5 dxc5 40. Qxc5 Nf6 41. d6 Nd7 $11) 34... Rxc3 $15 35. Bb2 Nf6 36. Qh4 $2 $19 {A big error at last.} (36. Qe2 Rc8 37. Rd2 Nxb4 38. f4 Qa7+ 39. Kh1 Re8 40. fxe5 dxe5 $11 {/?}) 36... Rb3 $2 $17 {An error in return, though Black retains a meaningful advantage.} (36... Rf3 37. Bc1 h5 {is winning. It might seem as if everything is fine, and all White needs to do is chase the rook away, e.g. with} 38. Bg2 {. But here's the problem:} Rxf2 $1 (38... Rf5 39. Bh3 Rf3 40. Bg2 {forces Black to find ...Rxf2 if he wants to maintain a winning plus.}) 39. Kxf2 Qa7+ 40. Ke2 Ng4 41. Rd2 Qe3+ 42. Kd1 Nxb4 {Threatening ...Qg1+.} 43. Bf1 Qb3+ $1 44. Ke1 Nc2+ 45. Rxc2 Qxc2 {White can't save both bishops - Black also threatens ...Qf2+ followec by ...Qxf1+. Black is going to end up (at least) two pawns ahead, and the attack will continue.}) 37. Bc1 Ng8 38. Qd8 Qe7 39. Qa5 (39. Bg5 $142 $17) 39... Nd4 40. Be3 Nf3+ 41. Kg2 Qf6 42. Be2 e4 43. Qxb5 $2 (43. Bc1 {was best; you'll see why momentarily.}) 43... Qb2 $2 (43... Rxe3 $1 {was why White should have played 43.Bc1.} 44. fxe3 Nh6 $1 {Black has time to play ...Ng4 next, and the attack will be overwhelming.} 45. h3 {won't help - Black moves the knight to f5 instead.} Nf5 46. Qb6 (46. Bxf3 Nxe3+ 47. Kh2 exf3 $19) 46... Qe5 $19) 44. Qa6 $2 (44. Bf4 $1 $15 {and now White has excellent chances to save the game.}) 44... Nf6 $19 45. h3 h5 46. Kf1 Qe5 $1 {Intending ...Rxg3 followed by ...Qxg3.} 47. Kg2 {This covers g3, but unfortunately for Dominguez Black can break through anyway.} Rxe3 $1 48. fxe3 h4 {And that does it.} 49. gxh4 Qh2+ {Next move: 50...Qg1#.} 0-1 [Event "American Cup Champ"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2023.03.19"] [Round "2.1"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D26"] [WhiteElo "2766"] [BlackElo "2761"] [PlyCount "55"] [EventDate "2023.03.17"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. Nc3 a6 7. Bb3 b5 8. e4 cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bd6 10. O-O Bb7 11. Re1 Be5 12. Nd5 Nbd7 13. Nf3 O-O 14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15. Bf4 exd5 16. Bxe5 dxe4 17. Rc1 Rc8 18. Rxc8 Bxc8 19. Qxd8 Rxd8 20. Bxf6 gxf6 21. Rxe4 Be6 22. Kf1 Bxb3 23. axb3 Rd2 24. Re2 Rd1+ 25. Re1 Rd2 26. Re2 Rd1+ 27. Re1 Rd2 28. Re2 1/2-1/2 [Event "American Cup Champ"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2023.03.20"] [Round "2.2"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "E36"] [WhiteElo "2761"] [BlackElo "2766"] [PlyCount "104"] [EventDate "2023.03.17"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 dxc4 7. Qxc4 b6 8. Nf3 Ba6 9. Qa4+ Qd7 10. Qc2 O-O 11. Bg5 c5 12. dxc5 Rc8 13. Rd1 Qe7 14. e4 Bxf1 15. Kxf1 h6 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. e5 Qe7 18. Qe4 Nc6 19. cxb6 axb6 20. g3 b5 21. Nd4 Nxd4 22. Rxd4 Ra4 23. Rxa4 bxa4 24. Kg2 Qd7 25. Re1 Qb5 26. Re2 Rc1 27. h4 g6 28. Kh2 h5 29. Rc2 Rxc2 30. Qxc2 Qxe5 31. Qxa4 Qxb2 32. Qa7 e5 33. a4 e4 34. Kg2 Qb4 35. Qa8+ Kg7 36. Qc6 e3 37. fxe3 Qd2+ 38. Kh3 Qxe3 39. a5 Qd3 40. Qc5 Qd7+ 41. Kg2 Qd2+ 42. Kf3 Qd3+ 43. Kf4 f6 44. Qe7+ Kh6 45. Qxf6 Qd2+ 46. Kf3 Qd3+ 47. Kg2 Qd2+ 48. Kh3 Qd7+ 49. Kh2 Qd2+ 50. Kh3 Qd7+ 51. Kg2 Qd2+ 52. Kh3 Qd7+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "American Cup Champ"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2023.03.20"] [Round "2.3"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C78"] [WhiteElo "2761"] [BlackElo "2766"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "125"] [EventDate "2023.03.17"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. a4 Bb7 8. d3 O-O 9. c3 d6 10. Bg5 h6 11. Bxf6 Qxf6 12. Bd5 Rab8 (12... b4 $142 {was better, to prevent White's next move.} 13. d4 Ba7 $1 $146 14. cxb4 Rfb8 $1 $11) 13. b4 $14 Bb6 14. Na3 bxa4 $146 (14... Ne7 $142 15. Bxb7 Rxb7 16. axb5 axb5 17. Nxb5 $14 {occurred in a couple of sub-professional games, both won by White. Note that} Bxf2+ $2 {, as played in one of the games, is a serious error} 18. Rxf2 Rxb5 19. Nd4 Qxf2+ $8 20. Kxf2 exd4 21. Ra7 $18 dxc3 22. Rxc7 Ng6 23. Qb3 Nf4 24. Qxc3 Ne6 25. Rc8 Rb6 26. Rxf8+ Nxf8 27. Qd4 Rc6 28. b5 Rc2+ 29. Kf3 Rc5 30. b6 Rb5 31. Qxd6 Ne6 32. Qb8+ Kh7 33. b7 Nd4+ 34. Ke3 Nc2+ 35. Kd2 Nb4 36. Qa8 Nc6 37. Qc8 Rb6 38. Qc7 Rb2+ 39. Ke3 {1-0 Olsen,S (1621)-Autobello,G (1567) FICGS rapid C 000238 email FICGS email 2020 (1)}) 15. Nc4 Ne7 16. Bxb7 Rxb7 17. Rxa4 $16 {Black's a-pawn is terribly weak.} Ra8 18. Qe2 Qe6 19. Rfa1 Rba7 20. R1a3 (20. g3) 20... Nc6 21. g3 (21. Nfd2) 21... a5 $14 {Black has made progress, though it's still a two-results game at this point.} 22. bxa5 Nxa5 23. Nxb6 cxb6 24. Rb4 {Switching to the new weakness.} Ra6 (24... Nb7 $1 25. Rxa7 Rxa7 26. Rxb6 Ra2 $14 {gives Black excellent counterplay, especially after the coming ...Nc5.}) 25. Rb5 Nc6 26. Rxa6 Rxa6 27. Kg2 Ne7 28. Qe3 (28. Qb2 $142) 28... Ra3 $2 {Alas for Caruana! After fighting all the way back to equality, a new error returns a serious advantage to White.} (28... d5 $1 $11) 29. c4 $16 Nc8 30. Nh4 g6 31. Nf3 Kg7 32. h4 Qf6 33. Nd2 $14 (33. h5 $1 $16) 33... Ra5 34. Rb2 Ra3 (34... Ra6 $142 $14) 35. Nb1 $16 Ra1 36. Nc3 Qe6 37. Nd5 $16 {/+- White's knight has successfully purchased his dream house. Black's chances of surviving are dropping precipitously.} Qg4 38. Nc3 $6 (38. Qd2) 38... Ra3 39. Qd2 Ra1 40. Nd5 {The second time's the charm?} Rd1 41. Qc3 $18 Ra1 42. Ne3 $1 Qd7 43. Rxb6 {winning a pawn while keeping his positional advantages. Black is clearly lost now.} Nxb6 44. Qxa1 Na4 45. f4 Qe8 46. fxe5 dxe5 47. h5 Nc5 48. hxg6 Kxg6 49. Nf5 Kh7 50. Qa3 Qc6 51. Qa7 Nd7 52. Qa5 Qg6 53. Qd5 $4 {White's technique hasn't been perfect, but neither has Black's defense. Still, White has kept a winning advantage until this semi-blunder.} (53. Qa7 Qh5 54. Qf2 $18) 53... Nf6 $4 (53... Qh5 $1 $11 {makes a draw, full stop.}) 54. Qxe5 Ng4 55. Qd4 Qg5 56. Qc3 h5 57. c5 f6 58. Qb2 Ne5 59. c6 Qg4 60. Qb7+ Kh8 61. Qb8+ Kh7 62. Qc7+ Kh8 63. Qd8+ (63. Qd8+ Kh7 64. Qe7+ {and now Black's units start dropping with check.} Kh8 (64... Kg6 65. Qg7#) (64... Kg8 65. Nh6+) 65. Qxf6+ Kh7 66. Qe7+ Kh8 67. Qxe5+ {etc.}) 1-0 [Event "American Cup Champ"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2023.03.21"] [Round "2.4"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D26"] [WhiteElo "2766"] [BlackElo "2761"] [PlyCount "249"] [EventDate "2023.03.17"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. Nc3 a6 7. Bb3 Nc6 8. O-O b5 9. Qe2 Bb7 10. Rd1 Be7 11. dxc5 Qc7 12. e4 O-O 13. e5 Nd7 14. Bf4 Nxc5 15. Bc2 Nb4 16. Rac1 Nxc2 17. Rxc2 Rac8 18. a3 Rfd8 19. Nd4 Qb6 20. Rcd2 Na4 21. Nxa4 bxa4 22. Qg4 Rd5 23. h4 Kh8 24. Be3 Qc7 25. Qf4 Kg8 26. Nf5 Rxd2 27. Nxe7+ Qxe7 28. Rxd2 Bc6 29. Qg4 Kh8 30. Rd4 Rd8 31. Rf4 Qd7 32. Kh2 Qc7 33. Qh5 Be8 34. Rb4 f6 35. Bb6 Bxh5 36. Bxc7 Rc8 37. Ba5 Be8 38. Rb6 Bc6 39. Rxa6 f5 40. f3 h6 41. Kg3 Bd5 42. Bb4 Bb3 43. Ra7 Kg8 44. Bc3 Rd8 45. Kf2 Kh7 46. Rb7 Kg6 47. Bb4 Rc8 48. Ke3 Kh7 49. Bc3 Rd8 50. g4 fxg4 51. fxg4 Bd1 52. Rb4 h5 53. gxh5 Kh6 54. Rb6 Bb3 55. Rb7 Kxh5 56. Rxg7 Kxh4 57. Bb4 Kh5 58. Bd6 Rc8 59. Bc7 Kh6 60. Rd7 Rg8 61. Ba5 Rg1 62. Rd8 Rd1 63. Rg8 Kh7 64. Rg4 Rd5 65. Bc3 Rd1 66. Ke2 Bc2 67. Bd2 Rb1 68. Rb4 Rh1 69. Bc3 Kg6 70. Rb8 Kf5 71. Ke3 Rd1 72. Rf8+ Kg5 73. Bd2 Kh5 74. Rg8 Rb1 75. Bc3 Rd1 76. Rg2 Rd3+ 77. Kf4 Bb3 78. Bd2 Bd5 79. Rh2+ Kg6 80. Be3 Rb3 81. Rf2 Kf7 82. Kg5+ Ke8 83. Bd4 Rd3 84. Bc3 Rf3 85. Rh2 Kd7 86. Rh4 Bb3 87. Rb4 Rf5+ 88. Kg6 Rf1 89. Rb6 Rg1+ 90. Kf6 Rf1+ 91. Kg5 Rf5+ 92. Kg4 Bd1+ 93. Kg3 Bb3 94. Rd6+ Kc7 95. Rd2 Rf1 96. Rh2 Rf7 97. Bd2 Rf1 98. Be3 Kc6 99. Rh4 Bd5 100. Bf2 Bb3 101. Kf3 Rb1 102. Bd4 Re1 103. Bc3 Bd5+ 104. Kf2 Re4 105. Rh8 Bb3 106. Rd8 Bd5 107. Rd6+ Kb5 108. Kg3 Bb3 109. Rd8 Bd5 110. Kf2 Bb3 111. Rb8+ Kc6 112. Ra8 Bd5 113. Ra6+ Kb5 114. Rd6 Bb3 115. Bd4 Bd5 116. Rb6+ Kc4 117. Bc3 Kd3 118. Rb5 Re2+ 119. Kg3 Re4 120. Ra5 Bb3 121. Bb4 Kc2 122. Kf3 Bd5 123. Kf2 Bb3 124. Bc3 Bd5 125. Kf3 1/2-1/2 [Event "American Cup Champ"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2023.03.21"] [Round "3.1"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C65"] [WhiteElo "2768"] [BlackElo "2761"] [PlyCount "67"] [EventDate "2023.03.17"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O Nd4 6. Be3 Nxf3+ 7. Qxf3 Bxe3 8. Qxe3 c6 9. Bc4 d6 10. Nd2 Qb6 11. Qxb6 axb6 12. f4 exf4 13. Rxf4 b5 14. Bb3 Be6 15. a3 O-O 16. Raf1 Rae8 17. Bxe6 Rxe6 18. Nf3 d5 19. e5 Nd7 20. d4 f6 21. h3 Re7 22. exf6 Rxf6 23. Rxf6 Nxf6 24. Re1 Rxe1+ 25. Nxe1 Ne4 26. Nd3 Kf7 27. Kf1 Ke6 28. Ke2 g5 29. g4 h6 30. Ke3 Kd6 31. Ne5 Ke6 32. Nd3 Kd6 33. Ne5 Ke6 34. Nd3 1/2-1/2 [Event "American Cup | Elimination"] [Site "chess24.com"] [Date "2023.03.19"] [Round "1"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Sevian, Samuel"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C77"] [WhiteElo "2745"] [BlackElo "2687"] [PlyCount "89"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "United States"] [BlackTeam "United States"] [WhiteTeamCountry "USA"] [BlackTeamCountry "USA"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 Bc5 6. c3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. Bg5 h6 9. Bh4 Bd7 10. Nbd2 Qe7 11. O-O g5 12. Bg3 Bb6 13. a4 Rb8 14. axb5 axb5 15. Re1 h5 16. h4 g4 17. Nh2 Nh7 18. Nhf1 Nf8 19. Ne3 Bxe3 20. fxe3 Ng6 21. Rf1 Be6 22. Bd5 Nd8 23. Ra7 Nxh4 24. Rxc7 Nf3+ 25. Nxf3 Qxc7 26. Nh4 Nc6 27. Nf5 Bxf5 28. Rxf5 h4 29. Rxf7 Qxf7 30. Bxf7+ Kxf7 31. Be1 h3 32. Bg3 Ne7 33. d4 hxg2 34. Kxg2 Rh5 35. Qb3+ Kf6 36. c4 Ng6 37. Qb4 Ke6 38. c5 exd4 39. Qb3+ Kf6 40. exd4 Re8 41. cxd6 Rxe4 42. Qc2 Nf4+ 43. Bxf4 Rxf4 44. d7 Rh8 45. Qc8 1-0 [Event "American Cup | Elimination"] [Site "chess24.com"] [Date "2023.03.19"] [Round "2"] [White "Sevian, Samuel"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "E32"] [WhiteElo "2687"] [BlackElo "2745"] [PlyCount "143"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "United States"] [BlackTeam "United States"] [WhiteTeamCountry "USA"] [BlackTeamCountry "USA"] 1. c4 Nf6 2. d4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8. e3 d5 9. Nf3 Nbd7 10. cxd5 Bxd5 11. Ne5 Nxe5 12. dxe5 Ne4 13. Bxd8 Nxc3 14. Be7 Rfe8 15. Bh4 Na4 16. Bb5 Nxb2 17. Bxe8 Rxe8 18. f3 c5 19. e4 Bc6 20. Ke2 c4 21. Kd2 b5 22. Kc3 Nd3 23. a4 a6 24. axb5 Bxb5 25. Bg3 Rc8 26. h4 h5 27. Bh2 Kf8 28. Rhg1 Ke7 29. g4 hxg4 30. Rxg4 g6 31. Rg5 Rh8 32. Bg3 Kd7 33. h5 gxh5 34. Rh1 Kc6 35. Rg7 Rd8 36. Rd1 Rd7 37. f4 Ba4 38. Rd2 Bb3 39. f5 a5 40. fxe6 fxe6 41. Rg6 Kb5 42. Rxe6 Rg7 43. Bh2 Ka4 44. Rc6 Nb4 45. Rb6 Rg4 46. Re2 Na2+ 47. Kd4 c3 48. Rc6 Rg8 49. e6 Re8 50. Bf4 Rxe6 51. Rc5 Rb6 52. Bc7 Rb4+ 53. Kd3 Bc4+ 54. Rxc4 Nc1+ 55. Kxc3 Nxe2+ 56. Kd3 Rxc4 57. Kxc4 h4 58. Bh2 Ng3 59. e5 Nf5 60. e6 h3 61. Be5 Ka3 62. Kd5 Ne7+ 63. Ke4 Nc6 64. Bd6+ Kb3 65. Ke3 Ne7 66. Kf3 Nf5 67. Bc5 a4 68. e7 Nxe7 69. Bxe7 a3 70. Bxa3 Kxa3 71. Kg3 h2 72. Kxh2 1/2-1/2 [Event "American Cup | Elimination"] [Site "chess24.com"] [Date "2023.03.19"] [Round "1"] [White "Shankland, Sam"] [Black "Robson, Ray"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C67"] [WhiteElo "2710"] [BlackElo "2702"] [PlyCount "134"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "United States"] [BlackTeam "United States"] [WhiteTeamCountry "USA"] [BlackTeamCountry "USA"] 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 Bd7 10. h3 h6 11. b3 c5 12. Bb2 Nd4 13. Nxd4 cxd4 14. Ne4 c5 15. c3 dxc3 16. Bxc3 Kc7 17. Rad1 a5 18. f4 a4 19. f5 axb3 20. axb3 Bc6 21. Rfe1 Ra2 22. g4 Rc2 23. e6 fxe6 24. fxe6 Kb6 25. Rd3 Be7 26. Nd2 Ra8 27. Bxg7 Bg5 28. Nc4+ Kb5 29. e7 Raa2 30. Bb2 Rg2+ 31. Kf1 Rgxb2 32. Nxb2 Rxb2 33. e8=Q Bxe8 34. Rxe8 Kb4 35. Re4+ Kb5 36. Re2 Rb1+ 37. Kg2 Kb4 38. Re4+ Kb5 39. Re6 Ka5 40. h4 Bxh4 41. Rxh6 Rb2+ 42. Kf3 Be1 43. g5 Rf2+ 44. Ke4 Bd2 45. Rf6 Re2+ 46. Kf5 Rf2+ 47. Kg6 Rg2 48. Rd5 b6 49. Re6 Bc3 50. Kf7 Bd4 51. g6 b5 52. Rf5 Kb4 53. Rf3 Rg4 54. Rd6 Bc3 55. Rdd3 Be5 56. Rd5 Bd4 57. Rxd4+ Rxd4 58. g7 Rg4 59. g8=Q Rxg8 60. Kxg8 c4 61. bxc4 bxc4 62. Kf7 c3 63. Ke6 c2 64. Rf1 Kc3 65. Kd5 Kb2 66. Rf2 Kb1 67. Rxc2 Kxc2 1/2-1/2 [Event "American Cup | Elimination"] [Site "chess24.com"] [Date "2023.03.19"] [Round "2"] [White "Robson, Ray"] [Black "Shankland, Sam"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C55"] [WhiteElo "2702"] [BlackElo "2710"] [PlyCount "99"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "United States"] [BlackTeam "United States"] [WhiteTeamCountry "USA"] [BlackTeamCountry "USA"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Nc3 d6 7. a3 Bg4 8. h3 Bh5 9. Be3 Kh8 10. Kh1 Qc8 11. Rg1 Nd4 12. g4 Nxf3 13. Qxf3 Bg6 14. Bb3 c6 15. Ne2 h6 16. Ng3 Nh7 17. Nf5 Qd8 18. Qg3 Bg5 19. h4 Bxe3 20. Nxe3 f6 21. f4 exf4 22. Qxf4 Qd7 23. Nf5 Rad8 24. Rae1 Bf7 25. Bxf7 Qxf7 26. d4 Qe6 27. Re3 Rd7 28. Kh2 Kg8 29. Rge1 c5 30. c3 cxd4 31. cxd4 Rc8 32. R1e2 a5 33. e5 dxe5 34. dxe5 Rc4 35. Qg3 Nf8 36. exf6 Qxf6 37. Ne7+ Kh7 38. Rf3 Qa6 39. Rxf8 Rcc7 40. Qe5 Rxe7 41. Qf5+ g6 42. Rxe7+ Rxe7 43. Rh8+ Kxh8 44. Qf8+ Kh7 45. Qxe7+ Kg8 46. Qe8+ Kg7 47. Qe7+ Kg8 48. Qe8+ Kg7 49. Qe7+ Kg8 50. Qe8+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "American Cup | Elimination"] [Site "chess24.com"] [Date "2023.03.19"] [Round "3"] [White "Robson, Ray"] [Black "Shankland, Sam"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "2702"] [BlackElo "2710"] [PlyCount "115"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "United States"] [BlackTeam "United States"] [WhiteTeamCountry "USA"] [BlackTeamCountry "USA"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Nc3 a6 6. O-O d6 7. a4 h6 8. Be3 O-O 9. Bxc5 dxc5 10. h3 Qd6 11. Nd2 b6 12. Nd5 Rb8 13. Nxf6+ Qxf6 14. Qf3 Qxf3 15. Nxf3 Re8 16. c3 Na5 17. Bd5 Be6 18. Bxe6 Rxe6 19. b4 cxb4 20. cxb4 Nc6 21. b5 Nb4 22. Rfc1 Rb7 23. Ra3 f6 24. Kf1 a5 25. Ke2 c6 26. bxc6 Rc7 27. Nd2 Kf8 28. g3 Ke7 29. f4 exf4 30. gxf4 g5 31. f5 Rexc6 32. Rxc6 Rxc6 33. Nc4 h5 34. Ra1 Rc5 35. Kd2 Kd8 36. Rb1 Kc7 37. Rb2 Kc6 38. Rb3 h4 39. Rb2 Kc7 40. Rb1 Kd8 41. Rb3 Ke7 42. Rc3 Rc6 43. Ne3 Rd6 44. Ng4 Na6 45. Ke3 Nc5 46. Ra3 Rc6 47. d4 Nd7 48. e5 Rc4 49. Kd3 Rb4 50. e6 Nb8 51. Rc3 Na6 52. Rc8 Rxa4 53. Rh8 b5 54. Rh7+ Kd6 55. Rd7+ Kc6 56. d5+ Kb6 57. Rd6+ Kb7 58. Rxa6 1-0 [Event "American Cup | Elimination"] [Site "chess24.com"] [Date "2023.03.20"] [Round "4"] [White "Shankland, Sam"] [Black "Robson, Ray"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C67"] [WhiteElo "2710"] [BlackElo "2702"] [PlyCount "115"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "United States"] [BlackTeam "United States"] [WhiteTeamCountry "USA"] [BlackTeamCountry "USA"] 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 Bd7 10. h3 h6 11. b3 c5 12. Nd5 Nd4 13. Nxd4 cxd4 14. Rd1 c6 15. Nf4 g5 16. Nh5 Kc7 17. Rxd4 Bc5 18. Rc4 Be7 19. Bb2 Rhd8 20. Re4 Bf5 21. Re2 Rd5 22. g4 Bg6 23. Ng3 Rad8 24. Nf5 Bf8 25. Rae1 a5 26. Kg2 a4 27. Bc3 R8d7 28. Re3 b5 29. R1e2 b4 30. Be1 a3 31. Nd6 Rd4 32. c3 bxc3 33. Bxc3 Rd1 34. Bb4 Bg7 35. Ne8+ Kb6 36. Nxg7 c5 37. Bxa3 Ra7 38. b4 Bd3 39. bxc5+ Kc6 40. Bb4 Bxe2 41. Rxe2 Ra1 42. a3 Rd7 43. e6 fxe6 44. Rxe6+ Kb5 45. Nf5 Rdd1 46. c6 Rac1 47. Rxh6 Rh1 48. Ng3 Rhg1+ 49. Kf3 Kc4 50. Bd2 Rc2 51. Bxg5 Rb1 52. Be3 Rb8 53. c7 Rf8+ 54. Nf5 Ra2 55. c8=Q+ Rxc8 56. Nd6+ Kd3 57. Nxc8 Rc2 58. Rd6+ 1-0 [Event "American Cup | Elimination"] [Site "chess24.com"] [Date "2023.03.20"] [Round "5"] [White "Robson, Ray"] [Black "Shankland, Sam"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B92"] [WhiteElo "2702"] [BlackElo "2710"] [PlyCount "73"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "United States"] [BlackTeam "United States"] [WhiteTeamCountry "USA"] [BlackTeamCountry "USA"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. O-O Be7 9. Re1 O-O 10. Bf3 Nbd7 11. a4 Qb8 12. a5 Rc8 13. h3 Bd8 14. Be3 b5 15. axb6 Bxb3 16. cxb3 Bxb6 17. Bg4 Bxe3 18. Rxe3 Rd8 19. Bxd7 Rxd7 20. Rf3 Qd8 21. b4 d5 22. exd5 Nxd5 23. Nxd5 Rxd5 24. Qe2 g6 25. Rxa6 Rxa6 26. Qxa6 e4 27. Rf4 Rd1+ 28. Kh2 f5 29. Qe6+ Kg7 30. g4 Qc7 31. Kg2 Qxf4 32. Qe7+ Kg8 33. Qe8+ Kg7 34. Qe7+ Kg8 35. Qe8+ Kg7 36. Qe7+ Kg8 37. Qe8+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "American Cup | Elimination"] [Site "chess24.com"] [Date "2023.03.20"] [Round "6"] [White "Shankland, Sam"] [Black "Robson, Ray"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C68"] [WhiteElo "2710"] [BlackElo "2702"] [PlyCount "111"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "United States"] [BlackTeam "United States"] [WhiteTeamCountry "USA"] [BlackTeamCountry "USA"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O Bg4 6. h3 h5 7. d3 Qf6 8. Nbd2 Ne7 9. Re1 Ng6 10. d4 Nf4 11. dxe5 Qg6 12. Nh4 Bxd1 13. Nxg6 Nxg6 14. Rxd1 O-O-O 15. e6 fxe6 16. Re1 Bb4 17. c3 Be7 18. Nf3 e5 19. Be3 Kd7 20. g3 Ke6 21. Kg2 Rd7 22. Rad1 Rhd8 23. Rxd7 Rxd7 24. Bg5 Bf8 25. Kf1 b5 26. Ke2 c5 27. Rd1 Bd6 28. Be3 c4 29. h4 Rd8 30. Ng5+ Ke7 31. Nh3 Rf8 32. Rf1 b4 33. cxb4 Rb8 34. Rc1 Rxb4 35. Rc2 c3 36. b3 a5 37. f3 Nf8 38. Rxc3 a4 39. Nf2 axb3 40. axb3 Ne6 41. Nd3 Rb5 42. f4 exf4 43. gxf4 Kd7 44. e5 Be7 45. f5 Nd8 46. Bg5 c6 47. Kf3 Ra5 48. Ke4 Ra2 49. e6+ Ke8 50. Nf4 Ra1 51. Nxh5 Re1+ 52. Re3 Rg1 53. Nxg7+ Kf8 54. f6 Bxf6 55. Bxf6 Nxe6 56. Nxe6+ 1-0 [Event "American Cup | Elimination"] [Site "chess24.com"] [Date "2023.03.21"] [Round "8"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A18"] [WhiteElo "2766"] [BlackElo "2745"] [PlyCount "97"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "United States"] [BlackTeam "United States"] [WhiteTeamCountry "USA"] [BlackTeamCountry "USA"] 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. e4 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. e5 Ne4 6. Nf3 Bf5 7. Be2 d4 8. Nxe4 Bxe4 9. d3 Bd5 10. O-O Nc6 11. Bf4 h6 12. Bg3 g5 13. Qa4 Bg7 14. Nxd4 Bxg2 15. Ne6 fxe6 16. Bh5+ Ke7 17. Qa3+ Kd7 18. Kxg2 Bxe5 19. Bxe5 Nxe5 20. d4 Nc6 21. d5 exd5 22. Bg4+ Ke8 23. Qf3 Rf8 24. Rae1+ Ne7 25. Bh5+ Kd7 26. Qh3+ Nf5 27. Re5 c6 28. Rxf5 Kc7 29. Re1 Qd6 30. Bf7 Rad8 31. Re6 Qc5 32. Qg3+ Kb6 33. Rxh6 a5 34. Qxg5 Qc2 35. Rf3 Ka7 36. Qe5 Qa4 37. Rg6 Qe4 38. Qxe4 dxe4 39. Rf5 Rd2 40. Re6 a4 41. Rxe4 b5 42. b3 Rxa2 43. bxa4 Rxa4 44. Rxa4+ bxa4 45. h4 Kb6 46. Rf3 c5 47. h5 Ka5 48. h6 Rh8 49. Rh3 1-0 [Event "American Cup | Elimination"] [Site "chess24.com"] [Date "2023.03.21"] [Round "9"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C78"] [WhiteElo "2745"] [BlackElo "2766"] [PlyCount "123"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "United States"] [BlackTeam "United States"] [WhiteTeamCountry "USA"] [BlackTeamCountry "USA"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 Bc5 6. O-O b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d6 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bh4 g5 11. Bg3 Bb6 12. a4 Rb8 13. Nbd2 Nh7 14. Re1 Kh8 15. axb5 axb5 16. Nf1 f5 17. exf5 Bxf5 18. Ne3 Bg6 19. Nd5 Nf6 20. Nxb6 Rxb6 21. d4 exd4 22. Nxd4 Nxd4 23. Qxd4 c5 24. Qd1 b4 25. Bc2 Bxc2 26. Qxc2 Qd7 27. cxb4 cxb4 28. Qd3 Kg7 29. f3 Rf7 30. Ra5 Rc6 31. Bf2 Re7 32. Rd1 Qe6 33. h4 gxh4 34. Bxh4 Qe3+ 35. Qxe3 Rxe3 36. Rd4 b3 37. Rf4 d5 38. Bf2 Rd3 39. Bd4 Kg6 40. Ra8 Kg5 41. Be5 Re6 42. Rd4 Rxd4 43. Bxd4 Re2 44. Rd8 h5 45. Rd6 Nh7 46. Rxd5+ Kg6 47. Rd6+ Kf5 48. Rh6 Re7 49. Rxh5+ Ng5 50. f4 Kxf4 51. Bf6 Rf7 52. Bxg5+ Kg4 53. Rh3 Kxg5 54. Rg3+ Kh4 55. Rxb3 Rd7 56. Kf2 Rd2+ 57. Ke3 Rxg2 58. Rb5 Rg4 59. b4 Kg3 60. Kd3 Rf4 61. Kc3 Kf3 62. Re5 1-0 [Event "American Cup | Elimination"] [Site "chess24.com"] [Date "2023.03.21"] [Round "10"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C77"] [WhiteElo "2745"] [BlackElo "2766"] [PlyCount "125"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "United States"] [BlackTeam "United States"] [WhiteTeamCountry "USA"] [BlackTeamCountry "USA"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 g6 7. O-O Bg7 8. Be3 O-O 9. Nbd2 h6 10. h3 Nd7 11. d4 f5 12. exf5 gxf5 13. dxe5 dxe5 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. Nb3 Qf6 16. Re1 Re8 17. Qc2 Qf7 18. Rad1 e4 19. Nfd4 f4 20. Bc1 c5 21. Ne2 e3 22. fxe3 f3 23. Nf4 Bb7 24. Qg6 Qxg6 25. Nxg6 Rad8 26. Nf4 Ba8 27. gxf3 Ne5 28. Kf2 Nxf3 29. Rf1 c4 30. Nc5 Bf6 31. Rxd8 Rxd8 32. Ke2 Rd6 33. Rxf3 Bxf3+ 34. Kxf3 Rd1 35. Ne2 Rf1+ 36. Kg4 Re1 37. Kf3 Rf1+ 38. Kg2 Re1 39. Kf2 Bh4+ 40. Kf3 Kf7 41. e4 Rf1+ 42. Kg4 Be7 43. Nxa6 Re1 44. Kf3 Rf1+ 45. Kg2 Re1 46. Kf2 Rh1 47. Bxh6 Rxh3 48. Bf4 c5 49. Nc7 Rh1 50. Nd5 Bh4+ 51. Kf3 Rf1+ 52. Kg4 Bd8 53. Be3 Re1 54. Kf3 Rf1+ 55. Kg2 Re1 56. Kf2 Bh4+ 57. Kf3 Rf1+ 58. Kg4 Re1 59. Kxh4 Rxe2 60. Kg4 Rxb2 61. Bxc5 Rxa2 62. Bd4 Ra1 63. Kf5 1-0 [Event "American Cup | Elimination"] [Site "chess24.com"] [Date "2023.03.22"] [Round "11"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C65"] [WhiteElo "2766"] [BlackElo "2745"] [PlyCount "185"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "United States"] [BlackTeam "United States"] [WhiteTeamCountry "USA"] [BlackTeamCountry "USA"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nbd2 Be6 7. O-O Bd6 8. Nb3 b6 9. Bg5 Qd7 10. Bh4 c5 11. Nbd2 Nh5 12. Ng5 Nf4 13. Nxe6 Nxe6 14. Nc4 f6 15. f3 a5 16. a4 h5 17. Bf2 h4 18. h3 Be7 19. Qe1 g5 20. Ne3 O-O-O 21. Nf5 Nd4 22. Ne3 Ne6 23. Kh2 Kb7 24. Qc3 Nd4 25. Nc4 Rhf8 26. Rfe1 Qc6 27. Qd2 Qd7 28. Be3 Qe6 29. Qf2 Qc6 30. Reb1 Kc8 31. Rd1 Qe6 32. Kh1 Rd7 33. c3 Nc6 34. Qc2 Rfd8 35. Rd2 Kb8 36. Rad1 Bf8 37. Qb3 Qe8 38. Qb5 Qe6 39. Qa6 Rf7 40. Bf2 Rfd7 41. Na3 Na7 42. Ra1 Qc6 43. Qc4 Rd6 44. Nb5 Nxb5 45. axb5 Qd7 46. d4 exd4 47. cxd4 cxd4 48. b4 Qe6 49. Qc1 R6d7 50. bxa5 Bb4 51. Rda2 Bxa5 52. Be1 d3 53. Bxa5 bxa5 54. Qd2 Kb7 55. Rxa5 Rb8 56. Ra6 Qe5 57. b6 cxb6 58. Ra7+ Kc8 59. Rc1+ Kd8 60. Rxd7+ Kxd7 61. Qxd3+ Ke7 62. Qa3+ Ke8 63. Qa7 Rd8 64. Qg7 Qf4 65. Ra1 Qd6 66. e5 Qf8 67. Qc7 Qe7 68. Qc6+ Kf7 69. exf6 Qe6 70. Ra7+ Kxf6 71. Qc3+ Kf5 72. Qc2+ Kf6 73. Qb2+ Kf5 74. Qb1+ Kf6 75. Rh7 Ke5 76. Rg7 Qf6 77. Qe1+ Kd5 78. Re7 Rd6 79. Qe4+ Kc5 80. Rc7+ Rc6 81. Qc2+ Kb5 82. Qe2+ Kb4 83. Qe4+ Kb5 84. Qd5+ Rc5 85. Qb3+ Ka6 86. Qd3+ Ka5 87. Ra7+ Kb4 88. Qa3+ Kc4 89. Qa4+ Kd5 90. Qd1+ Ke5 91. Rd7 Qe6 92. Rd8 Rd5 93. Qe2+ 1-0 [Event "American Cup | Elimination"] [Site "chess24.com"] [Date "2023.03.22"] [Round "12"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C77"] [WhiteElo "2745"] [BlackElo "2766"] [PlyCount "90"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "United States"] [BlackTeam "United States"] [WhiteTeamCountry "USA"] [BlackTeamCountry "USA"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 g6 7. O-O Bg7 8. Be3 O-O 9. Nbd2 h6 10. h3 Nd7 11. d4 f5 12. dxe5 dxe5 13. exf5 gxf5 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. Nb3 Qf6 16. Re1 Re8 17. Qc2 Qf7 18. Rad1 Nf8 19. Nc5 a5 20. Qa4 Ng6 21. Bc1 Rb8 22. Nd2 Rb5 23. Ndb3 Bf8 24. Nd3 Rd5 25. Nxa5 f4 26. Nb4 Rxd1 27. Qxd1 Nh4 28. Kh2 e4 29. Naxc6 Bd6 30. Kh1 f3 31. g4 Ng2 32. Rg1 h5 33. Qd5 hxg4 34. hxg4 Qxd5 35. Nxd5 Kf7 36. Rxg2 fxg2+ 37. Kxg2 Bxg4 38. Nd4 Rh8 39. Ne3 Rh2+ 40. Kg1 Bf3 41. Nxf3 exf3 42. Nf5 Rg2+ 43. Kf1 Bh2 44. Ke1 Rg1+ 45. Kd2 Bf4+ 0-1 [Event "American Cup | Elimination"] [Site "chess24.com"] [Date "2023.03.22"] [Round "13"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B08"] [WhiteElo "2766"] [BlackElo "2745"] [PlyCount "152"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "United States"] [BlackTeam "United States"] [WhiteTeamCountry "USA"] [BlackTeamCountry "USA"] 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Be3 a6 5. a4 Nc6 6. Nf3 Nf6 7. h3 O-O 8. Be2 e6 9. O-O Ne7 10. a5 b5 11. axb6 cxb6 12. e5 dxe5 13. dxe5 Nd7 14. Ne4 Bb7 15. Nd6 Bc6 16. Bf4 b5 17. Re1 Qc7 18. Qd2 Nb6 19. Bh6 Nbd5 20. Bxg7 Kxg7 21. Nd4 Qb6 22. h4 Nc8 23. Ne4 Rd8 24. h5 Nde7 25. h6+ Kf8 26. Nxe6+ fxe6 27. Qf4+ Nf5 28. Ng5 Kg8 29. Rad1 Nce7 30. Nxe6 Rxd1 31. Rxd1 Bxg2 32. Ng5 Bb7 33. e6 Rd8 34. Rd7 Bc6 35. Rd3 Qb8 36. Qd2 Rxd3 37. Bxd3 Qf8 38. Qc3 Be8 39. Qe5 Qxh6 40. Nf3 Qg7 41. Qb8 Qf8 42. Ne5 Nc6 43. Nxc6 Bxc6 44. Qc7 Qd6 45. Qf7+ Kh8 46. Qf6+ Ng7 47. Kf1 Be8 48. Be2 Kg8 49. c4 Qxe6 50. Qd4 bxc4 51. Qd8 h5 52. Bf3 Kh7 53. Bd5 Qf5 54. Qd6 Bb5 55. Kg1 Qg5+ 56. Kh1 Qh4+ 57. Kg1 Qg4+ 58. Kh1 c3 59. bxc3 Qh3+ 60. Kg1 Qf1+ 61. Kh2 Qxf2+ 62. Kh1 Qe1+ 63. Kg2 Bf1+ 64. Kh2 Qxc3 65. Qd8 Qe5+ 66. Kg1 Bd3 67. Bg8+ Kh6 68. Qxd3 Nf5 69. Qxa6 Qe3+ 70. Kf1 Qc1+ 71. Kg2 Qb2+ 72. Kg1 Qd4+ 73. Kf1 Qf4+ 74. Kg1 Qe3+ 75. Kf1 h4 76. Qb7 h3 0-1 [Event "American Cup | Elimination"] [Site "chess24.com"] [Date "2023.03.22"] [Round "14"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A14"] [WhiteElo "2766"] [BlackElo "2745"] [PlyCount "56"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "United States"] [BlackTeam "United States"] [WhiteTeamCountry "USA"] [BlackTeamCountry "USA"] 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 d5 4. d3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O c5 7. Ne5 Qc7 8. f4 Nbd7 9. Nxd7 Bxd7 10. e4 dxe4 11. dxe4 Bc6 12. Nc3 a6 13. Qe2 Rfd8 14. g4 h6 15. h4 h5 16. gxh5 b5 17. h6 b4 18. Nd1 g6 19. Bf3 Kh7 20. Nf2 Nh5 21. Bxh5 gxh5 22. Qxh5 Rg8+ 23. Kh2 Rg6 24. Be3 Rf8 25. Qf3 f5 26. h5 Rxh6 27. Rg1 Be8 28. Rg3 Bxh5 0-1 [Event "American Cup | Elimination"] [Site "chess24.com"] [Date "2023.03.21"] [Round "8"] [White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"] [Black "Shankland, Sam"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B90"] [WhiteElo "2743"] [BlackElo "2710"] [PlyCount "95"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "United States"] [BlackTeam "United States"] [WhiteTeamCountry "USA"] [BlackTeamCountry "USA"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bc1 Nc6 8. h3 Nf6 9. Be3 e5 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. f4 Be7 12. fxe5 dxe5 13. Qxd8+ Bxd8 14. O-O-O Be6 15. Bd3 Nh5 16. Na4 Nf4 17. Bf1 Bg5 18. Kb1 O-O 19. g3 Nxh3 20. Bb6 Nf4 21. gxf4 exf4 22. Rg1 Bh4 23. Nc5 g5 24. Nxe6 fxe6 25. Bc4 Rae8 26. Rd2 Kg7 27. Rd6 Rf6 28. e5 Rg6 29. Bd3 h5 30. Rd7+ Kh6 31. Rf7 Bg3 32. Bxg6 Kxg6 33. Rf6+ Kh7 34. Bf2 h4 35. Bxg3 fxg3 36. Kc1 Rd8 37. Rxe6 Rd4 38. Rxc6 Re4 39. Kd2 g4 40. Rc3 Rxe5 41. Rc4 Rg5 42. Ke3 Rg8 43. Kf4 Kh6 44. Rh1 g2 45. Rxh4+ Kg7 46. Rxg4+ Kh8 47. Rxg8+ Kxg8 48. Rc3 1-0 [Event "American Cup | Elimination"] [Site "chess24.com"] [Date "2023.03.21"] [Round "9"] [White "Shankland, Sam"] [Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C43"] [WhiteElo "2710"] [BlackElo "2743"] [PlyCount "99"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "United States"] [BlackTeam "United States"] [WhiteTeamCountry "USA"] [BlackTeamCountry "USA"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nxd7 Bxd7 7. Nc3 Qh4 8. Nxe4 dxe4 9. g3 Bb4+ 10. c3 Qe7 11. Bc2 Bd6 12. O-O O-O 13. f3 exf3 14. Qxf3 Rae8 15. Bf4 Bxf4 16. Qxf4 Bh3 17. Rfd1 Qe3+ 18. Qxe3 Rxe3 19. Re1 Rfe8 20. Rxe3 Rxe3 21. Kf2 Re6 22. d5 Re5 23. c4 Kf8 24. Rd1 Ke7 25. b4 Bg4 26. Rd2 b6 27. Bd3 Kd6 28. Bf1 Rf5+ 29. Kg1 Re5 30. Rd4 Bd7 31. Kf2 a5 32. a3 axb4 33. axb4 Re8 34. Bd3 h6 35. Bc2 Ra8 36. Ke3 Ra2 37. Bb3 Ra3 38. Rd3 Bf5 39. Rc3 Bc2 40. c5+ bxc5 41. bxc5+ Ke5 42. d6 cxd6 43. cxd6 Kxd6 44. Rxc2 Rxb3+ 45. Kf2 Ra3 46. Rb2 Rc3 47. Re2 Ra3 48. Rb2 Rc3 49. Re2 Ra3 50. Rb2 1/2-1/2