[Event "ch-USA 2025"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2025.10.22"] [Round "9.1"] [White "Robson, Ray"] [Black "Woodward, Andy"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A20"] [WhiteElo "2664"] [BlackElo "2590"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "103"] [GameId "2235957949905234"] [EventDate "2025.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.01.05"] 1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. O-O Nb6 7. b3 Be6 8. Bb2 f6 9. d4 e4 10. Ne1 f5 11. f3 exf3 12. Nxf3 Be7 13. Nc3 O-O 14. e4 fxe4 15. Nxe4 Qd5 16. Qd3 Qh5 17. Rae1 Rae8 18. a3 a5 19. Qc3 Bd5 20. Nc5 Bf6 21. Ne5 Bxe5 22. dxe5 Bxg2 23. e6 Qg5 24. h4 Qg4 25. Kxg2 Nd5 26. Qc4 Qxc4 27. Rxf8+ Kxf8 28. bxc4 Nf6 29. Rd1 Rd8 30. Nd7+ Ke7 31. Rf1 Nxd7 32. exd7 Rg8 33. h5 Kxd7 34. Rf7+ Ne7 35. g4 Ke6 36. Rxg7 Rxg7 37. Bxg7 Nc8 38. Kf3 Nd6 39. c5 Nc4 40. a4 b6 41. c6 Nd6 42. Kf4 b5 43. axb5 Nxb5 44. g5 Kf7 45. Be5 Na7 46. Bxc7 Nxc6 47. Bxa5 Nxa5 48. g6+ hxg6 49. Kg5 gxh5 50. Kf5 Nb3 51. Kg5 Na1 52. Kxh5 1/2-1/2 [Event "ch-USA 2025"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2025.10.22"] [Round "9.2"] [White "Niemann, Hans Moke"] [Black "Liang, Awonder"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [ECO "C67"] [WhiteElo "2738"] [BlackElo "2710"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "77"] [GameId "2235957949909331"] [EventDate "2025.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.01.05"] {[%evp 0,77,18,4,10,7,21,21,38,23,22,23,32,76,5,7,114,9,-4,-5,53,16,2,1,18,10,-1,0,-41,7,93,2,37,6,20,45,59,52,50,56,66,107,89,85,99,179,98,98,-122,99,112,127,115,85,145,93,120,105,142,39,142,25,30,11,35,1,-12,-1,18,14,26,194,230,327,201,215,246,167,268,288]} 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 {In the "confessional" Liang admitted he had never played the Berlin ending before (at least in tournament chess) and seemed anything but optimistic about it. On the other hand, he took some solace in having been told by Chris Bird (one of the arbiters) that no one who went into the confessional lost their game. Records and streaks are meant to be broken...} 9. h3 Ke8 10. Nc3 h6 11. Rd1 Be7 12. g4 Nh4 13. Nxh4 Bxh4 14. Kg2 Be7 15. Ne2 h5 16. f3 a5 $146 {A new move, but one that transposes to another game.} 17. a4 {Now two games.} Ra6 $146 {This seems to be a novelty in the substantive sense.} (17... Be6 18. Nf4 g6 19. Nxe6 fxe6 20. Be3 Rd8 21. c4 c5 22. Rxd8+ Kxd8 23. Rd1+ Ke8 24. f4 b6 25. Bf2 Rf8 26. Bg3 Rf7 27. Bh2 Bd8 28. Rd2 Be7 29. Kf3 Rh7 30. Ke4 hxg4 31. hxg4 Rh3 32. Rg2 Kf7 33. f5 exf5+ 34. gxf5 Rh4+ 35. Kd5 Rd4+ 36. Kc6 gxf5 37. b3 f4 38. Rf2 Bg5 39. Kxc7 Ke6 40. Kxb6 Kxe5 41. Kxa5 Rd3 42. Rb2 Kd4 43. Kb5 f3 44. a5 Be3 45. Bg3 f2 46. Bxf2 Bxf2 47. a6 {1-0 Li,C (2590)-Zhang,Z (2632) Kuala Lumpur op 5th 2008 (8)}) (17... hxg4 18. hxg4 f5 19. exf6 gxf6 20. Bf4 f5 21. g5 Rg8 22. Rg1 Kf7 23. Kf2 Be6 24. Rg2 Rg6 25. Rh1 Rag8 26. Rh7+ R8g7 27. Rxg7+ Rxg7 28. Nc1 b5 29. b3 c5 30. axb5 c4 31. g6+ Kg8 32. Be5 Ba3 33. Bxg7 Kxg7 34. Ne2 cxb3 35. cxb3 Bxb3 36. Nf4 Be7 37. Nh5+ Kh6 38. g7 Bg8 39. Ng3 Bc5+ 40. Ke2 Bc4+ 41. Kd1 Bb3+ 42. Kd2 Bb4+ 43. Kd3 Kxg7 44. Nxf5+ Kf6 45. Nd4 Bd5 46. Nc2 Bc5 47. Ne3 Bb3 48. Ke4 a4 49. Nd5+ Kf7 50. Nxc7 a3 51. Na6 Be7 52. b6 a2 53. Rxa2 Bxa2 54. Ke5 Bf6+ 55. Kd6 Be7+ 56. Kc6 Bc4 57. b7 Bxa6 58. b8=Q Bf1 59. Qe5 Bf6 60. Qe4 Kg7 61. Qg4+ Kf7 62. f4 Bc4 63. f5 Bb3 64. Kd7 Ba1 65. Qg6+ Kf8 66. f6 {1-0 Kotronias,V (2590)-Nikolaidis,I (2440) Peristeri 1993 (3)}) 18. Nf4 $14 {/?} hxg4 19. hxg4 c5 20. Nd5 Bd8 21. Bf4 $16 Re6 22. Rh1 Rg8 23. Bg3 Bd7 24. c4 b6 (24... Bc6 $142) 25. b3 c6 26. Nc3 Bc7 27. Rae1 Kd8 28. Rh7 (28. Ne4 $1 Bxe5 $6 29. Ng5 $18) 28... Kc8 29. Ne4 Re7 30. Nf2 $2 {Up to here Niemann had played almost perfectly, but this is a serious error for a tactical reason: the rook on e1 is unprotected and so Black can push his f-pawn.} (30. Ng5 $18) (30. Kh3 $18) 30... f5 $1 $11 31. g5 Rf8 $6 (31... Be6 $1 $11 {was better, clearing the d-file for Black's rooks and looking for a moment to play ...b5, when captures on that square will eventually allow ...Bxb3.}) 32. Bf4 Be8 33. Rhh1 $14 Bg6 34. Nh3 Rd8 $2 {Liang makes a tactical error in turn.} (34... Rfe8 $11 {/?}) 35. e6 $1 $18 {One way or another White's knight will reach f4, with devastating effect.} Rd4 36. Bxc7 Kxc7 37. Kg3 Be8 38. Nf4 b5 39. axb5 (39. axb5 cxb5 40. cxb5 Bxb5 41. Re5 Kd6 42. Rxf5 a4 43. bxa4 Bxa4 44. Ra1 $18) 1-0 [Event "ch-USA 2025"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2025.10.22"] [Round "9.3"] [White "Mishra, Abhimanyu"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [ECO "C53"] [WhiteElo "2652"] [BlackElo "2722"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "114"] [GameId "2235957949909332"] [EventDate "2025.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.01.05"] {[%evp 0,114,14,22,20,12,13,7,21,15,17,22,15,15,27,65,22,36,124,42,40,3,68,0,13,80,10,17,38,38,27,18,105,-8,-8,-11,34,16,-7,5,19,2,-1,-24,2,-40,-33,-35,-36,-41,-37,-50,-77,-47,-35,-39,-40,-43,-45,-47,-40,-38,-31,-3,-27,-5,-26,-30,-22,-30,-36,-37,-36,-27,-15,-22,-27,-24,-18,-16,1,-4,1,-1,-1,-17,-39,-51,-70,-47,-52,-60,-33,-34,1,-33,-48,-58,-44,-43,-42,-30,-51,-40,-38,-22,-26,-36,-31,-29,-13,-20,-39,-12,-14,-22,-39]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. O-O d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Re1 Bg4 9. Nbd2 Nb6 10. b4 Be7 11. a4 (11. Bb5 {was played in a couple of high-level games this year, while}) (11. h3 {was automatic in the 2010s.}) 11... Nxc4 $146 12. Nxc4 f6 13. b5 Nb8 14. d4 a6 15. bxa6 (15. Ne3 Be6 16. Bb2 $14) 15... Rxa6 16. Ne3 Be6 $1 17. dxe5 Qxd1 18. Rxd1 Nc6 $1 19. Nd5 Bxd5 20. Rxd5 Rfa8 {White's extra pawn is of little significance.} 21. g3 fxe5 22. Nxe5 Nxe5 23. Rxe5 Bf6 24. Rb5 b6 25. Rb3 Rxa4 26. Rxa4 Rxa4 {So much for the extra pawn. Now Black is "better" from the eyeball test, as White will be slightly inconvenienced by the weakness of his c-pawn. But only very slightly: the game is an almost certain draw.} 27. Bf4 Rc4 28. Bd2 Kf7 29. Kf1 Ke6 30. Ke2 Rc5 31. Kd3 Rd5+ 32. Kc2 Rh5 33. h4 Rf5 34. Be3 Be7 35. c4 h5 36. Rd3 g6 37. Bf4 Bd6 38. Be3 Ra5 39. Rd4 b5 40. cxb5 Rxb5 41. Re4+ Kf5 42. Rc4 Rb4 43. Rxb4 Bxb4 44. f3 Bd6 45. Bf2 Ke5 46. Kd3 Kd5 47. g4 Be5 48. Be1 c5 49. Bf2 c4+ 50. Kc2 Bc7 51. Kc3 Ba5+ 52. Kc2 Bb4 53. Bg3 Bc5 54. Kc3 Bd4+ 55. Kc2 Bc5 56. Kc3 Bd4+ 57. Kc2 Bc5 1/2-1/2 [Event "ch-USA 2025"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2025.10.22"] [Round "9.4"] [White "Shankland, Sam"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [ECO "B46"] [WhiteElo "2654"] [BlackElo "2789"] [WhiteFideId "2004887"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "96"] [GameId "2235957949909333"] [EventDate "2025.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.01.05"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bd3 Qc7 8. Qe2 b5 9. Nxc6 Qxc6 10. O-O-O {Almost a novelty.} (10. e5 {is usual, with complications that seem to work out reasonably well for Black after either of the following moves:} b4 (10... Nd5 11. Be4 (11. Nxd5 Qxd5 12. f4 Bb7 $11 13. O-O Qc6 14. Rad1 g6 15. Qf2 Be7 16. Rd2 Rd8 17. Rfd1 d6 18. Bb6 Rd7 19. Bf1 O-O 20. b4 f6 21. exd6 Rxd6 22. Rxd6 Bxd6 23. Bc5 Bxc5 24. bxc5 Qe4 25. Rd4 Qf5 26. Rd7 Rf7 27. Rd6 e5 28. c6 Bc8 29. c4 Kg7 30. cxb5 axb5 31. Bd3 Qh5 32. Bxb5 exf4 33. Bc4 Qe5 34. Rd5 Qc3 35. Bb3 Re7 36. Rd1 Bg4 37. Rf1 g5 38. h3 Bf5 39. Bd5 Kg6 40. Qb6 Bd3 41. Rd1 Bc2 42. Rc1 Qd2 43. Qb2 Re1+ 44. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 45. Kh2 Qg3+ 46. Kh1 {½-½ Puranik,A (2635)-Rapport,R (2716) FIDE Grand Swiss Samarkand 2025 (6)}) 11... Bb4 12. Bd2 Bxc3 13. Bxc3 Bb7 14. Bb4 Rc8 (14... Qc4 $6 15. Qxc4 bxc4 16. Bd6 $14) 15. Bd6 h5 $11) 11. exf6 bxc3 12. fxg7 (12. O-O-O $5 $146) 12... Bxg7 13. b3 Bb7 14. O-O-O d5 $146 {=}) 10... Bb7 $146 (10... b4 11. Nd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 Qxd5 13. Bc4 Qe4 (13... Qc6 $2 14. Bd5 $1 exd5 15. Bg5+ Qe6 {½-½ Stativkin,D (2214)-Kuderinov,K (2436) KAZ-ch Astana 2007 (5)} 16. Rhe1 $1 $16 {/+-}) 14. f3 Qe5 15. f4 Qc7 16. f5 $44) 11. Kb1 (11. Bd4 $5 {is an engine suggestion, but Black's play looks easier to me from a human perspective in the following line:} Qd6 $5 12. Bxb5 $1 axb5 13. e5 (13. Bxf6 $4 Qf4+ $19) 13... Qc6 14. exf6 gxf6 15. Nxb5 Rxa2 16. Kb1 Ra8 17. Bxf6 Rg8 18. Qe5 Rc8 $1 19. Rd2 $1 Bc5 20. Nc3 Qa6 21. b3 Ra8 22. Na4 Bf8 $44 {True, the whole line is crazy, but I'd rather have the bishop pair here than the extra pawn.}) 11... Be7 (11... b4 12. e5 bxc3 13. exf6 cxb2 14. Bd4 g6 15. h4 Qxg2 16. h5 $1 Bf3 17. Qe3 Bxd1 18. Be4 $1 Bxc2+ $1 19. Kxc2 Rc8+ 20. Kxb2 Qg4 21. hxg6 Rb8+ 22. Kc2 Rc8+ 23. Kb2 Rb8+ $11 {I imagine this line is in Caruana's computer, but wasn't played because this wasn't a situation where a draw was desirable.}) 12. a3 (12. e5 Nd5 13. Nxd5 Qxd5 14. Bc1 $14) 12... Qc7 (12... b4 13. axb4 Bxb4 14. Bd4 Qc7 $1 $11) 13. Bd2 {Prophylaxis against ...b4.} O-O (13... b4 $2 14. axb4 Bxb4 $6 15. Nb5 $1 axb5 16. Bxb4 $16 {/+-}) 14. h4 (14. e5 Nd5 15. h4 f5 16. exf6 Nxf6 17. h5 Bxg2 18. Rhg1 {looks reasonable for White. Variation after variation leads to exciting play - why do people keep playing 1...e5? Even for professionals, it has to get boring playing for a draw all the time.}) 14... d5 15. exd5 Nxd5 16. Nxd5 Bxd5 17. Bc3 {A tacit draw offer.} (17. Rh3 $142) 17... f5 $5 {Caruana prefers to fight on, even though White is a little better after this.} (17... Bxa3 18. Bxh7+ Kxh7 19. Qh5+ Kg8 20. Bxg7 {Sometimes in positions with a double bishop sacrifice Black can decline the second offer, but here it will lose.} Kxg7 $8 (20... f6 $2 21. Bxf8 Bxf8 22. Rxd5 $1 $18) (20... f5 $2 21. Qh8+ Kf7 22. Bxf8 Bxf8 23. Rxd5 $1 exd5 24. Qh7+ Bg7 25. Qxf5+ Ke7 (25... Kg8 26. Qxd5+ {once again exploits the loose rook on a8.}) 26. Re1+ Kd6 27. Qf4+ Kc6 28. Qxc7+ Kxc7 29. Re7+ $18) 21. Qg5+ Kh7 22. Qh5+ Kg7 23. Qg5+ $11) 18. Rh3 $14 {Getting the rook off the diagonal so he can play g4.} Rad8 19. g4 Bf6 20. Bxf6 Rxf6 21. gxf5 exf5 22. Re3 (22. Rg3 $1) 22... Bf7 $11 23. Re5 Qd6 $1 {A nice indirect defense of the f-pawn that prepares his next move, going for counterplay.} 24. Re1 (24. h5 $142) 24... Qd4 $1 25. Bxf5 (25. h5 $142) 25... Qxh4 $15 26. f3 Qf4 27. Qe4 Qxe4 28. Bxe4 g6 (28... Bg6) 29. Kc1 Kg7 30. a4 $5 {Not bad, but certainly unnecessary. If it forced swaps that would be one thing, but this is a pawn sacrifice.} bxa4 31. Ra5 Be8 32. Rc5 h5 33. c4 Kh6 (33... Bf7) 34. Rg1 $1 Bf7 35. Kc2 Rg8 36. Ra1 (36. Kc3 h4 37. Re5 g5 38. Kd4 $11) 36... g5 37. Rxa4 g4 (37... Bg6 $142) 38. fxg4 Rxg4 {For all of Caruana's fighting spirit in the game (and his excellent play) Shankland has still matched him so far. Only now does he go astray.} 39. Bb7 $2 {The bishop becomes a target here, and White loses for purely tactical reasons.} (39. Bd5 $11) (39. Ba8 {was also acceptable and better than the text, despite the queasiness we might all feel about this move from the end of the Ding-Gukesh match. (A bit like game 1 of Spassky-Fischer: we're all inclined to avoid pawn snatching like the infamous 29...Bxh2, even when it can be justified.)}) 39... Bg6+ $1 $19 40. Kd2 (40. Kb3 Rb6+ {is the simplest version of what will prove a recurring problem.}) 40... Rd4+ 41. Ke1 (41. Kc3 Rd3+ 42. Kb4 (42. Kc2 {gives Black at least a half-dozen ways to win. Pick one you like.}) 42... Rb6+ $19) 41... Re6+ $1 42. Kf2 Rd2+ 43. Kg3 Rd3+ 44. Kf2 Rb6 {Once again. White must give up the bishop to avoid ladder-style mates.} 45. b4 (45. Bf3 Rf6 $19) (45. Bd5 Rxb2+ 46. Ke1 Re3+ 47. Kd1 Rg3 48. Kc1 Rc2+ 49. Kb1 Rg1#) 45... Rxb7 46. Rc6 Rf7+ 47. Ke2 Rg3 48. Raxa6 h4 {Great fighting chess by Caruana, who has bounced back admirably from the disappointment of round 7.} 0-1 [Event "ch-USA 2025"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2025.10.22"] [Round "9.5"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Sevian, Samuel"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "E36"] [WhiteElo "2756"] [BlackElo "2698"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "126"] [GameId "2235957949909334"] [EventDate "2025.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.01.05"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Nf3 Bb7 9. b3 Nbd7 10. Be2 Rc8 11. O-O c5 12. Rd1 dxc4 13. bxc4 cxd4 14. exd4 b5 15. c5 Bc6 16. Rb1 a6 17. Ne1 Be4 18. Ra1 Nb6 19. Bg5 Bg6 20. Bf3 Nbd5 21. Qb3 Qc7 22. Bxf6 Nxf6 23. a4 Rb8 24. axb5 axb5 25. Nd3 Bxd3 26. Qxd3 Rfd8 27. Rab1 Nd5 28. Bxd5 Rxd5 29. Rxb5 Rbd8 30. Qb3 g6 31. g3 Rxd4 32. Rc1 Rd3 33. Qb1 Qc6 34. Rb6 Qf3 35. Rb8 Qc6 36. h4 h5 37. Rxd8+ Rxd8 38. Qb6 Rc8 39. Qxc6 Rxc6 40. Kg2 Kf8 41. Kf3 Ke7 42. Ke4 Rc8 43. Kd4 Rd8+ 44. Kc4 Rd2 45. f4 f6 46. Ra1 e5 47. fxe5 fxe5 48. Ra7+ Ke6 49. Ra6+ Kf5 50. c6 Ke6 51. Ra8 Rc2+ 52. Kb5 e4 53. Re8+ Kd6 54. Rxe4 Rc5+ 55. Kb4 Rxc6 56. Rc4 Rxc4+ 57. Kxc4 Ke5 58. Kd3 Kf5 59. Ke3 Kg4 60. Kf2 g5 61. hxg5 Kxg5 62. Kg2 h4 63. gxh4+ Kxh4 1/2-1/2 [Event "ch-USA 2025"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2025.10.22"] [Round "9.6"] [White "Swiercz, Dariusz"] [Black "Oparin, Grigoriy"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B40"] [WhiteElo "2577"] [BlackElo "2661"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "66"] [GameId "2235957949909335"] [EventDate "2025.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.01.05"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3 d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. d4 Nf6 6. Na3 Nc6 7. Be3 Ng4 8. Bc4 Nxe3 9. fxe3 Qd8 10. d5 exd5 11. Qxd5 Qxd5 12. Bxd5 f6 13. Nb5 Rb8 14. O-O-O Ke7 15. h4 a6 16. Na3 Kd6 17. Nc4+ Kc7 18. e4 b5 19. Ne3 Bd6 20. Nf5 Bxf5 21. exf5 Ne5 22. Nxe5 Bxe5 23. Be6 Rhd8 24. Kc2 Rxd1 25. Rxd1 Rd8 26. Rxd8 Kxd8 27. c4 b4 28. b3 Kc7 29. Kd3 Kc6 30. Bd5+ Kc7 31. Be6 Kc6 32. Bd5+ Kc7 33. Be6 Kc6 1/2-1/2 [Event "ch-USA w 2025"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2025.10.22"] [Round "9.1"] [White "Paikidze, Nazi"] [Black "Paragua, Megan Althea"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "E06"] [WhiteElo "2297"] [BlackElo "2259"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "142"] [GameId "2235957961886097"] [EventDate "2025.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.01.05"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Nf3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. Nc3 b6 7. cxd5 exd5 8. O-O Bb7 9. Ne5 c6 10. e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Nd5 12. Nc3 Bf6 13. Qb3 Bxe5 14. dxe5 Nd7 15. Nxd5 cxd5 16. Rd1 Nxe5 17. Bf4 Ng6 18. Bxd5 Bxd5 19. Rxd5 Qf6 20. Bg5 Qe6 21. Rad1 h6 22. Be3 Ne5 23. Bf4 Ng6 24. Bd6 Rfe8 25. h4 Ne7 26. Bxe7 Rxe7 27. Rd8+ Rxd8 28. Rxd8+ Kh7 29. Qxe6 Rxe6 30. Rd7 Re2 31. Rxf7 a5 32. b3 Rxa2 33. Rb7 Rb2 34. Rxb6 a4 35. b4 a3 36. Ra6 Rxb4 37. Rxa3 h5 38. Ra5 Kh6 39. Ra6+ Kh7 40. Kg2 Rb3 41. Re6 Ra3 42. Re3 Ra2 43. Rb3 Kg6 44. Kf3 Ra4 45. Ke3 Kh6 46. Rb6+ Kh7 47. Rd6 Rb4 48. Rd4 Rb2 49. f3 Rb7 50. Rd5 Kh6 51. Ke4 Rb4+ 52. Rd4 Rb6 53. Ke5 Rb5+ 54. Kf4 Rb6 55. Re4 Rf6+ 56. Ke3 Rg6 57. g4 hxg4 58. fxg4 Ra6 59. Re5 Kg6 60. Kf4 Kf6 61. Rf5+ Kg6 62. Kg3 Ra3+ 63. Rf3 Ra5 64. Re3 Rb5 65. Kf4 Kf6 66. Re4 Rb1 67. g5+ Kg6 68. Ke5 Kh5 69. Rf4 Rh1 70. Rf7 Kg6 71. Rf4 Kh5 1/2-1/2 [Event "ch-USA w 2025"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2025.10.22"] [Round "9.2"] [White "Cervantes Landeiro, Thalia"] [Black "Yu, Jennifer"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D02"] [WhiteElo "2311"] [BlackElo "2256"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "76"] [GameId "2235957961918866"] [EventDate "2025.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.01.05"] 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 e6 5. Nbd2 Qb6 6. dxc5 Bxc5 7. a4 Nc6 8. Nb3 Be7 9. a5 Qd8 10. c3 Nh5 11. Ne5 Nxf4 12. exf4 O-O 13. Bd3 Qc7 14. Qe2 Bd6 15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. g3 f6 17. O-O e5 18. fxe5 fxe5 19. Bc2 Rb8 20. Rab1 g6 21. c4 Ba6 22. Nd2 Bc5 23. Qg4 Bc8 24. Qe2 Bh3 25. cxd5 Bxf1 26. Rxf1 cxd5 27. Bb3 Kh8 28. Kg2 Bd4 29. Qd3 Qxa5 30. Nf3 Qb5 31. Qxb5 Rxb5 32. Nxd4 exd4 33. Bd1 Rxb2 34. Bf3 d3 35. Rd1 d2 36. Bxd5 a5 37. Kf1 a4 38. Ke2 a3 0-1 [Event "ch-USA w 2025"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2025.10.22"] [Round "9.3"] [White "Zatonskih, Anna"] [Black "Lee, Alice"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [ECO "D31"] [WhiteElo "2310"] [BlackElo "2409"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "117"] [GameId "2235957961918867"] [EventDate "2025.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.01.05"] {[%evp 0,117,16,19,9,16,6,14,59,45,44,-13,46,45,37,39,15,12,57,26,122,106,56,34,69,85,119,75,107,89,49,50,111,80,56,-30,-14,18,-11,48,36,25,30,13,9,69,32,15,163,8,64,249,86,57,111,113,113,126,171,182,176,185,229,224,232,219,225,232,244,255,511,261,335,322,321,255,238,211,259,251,280,257,271,258,350,264,147,380,469,406,412,414,345,458,367,407,346,370,375,383,377,397,508,402,446,434,507,405,401,532,478,591,616,594,759,589,710,857,768,884]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 dxc4 4. e4 c5 5. d5 Nf6 6. Bxc4 exd5 7. exd5 a6 8. Nf3 (8. a4 {is the most popular move for obvious reasons, preventing ...b5, but Zatonskih's move is also normal and common.}) 8... Bd6 (8... b5 $2 {is still slightly better after a bishop retreat, but} 9. O-O $1 {is even stronger. Black is in trouble here, e.g.} bxc4 10. Re1+ Be7 11. d6 Nc6 12. Bf4 $1 Be6 13. Ng5 $1 O-O 14. dxe7 Nxe7 15. Nxe6 fxe6 16. Rxe6 $16 {/+- White has a large advantage thanks to Black's horrendous queenside "structure".}) 9. Qe2+ Be7 $4 {Not only bad, but bizarre. I guess that Lee doesn't know the line very well, and only prepared for variations where White plays a4 (e.g. on moves 8 or 9).} (9... Qe7 {is normal, with a slight advantage to White after} 10. O-O Qxe2 11. Bxe2 Bg4 ({or} 11... O-O {.})) 10. O-O $6 $18 {White is still much better, but this was a missed opportunity.} ({After} 10. Bg5 $1 O-O 11. O-O-O {Black is already lost. White threatens d5-d6, and if} Bd6 12. Ne4 {will destroy Black's kingside.}) 10... O-O 11. Re1 Re8 $2 (11... Bd6 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bh4 b5 14. Bd3 Nbd7 15. Ne4 $18 {leaves Black bound up, but it's better than the text.}) 12. Bg5 Nbd7 13. a4 $2 {Trying to have it all, but it was better to get about the business of finishing Black off.} (13. Ne4 $1 b5 14. d6 $1 bxc4 (14... Bf8 15. Bd5 Rb8 16. Nxf6+ Nxf6 17. Bxf6 $1 Rxe2 18. Bxd8 $18 {is an extra piece.}) 15. dxe7 Qb6 16. Rad1 Nxe4 17. Qxe4 Bb7 18. Qf4 $18 {Black can pretty much go ahead and set up the board for the next game.}) 13... h6 14. Bh4 $2 $16 (14. Ne4 $3 hxg5 15. d6 Bf8 16. Bxf7+ $1 Kh8 $8 (16... Kxf7 $2 17. Nexg5+ Kg8 18. Qc4+ $18 {wins the queen, with a speedy mate to follow.}) 17. Bxe8 Qxe8 18. Nfxg5 $18) 14... Bd6 {Black's position is only conventionally bad now; she's no longer at death's door.} 15. Qc2 Ne5 16. Nxe5 Bxe5 17. d6 $5 {Not best, objectively, but a smart practical decision. Zatonskih hasn't figured out how to exploit her current crop of advantages, so she changes the character of the play to create some new ways of generating an initiative.} Qxd6 18. Rad1 $1 Bxh2+ 19. Kh1 Rxe1+ 20. Rxe1 Be5 $2 (20... Bg4 $1 {wasn't an easy move to make, as it allows the other bishop to be trapped. All that can be said is that it works, tactically.} 21. g3 (21. Ne4 Nxe4 22. Qxe4 Qf4 $1 23. Qxb7 Rb8 24. Qxf7+ Qxf7 25. Bxf7+ Kxf7 26. Re7+ Kg6 27. Kxh2 Rxb2 $11) 21... Qd4 $1 22. Bxf6 (22. b3 Re8 $1 23. Rxe8+ Nxe8 24. Kxh2 Nd6 25. Bd5 $1 b5 26. Be7 Nf5 {and Black regains the piece as she's threatening both ...Nxe7 and ...b4 to undermine the d5-bishop.} 27. Bxc5 Qxc5 28. axb5 axb5 29. b4 $1 $11) (22. Ba2 Bxg3 $1 23. Bxg3 $8 Bf3+ 24. Kg1 Qg4 25. Qd3 Qh5 26. Bh2 b5 27. Re5 Qh3 28. Qg6 c4 29. Qg3 Qxg3+ 30. Bxg3 b4 31. Re3 Bc6 32. Bxc4 bxc3 33. Rxc3 Bxa4 34. Ra3 Bc6 35. Bxa6 $15) 22... Qxc4 23. Kxh2 gxf6 24. Re4 Bf5 $1 {One of many "only-move" resources in this note. Lee can hardly be blamed for not finding her way through this morass.} 25. Rxc4 Bxc2 26. Rxc5 $11) 21. Ne4 $1 {Now White is winning again, though not crushingly so.} Nxe4 22. Qxe4 Qd4 23. f4 (23. Qxd4 $142 Bxd4 24. Re8+ Kh7 25. Bxf7 $18) 23... Qxe4 24. Rxe4 Bxb2 25. Re8+ Kh7 26. Bxf7 g5 27. fxg5 hxg5 28. Bxg5 $18 {The dust has settled, and now a new phase of the game is about to start. Black is a pawn ahead, but the most salient factor in the position is White's pin along the back rank. If Black doesn't solve it she's going to lose, period--and that's what happens in the game. This was the moment to take a desperate measure; it might not have saved the game, but it was the best try.} Bd4 $2 (28... b5 $1 29. Bd5 {Otherwise Black is completely fine.} Bb7 $1 30. Rxa8 Bxd5 31. Rxa6 bxa4 32. Rxa4 Kg6 33. Be3 c4 {With an engine at her side White will win this every time. Flying solo, Black has some chances. Here, for instance, the only winning move seems to be} 34. Ra5 $1 {. Not the hardest move in the world to play, but that it's the only winning move suggests that White's task isn't trivial.}) 29. Bd5 $1 {Paralyzing Black's queenside.} Kg7 30. Kh2 Bf2 31. g3 Bd4 32. Bf4 Kg6 33. g4 Bf2 34. Kg2 Bh4 35. Bd6 Kg5 36. Bf3 Kf6 37. Bxc5 Kf7 38. Rf8+ Ke6 39. a5 Kd7 40. Bb6 Be7 41. Rg8 Ke6 42. Kg3 Rb8 (42... Kf7 43. Bd5+ Kf6 44. Bd4# {is amusing. Mates like this recur through this ending, if you look for them.}) 43. Bc7 Ra8 44. g5 Bxg5 45. Bg4+ Kd5 46. Bxc8 $1 {Maintaining the bind.} (46. Rxg5+ $2 Kc6 47. Bb6 Bxg4 48. Rc5+ Kd6 49. Kxg4 {should still win for White, eventually, but it would be crazy to go for this.}) 46... Kd4 47. Bb6+ Kc3 48. Kf3 Bd2 49. Ke4 Kb4 50. Kd5 Bf4 51. Re8 Bh2 52. Rf8 Rb8 53. Rh8 Bg3 54. Rg8 Bh2 55. Ke6 Kc3 56. Kd7 Ra8 57. Bc7 Kb4 58. Rg4+ Kb5 59. Rg5+ {White keeps everything: her a-pawn survives, Black's bishop remains in its coffin, and Black's bishop will be captured on the next move. A great win for Zatonskih, who thereby moves into a tie for first with Lee and and Carissa Yip.} 1-0 [Event "ch-USA w 2025"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2025.10.22"] [Round "9.4"] [White "Abrahamyan, Tatev"] [Black "Sargsyan, Anna M."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B11"] [WhiteElo "2406"] [BlackElo "2369"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "92"] [GameId "2235957961918868"] [EventDate "2025.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.01.05"] 1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Nc3 Bg4 4. d4 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nd7 6. h3 Bxf3 7. Qxf3 Ngf6 8. Bd3 Nxe4 9. Qxe4 Nf6 10. Qh4 e6 11. O-O h6 12. Re1 Bd6 13. Bg5 Be7 14. c3 Qb6 15. b4 a5 16. a3 Qa7 17. b5 c5 18. Rab1 Qb6 19. dxc5 Qxc5 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Qe4 Qb6 22. Rbc1 Rd8 23. Red1 Ke7 24. Be2 Rxd1+ 25. Bxd1 Rc8 26. Bf3 Rc7 27. a4 Qc5 28. c4 Bd4 29. Qe2 f5 30. g3 Kf6 31. Kg2 Re7 32. Re1 e5 33. Bd5 Qb4 34. Qd1 Qc3 35. Re2 b6 36. Rd2 Bc5 37. Rd3 Qb4 38. g4 e4 39. Qa1+ Kg6 40. gxf5+ Kxf5 41. Qd1 exd3 42. Qxd3+ Kf6 43. Qf3+ Kg6 44. Qd3+ Kf6 45. Qf3+ Kg6 46. Qd3+ Kf6 1/2-1/2 [Event "ch-USA w 2025"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2025.10.22"] [Round "9.5"] [White "Pourkashiyan, Atousa"] [Black "Krush, Irina"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B46"] [WhiteElo "2291"] [BlackElo "2388"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "104"] [GameId "2235957961918869"] [EventDate "2025.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.01.05"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 d6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Be3 Be7 9. f4 O-O 10. Kh1 Bd7 11. Qe1 b5 12. a3 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Bc6 14. Qg3 g6 15. Bd3 Nh5 16. Qf2 Nxf4 17. Qxf4 e5 18. Bxe5 dxe5 19. Qxe5 Bd6 20. Qf6 Qc7 21. Qh4 Rae8 22. Rad1 Re5 23. Be2 Rfe8 24. Bf3 a5 25. Qf2 h5 26. Nd5 Bxd5 27. exd5 Qe7 28. Qd4 h4 29. c3 Re3 30. Qg4 Kh7 31. g3 hxg3 32. hxg3 f5 33. Qh4+ Kg7 34. Qxe7+ R8xe7 35. g4 Kf6 36. Kg2 Rh7 37. Rde1 Rh2+ 38. Kg1 Rxb2 39. gxf5 Rxe1 40. Rxe1 Bc5+ 41. Kh1 Kxf5 42. Re2 Bxa3 43. Re8 Kf4 44. Bg2 Bc5 45. Kh2 a4 46. Ra8 a3 47. Ra6 g5 48. Rf6+ Kg4 49. Ra6 a2 50. c4 bxc4 51. Ra4 Bd6+ 52. Kg1 Rb1+ 0-1 [Event "ch-USA w 2025"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2025.10.22"] [Round "9.6"] [White "Yip, Carissa"] [Black "Atwell, Rose"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [ECO "C11"] [WhiteElo "2452"] [BlackElo "2353"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "63"] [GameId "2235957961922966"] [EventDate "2025.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.01.05"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Nce2 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. h4 {Rare (in this exact position), but Caruana played it earlier this year.} Be7 (7... f6 8. Nf4 cxd4 9. Nxe6 Qb6 10. Qb3 dxc3 11. bxc3 Qa5 12. exf6 Nxf6 13. Nxf8 Rxf8 14. Bb5 Ne4 15. Nf3 Qxc3+ 16. Qxc3 Nxc3 17. a4 a6 18. Bxc6+ bxc6 19. Bb2 Ne4 20. O-O c5 21. Rfe1 Bf5 22. Rac1 Kd7 23. Ne5+ Kd6 24. f3 Nd2 25. Rcd1 Nb3 26. g4 Bc8 27. Nc4+ Kc6 28. Bxg7 dxc4 29. Bxf8 Nd4 30. Re8 c3 31. Rc1 Bb7 32. Rxa8 Ne2+ 33. Kf2 Nxc1 34. Rd8 c2 35. Bh6 Nb3 36. h5 c4 37. Bf4 Kc5 38. Be3+ Kb4 39. g5 c3 40. g6 hxg6 41. h6 c1=Q 42. Bxc1 Nxc1 43. Rb8 Nd3+ 44. Ke3 {1-0 Caruana,F (2776)-Erigaisi,A (2782) Norway Chess 13th Stavanger 2025 (3)}) 8. a3 b5 $6 (8... Qb6 $142) 9. Nf3 b4 $2 {Yes, Black wants to do this - but only when it's supported by the a-pawn. Black needs to keep the pressure on the d-pawn.} 10. axb4 cxd4 11. Nexd4 $1 $18 {Perhaps Atwell didn't expect Yip to surrender the e-pawn.} Ncxe5 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. Bf4 Ng6 14. Nc6 $1 Qb6 15. Nxe7 Nxe7 16. Be3 {White's dark-squared grip on the queenside already gives her a winning advantage.} Qb7 17. Qa4+ Bd7 18. Qa6 {Black is never going to have time to build and meaningfully use her pawn center - her queenside is about to collapse.} Qc7 19. Bc5 Nc8 20. Be2 f6 21. O-O Kf7 22. Ra5 e5 {Congratulations? Black's center pawns don't restrict anything, and she has no meaningful development. Meanwhile, back to the queenside...} 23. Rfa1 Bc6 24. Be3 Ne7 25. Qd3 e4 (25... Nc8 {saves the a-pawn (for the moment) but loses a different pawn:} 26. Rxd5 $1) 26. Qd4 Nf5 27. Qc5 Rhc8 28. Rxa7 {This will win more than a pawn thanks to the pin along the 7th rank.} Rxa7 29. Rxa7 Bb7 30. Ba6 Nxe3 31. Qxc7+ Rxc7 32. fxe3 {A very one-sided victory. Atwell was unprepared for the variation but, more fundamentally, misunderstood the pawn structure dynamics when she played 9...b4. As a smart person once said, experience is what you get when you don't get what you want.} 1-0