[Event "FIDE Candidates 2020"] [Site "Yekaterinburg RUS"] [Date "2020.03.22"] [Round "5"] [White "Alekseenko, Kirill"] [Black "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B90"] [WhiteElo "2698"] [BlackElo "2767"] [PlyCount "65"] [EventDate "2020.03.15"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e6 7. Be3 b5 8. Qd2 Nbd7 9. a3 h5 10. O-O-O Bb7 11. Kb1 Be7 12. Rg1 Rc8 13. Be2 Nb6 14. Qe1 Nfd7 15. g4 hxg4 16. Rxg4 g6 ({At the London Classic of 2019 Vachier won a rapid game against Magnus Carlsen where he played} 16... Bf8 {but later he found that White could have gained a decisive advantage with} 17. Bg5 Qc7 18. Rh4) 17. Rxg6 {According to Alekseenko this was the only logical follow-up to his previous play. He was bravely walking in the dark here, while Vachier knew everything.} Rxc3 ({After} 17... fxg6 {White would gain an advantage with} 18. Nxe6 Bh4 19. Nxd8 Bxe1 20. Nxb7 {so Black makes room for his queen on c8.}) 18. Nxe6 ({The players are walking in a minefield, but Vachier knew where the mines were located.} 18. Qxc3 {would also be quite complicated. After} Na4 19. Qb3 ({or} 19. Qd2 fxg6 20. Nxe6 Qc8 21. Bg5) 19... fxg6 ({but not} 19... Ndc5 20. Bxb5+ {and White is better}) 20. Nxe6 Qc8 21. Ng7+ {the machine indicates a draw.}) 18... Qc8 ({After} 18... fxe6 19. Qxc3 {White would have a winning attack.}) 19. Ng7+ Kf8 20. Rh6 Rxh6 21. Bxh6 Rxc2 {The only move that doesn't lose, says the engine.} 22. Nf5+ Ke8 23. Nxe7 Kxe7 24. Qh4+ f6 25. Bf4 Rxb2+ ({ White's attack was still very dangerous. After} 25... Rxe2 26. Bxd6+ {Black would be mated.}) 26. Kxb2 Na4+ 27. Kb1 Nc3+ 28. Ka1 Nxd1 {The storm has subsided and the position is equal.} 29. Qh7+ Kd8 30. Qg8+ Ke7 31. Qh7+ Kd8 32. Qg8+ Ke7 33. Qh7+ {Draw.} 1/2-1/2