[Event "9th Sinquefield Cup 2022"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2022.09.10"] [Round "8"] [White "Niemann, Hans Moke"] [Black "Caruana, F."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A21"] [WhiteElo "2688"] [BlackElo "2758"] [PlyCount "138"] [EventDate "2022.09.01"] 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Bb4 3. Nd5 a5 4. a3 Bc5 5. Nf3 d6 6. e3 c6 7. d4 Ba7 8. Nc3 Nd7 9. b4 Ngf6 10. Bb2 O-O 11. Be2 exd4 12. Nxd4 Ne5 13. h3 Re8 14. O-O Bd7 15. Qd2 Bb6 16. Rad1 axb4 17. axb4 Qc8 18. f4 Ng6 19. Kh2 c5 20. bxc5 Qxc5 21. g4 Ba5 22. Qd3 Bxc3 23. Qxc3 Ne4 24. Qd3 Qb4 25. Rb1 Nd2 26. Bc3 Nxf1+ 27. Bxf1 Ra2+ 28. Kg1 Qa4 29. Rxb7 Nh4 30. Bb2 Qa8 31. Qb3 Ra7 32. Rxa7 Qxa7 33. Qc3 f6 34. Qd2 Qxd4 35. Qxd4 Nf3+ 36. Kf2 Nxd4 37. Bxd4 Rc8 38. Bg2 Kf8 39. Bd5 Ke7 40. f5 Ba4 41. Ke2 Bb3 42. Kd3 Ba2 43. Ba7 Bb3 44. Kd4 h5 45. gxh5 Rh8 46. Bf3 Bc2 47. Bg4 Ra8 48. Bb6 Ra3 49. c5 Rd3+ 50. Kc4 dxc5 51. Bxc5+ Kf7 52. Bd4 Ra3 53. Bc3 Be4 54. Kd4 Ra4+ 55. Kc5 Bc2 56. Bb4 Ra1 57. Kd4 Rf1 58. Be2 Rxf5 59. Bd6 Bb3 60. Bf4 Ra5 61. h4 Kg8 62. h6 g6 63. Bc7 Rd5+ 64. Kc3 Rc5+ 65. Kxb3 Rxc7 66. Bd3 f5 67. h5 gxh5 68. Bxf5 h4 69. e4 Rc5 0-1 [Event "9th Sinquefield Cup 2022"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2022.09.10"] [Round "8"] [White "Aronian, L."] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, I."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "2759"] [BlackElo "2792"] [PlyCount "104"] [EventDate "2022.09.01"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4 c6 9. Re1 Bf5 10. Qc2 Bg6 11. c5 Bc7 12. Nbd2 f5 13. Qb3 Rf7 14. Bc2 h6 15. Nf1 a5 16. a4 Na6 17. Bd2 Bh5 18. Rad1 Qf6 19. Ng3 Bxf3 20. Qxf3 Bxg3 21. hxg3 Qxd4 22. Bxa5 Qxb2 23. Re2 Naxc5 24. Be1 Qf6 25. a5 Rd8 26. Bb1 Rfd7 27. Qa3 d4 28. Bb4 Na6 29. Be1 c5 30. g4 g6 31. Qc1 Kg7 32. gxf5 gxf5 33. Rd3 Re7 34. Rf3 Rde8 35. Rxe4 Rxe4 36. Bxe4 Rxe4 37. Bd2 Qe6 38. Qb1 Qd5 39. Rh3 Re6 40. Qc1 Rg6 41. Bxh6+ Kf6 42. f3 Nc7 43. Qf4 Ne6 44. Qb8 Qa2 45. g4 fxg4 46. Qh8+ Kf7 47. Rg3 Qb1+ 48. Kh2 Qc2+ 49. Kh1 Qd1+ 50. Kh2 Qe2+ 51. Rg2 g3+ 52. Kh3 Qf1 0-1 [Event "9th Sinquefield Cup 2022"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2022.09.10"] [Round "8"] [White "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "2778"] [BlackElo "2771"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "63"] [EventDate "2022.09.01"] {[%evp 0,63,30,40,38,34,5,5,8,17,12,16,12,17,18,-12,20,-4,16,8,13,12,7,-13,3, -17,9,3,-5,9,0,18,4,4,-3,-3,-21,-8,41,10,15,43,43,7,7,-10,-10,27,13,59,236,219, 249,253,260,278,278,278,278,278,278,278,278,297,301,301]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. O-O d6 6. c3 O-O 7. h3 h6 8. Re1 a6 9. a4 a5 {It's a funny-looking line - first ...a6, then ...a5 - but it has been played in 81 prior games, with decent results.} 10. Nbd2 Be6 11. b3 (11. Bb5 {is the chief alternative.}) 11... Re8 (11... d5 {is the principal alternative, and Black has done very well with it. So himself trotted it out a couple of years ago against Duda.}) 12. Bb2 $146 (12. Bb5 {is usual.}) 12... d5 $11 13. Bb5 dxe4 14. dxe4 $2 Nh5 $17 {Suddenly, Black's pieces are well-situated for a kingside attack. Next up, 15...Qf6, if possible.} 15. Nc4 $2 Qf6 $19 16. Bxc6 bxc6 17. Ncxe5 {Black is winning here, but in this tournament Firouzja lived a charmed existence. He was lost against Mamedyarov and won anyway, and now he repeats his Houdini act in this game.} Bxh3 (17... Rad8 {is also good, with ...Bxh3 coming next.}) 18. Nd3 (18. gxh3 Rxe5 19. Nxe5 $2 Qxf2+ 20. Kh1 Ng3# {is the basic tactical point.}) 18... Qg6 $2 $17 {/-+} (18... Rad8 $1 {needed to be played, to keep a clearly winning advantage.} 19. Nd4 {is the best try, such as it is.} (19. gxh3 $143 Nf4 20. Nxf4 Rxd1 21. Raxd1 Qxf4 22. Kg2 Re6 $19) 19... Qg6 $8 20. Qf3 Bg4 21. Qe3 Ba7 $19 {Black's immediate threat is ...c5-c4. }) 19. Nh4 Qg5 20. Nxc5 Qxh4 $6 $15 (20... Rad8 $1 {Again!} 21. Qf3 Bg4 22. Qe3 Qxh4 $17 {/-+}) 21. gxh3 Qg5+ $2 (21... Re5 $1 22. Qf3 (22. Nd3 $2 Rg5+ 23. Kh2 (23. Kf1 Qxh3+ 24. Ke2 Rd8 $19) 23... Rd8 24. Re3 Rxd3 25. Qf3 Rd2 26. Re2 Rxe2 27. Qxe2 Rg2+ $1 {Nicest, but not necessary.} 28. Kxg2 Nf4+ 29. Kf1 Nxe2 30. Kxe2 Qxe4+ $19) 22... Rxc5 23. Bc1 $1 $15) 22. Qg4 (22. Kh1 $14) 22... Qxc5 23. c4 (23. Qf3 $14) 23... Rab8 $2 (23... Qg5 $142 $11) 24. e5 $18 {Black's attack is over, and White's is about to begin.} g6 $2 (24... Rxb3 $8 25. Bd4 Qxc4 26. Be3 Qxg4+ 27. hxg4 Rxe5 28. gxh5 Rb4 29. Kg2 Rxh5 $18 {If Black's queenside structure weren't such a mess he'd have excellent drawing chances (at least). It's not *impossible* that he'd draw this, but it will only come after some tears.}) 25. Ba3 $1 {Driving Black's queen into oblivion, whereupon e6 will blast open Black's kingside.} Qb6 26. e6 c5 27. exf7+ Kxf7 28. Qd7+ Kf8 29. Qd5 Kg7 30. Bxc5 Nf6 31. Bxb6 Nxd5 32. Rxe8 (32. Rxe8 Rxe8 33. Bxa5 $18 {is an easy win for White.}) 1-0 [Event "9th Sinquefield Cup 2022"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2022.09.10"] [Round "8"] [White "Dominguez Perez, L."] [Black "Mamedyarov, S."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C83"] [WhiteElo "2745"] [BlackElo "2757"] [PlyCount "170"] [EventDate "2022.09.01"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. c3 Be7 10. Nbd2 Nc5 11. Bc2 d4 12. Nb3 d3 13. Bb1 Nxb3 14. axb3 Bf5 15. b4 O-O 16. h3 Qd7 17. Re1 Rfd8 18. Re3 h5 19. Ba2 Be6 20. Bb1 Bf5 21. Ba2 Be6 22. Bd2 g6 23. Bb1 Bf5 24. Ba2 Be6 25. Bxe6 Qxe6 26. Ne1 a5 27. Nxd3 axb4 28. Rxa8 Rxa8 29. cxb4 Rd8 30. Qf1 Nd4 31. Bc3 Qf5 32. Ne1 c6 33. Qd3 Qd7 34. Qe4 Ne6 35. Rd3 Qc8 36. Rxd8+ Bxd8 37. Nd3 Be7 38. Kf1 Qd7 39. Ke2 Kf8 40. Bd2 Nd4+ 41. Kf1 Ke8 42. Be3 Ne6 43. Ke2 Kf8 44. Bc5 Bxc5 45. Nxc5 Nxc5 46. bxc5 Qe6 47. b4 Qa2+ 48. Kf3 Qa3+ 49. Kf4 Qc1+ 50. Kg3 Qc3+ 51. Kh2 Qd2 52. Kg3 Qc3+ 53. f3 Kg7 54. h4 Qd2 55. Qf4 Qe1+ 56. Kh2 Kg8 57. Qd4 Kh7 58. Qf4 Kg8 59. Qf6 Qxb4 60. e6 fxe6 61. Qxg6+ Kf8 62. Qf6+ Kg8 63. Qxe6+ Kg7 64. Qe5+ Kg8 65. Qe8+ Kg7 66. Qe7+ Kg8 67. Qe8+ Kg7 68. Qe5+ Kf8 69. Qf6+ Kg8 70. Qg5+ Kf8 71. Qxh5 Qf4+ 72. g3 Qd2+ 73. Kh3 b4 74. Qh8+ Kf7 75. Qh7+ Kf6 76. Qb7 Qe1 77. h5 Qe6+ 78. Kh4 Qc4+ 79. f4 Qd5 80. Qxb4 Qh1+ 81. Kg4 Qd1+ 82. Kh3 Qh1+ 83. Kg4 Qd1+ 84. Kh3 Qh1+ 85. Kg4 Qd1+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "9th Sinquefield Cup 2022"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2022.09.11"] [Round "9"] [White "Mamedyarov, S."] [Black "Aronian, L."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "E35"] [WhiteElo "2757"] [BlackElo "2759"] [PlyCount "77"] [EventDate "2022.09.01"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 c5 8. dxc5 g5 9. Bg3 Ne4 10. e3 Qa5 11. Rc1 Nc6 12. Bd3 Nxg3 13. hxg3 d4 14. exd4 Nxd4 15. Qd2 Bxc5 16. Nf3 Nxf3+ 17. gxf3 Be6 18. O-O O-O-O 19. Qe2 Kb8 20. Qe5+ Ka8 21. Nb5 Bd6 22. Qe3 Rhe8 23. Nxd6 Rxd6 24. Bc4 Qb6 25. Bxe6 Qxe3 26. fxe3 Rdxe6 27. e4 g4 28. fxg4 Rxe4 29. Rxf7 Rxg4 30. Kf2 a6 31. Rcc7 Rb4 32. b3 Re5 33. Rf4 Rb6 34. Rcc4 Ka7 35. Rc7 Ra5 36. Rc2 Re5 37. Rc7 Ra5 38. Rc2 Re5 39. Rc7 1/2-1/2 [Event "9th Sinquefield Cup 2022"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2022.09.11"] [Round "9"] [White "So, W."] [Black "Dominguez Perez, L."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D26"] [WhiteElo "2771"] [BlackElo "2745"] [PlyCount "77"] [EventDate "2022.09.01"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O Nc6 7. Nc3 a6 8. dxc5 Qxd1 9. Rxd1 Bxc5 10. Bd2 O-O 11. Rac1 Bd7 12. Be2 Rfd8 13. Na4 Ba7 14. Nc5 Bxc5 15. Rxc5 Ne4 16. Rcc1 Nxd2 17. Nxd2 Ne7 18. Nb3 Ba4 19. Rxd8+ Rxd8 20. Nc5 Rc8 21. Kf1 b6 22. Nd3 Rxc1+ 23. Nxc1 a5 24. Nd3 Kf8 25. Ke1 Nf5 26. Ne5 Nd6 27. Nc4 Nxc4 28. Bxc4 Ke7 29. Kd2 Bc6 30. g3 e5 31. f4 f6 32. a3 h6 33. h4 Kd6 34. b4 axb4 35. axb4 Be4 36. Bb3 Bc6 37. Bc4 Be4 38. Bb3 Bc6 39. Bc4 1/2-1/2 [Event "9th Sinquefield Cup 2022"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2022.09.11"] [Round "9"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, I."] [Black "Niemann, Hans Moke"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A21"] [WhiteElo "2792"] [BlackElo "2688"] [PlyCount "108"] [EventDate "2022.09.01"] 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Bb4 3. Nd5 Be7 4. d4 exd4 5. Qxd4 Nf6 6. Nxe7 Qxe7 7. Bg5 Nc6 8. Qc3 d6 9. Nf3 Be6 10. g3 h6 11. Bxf6 Qxf6 12. Qxf6 gxf6 13. Nd2 d5 14. Bg2 dxc4 15. Bxc6+ bxc6 16. O-O-O c3 17. bxc3 Ke7 18. Kc2 Rhb8 19. Rb1 Rb6 20. c4 Ra6 21. Rb2 Rg8 22. h4 Ra4 23. Kc3 Rg4 24. Kb3 Ra5 25. Rc2 Rb5+ 26. Kc3 Rc5 27. Kb2 Re5 28. e3 Rf5 29. Rf1 Rg8 30. Kc3 Ra5 31. Rb1 Rg4 32. Rb4 c5 33. Rb7 Kd7 34. Rb8 Ra3+ 35. Kb2 Ra6 36. Rh8 Ra4 37. a3 f5 38. Rc3 Ke7 39. Rb8 Ra6 40. Kc2 Rb6 41. Ra8 Ra6 42. Kb2 Rb6+ 43. Kc1 Ra6 44. Kc2 Bd7 45. Kb2 Be6 46. Rh8 Rd6 47. Kc1 Bd7 48. Nb3 Ba4 49. Nxc5 Rd1+ 50. Kb2 Rd2+ 51. Kb1 Rd1+ 52. Kb2 Rd2+ 53. Kb1 Rd1+ 54. Kb2 Rd2+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "9th Sinquefield Cup 2022"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2022.09.11"] [Round "9"] [White "Vachier Lagrave, M."] [Black "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C67"] [WhiteElo "2757"] [BlackElo "2778"] [PlyCount "66"] [EventDate "2022.09.01"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5 8. Rxe5 O-O 9. Nc3 Ne8 10. Nd5 Bd6 11. Re1 c6 12. Ne3 Be7 13. c4 Nc7 14. d4 d5 15. cxd5 Bb4 16. Bd2 Bxd2 17. Qxd2 Nxd5 18. Nxd5 Qxd5 19. Re5 Qd6 20. Bc4 Bd7 21. a3 Rae8 22. Qc3 Rxe5 23. dxe5 Qe7 24. Rd1 Be6 25. Bxe6 Qxe6 26. h3 f6 27. exf6 Qxf6 28. Qxf6 Rxf6 29. Rd8+ Rf8 30. Rd7 Rf7 31. Rd8+ Rf8 32. Rd7 Rf7 33. Rd8+ Rf8 1/2-1/2 [Event "9th Sinquefield Cup TB"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2022.09.11"] [Round "1"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "E06"] [WhiteElo "2792"] [BlackElo "2778"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "139"] [EventDate "2022.09.11"] {[%evp 0,139,19,31,14,1,-3,6,6,-31,3,14,7,5,5,4,10,-3,0,3,0,1,4,2,1,-32,-12,-4, 1,7,-5,5,14,23,27,30,30,38,36,22,23,18,14,2,-3,0,7,-1,-1,-9,-11,-11,-4,-8,34, 48,48,56,62,53,53,62,61,61,71,64,57,58,55,62,40,46,90,44,34,55,51,29,29,29,29, 18,39,43,38,50,43,49,26,35,20,15,15,0,3,7,8,8,8,7,2,16,16,44,44,8,24,2,2,2,2,1, 0,0,2,2,5,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0] The first of a pair of 15' + 10" playoff games to decide the winner of the Sinquefield Cup. Despite the shorter time control and the players' fatigue at the end of this event *and* the Rapid & Blitz before this, it was a very well-played game. Nepo maintained a small edge much of the way, but Firouzja did a very nice job of keeping things under control and making a draw.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4 Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bg5 Bd5 11. Qc2 Be4 12. Qc1 Nc6 13. e3 Bb4 14. Nc3 Bxc3 15. bxc3 h6 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. Nd2 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Na5 19. Qb1 e5 20. Qe4 Rfe8 21. Qd5 b6 22. Qf3 Qxf3+ 23. Kxf3 Rad8 24. Ra2 f5 25. Rb1 Rd6 26. Rc2 c5 27. d5 e4+ 28. Ke2 c4 29. Rcb2 Rxd5 30. Rxb6 Red8 31. R1b2 R8d6 32. Rxd6 Rxd6 33. Rb4 Rc6 34. h3 Kf7 35. g4 g6 36. Rb8 Kf6 37. gxf5 gxf5 38. Rf8+ Kg6 39. Rb8 Kg5 40. f3 Nb3 41. Nxb3 cxb3 42. Rxb3 Kh4 43. fxe4 fxe4 44. Rb4 Re6 45. c4 Kxh3 46. c5 Rc6 47. Rb6 Rxc5 48. Rxh6+ Kg4 49. Rg6+ Kf5 50. Rxa6 Rc2+ 51. Kd1 Ra2 52. a5 Kg4 53. Rf6 Rxa5 54. Rf4+ Kg5 55. Kd2 Rd5+ 56. Kc2 Rd6 57. Rxe4 Kf5 58. Rd4 Rxd4 59. exd4 Ke4 60. Kc3 Kd5 61. Kd3 Kd6 62. Kc4 Kc6 63. d5+ Kd6 64. Kd4 Kd7 65. Ke5 Ke7 66. d6+ Kd7 67. Kd5 Kd8 68. Kc6 Kc8 69. d7+ Kd8 70. Kd6 1/2-1/2 [Event "9th Sinquefield Cup TB"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2022.09.11"] [Round "2"] [White "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A15"] [WhiteElo "2778"] [BlackElo "2792"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "67"] [EventDate "2022.09.11"] {[%evp 0,67,38,-25,1,-46,-32,-35,16,-79,-46,-33,-49,-16,-8,-45,7,-17,3,-5,25,9, 9,9,42,22,22,26,50,50,56,42,63,56,255,271,278,269,288,276,276,273,298,303,318, 264,495,498,527,316,308,264,258,258,287,257,251,257,268,281,296,308,305,282, 330,335,299,315,316,308]} 1. c4 Nf6 2. g3 e5 3. Bg2 c6 4. Nf3 e4 5. Nd4 d5 6. cxd5 Qxd5 7. e3 $1 ({Firouzja played} 7. Nc2 $6 {in round 6 against Mamedyarov, and he expressed his unhappiness at having done so in the post-game interview, wishing he'd played 7.e3. (Interestingly, Nepo himself played this way with White last year against Caruana, and he won that game. For that matter, Firouzja won his game with Mamedyarov, but he was lost at one point.) Apparently Nepo didn't catch the interview, as he took quite some time after 7. e3.}) 7... Na6 $6 {Nepo also played this way against Iturrizaga in 2021, eventually winning. It is a rare move, however, and not beloved by the engine.} (7... Qe5 {is more common, and arguably best.}) 8. d3 $16 (8. Nc3 Qe5 9. O-O Be7 10. d3 exd3 11. Qxd3 O-O 12. h3 Rd8 13. Qe2 Bc5 14. Nb3 Bb6 15. Kh2 Nb4 16. e4 Nd3 17. f4 Nxc1 18. Raxc1 Qe7 19. e5 Nd5 20. Nxd5 cxd5 21. Qd3 g6 22. Nd4 Bxd4 23. Qxd4 Bf5 24. Rc3 Be4 25. Rfc1 Qe6 26. h4 Bxg2 27. Kxg2 h5 28. Rc7 Rac8 29. Rxc8 Rxc8 30. Rxc8+ Qxc8 31. Qxd5 Qc2+ 32. Kh3 Qxb2 33. Qd8+ Kh7 34. Qd5 Kg7 35. e6 Qf6 36. e7 Qxe7 37. Qd4+ Kh7 38. Qxa7 Qe4 39. Kh2 Qe2+ 40. Kg1 Qf3 41. Qf2 Qe4 42. Qg2 Qb1+ 43. Kh2 Qb5 44. Qd2 Qc4 45. Kg2 b5 46. Kf2 b4 47. Qe2 Qd5 48. Qc2 Qd4+ 49. Kf3 Kg7 50. Qb3 Qc5 51. Qe3 Qd5+ 52. Qe4 Qd1+ 53. Qe2 Qh1+ 54. Qg2 Qb1 55. Qe2 Kf8 56. Qc4 Qh1+ 57. Kf2 Qh2+ 58. Kf3 Qb2 59. Qc5+ Kg8 60. Qc8+ Kg7 61. Qc4 Qd2 62. Qb3 Kf6 63. Qc4 Qd6 64. Qe2 Qd5+ 65. Qe4 Qd1+ 66. Qe2 Qxe2+ 67. Kxe2 Kf5 68. Kf3 f6 69. Ke3 Kg4 70. Kf2 Kh3 71. f5 gxf5 72. Kf3 Kh2 73. Kf4 Kg2 74. Kxf5 Kxg3 75. Kxf6 Kxh4 76. Ke5 Kg3 {0-1 (76) Iturrizaga Bonelli,E (2607)-Nepomniachtchi,I (2789) Chess.com INT 2021}) 8... Bb4+ 9. Nc3 (9. Bd2 {is also fine.}) 9... Bxc3+ (9... Nc5 10. O-O Bxc3 11. dxe4 Ncxe4 12. bxc3 O-O 13. Qc2 c5 14. Nb3 Bf5 15. Qb2 Qc4 16. f3 Nxc3 17. e4 Be6 18. Bg5 Nd7 19. Na5 Qb4 20. Qxb4 cxb4 21. Be7 Rfc8 22. Bxb4 Nxa2 23. Be7 b6 24. Nb7 Ne5 25. f4 Rc7 26. Bd6 Rxb7 27. Bxe5 Rd8 28. Rf2 Nb4 29. Bc3 Nd3 30. Rd2 Rc7 31. Be5 Rcd7 32. Bc3 f6 33. e5 fxe5 34. fxe5 Rc8 35. Bb2 Rc5 36. Ba3 Rc3 37. Bd6 a5 38. Rad1 Nc5 39. Rf1 h5 40. Rdf2 Rf7 41. Rxf7 Bxf7 42. Bc6 a4 43. Bxc5 Rxc5 44. Bxa4 b5 45. Bd1 Rxe5 46. Rf4 Re1+ 47. Rf1 Rxf1+ 48. Kxf1 g6 49. h4 Be6 50. Kf2 Kf7 51. Ke3 Kf6 52. Kd4 b4 53. Be2 b3 54. Kc3 Ke5 55. Bf3 b2 56. Kxb2 Kd4 57. Bd1 Ke3 58. Kc3 Kf2 59. Kd4 Kxg3 {0-1 (59) Gelfand,B (2729)-Inarkiev,E (2702) Nazran 2017}) 10. bxc3 Nc5 11. c4 $2 (11. dxe4 $142 Ncxe4 (11... Qc4 $6 { looks better than it is, provided White plays} 12. f3 $1 $18) 12. O-O $16) 11... Qe5 $2 (11... Qh5 $1 12. Qxh5 Nxd3+ 13. Ke2 Nxh5 14. Bxe4 Nxc1+ 15. Rhxc1 Bd7 $11) 12. dxe4 $16 {/+-} Ncxe4 13. O-O c5 $146 (13... O-O 14. Ba3 c5 15. Nb3 b6 16. Qe2 Bb7 17. Bb2 Qe6 18. Rac1 Rfe8 19. Rfd1 Ba6 20. Nd2 Rad8 21. Nxe4 Rxd1+ 22. Qxd1 Nxe4 23. Qa4 Nxf2 24. Kxf2 Qxe3+ 25. Kf1 Qd3+ 26. Kg1 Re2 27. Qxa6 Qe3+ 28. Kh1 Re1+ 29. Bf1 Qf3+ 30. Kg1 Qxf1# {0-1 (30) Cekro,E (2410) -Timman,J (2625) Vlaardingen 2005}) 14. Nb3 O-O 15. f3 Nd6 16. e4 {Black's position is precarious but not yet lost.} Qe7 $4 {Blundering a piece and the game.} (16... Nxc4 {was forced. White is doing very well after} 17. f4 { followed by 18.e5, but it's not over yet.}) 17. e5 $1 Nxc4 {Marginally better than resigning. Firouzja has no trouble converting his advantage.} (17... Qxe5 18. Bf4 {is the point, winning the knight on d6.}) 18. exf6 Qxf6 19. Qd5 Be6 20. Qxc5 h6 21. f4 Rad8 22. f5 b6 23. Qc7 Rc8 24. Qf4 Bd7 25. Qd4 Qxd4+ 26. Nxd4 Rfd8 27. Bf4 Ba4 28. Nf3 Bc2 29. g4 Nb2 30. Ne5 Ba4 31. Rac1 Rxc1 32. Rxc1 f6 33. Ng6 Nd3 34. Rc7 1-0