The Jack Rabbit Chess Report (July 18): 4-way tie in Poikovsky; Three big events start this wknd

Poikovsky Tournament ends in 4-way tie



Four players -- former Russian national champion Sergei Rublevsky, Russian grandmaster Dmitry Jakovenko, Latvian-born Spanish grandmaster Alexei Shirov and 21-year-old grandmaster Vugar Gashimov of Azerbaijan -- finished with 5½ points each out of nine rounds to tie for first place in the ninth annual international tournament in the town of Poikovsky in the oil-rich Nefteyugansky region of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area in Russia yesterday.

Rublevsky and Jakovenko scored two victores and seven draws without a loss while Shirov, long one of the world's most aggressive and imaginative players, and Gashimov, whose star has risen this year, each won three games and lost one with five draws.

The tournament is sponsored by former world champion Anatoly Karpov, who is now the wealthiest man in Russia.


Hou Yifan scores 9/13 in Budapest



Hou Yifan, the fourteen-year-old wonder child from Nanjing, China, finshed in second place with 9 points out of 13 rounds in the July edition of the First Saturday Grandmaster Tournament completed yesterday in Budapest.

The result appears to be good enough for a grandmaster norm and looks to be easily good enough for an IM norm.

The tournament was won by Serbian grandmaster Zlatko Ilincic with 9½ points. Ilincic lost one game, his tenth-round encounter with Ms. Hou.


Three Big Tournaments Start this weekend

Biel Chess Festival 19 July-1 August. Opening ceremonies will be held tomorrow (Saturday) evening. This year's GM tournament features Magnus Carlsen (Norway), Evgeny Alekseev (Russia), Lenier Domínguez (Cuba), Etienne Bacrot (France), Alex Onischuk (United States) and Yannick Pelletier (Switzerland). Games will be broadcast live on the official website beginning with the first round Sunday 14:00 local time (5 am PDT).

Canadian Open, Montreal 19-28 July. This year's top seed is Alexander Moiseenko of Ukraine. Live broadcasts at Monroi beginning with the first round tomorrow (Saturday) at 2 pm EDT.

Politiken Cup, Copenhagen 19-27 July. The 2008 edition feature almost 300 participants led by Ukrainian grandmaster Pavel Eljanov. Live broadcast at the official website beginning tomorrow (Saturday) at 14:00 Copenhagen time (5 am PDT).


Calendar

North Urals Cup, Krasnoturinsk 25 July-3 August. Participants: Koneru Humpy (India), Anoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria), Pia Cramling (Sweden), Marie Sebag (France), Anna Muzychuk (Slovenia), Xu Yuhua (China), Anna Ushinina (Ukraine) and Natalia Pogonina (Russia).

British Championship, Liverpool 27 July-9 August.

Mainz Chess Festival 28 July-3 August.

FIDE Grand Prix, Sochi 30 July-15 August.

Arctic Chess Challenge, Tromsø (Norway) 2-10 August.

US Open, Dallas 2-10 August.

Howard Staunton Memorial Tournament, London at the historic Simpson's Divan, 7-18 August. Competitors: Mickey Adams (defending champion), Nigel Short, Jon Speelman, Peter Wells, Robert Wade, Jan Timman, Loek van Wely, Jan Smeets, Erwin L'Ami, Jan Werle and Alexander Cherniaev

Dato' Arthur Tan Open, Kuala Lampur 18-24 August.

FIDE Women's Knock Out (World Women's Chess Championship), Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria (Russia) 28 August-18 September.

Grand Slam Final, Bilbao 2-13 September.

Anand-Kramnik World Championship Match, Bonn October 14-November 2. Twelve rounds.

European Club Cup, Kallithea (Greece) 16-24 October.

Asian Championships, Tehran 21-30 October.

Chess Olympiad, Dresden 12-25 November.

Topalov-Kamsky World Championship Semifinal Match, Lvov 26 November-15 December. Eight Rounds.

FIDE Grand Prix, Doha 13-29 December.

Hou Yifan
Photo: First Saturday (Hungary)

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• Please click ;
Under !!! VIEW ONLINE !!! select GM Tournament;
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Hou Yifan - Zlatko Ilincic
First Saturday GM Tournament, Round 10
Budapest, 14 July 2008

Italian Royal Game: Neo-Classical Defense (Clam Opening) (Giucco Pianissimo)

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Nf3 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3

• In the good old days, the game might have continued 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Bxd2+ 8.Nbxd2 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Qb3 Nce7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rfe1 c6 13.Ne5 Nf5 14.Ndf3 Qd6 15.a4 Rb8 16.Rad1 Be6 17.Ng5 b5 18.axb5 cxb5 19.Qh3 Nh6 20.Nxe6 fxe6 21.Bxd5 Qxd5 22.Nf3 Rf6 23.Rc1 Rbf8 24.Rc5 Qb3 25.Rce5 Nf5 26.Qg4 Rg6 27.Qe4 Nd6 28.Nd2 Nxe4 29.Nxb3 Nxf2 30.Rxb5 Nh3+ 31.Kh1 Nf4 32.Nc5 Ne2 33.Rb7 Rf2 34.Ne4 Rfxg2 35.Rb8+ Kf7 36.Rf1+ Black resigns (Zukertort-Anderssen, Berlin, 1868).
• 5...Bb6 6.0-0 Qe7 7.Re1 d6 8.a4 a6 9.h3 0-0 10.Bg5 h6 11.Be3 Qd8 12.Bd3 Re8 13.Nbd2 Ba7 14.Qc2 exd4 15.Nxd4 Ne5 16.Bf1 d5 17.Rad1 c5 18.N4b3 Qc7 19.Bf4 Nf3+ 20.Nxf3 Qxf4 21.exd5 Bf5 22.Bd3 Bxh3 23.gxh3 Qxf3 24.Rxe8+ Rxe8 25.Bf1 Re5 26.c4 Rg5+ 27.Kh2 Ng4+ 28.hxg4 Rxg4 White resigns (Tarrasch-Alekhine, IT, Baden Baden, 1925).

5...d6 6.Bb3 a6 7.h3 Ba7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Nbd2 Ne7

• If 9...h6 10.Re1 then:
• If 10...Nh5 11.Nf1 Qf6 12.Be3 Nf4 13.Ng3 then:
• 13...g6 14.Nh2 h5 15.Ne2 Bxe3 16.fxe3 Nxe2+ 17.Qxe2 Kg7 18.Rf1 Qe7 19.d4 Bd7 20.Rf2 Na5 21.Bc2 c5 22.d5 b5 23.Raf1 gives White more activity (Bojkov-Borisek, Euro ChT, Saint Vincent, 2005).
• 13...g5 14.Nh2 Ne7 15.d4 Nc6 16.dxe5 Nxe5 is equal (Genrieta-Golovko, Akekhin Mem, Smolensk, 1992).
• If 10...Be6 11.Nf1 Re8 then:
• 12.Be3 d5 13.Bxa7 Rxa7 14.exd5 Bxd5 15.Bxd5 Nxd5 16.d4 exd4 17.Rxe8+ Qxe8 18.Nxd4 Ra8 19.Nf5 Nde7 draw (Movsesian-Jakovenko, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2008).
• 12.Ng3 d5 13.Qe2 Qd7 14.Kh2 Rad8 15.Bc2 b5 16.Nh4 d4 17.a3 a5 18.Nhf5 Ne7 19.Nxe7+ Rxe7 20.a4 dxc3 21.bxc3 b4 22.Be3 Bxe3 23.fxe3 b3 gives Black a fine game (Mahini-Pour Kashian, Zonal W, Tehran, 2001).

10.Re1 Ng6 11.Nf1 c6

• 11...Nh5 12.d4 Nhf4 13.Bxf4 exf4 14.N1d2 Kh8 15.e5 d5 16.Bc2 Nh4 17.Nb3 Be6 18.Nc1 Nxf3+ 19.Qxf3 Qh4 20.Bd1 Rac8 21.Nd3 g5 22.Qh5 Qxh5 23.Bxh5 Bf5 24.Rad1 gives White a small advantage (Al Sayed-Alya Hussain, Op, Dubai, 2000).

12.Ng3 d5

• 12...h6 13.d4 Qc7 14.Be3 Re8 15.Qd2 Kh7 16.Rad1 Be6 17.Bc2 Rad8 18.Qc1 b5 is equal (Jessel-Wang Li, World Jr Ch, Yerevan, 2006).
• If 12...Be6 13.d4 Re8 14.Bc2 h6 15.Be3 Qc7 then:
• 16.Qd2 Rad8 17.Nf5 d5 18.Nxg7 Kxg7 19.Bxh6+ Kg8 20.exd5 Bxd5 21.Nxe5 Bb8 22.Qg5 Nh7 23.Qg3 gives White pressure on the kingside.(Areshchenko-Sutovsky, Op, Gibraltar, 2007).
• 16.Qc1 Bb8 17.b3 is equal (Mamdeov-Gajewski, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).

13.Bg5 h6 14.Bxf6 Qxf6!?

• This new move involves a pawn sacrifice that remains of unproven quality.
The test is probably better than 14...gxf6?! 15.d4 dxe4 16.Rxe4 then:
• If 16...f5 then:
• If 17.Nxe5!? fxe4 18.Nxg6 Re8 19.Ne5 then:
• 19...Rxe5 20.dxe5 Qh4 21.Qh5 Qxg3 22.Qxf7+ Kh8 23.e6 Qg7 24.e7 Bd7 25.Rd1 Bxf2+ 26.Qxf2 e3 27.Qxe3 Black resigns (Kudrin-Finegold, Foxwoods Op, Mashantucket, 2001).
• After 19...Be6 20.Nxe4 Bxb3 21.axb3 Re6 22.Qg4+ Kf8 23.Qh5 Black is fighting to hold on.
• 17.Rxe5 Nxe5 18.Nxe5 Qg5 19.Qc2 Qf6 20.Qe2 gives White a healthy advantage in space.
• 16...Qc7 17.Nh4 Kh7 18.Qf3 exd4 19.cxd4 wins the front f-pawn.

BLACK: Zlatko Ilincic
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WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 14...Qd8f6:B

15.exd5 cxd5

• If 15...Nh4 16.Qe2 Qf4 17.Nf1 Nxf3+ 18.Qxf3 Qxf3 19.gxf3 then:
• 19...Bb8 20.Kg2 Rd8 21.Ne3 a5 22.dxc6 bxc6 23.Nc4 White retains her pawn, but Black may be able to whip up some counterplay on the queenside.
• If 19...Bxh3 20.Rxe5 Rfe8 21.Rae1 Rxe5 22.Rxe5 then:
• 22...Kf8 23.d4 cxd5 24.Bxd5 Rb8 25.Ne3 White has an extra pawn and a formidable center.
• 22...Bxf1 23.Kxf1 Kf8 24.f4 Rc8 25.f5 Bb8 26.Re2 White keeps her extra pawn

16.Bxd5 Rd8 17.Be4

• White has won the pawn.

17...Nf4

• If 17...Rb8 18.Qe2 Nf4 19.Qd2 (threatening 20.Nxe520...Qxe5? then 21.Bh7+! winning the Queen) then:
• After 19...Kh8 20.Rad1 Be6 21.b4 Rbc8 22.d4 exd4 23.cxd4 White still has an extra pawn.
• 19...g6 20.Rad1 Be6 21.b3 b5 22.d4 exd4 23.cxd4 leaves White with an extra pawn and an advantage in space.

18.Qc2 g6 19.Ne2 Ne6 20.d4

• 20.Rad1 Qg7 21.Ng3 Rb8 22.b4 Qh8 23.Qd2 White retains her extra pawn.

20...exd4 21.Nexd4

• If 21.cxd4 Nxd4 22.Nexd4 Bxd4 23.Nxd4 Rxd4 24.Rad1 then:
• If 24...Rxd1 25.Rxd1 Qe7 26.Bxg6 fxg6 27.Qxg6+ Kf8 28.Qxh6+ gives White three connected passers for a Bishop.
• After 24...Rd8 25.Qc7 Rf8 26.b3 Qg5 27.Re3 Black cannot save the pawn at b7.

21...Bxd4 22.cxd4 Nxd4 23.Nxd4 Rxd4 24.Bxg6

• The text is better than 24.Rad1 Rxd1 25.Rxd1 Qe7 26.Bd5 Bf5 27.Qc1 Rd8 28.Re1 when White has only a small advantage.

24...Bxh3 25.Be4

• White allows Black to regain the pawn momentarily.
• If 25.Bxf7+ Qxf7 26.gxh3 then:
• After 26...Kh8 27.Re3 Rg8+ 28.Rg3 White is once again a pawn to the good.
• 26...Qg7+ 27.Kh1 Qf7 28.Re3 Rf8 29.Rg3+ Kh8 30.Qc3 immobilizes the Rook.

25...Rc8 26.Qb3 Be6 27.Qg3+ Qg7

• 27...Qg5 28.Qxg5+ hxg5 29.Bxb7 Rb8 30.Bxa6 puts White a pawn up.

28.Qxg7+ Kxg7 29.Bxb7

• White has regained her extra pawn.

29...Rb8 30.Bxa6 Rxb2 31.a4

• White advances her passer. Her plan is to force Black into conceding exchanges to stop the pawn, while the reduced material will make it easier to promote one of her kingside pawns.

31...Rdd2 32.a5

• 32.Rab1 Ra2 33.Bb5 Rxf2 is equal.
• 32.Rf1 doesn't save the f-pawn: 32...Ra2 33.Bb5 Rxf2 34.Rxf2 Rxa1+ is equal.

32...Rxf2 33.Bb7 Bc8 34.Bf3!

• If 34.Bc6 Ba6 35.Kh2 Kf6 36.Kg3 Rf5 then:
• If 37.Re8 Rg5+ 38.Kh4 Rb4+ 39.Re4! forces an exchange of Rooks:
• If 39...Rxe4+! 40.Bxe4 Ke5 41.Bf3 Kd4 42.g3 is equal.
• Otherwise 39...Rb2?! 40.Rf4+ Ke6 41.Re1+ Re2 42.Rxe2+ Bxe2 43.Ra4 Ba6 44.Bf3 is slightly better for White.
• 37.Be4?! Rg5+ 38.Kf4 h5 is equal.

34...Ba6 35.Re7 Rfd2

• 35...Ra2 36.Rxa2 Rxa2 37.Rxf7+ Kxf7 38.Bd5+ White achieves the Bishop ending, but not as favorably as she would like.

36.Ra4 Rd6

• If 36...Kf8 37.Ra7 Be2 then:
• If 38.Ba8 Bf1 39.Rg4 Bb5 40.Rf4 Rd7 41.Rxd7 Bxd7 then:
• 42.a6 Ra2 43.Bb7 Bb5 44.Rf6 gives White reasonable winning chances.
• 42.Rf2 Rb1+ 43.Rf1 Rxf1+ 44.Kxf1 Ke7 45.Bf3 leaves White slightly better/
• If 38.Ra8+ Kg7 39.Rg4+ Kf6 40.Bxe2 Rxe2 then:
• 41.Rh8 Kf5 42.Rg7 Ra2 43.Rxh6 Rxa5 44.Rh5+ Kf6 45.Rxf7+ Kxf7 46.Rxa5 gives White excellent chances.
• 41.Rgg8?! Re6 42.Kh2 Ke5 43.Rab8 Rxb8 44.Rxb8 Ra6 45.Rb5+ is likely to result in a draw.

BLACK: Zlatko Ilincic
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WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 36...Rd2d6

37.Rf4!

• White threatens to win another pawn. To save the pawn, Black must exchange a Rook.

37...Rf6 38.Rxf6 Kxf6 39.Ra7

• White's strategy from here will be to trade Rooks. This game will be easier to win as a Bishop ending, since she has the remote passer.

39...Bd3 40.Kh2 Ke6 41.Ra8 Ra2 42.Kg3 Bc4?!

• If 42...f5 43.Bb7 Be4 44.Bxe4 fxe4 45.Kf4 then:
• 45...Kd5 46.a6 Kc5 47.g3 Ra3 48.a7 Kb6 49.Rh8 Kxa7 50.g4 Rh3 51.Kxe4 is a probable draw.
• 45...h5 46.Kxe4 Rxg2 47.Rh8 Rg5 48.a6 Ra5 49.Rh6+ is a probable draw.

43.Kf4 Ra4 44.Re8+

• 44.Ke3 Ke5 45.Rc8 Ra3+ 46.Kf2 Kd4 47.Ra8 f5 equalizes.

44...Kd6

• 44...Kd7?! loses a tempo from the text: 45.Re4 Kd6 46.g4 Kc5 47.Be2 Bb3 48.Rxa4 Bxa4 White still has the advantage of the remote passer.
• 45...Kc6?? 46.Rxc4+! wins immediately for White.

45.Re4! f5 46.Bd1 fxe4?

• As stated previously, White will have an easier time winning in a Bishop ending than in a Rook ending. A Rook ending is likely to end in a draw.
• 46...Rb4 47.Rd4+ Kc5 48.Rd8 Kb5 49.Kxf5! gives White the better game because she is in much better position to capture Black's h-pawn than Black is to capture White's g-pawn.

47.Bxa4 Kc5 48.Bc2 Kb5
BLACK: Zlatko Ilincic
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WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 48...Kc5b5

49.Bxe4!

• White plays like a grandmaster, finding the most efficient move.
• 49.Kxe4?! loses a valuable tempo makes it more difficult to advance the pawn: 49...Bf7 50.Kf5 Kxa5 51.Kf6 Bd5 52.g3 Bf3!.

49...Kxa5 50.Kf5 Kb4 51.Kg6 Kc5

• 51...Bf1 52.g3 Kc5 53.Kxh6 Kd4 54.Bf3 Bh3 55.Kg5 gives White good winning chances, since her King is in front of the pawn; without Bishops, White wins..

52.Kxh6 Kd4

• 52...Kd6 53.g4 Ke5 54.Bh7 Bf7 55.Bc2 Kd6 56.Kg7 Ke7 57.Be4 and the pawn will make some progress.

53.Bg6 Ke3 54.g4 Kf4 55.g5 Bd5

• Short of sacrificing it for the last pawn, Black must keep the Bishop on the board in order to draw.

56.Bc2 Bf7 57.Bd3?!

• Better is 57.Bd1 Ke5 58.Bh5 Bg8 59.g6 Kf5 60.Kg7 Bc4 61.Bd1 when White makes progress after:
61...Kg5 62.Bc2 Kf4 63.Kf6 Ke3 64.g7.
• 61...Be6 62.Bc2+ Ke5 63.Kf8 Bc4 64.g7.

57...Kg4?!

• 57...Ke3 is the way for Black to take advantage of White's inaccuracy; after 58.Bg6 Bb3 59.Kg7 Kf4 60.Kf6 Bc4 61.Bc2 Bf7 62.Ba4 Bh5 63.Bb3 Be8 White will have difficulty making progress.

58.Bg6 Bc4 59.Bh5+ Kf5 60.g6 Kf6
BLACK: Zlatko Ilincic
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WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 60...Kf5f6

61.g7!

• Getting the pawn to the seventh rank is the easy part. Now White has to find a configuration where the pawn may safely queen. Black will be all too happy to sacrifice his Bishop for the pawn.

61...Bg8 62.Be2

• 62.Bg6 Ke7 63.Bh7 Bc4 64.Bc2 Bg8 65.Kg6 (Black can only mark time on this diagonal) 65...Ba2 66.Kh7! Bc4 67.Kh8 Bd5 68.Bh7 Kf6 69.Bg8 wins for White.

62...Kf5 63.Bd3+ Kf6 64.Bc2 Ke7 65.Kg6

• The text is stronger than 65.Bh7 Kf7 66.Bb1 Kf6 then:
• If 67.Be4 Ke7 then:
• If 68.Kg6 Ke6 69.Bf5+ Ke7 70.Bb1 then:
• 70...Bc4 71.Kh7 Kf6 72.Kh8 Ke5 73.Bh7 Kf6 74.Bg8 when White wins
• If 70...Bf7+ then White wins with 71.Kh7 Kf6 72.Kh8 Kg5 73.Bh7.
• 68.Bh7? Kf7! draws.
• Slower is 67.Bg6 Ke6 68.Be4 Kf6 69.Bg2 Ke7 70.Kg6 Ke6 71.Bf1 Ke5 72.Be2 Be6 73.Kh7 Bd5 74.Kh8 Ke4 75.Bf1 Ke5 76.Bd3 Be6 77.Bh7 winning.

65...Ke8

• After 65...Bc4 White wins with 66.Kh7 Kf6 67.Kh8 Ke5 68.Bh7.

66.Kf6 Kd8

• If the Bishop moves off the promotion square, for instance 66...Bc4, then White wins with 67.Bg6+ Kd7 68.Bf7.

67.Bf5 Ke8 68.Bg6+ Kd8 69.Bf7!

• The drama is over.

69...Bh7 70.Kg5 Ke7 71.Kh6 1-0

• The pawn must queen.
• Grandmaster Ilincic resigns.

IM John Paul Gomez won the Philippine Championship last week. The runner up was 14-year-old grandmaster Wesley So, who won this game from Gomez in the next-to-last round.



Wesley So
Photo: ChessBase.com

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• Enjoy!

John Paul Gomez - Wesley So
Philippine Championship, Round 16
Mandaluyong City, 12 July 2008

Spanish Sicilian Game: Royal Defense (Rossolimo Variation)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.b3 Ne7 6.Ba3

• 6.0-0 Ng6 7.Bb2 f6 8.e5 Be7 9.d3 0-0 10.Nbd2 fxe5 11.Nxe5 Nxe5 12.Bxe5 d6 13.Bg3 e5 14.f4 exf4 15.Bxf4 Bf6 16.Rb1 Bf5 17.Kh1 Qd7 18.Qf3 d5 19.Qg3 Bc3 20.Nf3 c4 21.Ne5 Bxe5 draw (Matulovic-Vojinovic, Yugoslav Cup, Herceg Novi, 1999).

6...Ng6 7.0-0!?

• The book isn't much help here.
• If 7.d4 then:
• 7...Qb6 8.0-0 Be7 9.c4 cxd4 10.Bxe7 Kxe7 11.Nxd4 c5 12.Nc2 draw (Damaso-Kallio, Euro ChT, León, 2001).
• 7...Nh4 8.Nxh4 Qxh4 9.Qd3 f5 10.dxc5 fxe4 11.Qe3 Be7 12.Nc3 Bf6 13.Rd1 Bxc3+ 14.Qxc3 Ba6? 15.Qg3 Black resigns, a bit prematurely, although it will be all downhill from here (Slobodjan-Ramesh, IT, Calcutta, 1999).

7...Be7

• 7...Qf6 8.Nc3 e5 9.Bb2 d6 10.Ne1 Ne7 11.f4 exf4 12.Nd3 sets up White to take command of the f-file.

8.d4!?

• White is not looking for a dull, grey draw.
• 8.c3 d6 9.d4 cxd4 10.cxd4 Bb7 11.Nc3 0-0 is equal.

8...cxd4 9.Bxe7 Qxe7 10.Qxd4

• White is applying pressure to Black's backward d-pawn.

BLACK: Wesley So
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WHITE: John Paul Gomez
Position after 10.Qd1d4:p

10...0-0

• The game is equal (says Fritz); White has the advantage in space (says JR).
• 10...e5 11.Qd2 0-0 12.Nc3 d6 13.Rad1 Rd8 gives Black more mobility.

11.c4 c5 12.Qd3 Bb7 13.Re1

• If 13.Nc3 then:
• 13...d6 14.Rad1 Rad8 15.Rfe1 f5 16.Qe3 fxe4 17.Nxe4 Nf4 is equal.
• If 13...f5 14.Rad1 fxe4 15.Nxe4 then:
• 15...d5 16.Neg5 d4 17.Rfe1 Bxf3 18.Nxf3 is equal.
• 15...Rad8 16.Rfe1 d6 17.Qc2 Rf5 is equal.

13...f5

• If 13...Nf4 14.Qe3 Qf6 15.Nc3 then:
• 15...d6 16.Rad1 Rfd8 17.Rd2 e5 18.Red1 is equal.
• 15...e5 16.Rad1 d6 17.g3 Ng6 18.Nd5 Bxd5 19.Rxd5 gives White a small advantage in space.

14.e5 Nf4!?

• Black, too, can take risks.
• 14...Bxf3 15.Qxf3 Qg5 16.Nc3 f4 17.Ne4 Qxe5 18.Rad1 Rad8 is equal,

15.Qe3 g5 16.Nbd2 Kh8

• 16...Rad8 17.Rad1 d5 18.exd6 Rxd6 19.Nf1 Rxd1 20.Rxd1 is equal.

17.Red1?

• White plays the wrong Rook.
• 17.Rad1 Rf7 18.Kh1 Nxg2 19.Kxg2 g4 is equal.

BLACK: Wesley So
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WHITE: John Paul Gomez
Position after 17.Re1d1

17...Nxg2!!

• The sham sacrifice tangles White's position and opens the kingside for Black's heavy pieces.

18.Kxg2 g4 19.Qf4

• 19.Kf1 gxf3 20.Nxf3 f4 21.Qc3 Qg7 gives Black a more active position.

19...gxf3+

• Black recovers the sacrificed piece with check, giving him time to take command of the g-file. The game is all but won.

20.Kf1 Rg8 21.Nxf3

• If 21.h3 Qg5 22.Qxg5 Rxg5 23.-- followed by 23...Rag8 then Black should win.

21...Rg4 22.Qe3 Rag8 23.Nd2 f4 24.Qc3

• After 24.Qd3 Qg7 25.Nf3 Bxf3 26.Qxf3 Qxe5 White must surrender his Queen to prevent mate on g1.

24...Qg7 25.Ke2 f3+ 26.Nxf3

• If 26.Kd3 then 26...Qg6+ 27.Ke3 Qg5+ 28.Kd3 Qf5+ 29.Ke3 Rd4! is lights out.

26...Re4+ 27.Kd2 Rf8 0-1

• After 28.Rg1 Qh6+ 29.Kc2 Rxf3 30.Qxf3 Rxc4+ 31.bxc4 Bxf3 Black wins easily.
• Mr. Gomez resigns.