Папірологія (Papyrology)

Robert Hübner – Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk
4th Snowdrops vs. Oldhands; Mariánské Lázně, December 5, 2011
Sicilian Defence B33

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Nd5 Nxd5 8. exd5 Nb8 9. c4 Be7 10. Be2 0-0 11. 0-0 a6 12. Nc3 Bf5 13. f4 exf4 14. Bxf4 Bg6 15. Bd3 Bxd3 16. Qxd3 Nd7 17. Rae1 Bf6 18. Ne4 Be5. 18. ... Bxb2 19. Bxd6 clearly favours White.

19. Ng5 g6 20. Qh3 h5 21. Ne4. The threat is 22. Bxe5 Nxe5 (22. ... dxe5?? loses to 23. Qxd7!) 23. Nf6+ Kg7 24. Qg3 with a vehement attack. 21. ... f5. Black’s only good move. 22. Bg5!? The German papyrologist is still in the mood to fight for a win. 22. ... Qc7. If 22. ... Qb6+ 23. Kh1 Qxb2 then 24. Nxd6! Bxd6 25. Re6 Be5! 26. Rxg6+ Rg7 27. Bh6 Rf7 28. Bxg7 Rxg7 29. Qxf5 Rxg6 30. Qf7+ Kh8 31. Qxg6 Qe2! 32. Qh6+ Kg8 33. Qg6+ drawing by perpetual check. 23. Nd2 Nf6. Now 23. ... Qb6+ 24. Kh1 Qxb2 is indeed the critical line, when White must prove compensation for the Pawn. After the text move White succeeds in fighting for laborious equality. 24. Bxf6 Rxf6 25. b3 b5 26. Qe3 Re8 27. Kh1 Rff8 28. Qd3 Qc5 29. Re2 Qd4 30. Qxd4 Bxd4 31. Rfe1 Rxe2 32. Rxe2 Kf7 33. Nf3 Bf6 34. cxb5 axb5 35. h4 Ra8 36. Kh2 b4 37. Re6 Rxa2 38. Rxd6 Rb2 39. Rd7+ Ke8 40. Rd6 Kf7 41. Rd7+ Ke8 42. Rd6 Kf7 ½ : ½.

Hübner vs. Muzychuk. Photo: Martin Chrz.