Overclocking

Mariya Muzychuk – Romain Édouard
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 26, 2015
Sicilian Defence B53

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 a6 5. h3 Nc6 6. Qe3 g6 7. c4 Bh6 8. Qc3 Qa5 9. Qxa5 Nxa5 10. Bxh6 Nxh6 11. Nc3 Be6 12. b3. For 12. Nd5 Rc8 13. b3 f6 14. Be2 Nc6 15. Nb6 Rc7 16. 0-0 Nf7 17. Rac1 Nfe5 18. c5 see Dvirnyy – Burnoiu, 2nd Limpedea Cup, Baia Sprie 2010. 12. ... 0-0 13. Nd4 Nc6 14. Nxe6 fxe6 15. Be2 Kg7 16. 0-0 e5 17. Rad1 Rab8 18. Rd2 Nf7 19. g3 Ng5 20. Kg2 Ne6 21. Nd5 Ned4 22. f4 e6 23. Nb6 Rbd8 24. fxe5 dxe5 25. Rxf8 Kxf8 26. c5 Ke7 27. Bf1 a5 28. Nc4 Rc8 29. Rf2 Nd8 30. Nxe5 Rxc5 31. Nd3 Rc3 32. e5 N8c6 33. Rd2 Nc2 34. Kf2 N2b4 35. Nxb4 axb4 36. Bg2 Nxe5 37. Bxb7 Nd3+ 38. Kg2 e5 39. h4 Nc5 40. Bd5 h6 41. Rf2 g5 42. hxg5 hxg5 43. Kh3 Nd3 44. Rf7+ Kd6

45. Bh1? The final error. After 45. Be4 Nc5 46. Bf5 e4 Black stands clearly better, but the war is not yet won. 45. ... Rc2 46. Rf6+ Ke7 47. Rf5 Ke6 48. g4. A blunder by Mariya, but neither 48. Rxg5 Nf2+ 49. Kg2 Ne4+ nor 48. Rf8 e4 would have been of any avail to her. 43. ... Nf2+ 49. Kg2 Nxg4+ 0 : 1. “I thought too much and I got in time trouble”, then Mariya said. “It was an unusual position and I had gone wrong in my calculations. I will have to analyze it, that’s sure! There are still seven rounds. It’s too early to draw conclusions about my performance in the tournament. I don’t know if the scenario will be the same as in 2013 (I qualified for the semifinals after starting with two defeats and two draws). From now on till the end, every victory will be of paramount importance”.

Mariya Muzychuk vs. Romain Edouard
Photo © Europe Échecs (@EuropeEchecs)