Shining Through

Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov – Anna Olehivna Muzychuk
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 29, 2015
Nimzo-Indian Defence E35

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 c5 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 h6 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. e3 0-0 11. Nf3 c4 12. Be2 Nc6 13. 0-0 Bf5 14. Qb2 b6 15. Nd2 Rad8 16. Rfe1 Rfe8 17. g3 Qg6 18. Bf3 Bd3 19. Bg2 h5 20. h4 Rd6 21. Qb5 Kf8 22. Ra2 Qg4 23. Nf3 Be4 24. Nd2 Bxg2 25. Kxg2 Qg6 26. Qb1 Qg4 27. Rb2 Ne7 28. Qd1 Nf5 29. Qxg4 hxg4 30. a4 Nxd4 31. cxd4 c3 32. Rb5 cxd2 33. Rd1 Rc8 34. Rxd2 Ke7 35. a5 a6 36. Rxb6 Rxb6 37. axb6 Rb8 38. Rb2 Kd6 39. f3 f5 40. fxg4 fxg4 41. Rf2 Rxb6 42. Rf4 Rb2+ 43. Kf1 a5 44. Rxg4 a4 45. Rg6+ Kc7 46. Ra6 Ra2 47. h5 Kb7 48. Ra5 Kb6 49. Ra8 Kb5 50. g4

50. ... a3? Black can easily draw with the immediate 50. ... Rh2!, e.g. 51. Ra7 Rh4 52. Rxg7 a3 53. Kg2 Kb6 54. Rg8 Kb7=. But Anna needed to win... 51. g5 Rh2 52. h6! gxh6 53. g6 Rh5 54. g7 Rg5 55. g8=Q Rxg8 56. Rxg8 Kc4 57. Rc8+ Kb3 58. Ra8 a2 59. e4 dxe4 60. d5 1 : 0. Never mind. The two sisters are together again!

Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov vs. Anna Muzychuk
Photo © Europe Échecs/CapÉchecs