Unfortunately, the impossible is not always possible

丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) – Michael Adams
78th Tata Steel Chess Tournament; Wijk aan Zee, January 16, 2016
English Opening A22

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nc3 Nb6 6. d3 Nc6 7. Be3 Bd6 8. Nf3 0-0 9. 0-0 Re8 10. d4 exd4 11. Nxd4 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 c6 13. a4 Bf8 14. a5 Nc4 15. a6 Nxb2 16. Qd2 Nc4 17. Qf4 Bd6 18. Qc1 Be5 19. Bxe5 Nxe5 20. Rd1 Qe7 21. Ne4 bxa6 22. f4 Ng6 23. Qxc6 Rb8 24. Qd6 Bg4 25. Qxe7 Rxe7 26. Rd2 h6 27. Rxa6 Rb4 28. Nc3 Rc4 29. Ra3 Nf8 30. Kf2 Rec7 31. Nd5 Rc2 32. Rxc2 Rxc2 33. Bf1 Be6 34. Ne7+ Kh7 35. Rxa7 g6 36. Bg2 Bg4 37. Bf1 Be6 38. Bg2 Bg4 39. Bf3 Bxf3 40. Kxf3 Ne6 41. e3 Kg7 42. h3 h5 43. Nd5 Rh2 44. h4 Rc2 45. Nb6 Rc3 46. Ke4 Rc1 47. Kf3 Rc3 48. Nd5 Rb3 49. Ke4 Rb1 50. Nc3 Rb4+ 51. Kd5 Kf8 52. Ne4 Rb3 53. Nd6 Rd3+ 54. Ke5

54. ... Nd8? It was all but easy to decide for 54. ... Rxe3+ 55. Kf6 Nc7! (55. Rxc7 Re6+ draws immediately) 56. Nxf7 Nd5+! which ensures Black the draw. 55. Rd7! 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) doesn’t miss the chance! Now White wins by force. 55. ... Rxe3+ 56. Kf6 Re6+ 57. Kg5 Kg7 58. f5! Re3 59. f6+ Kh7 60. Rxd8 Re4!! “The Spider” tries the impossible, hoping for 61. Nxf7?? Rg4 mate, or 61. Nxe4?? stalemate. But... 61. Rh8+! Sic et simpliciter. 1 : 0.

丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) vs. Michael Adams
Photo: Alina l’Ami