Cheers (Drink to That)

Ian Aleksandrovich Nepomniachtchi – Alexander Igorevich Grischuk
23rd Russian Team Chess Championship; Sochi, May 7, 2016
Sicilian Defence B90

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 e6 7. g4 Be7 8. g5 Nfd7 9. Be3 b5 10. a3 Bb7 11. h4 Nc6 12. Qd2 Rc8 13. Nxc6 Rxc6 14. 0-0-0 0-0 15. Kb1. For 15. h5 Ne5 16. h6 g6 17. Qd4 f6 see Pichot – Cheparinov, 2nd Zicosur Open, Antofagasta 2016. 15. ... Ne5 16. Rh3 Nc4 17. Qe1 Nxe3 18. Rxe3 Qc8 19. f4 Bd8 20. f5 Ba5 21. b4 Bb6 22. Red3 exf5 23. exf5 Re8 24. Qd2 Rc4

25. g6! Thus breaking up the enemy Pawn front. 25. ... hxg6 26. fxg6 fxg6 27. Nd5 Bxd5 28. Rxd5 Rxh4. Quite strangely, after 28. ... Be3 29. Bxc4 Bxd2 30. Rc5+ bxc4 31. Rxc8 Rxc8 32. Rxd2 Rc6 33. Rd5 the endgame is much better for White, despite his temporary Pawn minus. In fact, Black would be tied up with his weaknesses. 29. Rxd6 Be3 30. Qd5+ Kh8 31. Bd3 Bd4 32. Rh1 Qh3! A last-ditch trick, evidently hoping for 34. Rxh3?? Re1+ 35. Ka2 Ra1+ 36. Kb3 Rb1+ with perpetual check. 33. Rd1 Qg3. 33. ... Qc8 34. Bxg6 Qc3 35. Qxd4! transposes into the game. 34. Bxg6! Qc3. 34. ... Qxa3 35. Qxd4! Rxd4 36. R6xd4 makes no difference. 35. Qxd4! A pretty finish. 35. ... Rxd4 36. R6xd4 Rf8 37. Rh4+ Kg8 38. Rdh1 1 : 0. Nepomniachtchi has won his third great game in a row!

Ian Aleksandrovich Nepomniachtchi in Moscow, 2015
Photo: Galina Popova