The Phantom of the Opera

丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) – Wesley So

Bright · China – USA Chess Grandmaster Summit Match; match game 3; 上海 (Shànghǎi), May 7, 2016

Queen’s Gambit Declined D43

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. g3 dxc4 6. Bg2 b5 7. Ne5 a6 8. 0-0 Bb7 9. b3 b4 10. Ne4 Nxe4 11. Bxe4 c3 12. a3 a5 13. axb4 axb4 14. Bf4 Nd7 15. Bxc6 Bxc6 16. Nxc6 Qc8 17. Rxa8! A clear improvement on 17. Na5? Be7 18. d5 0-0 19. e4 exd5 20. exd5 Bc5 21. Qd3? Nf6 22. Qc4? Qh3!-+ (Black’s attack is irresistible) 23. Qxc5 Ng4 24. Rfe1 Rfe8 25. Rxe8+ Rxe8 26. Be3 Nxh2 27. f3 Qxg3+ 28. Kh1 Nxf3 0 : 1 Baron – Shirov, 5th International Riga Technical University Open, Riga 2015. 17. ... Qxa8 18. d5! Bc5 19. Qd3 0-0 20. dxe6 Qxc6 21. exd7 Rd8 22. Rd1 Bb6 23. e4 h6 24. h4 Qe6! Wesley defends and counterattacks ingeniously. 25. Qd5 Qg4 26. Kg2 c2 27. Rc1 Qe2? In a brave attempt to win the game, Wesley finds a way to lose it. Correct and consistent was 20. ... Rxd7 21. Qb5 Qe6 in order to answer 22. Qxb4 by 22. ... Rd3! 30. Rxc2 Qg4! and if 31. Rc1 then 31. ... Qf3+ 32. Kh3 Qxf4 33. Rc8+ Kh7 34. Qxb6 Qxe4 35. Rc1 Rc3! 36. Rxc3 Qh1+ 37. Kg4 Qe4+ 38. Kh3 (not 38. Kh5?? Qf5 mate) 38. ... Qh1+ with perpetual check. 28. Rf1 Bc7 29. e5 Qg4 30. Rc1 Rxd7 31. Qa8+ Rd8 32. Qc6 g5

33. e6! The finish has been accurately calculated by 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén). 33. ... gxf4 34. Qxc7 f3+ 35. Kh2 Rd2 36. Rxc2 Rxc2 37. exf7+ Kg7 38. Qxc2 1 : 0.

丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) vs. Wesley So
Photo: cmsa.cn