Not Needing all the Words

Maxim Sergeevich Matlakov – Viorel Antonovich Bologan
17th Poikovsky Karpov Chess Tournament; Poikovsky, July 25, 2016
Modern Benoni A62

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Bg2 Bg7 8. Nf3 0-0 9. 0-0 Re8 10. Bf4 Ne4 11. Nxe4 Rxe4 12. Nd2 Rxf4 13. gxf4 Bxb2 14. Rb1 Bg7 15. e4 Nd7 16. Qf3 b5 17. Rfe1 c4. Decidedly improving on 17. ... Ba6 18. Qa3 Bc8 19. Rxb5 Bh6 20. Qg3 Ba6 21. Rb3 Qf6 22. e5 Qxf4 23. Ne4 Nxe5 24. Ra3 Bb5 25. Nxd6 Bd3 26. Qxf4 Bxf4 27. Nb7 c4 28. d6 Rc8 29. Rxe5 Bxe5 30. d7 Rb8 31. Rxd3 cxd3 32. d8=Q+ Rxd8 33. Nxd8 d2 34. Bf3 Bd4 35. Nc6 Bc5 36. Kf1 Kg7 37. Na5 Kf6 38. Nb3 Bd6 39. h3 Ke5 40. Ke2 Bb4 41. Nxd2 Kd4 42. Bc6 Ke5 43. Nf3+ Kf4 44. Bd5 f5 45. Bg8 h6 46. Bh7 g5 47. Nd4 g4 48. h4 1 : 0 Eljanov – Sjugirov, 15th European Individual Chess Championship, Yerevan 2014. 18. e5 dxe5 19. Rxb5 Ba6 20. Rbb1 exf4 21. d6 Rc8 22. Qxf4 c3 23. Re7 Bf6 24. Bd5

24. ... cxd2? A clear miscalculation by Bologan. First, he should have played 24. ... g5! and if, for instance, 25. Qe3 then 25. ... cxd2 26. Rxf7 Kh8 27. Qxd2 Ne5 28. Rxa7 Bd3 with unclear play. 25. Rxf7 Kh8 26. Qxd2 Ne5. Now it’s not time anymore for 26. ... g5 because of 27. Qe3 Ne5 (27. ... Nf8 28. d7 Nxd7 29. Qe6+-) 28. Rxa7 Qxd6 29. Qh3 winning easily (Kouatly’s analysis). 27. Rxa7 Qxd6 28. Rxh7+ Kxh7 29. Bg8+ Kxg8 30. Qxd6 Rc6 31. Qd5+ Kg7 32. f4! “The pointe of the combination: Black loses a piece”, says Grandmaster Bachar Kouatly in his commentary for Europe Échecs. 32. ... Bc4 33. Qg2 Rc5 34. fxe5 Rxe5 35. Rb7+ Kf8 36. Qh3! “Black has only a few checks to consolate himself before the time control”, Kouatly said. 36. ... Rg5+ 37. Kf2 Rf5+ 38. Ke1 Bf7 39. Qh6+ Ke8 40. Rb8+ Kd7 41. Qh3 Kc7 42. Rf8 Be6 43. Qg3+ Kd7 44. Qd3+ Rd5 45. Qxd5+! Elegant to the end. 45. ... Bxd5 46. Rxf6 Bxa2 47. Rxg6 Ke7 48. Kf2 Bf7 49. Rg5 Kf6 50. h4 1 : 0.

Maxim Sergeevich Matlakov
Photo: ruchess.ru