The Few, the Many... and the TASS

Ian Aleksandrovich Nepomniachtchi – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
Grand Prix 2017; 2nd stage; Moscow, May 12, 2017
Queen’s Gambit Declined D35

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 c5 7. Rb1 Be7 8. Bb5+ Bd7 9. Bxd7+ Nxd7!? A novelty instead of 9. ... Qxd7 10. d5 exd5 11. exd5 0-0 12. Nf3 Bf6 13. 0-0 b5 14. Bf4 Bxc3 15. Qd3 b4 16. Ng5 g6 17. Ne4 Qf5 18. Qf3 Nd7 19. Nxc3 bxc3 20. Rbc1 Ne5 21. Bxe5 Qxe5 22. Rxc3 Rac8 23. Rc4 Rfe8 24. h4 Qd6 25. Rd1 Re5 26. Qg3 Rce8 27. Kh2 R8e7 28. Rc3 f6 29. Re3 Kg7 30. Kg1 Rd7 31. Rxe5 Qxe5 32. Qd3 Qd6 33. g3 Rc7 34. Qc4 Rd7 35. a4 Rb7 36. a5 Rb4 37. Qc3 a6 38. Kg2 Rb5 39. Rd2 c4 40. Qxc4 Rxa5 41. g4 Rb5 42. g5 Rb4 43. Qc6 Qxc6 44. dxc6 fxg5 45. hxg5 Kf7 46. c7 Rc4 47. Rd7+ Ke6 48. Rxh7 Ke5 ½ : ½ Aronian – Vallejo Pons, Grand Prix 2017, 1st stage, Sharjah 2017.

10. Rxb7? A controversial decision by Nepomniachtchi. White will soon have to give up the Exchange to apologise for his greediness, and no real compensation will be obtained. 10. ... cxd4 11. cxd4 Nb6 12. Qd2 Qc8 13. Rxe7+ Kxe7 14. Nf3 f6 15. 0-0 Kf7! Elegantly preparing artificial castling. 16. e5 f5 17. g4!? Rd8 18. Qg5 Kg8 19. Qh5 Rf8 20. Ba3

20. ... Qc6! Giving back the Exchange for assuming a commanding role on stage. 21. Ng5. 21. Bxf8 Rxf8 makes no substantial difference. Black’s initiative, in spite of being a Pawn down, is crushing. 21. ... h6 22. Rc1 Qd7 23. Bxf8 Rxf8 24. Nh3 Qxd4 25. gxf5 Qxe5 26. Qg6 Rf6 27. Qg4 Rxf5 28. Qg3 Qd4! White’s game is worth resigning, but he can still rely upon upon his opponent’s very serious time trouble. 29. Re1 Rf6 30. Qg2 Nd5 31. Kh1 Qd3 32. Rg1 Qf3 33. Rb1 Qf5 34. Rg1 Rf7 35. Re1 Rf6 36. Rg1 Qf3 37. Rb1 Qh5 38. Rg1 Rf7 39. Re1 Qf5 40. Qg3 Rc7. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) somehow managed to reach time control, and the situation hasn’t changed: Black is winning. 41. Ng1 Nf4 42. Rd1 Kh7 43. Qf3 Rc2 44. a3 e5 45. Re1 Qg6 46. h3 Nd3 47. Rf1 Rc3. Threatening ... Nd3-f4. 48. Qg4 Qxg4 49. hxg4 Rxa3. Finally remaining two Pawns ahead and an easily won game. 50. Nf3 Ra4 51. g5 h5 52. Kg2 Rg4+ 53. Kh2 a5 54. Ra1 a4 55. Ra2 e4 56. Nd4 Rxg5 57. Rxa4 Nxf2 58. Ra7 Ng4+ 59. Kh3 Re5 60. Nc6 Rd5 0 : 1.

Nepomniachtchi and 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) on the red carpet of the opening ceremony of Moscow’s Grand Prix on May 11, 2017. Photo © Valery Sharifulin/TASS.

Needless to say, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) did not forget to softly whisper her “j’adoube”. Photo: Dmitry Korotaev/Kommersant.