The Tiffany touch

Ian Alexandrovich Nepomniachtchi – Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
1st Online Nations Cup; Russia – Europe (25+10); chess.com, May 7, 2020
8/8/8/4q3/kp3p2/5R2/5K2/3R4 w - - 16 80

Position after 79. ... Qg5-e5

Even today, old Europe is the only team which has kept pace with China, mostly thanks to the irreducible will of French Grandmaster Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, who somehow succeeded in turning a draw into a win against Russian Grandmaster Ian Alexandrovich Nepomniachtchi. 80. Rf1? White misses the thematic defence consisting in doubling the Rooks on the third rank by 80. Rdd3! with a theoretical draw. 80. ... b3−+ 81. Kg1 Qd4+? 81. ... Qc5+−+ is a tablebases win. 82. Kh2 Qh8+ 83. Kg1 Qg7+ 84. Kh2 Qh7+ 85. Kg1 Qg6+ 86. Kh2 b2 87. Rxf4+ Kb3 88. R4f3+ Ka2 89. R3f2 Qh7+ 90. Kg1 Qd3

91. Kh2? And it was Nepomniachtchi who made the last mistake! 91. Kg2 would have assured a draw. 91. ... Ka3 92. Rf7 Qd6+ 93. Kg2 Qd5+ 94. R7f3+ Ka2 95. Rf2 Ka1 96. Kg3 Qd6+ 97. Kg2 b1=Q 98. Rf1 Qxf1+ 99. Kxf1 Kb2 100. Ke2 Kc2 101. Re3 Qd5 102. Kf2 Qf5+ 103. Ke2 Qg4+ 104. Rf3 Qe4+ 105. Kf2 Kd2 106. Ra3 Qd5 107. Rg3 Qe5 108. Kf3 Qf5+ 109. Kg2 Ke2 110. Kg1 Qf2+ 111. Kh1 Kf1 0 : 1.