A Way in the World

Dommaraju Gukesh – 雷挺婕 (Léi Tǐngjié)

1st Julius Bär Challengers Chess Tour; 2nd stage; Gelfand Challenge; time control: 10 minutes plus 5 seconds per move; chess24.com, June 13, 2021

8/2r3k1/3R2P1/4KB1p/2p4P/2Pb4/8/8 w - - 4 51

Position after 50. ... Be2-d3

Gukesh had to win in order to secure the win of the Gelfand Challenge, which may justify his emotional turmoil: 51. Bxd3? And he makes a dramatic mistake, as the Rook endgame is only a draw. Instead after 51. Rd7+! Rxd7 52. Bxd7 the same coloured Bishop endgame with a Pawn more is a relatively easy win for White. 51. ... cxd3 52. Rxd3 Rc4 53. Kf5 Rc5+ 54. Ke6 Rc4 55. Rh3 Kxg6 56. Kd5

56. ... Rc8? But 雷挺婕 (Léi Tǐngjié) has an unexpected gift for her opponent, as both 56. ... Rf4! and 56. ... Rg4! would secure a draw (57. c4 Kf6 58. c5 Ke7). 57. Rg3+ Kf5 58. c4 Rd8+ 59. Kc5! (59. Kc6? Rd4!=) 59. ... Rc8+ 60. Kd4 Rd8+ 61. Kc3 Rd1 62. Rg5+ Kf6 63. Rxh5 Rh1 64. Kb4 Kg6 65. Rg5+ Kf6 66. Rg4 Kf5 67. Rd4 Ke5 68. Kc5 1 : 0.