A Sketch

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – Nikita Kirillovich Vitiugov
74th Russian Chess Championship Superfinal; Ufa, October 12, 2021
Catalan Opening E04

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Nbd7 6. 0-0 c6 7. a4 b6 8. Bg5 Be7 9. Nbd2 Ba6 10. Rc1 b5. Probably safer is 10. ... 0-0 11. Nxc4 Rc8 12. Nfe5 Nd5 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 followed by ... c6-c5 with good chances for equality. 11. Ne5! Nxe5 12. dxe5 Nd5 13. Bxe7 Qxe7. If 13. ... Nxe7 then 14. Ne4 Qxd1 15. Rfxd1 with a pleasant edge for White. 14. axb5 Bxb5. It seems hardly credible that Vitiugov may have overlooked that after 14. ... cxb5 15. Nxc4 bxc4 16. Qa4+ White would end up winning a Pawn. 15. Nxc4 Bxc4 16. Rxc4 Qb7

17. Qc1! With an eye on both wings. 17. ... Rc8. Not 17. ... Ne7? on account of 18. Rxc6!+− winning easily. 18. Bxd5?! 18. Rg4!↑ at once seems much stronger since the White Bishop is a better attacker than the Black Knight is as a defender. 18. ... exd5 19. Rg4 0-0. In order to reply to 20. Qh6 with 20. ... g6 21. Rh4 f5 as without the Bishop’s help White can barely fuel her initiative.

20. Rxg7+! The most spectacular way to a perpetual check. 20. ... Kxg7 21. Qg5+ Kh8 22. Qf6+ Kg8 23. Qg5+ Kh8 24. Qf6+ Kg8 25. Qg5+ Kh8 ½ : ½.

Maybe Goryachkina could have pushed harder, but she contented herself with a draw. Photo: Eteri Kublashvili/Russian Chess Federation.