Escape from Oz

Ekaterina Aleksandrovna Lagno – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

4th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event; Final match game 12; time control: 3 minutes plus 1 second per move; chess.com, September 2, 2022

Sicilian Defence B40

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. d3 d5 6. Qe2 Be7 7. 0-0 0-0 8. e5 Nd7 9. c4 d4 10. h4 Rb8 11. Bf4 b5 12. b3 bxc4 13. dxc4 Bb7 14. Nbd2 Nb4 15. Rfd1 a5 16. h5 a4 17. g4 axb3 18. axb3 Ra8 19. g5 Rxa1 20. Rxa1 Qc7 21. Bg3 d3 22. Qf1 Nc2 23. Ra7 Qb6 24. Rxb7 Qxb7 25. Qxd3 Nb4 26. Qe3 Qc7 27. Ne4 Nc6?

Lagno has sacrificed the Exchange investing in her initiative on the Kingside and now, finally, the big chance is here:
28. Nf6+! gxf6? Almost a helpmate! On 28. ... Kh8 there may follow 29. g6! fxg6 30. hxg6 h6 31. Ng5! and White’s attack continues.
29. gxf6 Kh8 30. Qh6 Rg8

31. fxe7? But Lagno’s great chance passes her by. After 31. Ng5! Rxg5 32. Be4 Rxg3+ 33. Kf1! Black cannot escape mate.
31. ... Nxe7 32. Ng5. If 32. Bh4 then 32. ... Rxg2+! 33. Kxg2 Nf5 defending everything.
32. ... Rg7

33. Be4? White throws away the draw as well. If nothing else, after 33. Nxf7+! Rxf7 34. Qxe6 Rg7 35. h6 Black should have found 35. ... Rxg3! 36. fxg3 Ng8 37. Qf7 (if 37. Bd5 then 37. ... Qd8 seems to be adequate) 37. ... Qxe5 38. Qxd7 Qxg3 eventually saving the day.
33. ... Ng8−+ 34. Nxf7+ Rxf7 35. Qg5 (35. Qxe6 Nf8−+)
35. ... Rg7 36. Qf4 Qxe5 37. Qf3 Rxg3+! 38. fxg3 Ngf6 39. Bd3 Qxh5 40. Qf4 Qd1+ 0 : 1.

Not only did 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) escape checkmate, but she went on even to win the game. Screenshot from the live stream.