Time’s Arrow

黄茜 (Huáng Qiàn) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

17th Chinese Chess League “泰来杯” (“Tàilái Cup”) Knockout Final; 杭州银行 (Hángzhōu Bank) – 重庆体育彩票 (Chóngqìng Sports Lottery); Final match game 2; 聊城 (Liáochéng), February 11, 2023

English Opening A35

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. e3 Nf6 5. d4 cxd4 6. exd4 d5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Qb3

8. ... e6. 8. ... Nxc3 9. Bc4 Nd5 10. Bxd5 e6 is also quite playable here.
9. Bb5 Bg7 10. Bxc6+ bxc6 11. 0-0 0-0 12. Re1 Qc7 13. Ne4 c5 14. Nxc5 Bxd4 15. Nxd4 Qxc5 16. Nf3 Qb6 17. Qa4. Or 17. Qxb6 axb6 18. Bd2 f6 19. Nd4 e5 20. Nc2 Bb7 21. Nb4 Rfc8 ½ : ½ Malakhov – Cheparinov, 5th Tournament of Peace, Zagreb 2018.
17. ... Qb4. The outcome is the same after 17. ... Bb7 18. Ne5 Qb4 19. Qxb4 Nxb4 20. Rd1 Rfd8 21. Bg5 Rd5 22. Rxd5 Nxd5 23. Ng4 Rc8 24. Rc1 Rxc1+ 25. Bxc1 f6 ½ : ½ Giri – Nepomniachtchi, 5th Grand Chess Tour, 7th stage, Tata Steel India Blitz, Kolkata 2019 (time control: 5 minutes plus 3 seconds per move).
18. Qd1 Bb7 19. a3 Qb6

20. Bh6 Rfe8 21. h4 Rad8 22. Qc1 f6 23. Nd2 e5 24. Ne4 Rc8 25. Qd1 Red8 26. Qb1

26. ... Qb3 27. Qd1 Qb6 28. Qb1 Qb3 29. Qd1 Qb6 ½ : ½.

Yet 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)’s draw was not enough to secure the team’s success. In fact, by virtue of today’s victory by 4–1, 重庆体育彩票 (Chóngqìng Sports Lottery) won 6–4 on aggregate. Photos: photo.sina.com.cn.