Breaklock

雷挺婕 (Léi Tǐngjié) – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)

Women’s World Chess Championship 2023; match game 5; 上海 (Shànghǎi), July 11, 2023

Giuoco Piano C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 5. 0-0 d6 6. c3 a5 7. Bb3 0-0 8. Re1 Ba7 9. h3 Be6 10. Bc2 h6 11. d4 exd4 12. Nxd4 Bd7 13. Be3 Ne5 14. Nd2 c5 15. N4f3 Bc6 16. Nxe5 dxe5 17. a4 Qe7 18. Qe2 Rfd8 19. Red1 Bb8 20. Qc4 b6 21. b4

21. ... axb4? Three-time Women’s World Champion 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) commits here a crucial strategic mistake, leaving White with a very powerful bind, which 雷挺婕 (Léi Tǐngjié) has no difficulty in turning into an overwhelming grip. More solid was 21. ... Bd6! 22. b5 Bb7 23. Qa2 Nh5! 24. Bb3 Bc7 with a tenable game.
22. cxb4 Bd6 23. b5! Bd7 24. Qc3 Be6 25. Nc4 Bxc4 26. Qxc4 Ne8 27. Bb3 Nc7 28. Qc2 Ne6 29. Bd5 Rab8 30. Bxe6 Qxe6 31. Rd5 Be7 32. Rad1 Rxd5 33. Rxd5 Ra8 34. Bd2 Kf8 35. Bc3 f6 36. Qb3 Qc8 37. Qc4 Qe8 38. g3 Qc8 39. Kg2 Qe8 40. h4 h5 41. Bd2 Rb8 42. f4 exf4 43. Bxf4 Rb7 44. Qe2 g6 45. e5! Qa8

46. Qf3! f5 47. Rd7! Ra7 48. Qxa8+ Rxa8 49. e6 Rxa4 50. Rb7 Ra8 51. Rxb6 c4 52. Rc6 Bd8 53. b6 Ra2+ 54. Kf3 Rb2 55. Rc8 Rb3+ 56. Ke2 Rxb6 57. Rxd8+ Ke7 58. Rc8 Rxe6+ 59. Kd2 Re4 60. Kc3 Kf7 61. Rxc4 Re8 62. Rc7+ Kf6 63. Bg5+ Ke5 64. Re7+ Rxe7 65. Bxe7 1 : 0.

And yet they both, for opposite reasons, know deep in their heart that one swallow does not make a summer. Photo: Stev Bonhage/FIDE.