Counterblow

Batkhuyagiin Möngöntuul – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

19th Asian Games — Women’s Individual Rapid Chess; time control: 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; 杭州 (Hángzhōu), September 24, 2023

Sicilian Defence B45

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. e5 Nd5 8. Ne4 Bb7 9. c4 Nb4 10. Bd2 c5 11. Bxb4 Bxe4. The alternative 11. ... cxb4 tends to a draw: 12. Nd6+ Bxd6 13. Qxd6 Qb6 14. 0-0-0 Qxd6 15. Rxd6 Rc8 16. Bd3 Ke7 17. Rd4 Rc5 18. Re1 a5 19. Kd2 g5 20. g3 Bf3 ½ : ½ Maurizzi – Fedorchuk, 1st Barreau de Paris GM Tournament, Paris 2019.
12. Bc3 Qc7 13. Qg4 Bc6 (13. ... Qc6 14. f3 Bf5 15. Qf4 d6 16. Rd1 dxe5 17. Qxe5 f6 18. Qe3 Be7 19. Bd3 Bxd3 20. Rxd3 Kf7 21. Kf2 Rad8= Khachiyan – Halkias, Zonal Tournament FIDE Zone 1.5, Yerevan 2000)
14. Bd3 Qb7 15. f3 h5 16. Qg5 h4 17. h3 g6 18. 0-0 Be7 19. Qg4 Rh5 20. Rae1 Kf8 21. Re2 a5

22. Bd2 Kg7 23. f4?! Maybe too soon. Worth considering here was first 23. Bb1!, aiming at playing as in the actual game without leaving the Bishop hanging in the air when the Black Queen checks on d4.
23. ... Qxb2 24. f5 exf5

25. Qxh5? Bad judgment if not a miscalculation. Better to go for the exchange of Queens by 25. Bxf5 Qd4+ 26. Be3 Qxg4 27. Bxg4, though even then after 27. ... Rxe5! 28. Bh6+ Kxh6 29. Rxe5 Bd6 Black has ideal compensation for the Exchange and an easier game to play.
25. ... Qd4+ 26. Be3 Qxd3 27. Qh6+ Kg8. White is simply left with a handful of flies as Black can easily enjoy her powerful initiative.
28. Rb2 Bf8 29. Qf4 Re8 30. Rfb1 d6 31. Bf2 dxe5 32. Qxh4 f4

33. Rb8 Kg7 34. Rxe8? A way as another to surrender.
34. ... Qxb1+ 0 : 1.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) shining in all her majesty. Photos: 新华社 (Xīnhuá News Agency).