Bricks and Blocks

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – Klementy Sergeevich Sychev
76th Russian Chess Championship Superfinal; Saint Petersburg, October 2, 2023
Tarrasch Defence D33

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 e6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. d4 Nc6 7. Bg2 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bc5 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. 0-0 0-0 11. Na4 Bb6 12. Nxb6 axb6 13. Qc2 Bd7 14. a4 Re8 15. b4 Ne4

16. Bb2 Qe7 17. Qb3 Qg5 18. Rfd1 Qf5

19. Qe3 c5 20. bxc5 bxc5 21. Bxe4 Qxe4 22. Qxe4 Rxe4 23. Rxd5

23. ... Rxe2 24. Rxd7 Rxb2 25. Rc7 g6 26. Rxc5 Ra6 27. a5 Kg7 28. Ra4 Rf6 29. Rf4 Rxf4 30. gxf4 Ra2 31. Kg2 Ra3 32. h4 Kf6 33. f3 Ra2+ 34. Kg3 h5 35. Rb5 Ra4 36. Rb6+ Kf5 37. a6 Ra2 38. Rb5+ Kf6 39. Rb6+ Kf5 40. Rc6 Ra3 41. Rc5+ Kf6 42. Rc6+ Kf5 43. Rc7 Rxa6 44. Rxf7+ Ke6 45. Rb7 Kf6 46. Rb5 Ra1 47. Rb6+ Kf5 48. Rb5+ ½ : ½.

After two days and two draws, Goryachkina can still hope to succeed in her mission impossible. Photo: Vladimir Leonidovich Barsky/Chess Federation of Russia.