Mind Two

Dommaraju Gukesh – 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén)
86th Tata Steel Chess Tournament; Wijk aan Zee, January 15, 2024
Giuoco Piano C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. a4 a5 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 Ba7 9. Na3 Qe7. Online databases contemplate 9. ... g5 10. Bg3 Ne7 11. Qb3 0-0 12. 0-0-0 c6 13. Rhe1 Ng6 14. d4 Qe7 15. Nc2 Rb8 16. Ne3 Nxe4? (16. ... b5!) 17. Qc2! with White winning material, Rakhmangulova – Makropoulou, 11th Maria Albuleț Memorial, Brăila 2018.
10. Nb5 Bb6 11. Qb3 g5 12. Bg3 0-0. 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén)’s first intention — ipse dixit — was 12. ... Nh5? only to realise at last that 13. Nxd6+! would have gained a Pawn.
13. 0-0-0 Nh5 14. d4. White sacrifices a Pawn, in order to gain the initiative.
14. ... exd4. 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) picks up the gauntlet.
15. Nbxd4 g4 16. Nh4 Bxd4 17. cxd4 Qxe4 18. Rhe1 Qh7

19. Rd2? 19. Bd3! Qg7 20. Ng6 was White’s only way to cope with the situation.
19. ... Bd7 20. Bd3 Qg7 21. Bf5 Bxf5 22. Nxf5 Qg5 23. Qb5. If 23. Qxb7 then 23. ... Rab8 24. Qxc6 Qxf5 with preference to Black.
23. ... Rfe8

24. Re3? This leaves Black with a free hand to take advantage of his initiative. 24. Rxe8+ Rxe8 25. Ne3 offered much more resistance.
24. ... Ng7! 25. Nxg7 Kxg7 26. d5 Rxe3 27. fxe3 Nb4! 28. Qxb7 Re8 29. Bf4 Qf5 30. Qb5 Na2+ 31. Kd1 Qb1+ 32. Ke2

32. ... Qg1! 33. Kd3. The Rook is taboo: 33. Qxe8 Nc1#.
33. ... Nb4+ 34. Kd4 Qe1 35. Rd3 Qe2 36. Rc3 Qd2+ 37. Kc4 Re4+ 0 : 1.

Thus, finally, 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) appeared to be alive and well, notwithstanding rumours to the contrary. Photo © Jurriaan Hoefsmit.