Of Stone and Steel

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – Dommaraju Gukesh
86th Tata Steel Chess Tournament; Wijk aan Zee, January 21, 2024
Bogo-Indian Defence E11

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Be7 5. Nc3 0-0 6. e4 d5 7. Bd3 dxe4 8. Nxe4 c5 9. Bc3 cxd4 10. Nxd4 e5 11. Nf3 Nc6 12. 0-0 Bg4 13. h3 Bh5 14. Ng3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Bb4 16. Bxb4 Nxb4 17. Be4 Nxe4 18. Qxe4 Qc7 19. a3 Nc6 20. Rad1 g6 21. c5 Rfd8 22. b4 f5 23. Qc4+ Qf7

24. Qxf7+. 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) feels confident enough to exchange Queens and defend a slightly more uncomfortable ending, rightly assessing it as a likely draw.
24. ... Kxf7 25. Ne2 e4 26. f4 exf3 27. Rxd8 Rxd8 28. Rxf3 a6 29. Re3 g5 30. Kf1 f4 31. Rc3 Rd1+ 32. Kf2 Ne5

33. g3! The key of White’s plan of defence.
33. ... f3 34. Re3 Ke6

35. Nf4+! The tactical corollary to her 33rd move.
35. ... Kf5 (35. ... gxf4 36. gxf4 Rd2+ 37. Ke1 Rd5=)
36. Nh5 Rd2+ 37. Kf1 Rd1+ 38. Kf2 Rd2+ 39. Kf1 Rd5 40. g4+ Kg6 41. Ng3 Nc4 42. Rc3 Ne5 43. Re3 a5 44. Nf5 Kf6 45. Nd6 axb4 46. axb4 Rd1+ 47. Kf2 Rd2+ 48. Ke1 Rb2 49. Ne8+ Ke6 50. Nc7+ Kf6 51. Ne8+ Ke6 52. Nc7+ ½ : ½.

Once again 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) showed her extraordinary nervous strength and endurance. Photo © Jurriaan Hoefsmit.