A Chinese Affair

谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

2nd Tech Mahindra Global Chess League; Group Stage; PBG Alaskan Knights – Alpine SG Pipers; time control: 20 minutes per player without increment; London, October 6, 2024

Queen’s Gambit Declined D30

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 a6 5. b3 b6 6. Bd3 Bb7 7. 0-0 Bd6 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Ba3 Bxa3 10. Nxa3 Qd6 11. Nb1 0-0 12. Nbd2 a5 13. Qc2 Ba6 14. Rfc1 Bxd3 15. Qxd3 Nbd7 16. Rc2 Rfe8 17. Rac1 c5 18. h3

18. ... a4 19. Rd1 Qe7 20. Nb1 axb3 21. axb3 h6 22. Nc3 Rec8 23. dxc5 Nxc5 24. Qb5 Qb7 25. Nd4 Nce4 26. Rdc1 Rc5 27. Qb4 Nxc3 28. Rxc3 Rxc3 29. Qxc3 Ne4 30. Qc2 Nc5 31. b4 Ne4 32. g3 Nd6 33. b5 Rc8 34. Nc6 Qd7 35. Qd3 Qe6 36. Qd4 Re8

37. Qxb6 Ne4 38. Qd4 Ng5 39. Qd1 Nxh3+ 40. Kg2 Ng5 41. Nd4 Qh3+ 42. Kg1 h5 43. Nf3

43. ... Ne4?? The clock is ticking and Black blunders. 43. ... Nxf3+ 44. Qxf3 h4! 45. Rc7 Qe6 would have been a worthy outcome of a tensely balanced game; for example: 46. gxh4 Qg6+ 47. Kf1 Ra8! with even play.
44. Qxd5 Nxg3 45. fxg3 Qxg3+ 46. Kf1 Rxe3? A way as another to surrender.
47. Rc8+ Kh7 48. Qf5+ 1–0. For mate in three follows. It is just the case to note that White could make it shorter by 48. Qxh5#.

Time was not enough for 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) to fulfil her goals. Photo: Lennart Ootes/Tech Mahindra Global Chess League.