Beaten Tracks

Batkhuyagiin Möngöntuul – Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina
FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2024–25; 2nd stage; Shimkent, November 6, 2024
Sicilian Defence B33

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. c3 Bg7 12. Bd3 Be6 13. 0-0 0-0 14. Nc2 Bxd5 15. exd5 Ne7 16. Re1 f4 17. a4 bxa4 18. Rxa4 a5 19. Na3 f5 20. Nc4 e4 21. Bf1 Ng6

22. Qa1? White just can’t afford to hunt down such a Pawn. Theoretically speaking, 22. Qh5 ½–½ J. M. López Martínez – E. Moser, 12th Open Internacional de Ajedrez “Ciutat de Balaguer”, Balaguer 2007 is what is stored in the online databases, but further analysis might contradict any implied conclusion, because after 22. ... f3 24. g3 Ne5 24. Ne3 Qf6 Black seems to stand better. 22. f3!∞ is the engines’ recommendation, and probably a good one.
22. ... Nh4! 23. Rxa5 Rc8

24. Qa4? Her Majesty abandons the sinking ship. White had to defend with 24. Kh1, although after 24. ... f3 (24. ... Nxg2!? 25. Bxg2 Rxc4 26. f3! seems less convincing) 25. Ra4 fxg2+ 26. Bxg2 Kh8 Black keeps the upper hand.
24. ... Rxc4! Deflecting the Bishop.
25. Bxc4 Qg5−+ 26. g3. After 26. Kf1 Qxg2+ 27. Ke2 f3+ 28. Kd1 Qxf2 29. Qc2 Qxc2+ 30. Kxc2 Ng2−+ Black’s Pawn roller must win.
26. ... fxg3 27. hxg3 f4! 28. Rxe4 fxg3 29. f4

29. ... Qg4! (Δ ... Qg4-h3)
30. Qc2 g2! 31. Be2 Qh3 32. Qd1 Qh1+ 33. Kf2 g1=Q+ 34. Qxg1 Qxe4 0–1.

Goryachkina proved much better prepared than her adversary. Photo: Konstantin Chalabov/FIDE.