Thursday, September 25, 2025

Through the Typhoon

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 高木子嫣 (Gāo Mùzǐyān)
15th National Games | Chess Finals; Round-Robin Women; time control: 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), September 25, 2025
Sicilian Defence B21

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6 4. Qd3 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Nf3 Bg7 7. Be2 d6 8. 0-0 0-0 9. Nd5 Bg4 10. c3 Nd7 11. Bg5 h6 12. Bh4 Kh8 (⌓ 12. ... g5 13. Bg3 Bh5)
13. Rad1 Re8 14. Qe3 Nb6 15. h3 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 Ne5 17. Qe3 Nxd5 18. Rxd5 Qc7 19. Kh1 Nc4 20. Qc1 Qc6 21. Rfd1 e6 22. R5d4! Nb6. The Rook is taboo, as after 22. ... Bxd4 23. Qxh6+ Kg8 24. Rxd4 mate would follow in a few moves.
23. Bf3 Nc4? This allows a tactical blow. Though far from being optimal, 23. ... d5! would have at least avoided the worst of it.


24. Bf6! Kh7 25. e5 d5 26. Rh4 Rh8 27. Rdd4! Threatening both Qc1xh6+ and Rd4xc4.
27. ... Nxe5 28. Qxh6+! 1–0. Mate follows after 28. ... Bxh6 29. Rxh6+ Kxh6 30. Rh4#.

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