So Near, So Far

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Polina Sergeevna Shuvalova

3rd Tech Mahindra Global Chess League; Round-Robin; SG Alpine Pipers – Ganges Grandmasters; time control: 20 minutes plus 2 seconds per move after move 40; Mumbai, December 15, 2025

Spanish Game C89

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 0-0 8. c3 d5 9. d3 dxe4 10. dxe4 Qxd1 11. Bxd1 Be6 12. a4 h6 13. Nbd2 b4 14. Be2 Nd7 17. bxc3 Bc5 18. Be3 Bxe3 19. Nxe3 Ne7 20. Red1 Rfd8 21. Nd5 Nxd5 22. Rxd5 Nb6 23. Rc5 Nxa4 24. Rxc7 Rd3 25. Nxe5 Rxc3 26. Rxf7 Re8 27. Rf5 Nc5 28. f3 Nb3 29. Rxa6 Nd4

30. Ng6!? A sound Exchange sacrifice, which at least gives a raison d’étre to White’s sense of duty. If 30. Rh5 there might follow 30. ... Rc5 31. Rd6 Ne2+ 32. Kf2 Nc3 33. Rc6 Nxe4+ 34. fxe4 Rcxe5 35. Rxe5 Rxe5 with a draw in view.
30. ... Nxf5 31. exf5 Rc5 32. Ra7 Kh7 33. Nh4 Rc4 34. Ng6 Rc5 35. Nh4 Rc4 36. Ng6 Rc5 37. Ne7!? There’s nothing wrong with this, but in hindsight, White should rather have played 37. Nh4 with a draw by repetition.
37. ... Kh8 38. Kf2 Rb5 39. g4 Rb6 40. Ng6+ Kg8 41. Nf4 Rb2+ 42. Kg3 Rb6 43. Nh5 g5 44. Rg7+ Kh8 45. Rf7 Kg8 46. Rd7 Re2 47. Rg7+ Kf8

48. Rh7?? This is a sad finale to 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)’s hard work. The right move was 48. Rg6! Rbb2 49. Rf6+ Ke7 50. Re6+! Rxe6 51. fxe6 Kxe6 52. h4! with a draw in her pocket.
48. ... Rbb2! The White King has suddenly fallen into a mating net.
49. Rxh6? Rg2+ 0–1. Mate follows after 50. Kh3 Rxh2+ 51. Kg3 Rbg2#.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) fell into a grave mistake in putting her Rook on h7 instead of g6. Photos: ChessBase India.