[Event "FIDE Candidates 2024"] [Site "Toronto, Canada"] [Date "2024.04.05"] [Round "3.4"] [White "Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi"] [Black "Praggnanandhaa R"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2727"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [WhiteFideId "5029465"] [BlackElo "2747"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [BlackFideId "25059530"] [Annotator "Zaven Andriasyan"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C70"] [Opening "Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Schliemann Defense Deferred"] [StudyName "FIDE Candidates"] [ChapterName "Vidit vs Pragg"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/4cmeeRC9/Ldd6yBoN"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 f5 { "Praggnanandhaa chooses the rare Schliemann Defense! The last time this move was seen at the top level was when Viktor Korchnoi played it against Anatoly Karpov in the 1974 Candidates Final. It's a good choice to test your opponent in uncharted territories. } 5. d4 { This is considered to be the strongest response for White. } 5... exd4 6. e5 b5 7. Bb3 Na5 8. Nxd4 Bb7 9. Nxf5 Nxb3 10. axb3 d6 $146 { A novelty! Previously, only g6 had been played in this position. } 11. Qe2 Qd7 12. e6 (12. exd6+ { discovered check can be met with } 12... Kf7 { and there isn't much White can offer! The King on f7 might look awkward but overall, Black is holding up fine. }) 12... Qc6 13. Bg5 g6 14. Ne3 h6 15. Bf4 Ne7 { Praggnanandhaa is gradually solidifying the position; soon he also found himself 40 minutes ahead on time! Vidit, in turn, keeps on playing pretty accurately. } 16. c4 b4 17. Qg4 Qc5 18. O-O Bg7 19. Nd2 O-O-O 20. h4 Rde8 21. Rad1 Bxb2 22. Nd5 Nxd5 23. cxd5 Bxd5 24. e7+ (24. Rfe1 { It would be better to simply protect the pawn. After e7, it will get lost. }) 24... Kb8 25. Be3 Qb5 26. Nc4 Bc3 27. Bd4 Rhg8 (27... Rh7 { was the best move but requires precise calculations. } 28. Bxc3 bxc3 29. Nxd6 cxd6 30. Qxg6 Bxg2! { The move that Pragg most probably missed when he decided not to play Rh7. } 31. Kxg2 Rexe7) 28. Bxc3 bxc3 29. Qd4 (29. Na3 { A computer move! Both sides are making mistakes due to the sharp and tactical nature of the position. }) 29... Bb7 30. Qxc3 Rxe7 31. Na5 Re5 32. b4 g5 { After some back-and-forth play, Black finally takes the initiative and begins to intensify the pressure. } 33. h5 g4 34. Rfe1 (34. Rc1 { may be better but again after } 34... Rg7 35. Nxb7 Kxb7 36. Rfe1 Rxe1+ 37. Rxe1 Rg5 { Black is still winning }) 34... g3 35. Nxb7 gxf2+ 36. Kxf2 Qxb7 37. Qf3 Reg5 38. Qxb7+ Kxb7 { White will now lose more material, and the rook endgame is simply hopeless. } 39. g4 Rxg4 40. Re6 Rh4 41. Rxh6 Rg5 42. Rh7 Rhxh5 43. Rd7 Kc8 44. Re7 Re5 45. Rg7 Rhf5+ { Black will now force the exchange of the first pair of rooks and converting the advantage of two pawns will be just a matter of time. } 0-1