[Event "FIDE Candidates 2024"] [Site "Toronto, Canada"] [Date "2024.04.18"] [Round "12.2"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2789"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [WhiteFideId "2016192"] [BlackElo "2760"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [BlackFideId "12573981"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/loepare"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C01"] [Opening "French Defense: Exchange Variation"] [StudyName "FIDE Candidates"] [ChapterName "Nakamura vs Firouzja"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/4cmeeRC9/dvPJhvzs"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 { Nakamura chose the Exchange Variation of the French Defense, which is often seen as a more drawish opening. Interestingly, Nepomniachtchi, the leader at the time, also selected the Exchange Variation in this round. } 4. Nf3 Bd6 5. c4 Nf6 6. c5 Be7 7. Qa4+ Bd7 8. Qc2 O-O 9. Be3 Nc6 10. Nc3 b6 11. Be2 { Both sides have now completed the development. } 11... Nb4 12. Qd2 Bf5 13. Rc1 Ng4 14. Bf4 bxc5 15. dxc5 Bxc5 16. O-O { Hikaru Nakamura described this as the critical moment of the game: "This is probably the critical moment of the game. Either White's much better or Black's completely fine." } 16... Re8 17. a3 d4 { With this move, Firouzja enters complex positions requiring accuracy and deep calculations. } (17... Nxf2 { Is the engine's top choice! } 18. Rxf2 Rxe2 19. Nxe2 Bxf2+ 20. Kxf2 Nd3+ 21. Kg3 Nxc1 22. Qxc1 Rc8 23. Ned4 Be4 $14) 18. Nb5 d3 19. Rxc5 (19. Bd1 { would have been the correct move according to the computer, but given the complexity of the position, it's understandable why Nakamura chose differently. }) 19... dxe2 20. Re1 Nd3 21. Rxf5 Nxe1 (21... Qd7! 22. Rc5 Rad8 23. Bxc7 Rc8 24. b4 Nxe1 25. Qxe1 a6 26. Nd6 Rxc7 27. Rxc7 Qxd6 28. Rc2 Qd3 29. Rd2 Nxf2 30. Kxf2 Qe3+ 31. Kg3 g5 32. h4 h6 { An almost forced line that leads to a draw, an engine-style sequence. }) 22. Nxe1 $16 Qxd2 23. Bxd2 Rad8 24. Bc3 Rd1 25. f3 Ne3 26. Nxc7 Re7 27. Rc5 f6 28. Bb4 { According to Stockfish, it's only +1, but in a practical game, Black has almost no chances. } 28... Kf7 29. h4 h5 30. Kf2 Rb1 31. Nd5 Nd1+ 32. Kg3 Re5 33. Nd3 Re8 34. Be1 { This allows Black to almost equalize. The correct move would be Rc7. } (34. Rc7+! Kg8 35. Ne7+ Kh7 36. Nf5 Ne3 37. Nxe3 Rxe3 38. Ne1 Rb3 39. Kf2 R3xb2 40. Rxa7 Rc1 41. Re7 $18) 34... Nxb2 35. Rb5 Rd1 36. Rxb2 Rxd3 37. Rb7+ Kf8 38. Nf4 Rxa3 39. Kf2 a5 40. Ra7 Ra4 41. g3 g5?? (41... Ra3 42. Rxa5 Rxa5 43. Bxa5 Kg8 44. Bc3 e1=Q+ 45. Bxe1 Re5 { Black should survive!! }) (41... Ra1 42. Nxh5 Rb8 { creating counterplay with both rooks penetrating the first rank. }) 42. hxg5 $18 fxg5 43. Nxh5 Re5 44. g4 Ke8 45. Ng7+ Kf8 46. Nf5 Ra2 47. Ra8+ Kf7 48. Nd6+ Ke6 49. Nc4 Rb5 50. Rxa5 Rbxa5 51. Nxa5 Kd5 52. Ke3 { Black resigned because White would soon capture both of Black's remaining pawns. } 52... Rb2 53. Bd2 Ra2 54. Kxe2 Rb2 55. Kd3 Ra2 56. Nc4 { 1-0 White wins. } 1-0