[Event "NYC Chess Norms Spring 2025"] [Date "2025.03.29"] [Round "5"] [White "Adewumi, Tanitoluwa"] [Black "Barbosa, Oliver"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2362"] [BlackElo "2425"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] [Annotator "Ostrovskiy, Aleksandr"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B51"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation"] [StudyName "March 2025 NYC Chess Norms"] [ChapterName "Adewumi, Tanitoluwa - Barbosa, Oliver"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/5Ep0IRrb/DKHGfJxT"] [Orientation "white"] { The round 5 matchup between FM Tani Adewumi and GM Oliver Barbosa was definitely one to watch as both players were in great form starting 3½/4 and 3/4 respectively. } 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ { The Moscow Variation is one of the most reliable "Anti-Sicilian" weapons and also a mainstay of Adewumi's repertoire. } 3... Nd7 { Barbosa eschews the reliable 3. ... Bd7 for the more dynamic 3. ... Nd7. } 4. a4 { A sideline, but a well-known idea as the a-pawn curtails Black's queenside pawn pushes such as ... a7-a6 with the idea of preparing ... b7-b5. } 4... Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. O-O Bg7 7. a5 O-O 8. Re1 a6 9. Bf1 b5 { Although White's a-pawn rush was designed to prevent this push, Black willingly goes for it anyway to free up some space for queenside development. } 10. axb6 Nxb6 (10... Bb7 { One of the previous practical tests of the position where the world's greatest player exploited his structural advantage in trademark style: } 11. Ra2!? Qxb6 12. b3 Ng4 13. h3 Nge5 14. Nd5 Nxf3+ 15. Qxf3 Qd8 16. Bb2 Bxb2 17. Rxb2 a5 18. Ra2 e6 19. Nc3 Ne5 20. Qg3 Nc6 21. Nb5 e5 22. Bc4 Nd4 23. Nxd4 cxd4 24. d3 Kh8 25. Rea1 f5 26. f3 fxe4 27. dxe4 Bc6 28. Qe1 $16 { 1-0 (44) Carlsen,M (2853)-Saric,I (2670) Chess.com INT 2023 }) 11. d3 Bb7 12. Nd2 (12. Qd2!? { A typical idea for the position where White aims for kingside play. }) 12... Nfd7 (12... a5! { This should have been preferred by Barbosa and is a typical resource for Black. By placing the pawn on a4, Black will be able to fix the b2-pawn as a target. The a4-pawn is also easily defended by Black's pieces. }) 13. Nb3 Rb8 14. Bg5 Re8 15. Qg4 Ne5 16. Qh4 Nc6 { A strong maneuver by Barbosa to improve the passive d7-knight. In the meantime, Adewumi tries to increase the pressure on both sides of the board. } 17. f4 f6 18. Bh6 e5 { Assuming that the bishops will be traded, Barbosa starts placing his pawns on the dark squares. } 19. fxe5 Nxe5 (19... Bxh6 20. Qxh6 fxe5 { may have been more consistent. }) 20. Be3 Qc7 21. d4!? cxd4 22. Bxd4 { Adewumi changes the character of the position with another pawn break, which helps both sides activate their pieces. } 22... Nbc4 23. Nd5 Bxd5 24. exd5 a5 25. Bc3 Rec8 26. Bxc4 Nxc4 27. Bxf6 Bxf6 28. Qxf6 Ne5 { White has won a pawn, but Black has strong queenside pressure and a great outpost on e5. } 29. Nd4 Rf8 30. Qh4 (30. Qe6+! { Adewumi was down to his last minutes when he had to make the important decision about his queen. He likely wanted to leave the e6-square for his d4-knight, but giving the check was stronger after } 30... Kh8 31. Rf1 $16 { when White maintains the extra pawn. }) 30... Qc5 31. b3 Rb4 32. Re4 Qxd5 { Now Adewumi was down to seconds (there is a 30-second increment though!) while Barbosa had 15 minutes, which no doubt led to Black becoming more ambitious. } 33. c4 Qf7 34. h3 a4! { Shattering White's structure. } 35. Rxa4 Rxa4 36. bxa4 Qxc4 37. Kh2 Qa2 38. Ne2 { Played with one second remaining on the clock!! } 38... h5 39. Qg3 { Two seconds! } 39... Kh7 40. Nf4 Qc2 41. Re2 Qb1 (41... Qxa4 { was the obvious move, but Barbosa reasoned after } 42. Ne6 Rf5 43. Rf2 { White is doing fine. }) 42. Rf2 Rc8? { Playing for the attack, but it turns out Black's king is in more danger! } 43. Ne6 Rc1 44. Qe3 Rh1+ 45. Kg3 $18 { White's king is actually very safe on the g3-square, as Black is running out of firepower. Meanwhile Black's king is lacking defenders! } 45... Qb7 46. Ng5+ Kg8 47. Ne6 Qd7? { Losing on the spot in a difficult position. } 48. Qh6 (48. Rf8+!? Kh7 49. Rf7+ { was a fun win owing to the twin forks: } 49... Qxf7 (49... Nxf7 50. Nf8+) 50. Ng5+) 48... h4+ 49. Kxh4 Qxa4+ 50. Rf4 { And Black resigned. This victory took Adewumi's live FIDE rating to 2408, clearing the necessary 2400 barrier to fulfill his last requirement for the International Master title! } (50. Kg3?? { would walk into the sneaky grandmaster trick of } 50... Qg4+!) 1-0