[Event "NYC Chess Norms Spring 2025"] [Date "2025.03.28"] [Round "2"] [White "Bortnyk, Mykola"] [Black "Zhu, Linxi"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2395"] [BlackElo "2301"] [Annotator "Ostrovskiy, Aleksandr"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B20"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit, Nanu Gambit"] [StudyName "March 2025 NYC Chess Norms"] [ChapterName "Bortnyk, Mykola - Zhu, Linxi"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/5Ep0IRrb/MmAIUFN4"] [Orientation "white"] { Although no norms were scored in the IM B section, the highest-finishing norm-seeker was FM Linxi Zhu with 5½/9. Already rated over 2300 FIDE, Zhu is the highest-rated player in the world born in 2014. His round 2 game against the very strong IM Mykola Bortnyk was perhaps one of the most chaotic games of 2025! } 1. e4 c5 2. b4!? { Known for his creative and aggressive style, IM Bortnyk chooses the Wing Gambit } 2... cxb4 3. a3 d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. Nf3 e5 6. c4 Qe6 7. Bd3 e4 8. O-O Be7 9. Re1 Qf6 10. Bxe4 Qxa1 11. Qb3 Qf6 12. axb4 { A true gambit position! White only has a pawn for the rook, but he boasts a huge lead in development. To my amusement, I am seeing many games have already been played in this position which means it must be some kind of theory! Nevertheless, Zhu had already spent over 30 minutes to reach this position, suggesting that he was probably playing several of the moves by hand. Bortnyk had not used any of his time yet (aside from arriving late to the game!) } 12... Nh6?? (12... Qf4! { The best idea for Black was to move the queen as to make room for ... Ng8-f6. One sample game is } 13. Bb2 Nf6 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Nc3 Qd6 16. Nd5 Be6 17. Nd4 Nc6 18. Nb5 Qd8 19. Nbc7+ Kf8 20. Nxa8 Qxa8 21. b5 Na5 22. Qe3 Qd8 23. c5 h5 24. Nxe7 Kxe7 25. d4 Nc4 26. Qc3 Qa5 27. Qxa5 Nxa5 28. d5 Bc8 29. d6+ Kd8 30. c6 bxc6 31. bxc6 { and eventually a draw was agreed in: ½- (52) ½ (52) Bobel,P (2348)-Masset,J (2129) ICCF email 2022 }) 13. Bb2 Qd6 14. c5 Qd7 15. Bxg7 Rg8 16. Ne5? (16. Bxh6 Qh3 { Both players were counting on this resource, missing the wonderful } 17. Nd4! Qxh6 18. Bxb7!! { with the point of } 18... Bxb7 19. Rxe7+ Kxe7 20. Nf5+ $18) 16... Qc7 17. Bxh6 Qxe5 18. d4? (18. Bc6+ Nxc6 19. Rxe5 Nxe5 20. d4 { Of course, White could have won the queen, but Bortnyk probably wanted to keep more pieces on the board as to play for checkmate. }) 18... Qe6 19. Qe3 f5 20. Nc3 fxe4 21. Nxe4 { Bortnyk definitely does not care about material this game, as he again goes for glory. } 21... Kd8 22. Qd2 Qg6 23. Ng3 Bg5 24. Bxg5+ Qxg5 25. f4 Qf6 26. d5 Rf8 27. f5 a5 28. b5 a4? { A consistent idea, but not the best move. } (28... Bxf5 29. Rf1 Nd7 $19 { was better, giving some of the vast material back to develop. }) 29. c6 (29. Ne4 Qxf5 30. c6) 29... Re8 (29... Bxf5!) 30. c7+ Kd7 31. Re6 (31. cxb8=N+ Rxb8 32. Re6 { was a better move order. }) 31... Rxe6 32. cxb8=N+! Rxb8? (32... Ke8! 33. dxe6 a3 { Focusing on the a-pawn! } 34. Nd7 { The knight re-enters the game! } 34... Bxd7 35. Qxd7+ Kf8 $19) 33. dxe6+ Ke7 34. Qb4+ Ke8 35. Qxa4 Qc3 36. b6+ Qc6 37. Qd4 Ra8 38. h4? (38. h3 { was better than h2-h4, since after } 38... Ra4 39. Qh8+ Ke7 40. Qxh7+ Kd6 41. e7 { the king is much safer without any ... Ra4xh4 threats. }) 38... Ra4 39. Qh8+ Ke7 40. Qg7+ Kd6 41. Qf8+ Ke5 42. Qh8+ Kd6 43. Qd8+ { Bortnyk is playing for the win down a rook! However, the pawns do not go anywhere. } 43... Ke5 44. Qg5 Qxb6+ 45. Kh2 Qd4 46. Kh3 h6 47. Qh5 Kd6 48. Ne2 Ra3+ 49. g3 Qd5 50. Qxh6 Qxf5+ 51. Kg2 Qf3+ 52. Kg1 Qe3+ 53. Qxe3 Rxe3 54. Kf2 Rxe6 55. Nf4 Re8 56. h5 Bf5 57. Kf3 b5 58. g4 Bc2 { 0-1 Black wins. } 0-1