[Event "The American Cup 2025"] [Site "St. Louis"] [Date "2025.03.24"] [Round "3"] [White "Antipov, Mikhail Al."] [Black "Sevian, Samuel"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2579"] [BlackElo "2700"] [Annotator "Luka Budisavljevic"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C50"] [Opening "Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Normal"] [StudyName "2025 American Cup"] [ChapterName "Antipov, Mikhail Al. - Sevian, Samuel"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/BAeuvodV/HREGh4S2"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. O-O d6 6. c3 a5 7. Re1 Ba7 8. Bb3 O-O 9. h3 Re8 10. Nbd2 h6 11. Nf1 Be6 12. Ba4 Bd7 13. Ng3 Rb8 14. Bb5 Bb6 15. a4 Ne7 16. Bxd7 Qxd7 17. Nh4 Ng6 18. Nhf5 d5 19. Qf3 Re6 20. h4 Rd8 21. h5 Nf8 22. b3 N8h7 23. Ra2 Kh8 24. Rae2 d4 25. cxd4 Bxd4 26. Nxd4 Qxd4 27. Nf5 Qd7 28. Be3 b6 29. d4 exd4 30. Bxd4 Ng5 31. Qg3 Rg8 32. f3 Kh7 33. Qh4 Ne8 34. Rd2 Nd6 35. Qg4 Qe8 36. Bb2 Nxf5 37. Qxf5+ Kh8 38. Red1 Re7 39. Rd7 Ne6 40. R7d5 Qc6 41. R1d2 Rge8 42. Kh2 Kg8 43. Qg4 Kh8 44. Rf5 Rg8 45. Rfd5 Qe8 46. Be5 f6 47. Bb2 Nc5 48. Rf5 Nxb3 49. Rdd5 Nc5 50. Qf4 Ne6 51. Qg4 c6 52. Rd6 Rd7 { As a result of great play in his favorite opening (the Italian game), Antipov outplayed Sevian and reached a winning position. Now it is time to strike. White to play and win! } 53. Rxe6!! Qxe6 { Here comes the crucial follow-up. } 54. Rxf6!! { An amazing rook sacrifice that destroys Black's defense! } 54... Qxf6 { Black had nothing better than to give up the queen, as other options lead to mate. } (54... Qxg4 55. Rxh6#) 55. Bxf6 Rf7 56. Bc3 $18 Re8 57. Qg6 Ref8 58. Qxh6+ Kg8 59. Qxc6 Kh7 60. Qg6+ { 1-0 White wins. } 1-0