[Event "U.S. SuperNationals Chess Championships 2025"] [Site "Orlando"] [Date "2025.05.11"] [Round "06"] [White "Hardaway, Brewington"] [Black "Joseph Levine"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2586"] [BlackElo "2443"] [TimeControl "5400+10"] [Variant "Standard"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [ECO "A08"] [Opening "Zukertort Opening: Reversed Grünfeld"] [StudyName "SuperNationals VIII: Sunday"] [ChapterName "Hardaway, Brewington - Joseph Levine"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/BKLPJHVT/LTQImTUS"] [Orientation "white"] 1. Nf3 { [%clk 1:30:00] } 1... d5 { [%clk 1:30:00] } 2. g3 { [%clk 1:30:00] } 2... Nf6 { [%clk 1:29:33] } 3. Bg2 { [%clk 1:30:00] } 3... c5 { [%clk 1:29:30] } 4. O-O { [%clk 1:28:47] } 4... Nc6 { [%clk 1:28:07] } 5. d4 { [%clk 1:28:45] } 5... e6 { [%clk 1:25:04] } 6. c4 { [%clk 1:23:09] } 6... dxc4 { [%clk 1:24:50] } 7. Qa4 { [%clk 1:22:20] } 7... Bd7 { [%clk 1:24:14] } 8. Qxc4 { [%clk 1:22:09] } 8... b5 { [%clk 1:23:47] } 9. Qd3 { [%clk 1:21:50] } 9... Rc8 { [%clk 1:11:55] } 10. dxc5 { [%clk 1:14:12] } 10... Bxc5 { [%clk 1:10:06] } 11. Nc3 { [%clk 1:14:02] } 11... h6 { [%clk 1:01:07] } 12. Rd1 { [%clk 0:54:27] } 12... O-O { [%clk 0:54:45] } 13. Bf4 { [%clk 0:47:20] } 13... Nb4 { [%clk 0:38:56] } 14. Qd2 { [%clk 0:45:32] } 14... Qb6 { [%clk 0:34:50] } 15. e3 { [%clk 0:45:15] } 15... Bc6 { [%clk 0:28:32] } 16. Be5 { [%clk 0:37:20] } 16... Ne4 { [%clk 0:19:24] } 17. Qe2 { [%clk 0:36:58] } 17... Nxc3 { [%clk 0:16:01] } 18. Bxc3 { [%clk 0:36:58] } 18... Be4 { [%clk 0:15:34] } 19. Ne5 { [%clk 0:29:11] } 19... Bxg2 { [%clk 0:12:54] } 20. Kxg2 { [%clk 0:28:27] } 20... Nd5 { [%clk 0:11:56] } 21. Bd4 { [%clk 0:26:16] } 21... Bxd4 { [%clk 0:11:30] } 22. Rxd4 { [%clk 0:26:16] } 22... Qc7 { [%clk 0:09:44] } 23. Nf3 { [%clk 0:25:36] } 23... Qc2 { [%clk 0:09:31] } 24. Re1 { [%clk 0:24:38] } 24... Rc5 { [%clk 0:07:33] } 25. e4 { [%clk 0:21:45] } 25... Qxe2 { [%clk 0:07:33] } 26. Rxe2 { [%clk 0:21:45] } 26... Nb6 { [%clk 0:07:33] } 27. b3 { [%clk 0:20:46] } 27... Rfc8 { [%clk 0:07:33] } 28. Rdd2 { [%clk 0:20:46] } 28... Kf8 { [%clk 0:07:31] } 29. Nd4 { [%clk 0:17:47] } 29... a6 { [%clk 0:07:21] } 30. f4 { [%clk 0:15:51] } 30... Ke7 { [%clk 0:07:07] } 31. Kf2 { [%clk 0:15:40] } 31... g6 { [%clk 0:06:36] } 32. Nf3 { [%clk 0:15:05] } 32... Nd7 { [%clk 0:06:17] } 33. h3 { [%clk 0:14:46] } 33... Rc3 { [%clk 0:05:27] } 34. Nd4 { [%clk 0:13:38] } 34... Nf6 { [%clk 0:04:51] } 35. Re3 { [%clk 0:08:09] } 35... Rc1 { [%clk 0:04:20] } 36. f5 { [%clk 0:05:03] } 36... Nd7 { [%clk 0:02:52] } 37. fxe6 { [%clk 0:02:51] } 37... fxe6 { [%clk 0:02:52] } 38. Nf3 { [%clk 0:02:51] } 38... R8c2 { [%clk 0:02:27] } 39. Ree2 { [%clk 0:02:51] } 39... Rxd2 { [%clk 0:02:27] } 40. Rxd2 { [%clk 0:02:41] } 40... Nc5 { [%clk 0:02:27] } 41. Re2 { [%clk 0:02:41] } 41... Rc3 { [%clk 0:01:55] } 42. Ne5 { [%clk 0:02:14] } 42... Kf6 { [%clk 0:01:48] } 43. Ng4+ { [%clk 0:02:14] } 43... Kg7 { [%clk 0:01:48] } 44. Ne5 { [%clk 0:02:13] } 44... h5 { [%clk 0:01:48] } 45. Nf3 { [%clk 0:01:40] } 45... Kf6 { [%clk 0:01:43] } 46. h4 { [%clk 0:01:35] } 46... Nd3+ { [%clk 0:01:20] } 47. Kg2 { [%clk 0:01:35] } 47... Nb4 { [%clk 0:01:20] } 48. Nd4 { [%clk 0:01:15] } 48... Rd3 { [%clk 0:00:43] } 49. Nf3 { [%clk 0:01:15] } 49... Rd1 { [%clk 0:00:43] } 50. a3 { [%clk 0:00:40] } 50... Nd3 { [%clk 0:00:43] } 51. Re3 { [%clk 0:00:25] } 51... Ne5 { I was watching this game with enthusiasm and was impressed with the quality of play by both players. Brewington was on 5/5 at the time, while Joseph was the highest-rated of the group of players trailing him by a half-point. To me both players were in it to win it, but at this point it is White that has to be careful not to allow the loss of the queenside pawns. } { [%clk 0:00:34] } 52. Ng5? { This is the first moment Brew went wrong, as he allows the trading of the rooks. The knight endgame is easier to play for a win by Black due to the vulnerability of the b3-pawn. } { [%clk 0:00:25] } (52. Nxe5 { I think trading into a pure a rook-and-pawn endgame would have given White the easiest path to a draw, but of course nothing is easy when you have less than one minute on the clock! } 52... Kxe5 53. Rc3 { I have always been a huge fan of rook endgame (if this wasn't obvious already) but trust me, I myself have lost or misplayed more than I can count. It's always a never-ending accumulation of knowledge. } 53... Kxe4 54. Rc6 { [%cal Gc6g6,Gc6a6] } 54... Rd2+ 55. Kh3 e5 56. Rxa6) (52. Rc3!? { is an interesting approach as well, allowing Black to trade knights when the time is right. Of course, it is still scary not to be able to calculate everything due to time... } 52... Ra1 53. Nxe5 Kxe5 54. a4 bxa4 55. bxa4 Rxa4 56. Rc5+ Kxe4 57. Rg5 a5 58. Rxg6 Ra2+ 59. Kh3 e5 60. g4! hxg4+ 61. Rxg4+ { Now, the h-pawn should be sufficient for counterplay! }) 52... Rd2+ { [%clk 0:00:34] } 53. Kg1 { [%clk 0:00:25] } 53... Rd3?! { [%clk 0:00:14] } (53... Ra2 54. b4 Nc4 { [%csl Ra3] } (54... Ra1+ { I can't figure out if throwing in this check first is more helpful for White or for Black; my instinct says it is for White, but I followed the engine a bit and it doesn't seem to matter either way. } 55. Kg2 Nc4 { [%csl Ga3] } 56. Rf3+ Ke5 57. Rf7 Ra2+ 58. Kf1 Rxa3 59. Re7 Kd4 60. Rxe6 a5) 55. Rf3+ Ke5 56. Rf7 Rxa3 57. Re7 a5 $19) 54. Rxd3 { [%clk 0:00:20] } 54... Nxd3 { [%clk 0:00:14] } 55. Kf1 { [%clk 0:00:20] } (55. b4!? Ne1 56. Kf1 Nc2 57. Ke2 Nxa3 58. Kd3 { This is a possible way to give up one pawn to try to set up a fortress. }) 55... Ke5 { [%clk 0:00:14] } (55... a5! { A nice prophylactic idea. After } 56. Ke2? Nc1+ 57. Ke3 Nxb3 { White has no fortress possibilities anymore. }) 56. Ke2?? { [%clk 0:00:16] } (56. b4! { It is better to give up the a-pawn than the b-pawn; the reason is that the b-pawn can restrict Black's queenside majority once the a-pawn falls. The reverse doesn't do the same! } 56... Nb2 57. Ke2 Nc4 58. Kd3 Nxa3 59. Nf3+ Kf6 60. Kd4 { [%cal Gd4c5,Gc5b6] } 60... Nc4 61. Kc5 Ne5 62. Nd4 { no trade of course! } 62... Nd3+ 63. Kd6 e5 (63... Nxb4 64. e5+ Kf7 65. Nxe6 $10) 64. Nc6 Nf2 65. Kd5 Nh1 66. Nxe5 Nxg3 67. Nf3 { and White should be able to hold! }) 56... Nc1+ { [%clk 0:00:14] } 57. Ke3 { [%clk 0:00:14] } 57... Nxb3 { [%clk 0:00:14] } 58. Nf7+ { [%clk 0:00:14] } 58... Kf6 { [%clk 0:00:14] } 59. Ng5 { [%clk 0:00:14] } 59... Na5 { [%clk 0:00:14] } 60. Kd4 { [%clk 0:00:14] } 60... Nc4 { This is the reason I suggested to keep the b-pawn instead! } { [%csl Ga3] [%clk 0:00:13] } 61. a4 { [%clk 0:00:14] } 61... Nd2?? { Joseph gives Brewington one more chance to save the game! } { [%clk 0:00:13] } (61... Na3! 62. axb5 Nxb5+! $19 { Now the passed a-pawn is going to make either the king or knight passive and Black will be able to win on the kingside! } { [%csl Rd4][%cal Ra6a1,Gd5d4] }) 62. axb5 { [%clk 0:00:14] } 62... axb5 { [%clk 0:00:13] } 63. Nh7+ { [%clk 0:00:08] } 63... Ke7 { [%clk 0:00:13] } 64. Ng5 { [%clk 0:00:08] } 64... Nf1 { [%clk 0:00:13] } 65. Ke5?? { While it is the logical approach to win the e6-pawn, unfortunately for Brewington the b-pawn is far too advanced and the e-pawn cannot create the required amount of counterplay to hold the draw. } { [%clk 0:00:08] } (65. Kc5! { It is counterintuitive, but this is the way to go! } 65... Kf6 66. Kxb5 Nxg3 67. Kc4 Ke5 68. Kd3 Kf4 69. Nxe6+ Kg4 70. Nf8 g5 71. hxg5 h4 72. g6 Nh5 73. Ke3 Kg3 74. Ne6 h3 75. Nf4 Ng7 76. Nxh3 $10) 65... b4 { From here on, Joseph played the best moves to take home the full point and the lead in the K-12 Championship! I loved the play of both these players and, although I feel for Brew, I have to say kudos to Joseph for keeping his focus throughout and not being afraid to take his chance when provided with it! This is how champions are made. Congratulations to both for sharing the championship in the end! } { [%clk 0:00:13] } 66. Kd4 { [%clk 0:00:08] } 66... Nxg3 { [%clk 0:00:13] } 67. Nf3 { [%clk 0:00:08] } 67... Kf6 { [%clk 0:00:11] } 68. Ng5 { [%clk 0:00:08] } 68... Ne2+ { [%clk 0:00:09] } 69. Kc4 { [%clk 0:00:05] } 69... Nf4 { [%clk 0:00:09] } 70. Nf3 { [%clk 0:00:05] } 70... Nh3 { [%clk 0:00:09] } 71. Kxb4 { [%clk 0:00:05] } 71... g5 { [%clk 0:00:09] } 72. Kc3 { [%clk 0:00:04] } 72... g4 { [%clk 0:00:09] } 73. Ne1 { [%clk 0:00:04] } 73... Ke5 { [%clk 0:00:08] } 74. Kd2 { [%clk 0:00:04] } 74... Kxe4 { [%clk 0:00:08] } 75. Ke2 { [%clk 0:00:04] } 75... Nf4+ { [%clk 0:00:08] } 76. Kf1 { [%clk 0:00:04] } 76... g3 { [%clk 0:00:08] } 77. Kg1 { [%clk 0:00:04] } 77... e5 { [%clk 0:00:08] } 78. Nc2 { [%clk 0:00:04] } 78... Kf3 { [%clk 0:00:08] } 79. Ne1+ { [%clk 0:00:04] } 79... Kg4 { [%clk 0:00:08] } 80. Kf1 { [%clk 0:00:04] } 80... e4 { [%clk 0:00:08] } 81. Kg1 { [%clk 0:00:04] } 81... Kxh4 { [%clk 0:00:08] } 82. Nc2 { [%clk 0:00:04] } 82... Kg4 { [%clk 0:00:08] } 83. Ne1 { [%clk 0:00:02] } 83... h4 { [%clk 0:00:08] } 84. Nc2 { [%clk 0:00:02] } 84... h3 { [%clk 0:00:08] } 85. Ne3+ { [%clk 0:00:02] } 85... Kf3 { [%clk 0:00:08] } 86. Nf1 { [%clk 0:00:02] } 86... Ne2+ { [%clk 0:00:08] } 87. Kh1 { [%clk 0:00:02] } 87... g2+ { [%clk 0:00:08] } 88. Kh2 { [%clk 0:00:02] } 88... g1=Q+ { 0-1 Black wins. } { [%clk 0:00:08] } 0-1