[Event "U.S. SuperNationals Chess Championships 2025"] [Site "Orlando"] [Date "2025.05.11"] [Round "06"] [White "Swaminathan, Pranav"] [Black "Nico Werner Chasin"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2158"] [BlackElo "2515"] [TimeControl "5400+10"] [Variant "Standard"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [ECO "B31"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack, Fianchetto Variation"] [StudyName "SuperNationals VIII: Sunday"] [ChapterName "Swaminathan, Pranav - Nico Werner Chasin"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/BKLPJHVT/Oc5Hg33V"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { [%clk 1:29:10] } 1... c5 { [%clk 1:29:59] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 1:28:44] } 2... Nc6 { [%clk 1:29:59] } 3. Bb5 { [%clk 1:28:44] } 3... g6 { [%clk 1:29:59] } 4. O-O { [%clk 1:28:40] } 4... Bg7 { [%clk 1:29:59] } 5. c3 { [%clk 1:28:40] } 5... Nf6 { [%clk 1:29:57] } 6. Re1 { [%clk 1:28:40] } 6... O-O { [%clk 1:29:57] } 7. d4 { [%clk 1:28:40] } 7... a6 { [%clk 1:29:57] } 8. Bf1 { [%clk 1:20:38] } 8... d5 { [%clk 1:29:43] } 9. e5 { [%clk 1:20:38] } 9... Ne4 { [%clk 1:29:43] } 10. Be3 { [%clk 1:18:35] } 10... Be6 { [%clk 1:12:24] } 11. Nfd2 { [%clk 1:06:11] } 11... cxd4 { [%clk 1:02:03] } 12. cxd4 { [%clk 1:05:27] } 12... f5 { [%clk 1:00:36] } 13. f4 { [%clk 0:56:18] } 13... g5 { [%clk 0:56:59] } 14. g3 { [%clk 0:45:01] } 14... gxf4 { [%clk 0:54:30] } 15. gxf4 { [%clk 0:44:13] } 15... Bf7 { [%clk 0:54:28] } 16. Nxe4 { [%clk 0:34:52] } 16... dxe4 { [%clk 0:52:14] } 17. Nc3 { [%clk 0:34:01] } 17... Nb4 { [%clk 0:52:14] } 18. Rc1 { [%clk 0:30:06] } 18... Rc8 { [%clk 0:51:16] } 19. Qd2 { [%clk 0:22:59] } 19... Nd5 { [%clk 0:48:04] } 20. Nxd5 { [%clk 0:22:54] } 20... Bxd5 { [%clk 0:48:03] } 21. b3 { [%clk 0:22:47] } 21... Qd7 { [%clk 0:47:25] } 22. Rc5 { [%clk 0:20:25] } 22... e6 { [%clk 0:43:01] } 23. Rec1 { [%clk 0:19:38] } 23... Rxc5 { [%clk 0:42:41] } 24. Rc2 { [%clk 0:19:38] } 24... Rc4 { [%clk 0:42:41] } 25. Rxc4 { [%clk 0:19:27] } 25... Rf7 { [%clk 0:42:41] } 26. Rc2 { [%clk 0:10:36] } 26... Bf8 { [%clk 0:42:25] } 27. Bc4 { [%clk 0:06:02] } 27... Rg7+ { [%clk 0:39:40] } 28. Kf1 { [%clk 0:06:02] } 28... Bc6 { [%clk 0:36:38] } 29. Qa5 { [%clk 0:05:39] } 29... Be7 { [%clk 0:35:00] } 30. Qb6 { I have been following Nico's success over the years and his play here has certainly impressed me. Maybe it is because I love a good positional style, where one takes advantage of all the opponent's weaknesses and slowly improves. This moment was one of those little moments that I enjoy. While commenting on the game, I couldn't quite figure out how Black would improve the position of his queen, given that the e6-pawn has to be protected and that White also has the tactical idea of Bc4xa6. When I came back to the game, I realized that Nico had found a nice idea with a prophylactic start. } { [%clk 0:04:49] } 30... Kh8!? { A devilishly practical and prophylactic idea that sets up a trap, and sadly for White, one that he now falls for. } { [%clk 0:30:54] } 31. Bxa6? { Though White wins a pawn, the activity that Black gets in return is amazing! } { [%clk 0:04:00] } (31. Ke1 { White needs to realize the possible danger of his king and start a march to the queenside. } 31... Bd8 32. Qc5 Be7 33. Qb6) 31... Qe8! { [%cal Ge8h5,Gh5h3,Gh5f3] [%clk 0:30:22] } 32. Ke1 { [%clk 0:01:18] } (32. Be2 { This would only be a temporary solution to Black's infiltration plan. } 32... Bd8 33. Qc5 Qg6 { [%cal Gg6g2] } 34. Ke1 Qg2 35. Kd2 Be7 { [%cal Ge7b4] } 36. Qb6 Rg8 $17 { [%csl Gh2,Gh7][%cal Gh7h1] }) 32... Qh5 { [%clk 0:29:44] } 33. Be2 { [%clk 0:00:29] } (33. d5 exd5 (33... Bxd5? 34. Rc8+ Rg8 35. Rxg8+ Kxg8 36. Bxb7 Bxb7 37. Qxb7 Kf8 $10) 34. e6 Kg8 { [%csl Gd4][%cal Gd4h8] } 35. Bd4 Qh4+ 36. Rf2 Bd8 $17 { [%cal Gg7e7,Ge7e6] }) 33... Qxh2 { [%clk 0:29:44] } 34. a4 { And now comes the finishing touch! } { [%clk 0:00:07] } 34... Rg2 { [%clk 0:29:05] } 35. a5 { [%clk 0:00:02] } 35... Bh4+ { [%clk 0:29:05] } 36. Kd1 { [%clk 0:00:02] } 36... Qh1+ { 0-1 Black wins. } { [%clk 0:29:05] } 0-1