[Event "U.S. SuperNationals Chess Championships 2025"] [Site "Orlando"] [Date "2025.05.11"] [Round "07"] [White "Nico Werner Chasin"] [Black "Slate, Kent"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2515"] [BlackElo "2272"] [TimeControl "5400+10"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B43"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Wing Attack, Spraggett Attack"] [StudyName "SuperNationals VIII: Sunday"] [ChapterName "Nico Werner Chasin - Slate, Kent"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/BKLPJHVT/q0Tb3ZxH"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { [%clk 1:20:50] } 1... c5 { [%clk 1:29:21] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 1:20:09] } 2... e6 { [%clk 1:28:59] } 3. d4 { [%clk 1:20:09] } 3... cxd4 { [%clk 1:28:47] } 4. Nxd4 { [%clk 1:20:09] } 4... a6 { [%clk 1:28:47] } 5. Nc3 { [%clk 1:20:09] } 5... b5 { [%clk 1:28:44] } 6. Bd3 { [%clk 1:20:09] } 6... Qb6 { [%clk 1:27:54] } 7. Nf3 { [%clk 1:20:09] } 7... Qc7 { [%clk 1:27:01] } 8. O-O { [%clk 1:18:48] } 8... Bb7 { [%clk 1:25:53] } 9. Re1 { [%clk 1:18:43] } 9... Bc5 { [%clk 1:24:50] } 10. Be3 { [%clk 1:14:45] } 10... Bxe3 { [%clk 1:07:05] } 11. Rxe3 { [%clk 1:13:40] } 11... b4 { [%clk 1:05:45] } 12. Nd5!? { This was a must-win situation for Nico, considering that he was a half-point behind the three leaders, and one of them was his opponent! He may have had this idea as a piece of home prep, or maybe he had decided just to take risks in a sharp position if the opportunity arose, but either way, his decision certainly paid off for him. } { [%clk 1:07:12] } (12. Na4 Ne7 13. c3 a5 14. Rc1 { looks promising. After } 14... Bc6 15. Nc5 { White is comfortably better because the natural } 15... d6? { is punished by } 16. Nxe6! (16. Nb3 { keeps an edge, too, though. }) 16... fxe6 17. Ng5! Qd7 18. Qh5+ g6 19. Qh6 Ng8 20. Qh4 $16 { when Black's position is in shambles. }) 12... exd5 { [%clk 0:49:29] } 13. exd5+ { [%clk 1:07:12] } 13... Kf8 { [%clk 0:48:54] } (13... Ne7?? { seems natural since White's typical d5-d6 does not have a Bd3-b5+ or Bd3xh7+ discovery as a follow-up, but the simple } 14. Qe2 Qd6 15. Re1 $18 { is too much. } { [%csl Ge7] }) 14. Qe1 { [%csl Gb4] [%clk 1:06:43] } 14... Nf6 { [%clk 0:47:52] } 15. Qxb4+ { [%clk 1:06:43] } 15... d6 { [%clk 0:47:33] } 16. c4 { Now that White is down a piece, they have to make sure they can continue putting pressure on the opponent by finding moves with tempo to stop Black from castling and regrouping, and Nico does just that! The next few moves keep the balance in this position. } { [%clk 1:03:24] } 16... Nbd7 { [%clk 0:46:16] } 17. Rae1 { [%clk 1:02:43] } 17... Re8 { [%clk 0:44:47] } (17... Bxd5!? 18. cxd5 Nxd5 19. Qd4 Nxe3 20. Rxe3 Nf6 21. h3 Re8 (21... a5 $13 { [%csl Ge8][%cal Ga8e8] }) 22. Rxe8+ Nxe8 23. Bxa6) 18. Rxe8+ { [%clk 1:02:25] } 18... Nxe8 { [%clk 0:44:47] } 19. Qc3 { [%clk 0:59:02] } 19... Nef6 { [%clk 0:43:44] } 20. Nd4 { [%clk 0:58:01] } 20... Ne5 { [%clk 0:41:51] } 21. Nf5 { [%clk 0:50:42] } 21... Nxd5 { [%clk 0:32:49] } 22. Qd4 { [%clk 0:50:00] } 22... Nb4? { [%clk 0:28:42] } (22... Ne7! 23. Nxd6 Nxd3 24. Qxd3 Bc6 25. b4 $13) 23. Bb1 { [%clk 0:50:00] } 23... f6?! { [%clk 0:26:10] } (23... g6 24. Qxd6+ Qxd6 25. Nxd6 Nxc4 26. Nxc4 Bd5 { Maybe Black could hold this. }) 24. Nxd6 { [%clk 0:46:08] } 24... g5 { [%clk 0:18:38] } (24... Qe7 25. Kh1 { [%cal Gf2f4,Re5f3] }) 25. Rxe5! { From here on, it was a matter of technique. With the other two leaders agreeing to a draw on the top board, Nico was able to catch up with the leaders and be one of the seven Co-Champions. } { [%clk 0:44:06] } 25... fxe5 { [%clk 0:18:36] } 26. Qxe5 { [%clk 0:44:06] } 26... Kg8 { [%clk 0:18:30] } 27. Qe8+ { [%clk 0:43:41] } 27... Kg7 { [%clk 0:18:19] } 28. Nf5+ { [%clk 0:43:41] } 28... Kf6 { [%clk 0:18:16] } 29. Qxh8+ { [%clk 0:43:41] } 29... Ke6 { [%clk 0:18:05] } 30. Qe8+ { 1-0 White wins. } { [%clk 0:43:41] } 1-0