[Event "National K-12 Grade Championships: 9th Grade"] [Site "National Harbor, MD"] [Date "2024-12-08"] [Round "7.12"] [White "Vemparala, Nikash"] [Black "Wang, Isaac"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2147"] [WhiteTitle "CM"] [WhiteFideId "30960967"] [BlackElo "2415"] [BlackTitle "FM"] [BlackFideId "30977185"] [Annotator "Lang, JJ"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "A20"] [Opening "English Opening: King's English Variation"] [StudyName "2024 National K-12 Grade Championships"] [ChapterName "Vemparala, Nikash - Wang, Isaac"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/BpCvdq2G/YTHwoe1S"] [Orientation "white"] 1. c4 { [%clk 1:29:38] } 1... e5 { [%clk 1:29:11] } 2. g3 { [%clk 1:29:31] } 2... c6 { [%clk 1:29:08] } 3. d4 { [%clk 1:28:35] } 3... e4 { [%clk 1:29:02] } 4. d5 { [%clk 1:28:07] } 4... Nf6 { [%clk 1:26:57] } 5. Nc3 { [%clk 1:22:57] } 5... Bc5 { [%clk 1:22:22] } 6. Bg2 { [%clk 1:21:04] } 6... Qb6 { [%clk 1:18:34] } 7. e3 { [%clk 1:17:19] } 7... Bb4 { [%clk 1:07:22] } 8. Bd2 { [%clk 1:14:47] } 8... cxd5 { [%clk 1:06:42] } 9. cxd5 { [%clk 1:13:00] } 9... O-O { [%clk 1:04:44] } 10. Nxe4 { [%clk 1:10:44] } 10... Nxd5 { [%clk 1:04:44] } 11. Bxb4 { [%clk 1:10:11] } 11... Nxb4 { [%clk 1:04:36] } 12. Ne2 { [%clk 1:09:35] } 12... d5 { [%clk 1:03:16] } 13. N4c3 { [%clk 1:09:12] } 13... Be6 { [%clk 1:01:38] } 14. O-O { [%clk 1:09:02] } 14... Rd8 { [%clk 1:00:45] } 15. Qd2 { [%clk 1:05:15] } 15... N8c6 { [%clk 1:00:03] } 16. Rfd1 { [%clk 1:03:56] } 16... Ne5 { [%clk 0:56:48] } 17. Qd4 { [%clk 0:58:13] } 17... Qxd4 { [%clk 0:55:41] } 18. Nxd4 { [%clk 0:57:58] } 18... Bg4 { [%clk 0:55:09] } 19. f3 { [%clk 0:56:47] } 19... Bh5 { [%clk 0:51:57] } 20. a3 { [%clk 0:54:48] } 20... Nbc6 { [%clk 0:46:46] } 21. g4 { [%clk 0:54:48] } 21... Bg6 { [%clk 0:46:41] } 22. b3 { [%clk 0:52:43] } 22... Rac8 { [%clk 0:43:22] } 23. Nce2 { [%clk 0:49:03] } 23... Nxd4 { [%clk 0:39:24] } 24. Rxd4 { [%clk 0:46:48] } 24... Nc6 { [%clk 0:38:50] } 25. Rd2 { [%clk 0:42:44] } 25... Na5 { [%clk 0:35:28] } 26. Nd4 { [%clk 0:40:37] } 26... h5 { [%clk 0:33:01] } 27. gxh5 { [%clk 0:37:57] } 27... Bxh5 { [%clk 0:33:01] } 28. f4 { [%clk 0:37:34] } 28... Rc3 { [%clk 0:30:35] } 29. Re1 { [%clk 0:36:09] } 29... Bg6 { [%clk 0:28:53] } 30. Kf2 { [%clk 0:30:25] } 30... Be4 { [%clk 0:26:44] } 31. Bxe4 { [%clk 0:28:24] } 31... dxe4 { [%clk 0:26:44] } 32. Red1 { [%clk 0:28:24] } 32... Rd5 { [%clk 0:25:29] } 33. Nf3 { The standings situation is important here. Wang entered the round a half-point behind Vemparala, who was still perfect with a 6/6 score. Nobody else had more than 5/6. So, in other words, Wang was in a must-win situation, albeit one where he at least controlled his destiny and was guaranteed an outright championship title if he won. This is likely why he did not want to trade rooks. } { [%clk 0:22:56] } 33... Rh5?? { Played after a 12-minute think. Instead, with } { [%clk 0:13:47] } (33... Rxd2+ 34. Nxd2 { , White hits the e4-pawn while defending the b3-pawn. But after } 34... f5 { , the e4-pawn is well-protected. } 35. b4 Nc6 $15 { How does White save the pawns without pacifying his own pieces? It's very possible that Black saw this variation but was not convinced it was enough to win. }) 34. Rd8+ { The problem with playing for a win is that, when it's not justified by the board state, it is often the easiest way to go from equal-ish to losing! } { [%clk 0:22:36] } 34... Kh7 { [%clk 0:13:47] } 35. Ng5+ { [%clk 0:22:36] } 35... Kg6 { [%clk 0:13:27] } 36. Nxe4 { With the threat of Rd1-g1+, White's rooks quickly coordinate against the black kingside pawns. } { [%clk 0:22:28] } 36... Rc2+ { In the time it takes Black to go after the queenside pawns with } { [%clk 0:11:58] } (36... Rxb3 { , White would take the initiative over with } 37. Rg1+ { , which would force } 37... Kh7 { when } (37... Kh6?? 38. Rh8#) (37... Kf5? 38. Ng3+ $18) 38. Ng5+ Kg6 39. Rd6+ f6 { or } (39... Kf5 40. h3! f6 41. e4+ Kg6 (41... Kxf4?? 42. Rg4+ { was the point of 40. h3, as } 42... Ke5 43. Nf7# { mates. . Note that 37. ... Kh7 is forced because: })) 40. Ne6+ $18) 37. Kf3 { [%clk 0:22:01] } 37... Nc6 { Black had no defense. Now, White goes on a decisive king hunt: } { [%clk 0:06:56] } 38. Rg1+ { [%clk 0:21:24] } 38... Kh7 { [%clk 0:06:56] } 39. Rf8 { [%clk 0:20:48] } 39... Rh3+ { [%clk 0:06:07] } 40. Kg4 { [%clk 0:20:11] } 40... Rxe3 { [%clk 0:04:45] } 41. Ng5+! { This wins by force. } { [%clk 0:20:08] } 41... Kg6 { [%clk 0:04:45] } (41... Kh6 42. Nxf7+ Kg6 43. f5+ Kf6 44. Nd6+ Ke5 45. Re8+ Kd4 46. Rd1+ Rd3 47. Re4+ $18) 42. f5+ { [%clk 0:19:59] } 42... Kf6 { [%clk 0:04:45] } 43. Kf4! { White turns the threat of Rf8xf7+ into a mate threat while also hitting Black's hanging e3-rook. } { [%clk 0:19:52] } 43... Ne5 { [%clk 0:03:22] } 44. Kxe3 { [%clk 0:19:47] } 44... Rxh2 { [%clk 0:03:18] } 45. Re8 { [%clk 0:18:45] } 45... Rb2 { [%clk 0:02:53] } 46. Ne4+ { 1-0 White wins. } { [%clk 0:18:45] } 1-0