FMWang, Isaac(2415)
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CMVemparala, Nikash(2147)
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1.c4e52.g3c63.d4e44.d5Nf65.Nc3Bc56.Bg2Qb67.e3Bb48.Bd2cxd59.cxd5O-O10.Nxe4Nxd511.Bxb4Nxb412.Ne2d513.N4c3Be614.O-ORd815.Qd2N8c616.Rfd1Ne517.Qd4Qxd418.Nxd4Bg419.f3Bh520.a3Nbc621.g4Bg622.b3Rac823.Nce2Nxd424.Rxd4Nc625.Rd2Na526.Nd4h527.gxh5Bxh528.f4Rc329.Re1Bg630.Kf2Be431.Bxe4dxe432.Red1Rd533.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.33....Rh5??Played after a 12-minute think. Instead, with33...Rxd2+34.Nxd2, White hits the e4-pawn while defending the b3-pawn. But afterf5, the e4-pawn is well-protected.35.b4Nc6How 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!34....Kh735.Ng5+Kg636.Nxe4...With the threat of Rd1-g1+, White's rooks quickly coordinate against the black kingside pawns.36....Rc2+In the time it takes Black to go after the queenside pawns with36...Rxb3, White would take the initiative over with37.Rg1+, which would forceKh7when(37...Kh6??38.Rh8#)(37...Kf5?38.Ng3++−)38.Ng5+Kg639.Rd6+f6or(39...Kf540.h3!f641.e4+Kg6(41...Kxf4??42.Rg4+was the point of 40. h3, asKe543.Nf7#mates. . Note that 37. ... Kh7 is forced because:))40.Ne6++−37.Kf3Nc6Black had no defense. Now, White goes on a decisive king hunt:38.Rg1+Kh739.Rf8Rh3+40.Kg4Rxe341.Ng5+!...This wins by force.41....Kg641...Kh642.Nxf7+Kg643.f5+Kf644.Nd6+Ke545.Re8+Kd446.Rd1+Rd347.Re4++−42.f5+Kf643.Kf4!...White turns the threat of Rf8xf7+ into a mate threat while also hitting Black's hanging e3-rook.43....Ne544.Kxe3Rxh245.Re8Rb246.Ne4+1-0 White wins.1-0