[Event "Checkmate: USA vs India 2025"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2025.10.05"] [Round "01-02"] [White "Rozman, Levy"] [Black "Sagar, Shah"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2358"] [BlackElo "2307"] [TimeControl "300"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C45"] [Opening "Scotch Game: Malaniuk Variation"] [StudyName "Checkmate: USA vs India"] [ChapterName "Rozman, Levy - Sagar, Shah"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/CMl7gcnF/IJEbFf5g"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] { I want to give the organizers credit for coming up with this matchup. IM Levy Rozman, a.k.a. GothamChess, is one of the most beloved and well-known streamers, but ChessBase India's global reach is due in large part to the efforts of IM Sagar Shah, so this really is a battle of chess social media superstars. } 1. e4 { After producing the first draw of the match, the "home team advantage" really became clear: USA didn't just get White in each of the ten-minute games. Rather, they get White in every game! This means the "reward" for holding White to a draw is having to defend the black pieces again (with less time on the clock). } { [%clk 0:05:00] } 1... e5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 0:04:53] } 2... Nc6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 3. d4 { [%clk 0:04:48] } 3... exd4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 4. Nxd4 { The Scotch Game is a solid choice, avoiding a lot of theory in the Ruy Lopez and Italian games without going into a riskier or more forcing gambit line. } { [%clk 0:04:46] } 4... Bb4+ { A rare try, disrupting White's structure. This line has some venom! } { [%clk 0:00:00] } 5. c3 { [%clk 0:04:26] } 5... Bc5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 6. Be3 { [%clk 0:04:07] } 6... Bb6 { This is, ordinarily, where White would just play Nb1-c3. But he has a lead in development, instead. } { [%clk 0:00:00] } 7. Be2!? { [%clk 0:03:15] } (7. Bd3 { was better. If the game continued the same with: } 7... Nf6 8. O-O O-O 9. Nd2 { then } 9... Ne5 10. Bc2 $14 { makes it riskier for Black to play ... d7-d5, due to the pressure on the b1-h7 diagonal. But the alternatives are too passive. }) 7... Nf6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 8. Bf3 { The point of White's previous move. But } { [%clk 0:03:07] } (8. Nd2 { was more flexible. }) 8... O-O { [%clk 0:00:00] } 9. O-O { [%clk 0:03:00] } 9... Ne5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 10. Nd2 { An unusual treatment of the opening, giving up the pair of bishops rather than fighting for an attack on the h7-square. } { [%clk 0:02:07] } 10... d5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 11. Bg5 { [%clk 0:01:49] } 11... c5! { [%clk 0:00:00] } 12. Nc2 { [%clk 0:01:08] } 12... d4! { Black has played the opening perfectly, and now boasts a strong inside passer as well as more dominant central pieces. } { [%clk 0:00:00] } 13. cxd4 { [%clk 0:01:06] } 13... cxd4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 14. Nb4 { [%clk 0:00:43] } 14... Be6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 15. Nd5 { [%clk 0:00:42] } 15... Bxd5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 16. exd5 { [%clk 0:00:30] } 16... Nxf3+ { [%clk 0:00:00] } (16... h6 { was the way to go. } 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18. Be4 Rfe8 { and White has to be very careful, with threats coming against the king shortly. }) 17. Nxf3 { [%clk 0:00:29] } 17... Qxd5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 18. Bxf6 { [%clk 0:00:27] } 18... gxf6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 19. Qd3 { Black has an extra pawn but worse structure. } { [%clk 0:00:26] } 19... Rfe8 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 20. Rad1 { [%clk 0:00:23] } 20... Rad8 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 21. b3 { [%clk 0:00:20] } 21... Qe4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 22. Qb5 { [%clk 0:00:17] } 22... Qd5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 23. Qd3 { [%clk 0:00:17] } 23... Re6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 24. h3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 24... Qe4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 25. Qb5? { [%clk 0:00:00] } 25... Qc6? { [%clk 0:00:00] } (25... d3!) 26. Qh5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 26... Qd5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 27. Qg4+ { [%clk 0:00:00] } 27... Kh8 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 28. Qf4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 28... Rg8 { [%clk 0:00:00] } (28... d3!) 29. Rfe1? { Here, both players missed a tactical shot. } { [%clk 0:00:00] } 29... Rxe1+? { [%clk 0:00:00] } (29... Bc7! 30. Qxc7 Qxf3 31. g3 d3 { and White can call it a night. Trying to corral the d-pawn with } 32. Qc3 { runs into the ice cold } 32... Re3!! { or even the still-freezing } (32... Rge8! $19)) 30. Rxe1 $10 { It will be harder for Black to run the pawn with only one rook, as he can no longer play simultaneously against the g-file and the central files. } { [%clk 0:00:00] } 30... d3?? { [%clk 0:00:00] } 31. Rd1?? { An instance of trusting your opponent! Surely Black wouldn't hang a mate-in-two, right? } { [%clk 0:00:00] } (31. Qxf6+ Rg7 32. Re8#) 31... Rd8 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 32. Qxf6+ { [%clk 0:00:00] } 32... Kg8 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 33. Rd2 { [%clk 0:00:00] } (33. Ne5 $14) 33... Ba5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 34. Rd1 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 34... d2 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 35. Qf4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 35... Qd3?? { This time, Rozman catches it! } { [%clk 0:00:00] } 36. Qg5+ { The bishop is a goner. } { [%clk 0:00:00] } 36... Kh8 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 37. Qxa5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 37... Qe2 { There's no time to win the rook, as Black's rook falls with check. } { [%clk 0:00:00] } 38. Qxd8+ { [%clk 0:00:00] } 38... Kg7 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 39. Qxd2 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 39... Qe6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 40. Qg5+ { [%clk 0:00:00] } 40... Kh8 { 1-0 White wins. } { [%clk 0:00:00] } 1-0