[Event "Checkmate: USA vs India 2025"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2025.10.04"] [Round "01-01"] [White "Adewumi, Tanitoluwa"] [Black "Vaz, Ethan"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2400"] [BlackElo "2274"] [TimeControl "600"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "A13"] [Opening "English Opening: Agincourt Defense"] [StudyName "Checkmate: USA vs India"] [ChapterName "Adewumi, Tanitoluwa - Vaz, Ethan"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/CMl7gcnF/u2Y3mGiF"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] { The battle of the juniors, featuring 15-year-old IM Tani Adewumi against 14-year-old IM Ethan Vaz. } 1. c4 { [%clk 0:10:00] } 1... e6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 2. Nc3 { [%clk 0:09:58] } 2... d5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 3. cxd5 { [%clk 0:09:56] } 3... exd5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 4. d4 { [%clk 0:09:56] } 4... h6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 5. Nf3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 5... Nf6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 6. Bf4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 6... Bd6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 7. Bxd6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 7... Qxd6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 8. e3 { There's no such thing as a boring opening! It may be called the Orthodox Variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined, Exchange, but we can trust these talented juniors to bring the heat. } { [%clk 0:00:00] } 8... O-O { [%clk 0:00:00] } 9. Bd3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 9... Bg4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 10. O-O { [%clk 0:00:00] } 10... Nbd7 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 11. h3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 11... Bxf3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 12. Qxf3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 12... c6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 13. Rac1 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 13... Rfe8 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 14. Rfd1 { [%clk 0:00:00] } (14. g4!? { was totally playable, and it's surprising to see Tani go for something patient instead. }) 14... Re7 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 15. a3 { White looks to play for a minority attack. } { [%clk 0:00:00] } 15... a5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 16. Rb1 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 16... Nf8 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 17. Qe2 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 17... Ne6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 18. Qc2 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 18... Ng5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 19. Ne2 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 19... Nge4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 20. Nf4!? { [%clk 0:00:00] } (20. Nc3 { was more consistent. }) 20... Rae8!? { [%clk 0:00:00] } (20... g5! { If White doesn't play on the kingside, Black should! }) 21. Bf1?! { [%clk 0:00:00] } (21. Bxe4 Nxe4 22. b4 $10) 21... Nd7? { [%clk 0:00:00] } (21... g5 { Again! }) 22. b4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } (22. Rdc1 $14) 22... axb4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 23. Rxb4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 23... Ndf6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 24. Rdb1 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 24... g5!? { Black is too late to the punch, and now White's play along the b-file gains in power with Black creating additional weaknesses for himself on the opposite flank. } { [%clk 0:00:00] } 25. Nd3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 25... g4? { There is no real threat here, it turns out! } { [%clk 0:00:00] } (25... Rb8 26. Ne5 Rc7 27. f3 Ng3 28. Bd3 Nd7 29. f4 $14) 26. h4? { Tani falls for the bluff! Instead, } { [%clk 0:00:00] } (26. Rxb7 g3 { or } (26... gxh3 27. gxh3 Qxa3 28. Qxc6 $16 { leaves Black without anything. And }) 27. f3 Ng5 28. a4 $18 { again shuts Black down. But, in a 10-minute game, it's near-impossible to make this judgment, so Black's play was very practical despite the engine's favorable evaluation for White here. }) 26... Nh5?! { [%clk 0:00:00] } (26... g3! { An important distinction. After } 27. f3 Qd8! $17 { Black has some serious pressure. } { [%cal Gd8h4] }) 27. Ne5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 27... g3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 28. f3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 28... Nf2 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 29. Qf5! { This is why Black's 26. ... Nh5 was inaccurate. White gains a key tempo on the knight. } { [%clk 0:00:00] } 29... Rxe5!? { Black continues the game! } { [%clk 0:00:00] } (29... b5 30. Rc1 { leaves Black with nothing better than } 30... Ng7 { forcing } 31. Qf4 { when } 31... Nh5 $10 { essentially forces a draw by repetition. }) 30. dxe5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 30... Rxe5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 31. Qc8+ { [%clk 0:00:00] } 31... Kg7 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 32. Rxb7 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 32... Rxe3 { The position remains objectively equal, with both kings under fire. } { [%clk 0:00:00] } 33. Rb8 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 33... Nf6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 34. Qh8+ { [%clk 0:00:00] } 34... Kg6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 35. h5+ { [%clk 0:00:00] } 35... Kf5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 36. R8b4 { Surprisingly, Black's position is defendable. But in time trouble? Not so much! } { [%clk 0:00:00] } 36... c5?? { [%clk 0:00:00] } (36... Nxh5 { What does White have here? } 37. Rh4 Kg5! { It's tremendous seeing Black's king play so boldly, and yet this holds even after } 38. Rbb4 { thanks to } 38... Re1 { when ... Qd6-g6-d3 is coming, so White should aim to equalize with } 39. Qg8+ Kf6 40. Qh8+ $10) 37. Rb6 { There's no coming back from this blunder. } { [%clk 0:00:00] } 37... Qe7 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 38. Qxh6!? { Not the most precise, but enough to win. } { [%clk 0:00:00] } (38. Qg7! $18 { The queen is tied down, and there's no way to save the g-pawn. }) (38. Rb7!?) 38... d4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 39. Rc1?! { [%clk 0:00:00] } (39. Rb7!) 39... Re6? { [%clk 0:00:00] } (39... Nd5 40. Qd6 Qxd6 41. Rxd6 Nc3 42. Rc6 Nd3 43. Bxd3+ Rxd3 { and White has to come up with } 44. Re1! { to keep any edge. } (44. Rxc5+ { Note: } 44... Kf6 45. Re1 Rd2 46. h6 Ne2+ 47. Kf1 Nf4 $10 { gives Black enough counterplay. }) 44... Ne2+ { is untouchable, but } 45. Kf1 Nf4 46. Rxc5+ $14 { leaves White with winning chances. }) 40. Rxe6! { [%clk 0:00:00] } 40... Qxe6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } (40... fxe6 41. Qg6+ Kf4 (41... Ke5? 42. Qg5+ Kd6 43. Qxc5+ Kd7 44. Qc6+ Kd8 45. Qc8#) 42. Re1 $18) 41. Rxc5+ { [%clk 0:00:00] } 41... Nd5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 42. Qxe6+ { [%clk 0:00:00] } 42... fxe6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 43. h6 $18 { White is winning in this endgame. } { [%clk 0:00:00] } 43... Kg6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 44. Rc4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 44... e5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 45. Rc6+ { [%clk 0:00:00] } 45... Kh7 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 46. Rc5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 46... Nf4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 47. Rxe5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 47... d3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 48. Re7+ { [%clk 0:00:00] } 48... Kxh6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 49. Rd7 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 49... Kg6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 50. a4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 50... Kf6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 51. Bxd3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 51... N2xd3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 52. a5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 52... Nc5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 53. Rc7 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 53... Nfe6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 54. Rc6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 54... Ke5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 55. a6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 55... Kd5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 56. a7 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 56... Kxc6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 57. a8=Q+ { [%clk 0:00:00] } 57... Kb5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 58. Qb8+ { [%clk 0:00:00] } 58... Kc4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 59. Qxg3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 59... Nd4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 60. Qe1 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 60... Nd3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 61. Qf1 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 61... Kc3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 62. g4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 62... Kd2 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 63. g5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 63... Ne2+ { [%clk 0:00:00] } 64. Kh2 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 64... Ndf4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 65. Qf2 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 65... Kd3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 66. Qb6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 66... Nd4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 67. g6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 67... Nxf3+ { [%clk 0:00:00] } 68. Kg3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 68... Nxg6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 69. Qxg6+ { [%clk 0:00:00] } 69... Ke3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 70. Qf5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 70... Nd4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 71. Qe5+ { [%clk 0:00:00] } 71... Kd3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 72. Kf4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 72... Ne2+ { [%clk 0:00:00] } 73. Kf3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 73... Nd4+ { [%clk 0:00:00] } 74. Kf2 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 74... Nc2 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 75. Qd5+ { [%clk 0:00:00] } 75... Nd4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 76. Qc5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 76... Ke4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 77. Qc4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 77... Ke5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 78. Ke3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 78... Nf5+ { [%clk 0:00:00] } 79. Kd3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 79... Nd6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 80. Qc5+ { [%clk 0:00:00] } 80... Ke6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 81. Qg5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 81... Nf5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 82. Ke4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 82... Nd6+ { [%clk 0:00:00] } 83. Kf4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 83... Nf7 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 84. Qg6+ { [%clk 0:00:00] } 84... Ke7 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 85. Qc6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 85... Nd8 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 86. Qc7+ { [%clk 0:00:00] } 86... Ke8 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 87. Kf5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 87... Nf7 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 88. Kf6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 88... Nd6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 89. Qe7# { 1-0 White wins. } { [%clk 0:00:00] } 1-0