Robson, Ray(2702)
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Shankland, Sam(2710)
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[%evp 0,42,85,85,97,110,125,126,103,110,138,143,135,148,132,141,112,132,145, 187,154,147,150,166,111,242,210,238,241,332,310,304,339,351,332,389,413,886, 892,911,912,905,927,950,972]35....c3Shankland has built up a clear edge based on Robson's doubled c-pawns and weak kingside. Robson decides to sacrifice a pawn, but Shankland shows impeccable technique on the way to a match win.36.b3...classy36.bxc3is also very possible.Rc437.f3Nf838.Nf2Nd739.Nd3is a clear pawn, but Shankland is even more professional.36....a5?Robson had to try to create counterplay. For a player of his caliber, it's very strange that he didn't take the seemingly free pawn on e4.36...Rxe437.Ng5Rb438.Rxc3Kd7and Black still has drawing chances.37.f3Nf838.Rxc3a439.Nf2axb340.axb3Ne641.Nd3...Play has developed very logically so far with both sides centralizing their previously dim knights.41....Rb542.f4?!...This was the only fault I, or maybe more accurately, the computer, could find in Shankland's technique. There is no need to open up the position and create weaknesses in White's camp.42.b4Bxb443.Rb3c544.Nxe5was very strong42....exf443.gxf4Kd7??Robson fails to seize his opportunity.43...g6was a necessity.44.Kf3Kf745.b4a recurring theme in this positionBxb446.Rb3c547.Ne5+Kg748.Rb1and White is better, but Black definitely has real drawing chances.44.e5Be745.f5...Now the pawns become a steamrolling force and the rest of the game exemplifies perfect technique.45....Nd846.Bg5c646...Bxg547.hxg5Nc648.Rc5was also completely hopeless.47.Kf3!...Shankland centralizes his king and effectively destroys Black's final hopes.47....Ra548.Ke4Ra249.e6+Ke850.Nf4...Black's weaknesses will slowly be picked off.50....Ra151.Nxh5Re1+52.Re3Rg153.Nxg7+Kf854.f6...Black can't avoid heavy material losses.54....Bxf655.Bxf6Nxe656.Nxe6+White won.1-0