[Event "American Cup Group A"] [Site "St Louis"] [Date "2023.03.22"] [White "Shankland, Sam"] [Black "Robson, Ray"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2710"] [BlackElo "2702"] [Annotator "Sethuraman, Sandeep"] [Variant "From Position"] [ECO "?"] [Opening "?"] [StudyName "American Cup"] [ChapterName "Shankland, Sam - Robson, Ray"] [FEN "8/2p1k1p1/p2b2n1/4p2p/1rp1P2P/4B1PN/PPR1KP2/8 b - - 0 35"] [SetUp "1"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/DZGTvv5d/K2lZINuS"] [Orientation "white"] { [%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... c3 { Shankland 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 { classy } (36. bxc3 { is also very possible. } 36... Rc4 37. f3 Nf8 38. Nf2 Nd7 39. Nd3 { is 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... Rxe4 37. Ng5 Rb4 38. Rxc3 Kd7 { and Black still has drawing chances. }) 37. f3 Nf8 38. Rxc3 a4 39. Nf2 axb3 40. axb3 Ne6 41. Nd3 { Play has developed very logically so far with both sides centralizing their previously dim knights. } 41... Rb5 42. 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. b4 Bxb4 43. Rb3 c5 44. Nxe5 { was very strong }) 42... exf4 43. gxf4 Kd7?? { Robson fails to seize his opportunity. } (43... g6 { was a necessity. } 44. Kf3 Kf7 45. b4 { a recurring theme in this position } 45... Bxb4 46. Rb3 c5 47. Ne5+ Kg7 48. Rb1 { and White is better, but Black definitely has real drawing chances. }) 44. e5 Be7 45. f5 { Now the pawns become a steamrolling force and the rest of the game exemplifies perfect technique. } 45... Nd8 46. Bg5 c6 (46... Bxg5 47. hxg5 Nc6 48. Rc5 { was also completely hopeless. }) 47. Kf3! { Shankland centralizes his king and effectively destroys Black's final hopes. } 47... Ra5 48. Ke4 Ra2 49. e6+ Ke8 50. Nf4 { Black's weaknesses will slowly be picked off. } 50... Ra1 51. Nxh5 Re1+ 52. Re3 Rg1 53. Nxg7+ Kf8 54. f6 { Black can't avoid heavy material losses. } 54... Bxf6 55. Bxf6 Nxe6 56. Nxe6+ { White won. } 1-0