[Event "2026 National Invitational Tournaments"] [Site "Grand Rapids, MI"] [Date "2026.08.05"] [Round "4.4"] [White "Stephen Joh Willy"] [Black "Des Ruisseau, Nathaniel J"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2297"] [BlackElo "1934"] [Annotator "Foisor,Sabina"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "?"] [Opening "?"] [StudyName "2026 U.S. Open and Invitationals, Pt. 1"] [ChapterName "Stephen Joh Willy - Des Ruisseau, Nathaniel J"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/GybCbfWL/rFuVBTac"] [FEN "r6r/pp2kp1p/3bpnp1/q3N3/2pPpP1R/2P3P1/PP1N2P1/1Q1K3R b - - 0 21"] [SetUp "1"] [Orientation "white"] 21... Bxe5? { This allowed White to open up the f-file, which led to a difficult position for Black to hold due to their weak f- and h-pawns. } (21... Qd5 { would have kept the position balanced. } 22. Ndxc4 h5 23. Nxd6 Qxd6 24. g4 Rac8 25. Ke2 Qd5) 22. fxe5! Nd5 23. Rxh7 { This was a more important pawn to win, as opposed to the e-pawn, which can be grabbed without much fuss later! } 23... Rxh7 24. Rxh7 Ne3+ 25. Ke2 Nf5 26. g4 Ng3+ 27. Kf2 e3+ 28. Kxe3 (28. Kxg3 { works too, but the move played in the game left Black without any counterplay. } 28... exd2 29. Qxg6 Rf8 30. Qg5+ Ke8 31. Qxd2 $18) 28... Qd5 29. Kf2 Ne2 30. Kxe2 Qxg2+ 31. Ke3 Qxg4 32. Qe4 Qg5+ 33. Kf3 Rb8 34. Qf4 1-0