[Event "1st Annual 2026 NY Metro Area Scholastic Chess Championships"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2026.01.04"] [Round "06"] [White "Chovanec, Alice"] [Black "Wang, Connor Junda"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "1863"] [BlackElo "1984"] [TimeControl "4500+5"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "D43"] [Opening "Semi-Slav Defense: Anti-Moscow Gambit"] [StudyName "2026 NYC Metro Championships"] [ChapterName "Chovanec, Alice - Wang, Connor Junda"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/L2rZ8417/kUNueVCx"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] { This game, played by the Junior High Co-Champion, WCM Alice Chovanec, showcases her combinatorial prowess. } 1. d4 { [%clk 1:15:00] } 1... d5 { [%clk 1:15:00] } 2. c4 { [%clk 1:14:59] } 2... c6 { [%clk 1:15:00] } 3. Nc3 { [%clk 1:14:59] } 3... Nf6 { [%clk 1:15:00] } 4. Nf3 { [%clk 1:14:57] } 4... e6 { [%clk 1:15:00] } 5. Bg5 { [%clk 1:14:50] } 5... h6 { [%clk 1:15:00] } 6. Bh4 { [%clk 1:14:49] } 6... dxc4 { [%clk 1:15:00] } 7. e4 { [%clk 1:14:32] } 7... g5 { [%clk 1:15:00] } 8. Bg3 { [%clk 1:14:17] } 8... b5 { [%clk 1:15:00] } 9. Be2 { [%clk 1:14:03] } 9... Bb7 { [%clk 1:15:00] } 10. Qc2!? { This marks the game's first deviation from mainline theory. 10. h4 has been played quite a bit here, but the main move is by far 10. 0-0. } { [%clk 1:13:37] } 10... Nbd7 { [%clk 1:07:17] } 11. Rd1 { [%clk 1:11:40] } 11... Nh5 { [%clk 1:03:12] } 12. d5! { White simply steps into the attack rather than wasting time defending her king. } { [%clk 1:06:45] } 12... Nxg3 { [%clk 1:01:00] } 13. hxg3 { [%clk 1:06:28] } 13... exd5 { [%clk 0:51:14] } 14. exd5 { [%clk 1:06:03] } 14... cxd5 { [%clk 0:51:13] } 15. Nxd5 { [%clk 1:05:15] } 15... Qa5+? { From here we have an entirely new game, though after 15. ... Bg7 most results at top level are a draw. The issue is the threat of Nf3xg5!, and Black needs to play ... Bf8-g7 to defend the rook on h8. } { [%clk 0:49:23] } 16. Kf1 { [%clk 1:04:23] } 16... O-O-O { [%clk 0:45:15] } (16... Bg7?? { Too late! } 17. Qe4+ Kf8 18. Qe7+! { A nightmare for Black. }) 17. Nxg5 { [%clk 0:52:23] } 17... Bc5 { [%clk 0:41:17] } 18. Ne4 { [%clk 0:51:26] } (18. Nxf7 { The computer likes this better, but dealing with either rook coming to the f8-square seems terrible for White. }) 18... Kb8 { [%clk 0:40:18] } 19. Qc1 { [%clk 0:39:18] } 19... Ka8 { [%clk 0:33:22] } 20. Qf4! { White is simply bringing all of her pieces to the party. } { [%cal Be4d6,Bd5c7,Bf4b8] [%clk 0:32:06] } 20... Rc8 { [%clk 0:32:01] } 21. Bg4 { [%clk 0:27:27] } 21... Rhd8 { [%clk 0:23:04] } (21... f5!? { Perhaps an interesting try. The f2-square is a bit loose, and White has to be careful how she takes. This position is busted for Black, who has to try something energetic like this. }) 22. Rxh6 { [%clk 0:17:51] } 22... b4 { [%clk 0:21:28] } 23. Nd6 { [%clk 0:13:35] } 23... Rc6 { [%clk 0:06:18] } (23... Bxd6 24. Rxd6 { Doesn't feel much better. }) 24. Nxb7 { [%clk 0:07:26] } 24... Kxb7 { [%clk 0:06:12] } 25. Rxc6 { [%clk 0:07:00] } 25... Kxc6 { [%clk 0:06:12] } 26. Bf3! { Slowly building a mating net. } { [%clk 0:05:33] } 26... a6 { [%clk 0:01:29] } 27. Ne7+ { [%clk 0:01:50] } (27. Nc3+! { Slightly faster. } 27... Kb6 28. Rxd7 Rxd7 29. Qb8+ Rb7 30. Qxb7#) 27... Kb5 { [%clk 0:00:28] } 28. Bc6+ { [%clk 0:01:40] } 28... Kb6 { [%clk 0:00:28] } 29. Rxd7 { [%clk 0:01:26] } 29... Rxd7 { Black relents and makes it a bit quicker. White to mate in two. } { [%clk 0:00:28] } 30. Qb8+ { [%clk 0:01:24] } 30... Rb7 { [%clk 0:00:26] } 31. Qxb7# { 1-0 White wins. } { [%clk 0:01:24] } 1-0