[Event "FIDE World Cup 2025"] [Site "https://lichess.org/broadcast/fide-world-cup-2025--round-4/sudden-death/OR0WSTP5/FQ9JfGvp"] [Date "2025.11.13"] [Round "41.1"] [White "Lodici, Lorenzo"] [Black "Sevian, Samuel"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2572"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [WhiteTeam "Italy"] [WhiteFideId "884189"] [BlackElo "2701"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [BlackTeam "USA"] [BlackFideId "2040506"] [TimeControl ": 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the gamewith an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move 1"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C50"] [Opening "Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo"] [StudyName "2025 World Cup"] [ChapterName "Lodici, Lorenzo - Sevian, Samuel"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/TDcaHygI/Fg9i69zC"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] { Sudden Death! Sevian made the lower bid, and had 2:45 to White's five minutes with draw odds (no increment). } 1. e4 { [%clk 0:04:03] } 1... e5 { [%clk 0:02:43] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 0:04:05] } 2... Nc6 { [%clk 0:02:45] } 3. Bc4 { [%clk 0:04:06] } 3... Bc5 { [%clk 0:02:46] } 4. d3 { [%clk 0:04:07] } 4... d6 { [%clk 0:02:48] } 5. a4 { [%clk 0:04:07] } 5... Nf6 { [%clk 0:02:45] } 6. Be3 { [%clk 0:04:08] } 6... Bxe3 { [%clk 0:02:44] } 7. fxe3 { [%clk 0:04:09] } 7... Be6 { [%clk 0:02:43] } 8. Bxe6 { [%clk 0:04:06] } 8... fxe6 { [%clk 0:02:44] } 9. Qe2 { [%clk 0:04:06] } 9... d5 { [%clk 0:02:34] } 10. Nc3 { [%clk 0:03:59] } 10... O-O { [%clk 0:02:27] } 11. O-O-O?! { The mix of a2-a4 and castling long created a cluster of weaknesses on White's queenside. The intention is to push g2-g4 and play aggressively, as the situation calls for. } { [%clk 0:03:54] } 11... Qd6 { [%clk 0:02:19] } (11... d4 { , immediately, was good. }) 12. Kb1 { [%clk 0:03:36] } 12... a6 { [%clk 0:02:11] } 13. g4?! { [%clk 0:03:36] } (13. d4 { was best, but White cannot simplify like this. }) 13... d4! { Solidifying the advantage. } { [%clk 0:01:42] } 14. exd4 { [%clk 0:03:36] } 14... exd4 { [%clk 0:01:43] } 15. e5 { White squandered most of the time advantage here. It's the only try, but it doesn't work. } { [%clk 0:02:17] } 15... Nxe5 { [%clk 0:01:44] } 16. Nxe5 { Trading queens is a non-starter for a must-win game. } { [%clk 0:02:18] } 16... dxc3 { [%clk 0:01:45] } 17. Nc4 { [%clk 0:02:17] } 17... Qc6 { [%clk 0:01:39] } 18. Rhe1 { [%clk 0:02:18] } 18... cxb2!? { [%clk 0:01:34] } (18... Rae8 { was simple, with ... Nf6-d5 coming. }) 19. Kxb2? { [%clk 0:02:14] } (19. Qxe6+ { was best, but, again, no queen trades! }) 19... Qxa4? { This gave White some outside chances. } { [%clk 0:01:29] } (19... Rae8 { tied everything together. Even after } 20. g5 { Black has } 20... Nd5 $19 { and White has nothing. }) 20. Qxe6+ { [%clk 0:02:15] } 20... Kh8 { [%clk 0:01:31] } 21. g5?? { [%clk 0:01:59] } (21. Ne5 { had to be played. The threat is Ne5-f7+. After } 21... Qb4+ 22. Kc1 Rae8 $17 { there is no back rank mate with 23. Nf7+. }) 21... Qb5+ { [%clk 0:01:32] } 22. Ka1 { [%clk 0:01:58] } 22... Qa4+ { [%clk 0:01:29] } 23. Kb2 { [%clk 0:01:59] } 23... Qb5+ { [%clk 0:01:30] } 24. Ka2 { [%clk 0:02:00] } 24... Rae8 { [%clk 0:01:21] } 25. Qh3 { [%clk 0:01:53] } 25... Qxg5 $19 { Without the g-pawn, it's game over. } { [%clk 0:00:58] } 26. Rg1 { [%clk 0:01:48] } 26... Qb5 { [%clk 0:00:56] } 27. Qg3 { [%clk 0:01:49] } 27... Re7 { [%clk 0:00:53] } 28. Rde1 { [%clk 0:01:49] } 28... Qa4+ { [%clk 0:00:53] } 29. Na3 { [%clk 0:01:48] } 29... Qd7 { [%clk 0:00:53] } 30. Ref1 { [%clk 0:01:41] } 30... b5 { [%clk 0:00:53] } 31. Rf4 { [%clk 0:01:40] } 31... Qe6+ { [%clk 0:00:50] } 32. Kb1 { [%clk 0:01:40] } 32... Qd6 { [%clk 0:00:49] } 33. Kb2 { [%clk 0:01:39] } 33... Qe5+ { [%clk 0:00:49] } 34. Kb1 { [%clk 0:01:40] } 34... Qd6 { [%clk 0:00:50] } 35. Kb2 { [%clk 0:01:41] } 35... Qe5+ { [%clk 0:00:52] } 36. d4 { [%clk 0:01:41] } 36... Qd6 { [%clk 0:00:53] } 37. Qf2 { [%clk 0:01:34] } 37... Rfe8 { [%clk 0:00:48] } 38. Rf3 { [%clk 0:01:26] } 38... Re2 { [%clk 0:00:44] } 39. Qg3 { [%clk 0:01:27] } 39... Qxg3 { [%clk 0:00:42] } 40. hxg3 { [%clk 0:01:27] } 40... Kg8 { [%clk 0:00:41] } 41. Rc3 { [%clk 0:01:28] } 41... b4 { [%clk 0:00:39] } 0-1