[Event "FIDE World Cup 2025"] [Site "https://lichess.org/broadcast/fide-world-cup-2025--quarterfinals/tiebreak-1-rapid-1/JYa7qOsU/3FHVMmRa"] [Date "2025.11.19"] [Round "52.3"] [White "Shankland, Sam"] [Black "Esipenko, Andrey"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2649"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [WhiteTeam "USA"] [WhiteFideId "2004887"] [BlackElo "2681"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [BlackTeam "FIDE"] [BlackFideId "24175439"] [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 "D31"] [Opening "Queen's Gambit Declined: Charousek Variation"] [StudyName "2025 World Cup"] [ChapterName "Shankland, Sam - Esipenko, Andrey"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/TDcaHygI/O7nh575i"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] 1. c4 { [%clk 0:15:20] } 1... e6 { [%clk 0:15:19] } 2. Nc3 { [%clk 0:15:29] } 2... d5 { [%clk 0:15:29] } 3. d4 { [%clk 0:15:38] } 3... Be7 { [%clk 0:15:38] } 4. cxd5 { [%clk 0:15:44] } 4... exd5 { [%clk 0:15:46] } 5. Bf4 { [%clk 0:15:53] } 5... c6 { [%clk 0:15:56] } 6. e3 { [%clk 0:15:53] } 6... Bf5 { [%clk 0:16:04] } 7. Nge2 { [%clk 0:15:42] } 7... Nd7 { [%clk 0:16:12] } 8. h4 { [%clk 0:15:47] } 8... Nf8 { [%clk 0:16:21] } 9. h5 { [%clk 0:15:31] } 9... Nf6 { [%clk 0:16:28] } 10. f3 { [%clk 0:15:00] } 10... h6 { [%clk 0:16:37] } 11. Ng3 { [%clk 0:14:50] } 11... Bh7 { [%clk 0:16:45] } 12. Bd3 { [%clk 0:14:50] } 12... Ne6 { [%clk 0:15:09] } 13. Bxh7 { [%clk 0:14:30] } 13... Nxh7 { [%clk 0:14:33] } 14. Nf5!? { White generates some hopes of a majority attack against Black's kingside, but, in the game, it never materializes. } { [%clk 0:14:15] } (14. Be5 f6 { would be a provoked concession, while } (14... Bh4 15. Qb3 { would also be double-edged. }) 15. Bf4 Nxf4 16. exf4 O-O 17. Nf5 Bd6 18. Qd3 (18. Rh4! $14 { Compared to the game, White has better attacking prospects with Rh4-g4. })) 14... Nxf4 { [%clk 0:12:15] } 15. exf4 { [%clk 0:14:23] } 15... O-O { [%clk 0:12:21] } 16. Qd3?! { [%clk 0:13:53] } (16. Kf2 { would cement the king in a relatively safe position. } 16... Bd6 17. g3 { This is consistent, and now the queen is better-placed on the first rank than it would be on the d3-square, thanks to Q }) 16... Bd6 { [%clk 0:12:12] } 17. g3 { [%clk 0:12:59] } 17... Re8+ { [%clk 0:12:21] } 18. Kf2 { [%clk 0:13:08] } 18... Qd7 { [%clk 0:11:19] } 19. Nd1 { [%clk 0:12:21] } 19... Re6 { The extra tempi helped Black consolidate with this move a bit faster. } { [%clk 0:10:51] } 20. Nde3 { [%clk 0:11:58] } 20... Rae8 { [%clk 0:10:55] } 21. Rac1 { [%clk 0:10:47] } 21... Nf6 { [%clk 0:10:55] } 22. Rc2 { [%clk 0:10:35] } 22... b6 { [%clk 0:10:17] } 23. Kg2 { [%clk 0:09:30] } 23... c5! $17 { White's knights are tangled up, there is no Rh1-h4-g4 anymore, and Black is expanding on the queenside with better structure. } { [%clk 0:10:02] } 24. dxc5 { [%clk 0:09:14] } 24... Bxc5 { [%clk 0:10:11] } 25. Ng4 { [%clk 0:08:41] } 25... Nxg4 { [%clk 0:10:06] } 26. fxg4 { [%clk 0:08:50] } 26... d4 { [%clk 0:10:15] } 27. Rd1 { [%clk 0:06:37] } 27... Qd5+!? { [%clk 0:09:49] } (27... a5 { was maybe more patient, as White generates just enough counterplay in what follows to stay in the game. }) 28. Kh3 { [%clk 0:06:14] } 28... Re1 { [%clk 0:09:14] } 29. Rxe1 { [%clk 0:06:07] } 29... Rxe1 { [%clk 0:09:22] } 30. a3 { [%clk 0:05:26] } 30... a5 { [%clk 0:08:56] } 31. b4! { Accurate play from Shankland to generate counterplay. } { [%clk 0:04:50] } 31... axb4 { [%clk 0:06:33] } 32. axb4 { [%clk 0:04:59] } 32... Bf8 { [%clk 0:05:30] } (32... Bxb4 33. Qxd4 $10) 33. Rh2 { [%clk 0:04:09] } 33... Rh1 { [%clk 0:04:16] } 34. Qxd4! { [%clk 0:03:18] } 34... Qf3 { There is no knockout blow for Black here. } { [%clk 0:04:09] } 35. Qb2 { [%clk 0:03:25] } 35... b5 { [%clk 0:03:16] } 36. Rxh1 { [%clk 0:02:57] } 36... Qxh1+ { [%clk 0:03:23] } 37. Qh2 { [%clk 0:03:06] } 37... Qe4 { [%clk 0:03:15] } 38. Qg2 { [%clk 0:02:12] } 38... Qxb4 { White had to return the pawn, and the outside passer gives Black winning chances, but now White's queen and knight can cook up some attacking chances, too. } { [%clk 0:03:11] } 39. Qd5!? { [%clk 0:01:53] } (39. g5! Qc5 40. Qe4 b4 41. g6 $13) 39... Qc5 { [%clk 0:03:03] } 40. Qd3 { [%clk 0:01:43] } 40... b4 { [%clk 0:02:15] } 41. Ne3? { [%clk 0:00:48] } (41. g5 { was necessary. } 41... Qc3 42. Qd5 b3 43. g6 Qf6 { allows } 44. Nxh6+ gxh6 45. Qxb3 $10 { with a draw, as Black will be stuck with only an h-pawn of the wrong color of promoting square. }) 41... Qb6 { [%clk 0:01:12] } 42. Nc4?! { [%clk 0:00:25] } (42. Nd5 { would prevent ... Qb6-b5 and thus give White more opportunities to push g4-g5. }) 42... Qb5! { [%clk 0:01:02] } 43. Qb3 { [%clk 0:00:24] } 43... Qd5 { Now, White is tangled up with no hope of g4-g5 and creating counterplay on the kingside. } { [%clk 0:01:08] } 44. Kh2 { [%clk 0:00:31] } 44... Bc5 { [%clk 0:00:59] } 45. Qc2 { [%clk 0:00:25] } 45... Qd4 { [%clk 0:00:32] } 46. Ne5 { [%clk 0:00:20] } (46. Nb2 b3 47. Qe2 Qg1+ 48. Kh3 Qh1+ 49. Qh2 $19 { still won more prosaically for Black. }) 46... b3! { This decides the game. White can't capture due to mate threats. } { [%clk 0:00:25] } 47. Qg2 { [%clk 0:00:15] } 47... Qg1+ { [%clk 0:00:27] } 0-1