[Event "FIDE World Cup 2025"] [Site "https://lichess.org/broadcast/fide-world-cup-2025--quarterfinals/tiebreak-1-rapid-2/9NX48UPu/1ex9vWtO"] [Date "2025.11.19"] [Round "53.3"] [White "Esipenko, Andrey"] [Black "Shankland, Sam"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2681"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [WhiteTeam "FIDE"] [WhiteFideId "24175439"] [BlackElo "2649"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [BlackTeam "USA"] [BlackFideId "2004887"] [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 "B14"] [Opening "Caro-Kann Defense: Panov Attack, Fianchetto Defense"] [StudyName "2025 World Cup"] [ChapterName "Esipenko, Andrey - Shankland, Sam"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/TDcaHygI/RyhbSq2D"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { [%clk 0:15:19] } 1... c6 { Turning to his trusty Caro-Kann in a must-win game! } { [%clk 0:15:20] } 2. d4 { [%clk 0:15:26] } 2... d5 { [%clk 0:15:29] } 3. exd5 { [%clk 0:15:24] } 3... cxd5 { [%clk 0:15:38] } 4. c4 { The aggressive, imbalanced Panov is an interesting choice when White needs only a draw. } { [%clk 0:15:33] } 4... Nf6 { [%clk 0:15:30] } 5. Nc3 { [%clk 0:15:41] } 5... g6 { The most imbalanced of Black's options. } { [%clk 0:15:06] } 6. cxd5 { [%clk 0:15:45] } 6... Nxd5 { [%clk 0:14:47] } 7. Bc4 { [%clk 0:15:52] } 7... Nb6 { [%clk 0:14:32] } 8. Bb3 { [%clk 0:16:00] } 8... Bg7 { [%clk 0:14:39] } 9. Nf3 { [%clk 0:16:07] } 9... O-O { [%clk 0:14:40] } 10. h3 { [%clk 0:16:14] } 10... Nc6 { [%clk 0:14:23] } 11. d5 { [%clk 0:16:22] } 11... Na5 { [%clk 0:14:10] } 12. O-O { [%clk 0:16:28] } 12... Re8 { [%clk 0:13:25] } 13. Re1 { [%clk 0:16:11] } 13... Bf5 { [%clk 0:12:35] } 14. Nd4!? { The first move out of theory. } { [%clk 0:14:50] } (14. g4 { has been played in most of the nine games to reach this position. After } 14... Bd7 15. Bg5 h6 16. Bf4 { things are roughly level. }) 14... Bd7 { [%clk 0:11:33] } 15. Bg5 { [%clk 0:13:51] } 15... h6 { [%clk 0:11:27] } 16. Bh4 { [%clk 0:13:43] } 16... Rc8!? { [%clk 0:10:47] } (16... Nbc4 { was even stronger, going after the b2-pawn. The queen is further tied down to the d4-knight than she would be in the 14. g4 lines, explaining why this move is more powerful here. }) 17. Qd3?! { [%clk 0:11:17] } (17. d6! { was necessary for hopes of counterplay, forcing } 17... g5 { when it looks like White could force a draw with } 18. Bxf7+! Kxf7 19. Qh5+ Kg8 20. Bxg5 hxg5 21. Ne4 exd6 22. Nxg5 $10 { and no way to stop Qh5-f7+-h5+. }) 17... Nbc4 { Now, Black is just better. } { [%clk 0:10:09] } 18. Rab1?! { [%clk 0:06:10] } 18... Qb6! { [%clk 0:09:48] } 19. Nce2 { [%clk 0:05:50] } 19... Nd6 { The weak d-pawn is perfectly blockaded, White's bishops are both sidelined, and Black's knights look quite powerful. } { [%clk 0:08:17] } 20. Rbc1 { [%clk 0:03:13] } 20... Rxc1 { [%clk 0:07:33] } 21. Rxc1 { [%clk 0:03:21] } 21... Nf5 { [%clk 0:07:42] } 22. Nxf5 { [%clk 0:03:02] } 22... Bxf5 { [%clk 0:07:51] } 23. Qd2 { [%clk 0:02:34] } 23... Nxb3 { [%clk 0:07:41] } 24. axb3 { [%clk 0:02:43] } 24... Qxb3 $17 { Black has won the bishop pair and a pawn. He never lets Esipenko back in the game from here. } { [%clk 0:07:47] } 25. Rc7 { [%clk 0:02:48] } 25... g5 { [%clk 0:06:49] } 26. Bg3 { [%clk 0:02:56] } 26... Qd3 { [%clk 0:06:28] } 27. Qxd3 { [%clk 0:02:40] } 27... Bxd3 { [%clk 0:06:37] } 28. Nc3 { [%clk 0:02:49] } 28... f5 { [%clk 0:06:08] } 29. f4 { [%clk 0:00:49] } 29... b5 { [%clk 0:05:03] } 30. fxg5 { [%clk 0:00:28] } 30... b4 { [%clk 0:04:09] } 31. Na4 { [%clk 0:00:34] } 31... hxg5 { [%clk 0:04:13] } 32. Bf2?! { Preparing Rc7xa7 by preventing ... Bg7-d4+. } { [%clk 0:00:31] } (32. Nc5 { was a much more active way to stop the skewer, however, with tempo on the d3-bishop, to boot. } 32... Bb1 33. Rxa7 Bxb2 $17 { still leaves Black with all the winning chances, though. }) 32... a6 { [%clk 0:03:53] } 33. b3 { [%clk 0:00:30] } 33... Be5 { [%clk 0:03:16] } 34. Rb7 { [%clk 0:00:34] } 34... Bb5 { [%clk 0:03:00] } 35. Nc5?! { [%clk 0:00:14] } (35. Nb6 Bd6 36. g3 Kf7 $17 { was maybe more stubborn. }) 35... Bd6 { [%clk 0:02:58] } 36. Ne6 { [%clk 0:00:14] } 36... Rc8! $19 { This is what 35. Nb6 was aiming to prevent. Black penetrates and wins now. } { [%clk 0:02:56] } 37. Be1 { [%clk 0:00:11] } 37... g4 { [%clk 0:02:32] } 38. hxg4 { [%clk 0:00:19] } 38... fxg4 { [%clk 0:02:41] } 39. g3 { [%clk 0:00:14] } 39... Rc1 { [%clk 0:02:21] } 40. Kf2 { [%clk 0:00:23] } 40... Rc2+ { [%clk 0:02:15] } 41. Kg1 { [%clk 0:00:33] } 41... Kf7 { [%clk 0:01:43] } 42. Ng5+ { [%clk 0:00:17] } 42... Kg6 { [%clk 0:01:44] } 43. Ne6 { [%clk 0:00:16] } 43... Rc1 { [%clk 0:01:14] } 44. Kf2 { [%clk 0:00:24] } 44... Rd1 { [%clk 0:00:46] } 45. Ra7 { [%clk 0:00:16] } 45... Kf5 { [%clk 0:00:34] } 46. Ra8 { [%clk 0:00:13] } 46... Rxd5 { [%clk 0:00:32] } 47. Nf4 { [%clk 0:00:22] } 47... Bc5+ { [%clk 0:00:34] } 48. Kg2 { [%clk 0:00:25] } 48... Rd1 { [%clk 0:00:25] } 49. Rf8+ { [%clk 0:00:31] } 49... Ke4 { [%clk 0:00:33] } 50. Ne6 { [%clk 0:00:18] } 50... Rxe1 { [%clk 0:00:26] } 51. Nxc5+ { [%clk 0:00:25] } 51... Kd4 { [%clk 0:00:34] } 52. Rc8 { [%clk 0:00:19] } 52... Re2+ { [%clk 0:00:33] } 53. Kg1 { [%clk 0:00:28] } 53... Re3 { [%clk 0:00:42] } 54. Kg2 { [%clk 0:00:27] } 54... Rc3 { [%clk 0:00:43] } 55. Ne6+ { [%clk 0:00:24] } 55... Ke5 { [%clk 0:00:45] } 56. Nc5 { [%clk 0:00:24] } 56... Kd5 { [%clk 0:00:44] } 0-1