[Event "FIDE World Cup 2025"] [Site "https://lichess.org/broadcast/fide-world-cup-2025--round-4/tiebreak-2-rapid-1/FnQFyOgE/CtfCbZbk"] [Date "2025.11.13"] [Round "35.3"] [White "Sevian, Samuel"] [Black "Lodici, Lorenzo"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2701"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [WhiteTeam "USA"] [WhiteFideId "2040506"] [BlackElo "2572"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [BlackTeam "Italy"] [BlackFideId "884189"] [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 "C77"] [Opening "Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Anderssen Variation"] [StudyName "2025 World Cup"] [ChapterName "Sevian, Samuel - Lodici, Lorenzo"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/TDcaHygI/aEfxU6pr"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { [%clk 0:10:19] } 1... e5 { [%clk 0:10:19] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 0:10:28] } 2... Nc6 { [%clk 0:10:28] } 3. Bb5 { [%clk 0:10:37] } 3... a6 { [%clk 0:10:37] } 4. Ba4 { [%clk 0:10:47] } 4... Nf6 { [%clk 0:10:45] } 5. d3 { [%clk 0:10:56] } 5... b5 { [%clk 0:10:50] } 6. Bb3 { [%clk 0:11:05] } 6... Bc5 { [%clk 0:10:59] } 7. c3 { [%clk 0:11:04] } 7... d6 { [%clk 0:11:07] } 8. O-O { [%clk 0:11:12] } 8... Bb6 { [%clk 0:10:47] } 9. Re1 { [%clk 0:11:14] } 9... h6 { [%clk 0:10:55] } 10. a4 { [%clk 0:11:02] } 10... Rb8 { [%clk 0:10:41] } 11. Na3 { [%clk 0:11:00] } 11... b4 { [%clk 0:10:33] } 12. Nc4 { [%clk 0:11:08] } 12... Ba7 { [%clk 0:10:42] } 13. a5 { [%clk 0:10:27] } 13... O-O { [%clk 0:10:48] } 14. h3 { [%clk 0:10:21] } 14... Be6 { [%clk 0:10:42] } 15. d4 { [%clk 0:08:57] } 15... exd4 { [%clk 0:10:47] } 16. cxd4 { [%clk 0:09:05] } 16... d5 { [%clk 0:10:56] } 17. Nce5 { [%clk 0:09:08] } 17... Ne7 { [%clk 0:11:05] } 18. exd5 { [%clk 0:09:13] } 18... Nfxd5 { [%clk 0:11:09] } 19. Qd3 { [%clk 0:08:55] } 19... Qd6 { [%clk 0:10:28] } 20. Nc4 { [%clk 0:08:29] } 20... Qd8 { [%clk 0:09:58] } 21. Rxe6 { [%clk 0:08:14] } 21... fxe6 { [%clk 0:10:07] } 22. Nce5 { [%clk 0:08:17] } 22... Qd6 { [%clk 0:09:44] } 23. Bd2 { [%clk 0:08:14] } 23... c5 { [%clk 0:09:42] } 24. Re1 { [%clk 0:08:08] } 24... Rbd8 { [%clk 0:08:35] } 25. Bc2 { [%clk 0:06:21] } 25... Nf6 { [%clk 0:07:35] } 26. Bf4 { [%clk 0:04:52] } 26... c4 { [%clk 0:04:18] } 27. Qxc4 { [%clk 0:05:02] } 27... Ned5 { [%clk 0:04:05] } 28. Bg3 { [%clk 0:04:45] } 28... Rc8 { [%clk 0:03:24] } 29. Qd3 { [%clk 0:04:51] } 29... b3 { [%clk 0:03:34] } 30. Bxb3 { [%clk 0:04:24] } 30... Qb4 { As the clocks dwindle in the first game of the second tiebreak, the position gets very complicated. For now, White is better, but the eval bar is about to look like a seismograph. } { [%clk 0:03:43] } 31. Nc4?! { [%clk 0:03:21] } (31. Bxd5! { was simpler. By shedding the loose b3-bishop, White's queen is now free to go after the hanging a6-pawn. Importantly, the a6-square gives the queen a clear path to the weak e6-pawn, penetrating Black's kingside. } 31... Nxd5 (31... exd5 32. Qxa6 { The tempo on the bishop and control of the c6-square will be decisive here. }) 32. Qxa6 $18) 31... Bxd4?? { [%clk 0:03:51] } (31... Nh5! { had to be tried. } 32. Bc2 { solves the loose bishop problem, but } 32... Ndf6 33. b3 $16 { and White consolidates, with two pawns for the Exchange and long-term attacking prospects against Black's statically weak kingside. }) 32. Bd6!? { [%clk 0:02:50] } (32. Rxe6 { won on the spot. }) 32... Bc5! { Backwards bishop moves are always the trickiest to spot! } { [%clk 0:04:00] } 33. Bxf8 { [%clk 0:02:57] } 33... Rxf8 { [%clk 0:04:09] } 34. Rxe6?? { [%clk 0:03:04] } (34. g3 { was better, consolidating the kingside first. }) 34... Nf4! { Allowing this move with tempo let Black back into the game. } { [%clk 0:03:49] } 35. Qf5?? { Tempting fate walking onto the f-file. } { [%clk 0:02:04] } (35. Qc2 { gave up a full rook with } 35... Nxe6 { yet after } 36. Nce5 Re8 37. Nc6 { apparently, White has full compensation. E.g. after } 37... Qb5 38. Nfe5 $13 { [%cal Ge5g6] }) 35... N6d5! { Ignoring material in favor of activity. } { [%clk 0:03:45] } 36. Qc2 { [%clk 0:01:20] } 36... Nxe6 { [%clk 0:03:51] } 37. Nce5 { [%clk 0:01:29] } 37... Ndf4?? { [%clk 0:02:57] } (37... Bxf2+! { was the knockout blow: } 38. Kxf2 Qd4+ { using the pin, and after } 39. Ke1 Qe3+ 40. Kd1! (40. Kf1 Qxe5!) 40... Rd8 $19 { White's king is toast. }) (37... Ndc7 $17 { would be less flashy but still very promising for Black. }) 38. g3! { It's hard to believe that inviting Black's knight to coordinate with the bishop against the f2-square is White's best move. And yet... } { [%clk 0:00:56] } 38... Nxh3+? { The obvious move is a mistake. } { [%clk 0:02:49] } (38... Rb8! { would instead switch flanks and keep things equal after } 39. Bc4 Qxb2 40. Qxb2 Rxb2 41. gxf4 Rxf2 42. Bxe6+ Kh7 43. Kh1 Bb4 $13) 39. Kg2 { [%clk 0:00:58] } 39... Ng5?! { [%clk 0:02:41] } (39... Rf6 { was an active try, although } 40. Kxh3 $16 { is perfectly fine. }) 40. Nxg5 { The start of a lovely tactical sequence from Sevian. Fear not: he'll get Black's queen back at the end. } { [%clk 0:00:25] } 40... Rxf2+ { [%clk 0:02:45] } 41. Qxf2 { [%clk 0:00:34] } 41... Bxf2 { [%clk 0:02:54] } 42. Bxe6+ { [%clk 0:00:43] } 42... Kf8 { [%clk 0:03:01] } 43. Nh7+ { With the point that 43. ... Ke7 44. Nc6+ wins the queen. } { [%clk 0:00:52] } 43... Ke8 { [%clk 0:02:25] } 44. Bd7+ { [%clk 0:01:01] } 44... Ke7 { The fork is forced! } { [%clk 0:02:31] } 45. Nc6+ { [%clk 0:01:10] } 45... Kxd7 { [%clk 0:02:40] } 46. Nxb4 $18 { [%clk 0:01:20] } 46... Be1 { [%clk 0:02:49] } 47. Nxa6 { [%clk 0:01:27] } 47... Bxa5 { [%clk 0:02:57] } 48. Nf8+ { [%clk 0:01:13] } 48... Kc6 { [%clk 0:00:59] } 49. b4 { [%clk 0:01:21] } 49... Bd8 { [%clk 0:00:46] } 50. g4 { [%clk 0:01:06] } 50... Kb5 { [%clk 0:00:38] } 51. Nc5 { [%clk 0:01:14] } 51... Kxb4 { [%clk 0:00:42] } 52. Nce6 { [%clk 0:01:23] } 52... Bf6 { [%clk 0:00:51] } 53. Kf3 { [%clk 0:01:32] } 53... Kc3 { [%clk 0:00:38] } 54. Ke4 { [%clk 0:01:41] } 54... Kd2 { [%clk 0:00:47] } 55. Ng6 { [%clk 0:01:50] } 55... Ke2 { [%clk 0:00:51] } 56. Ngf4+ { [%clk 0:01:50] } 56... Kf2 { [%clk 0:01:00] } 57. Nh5 { [%clk 0:01:59] } 57... Bb2 { [%clk 0:00:34] } 58. Nexg7 { [%clk 0:02:05] } 58... Kg2 { [%clk 0:00:43] } 59. Kf5 { [%clk 0:02:07] } 59... Kh3 { [%clk 0:00:51] } 60. Ne6 { [%clk 0:02:15] } 60... Kh4 { [%clk 0:00:57] } 61. Nd8 { [%clk 0:02:23] } 61... Bc1 { [%clk 0:01:05] } 62. Nf7 { [%clk 0:02:32] } 62... Be3 { [%clk 0:01:09] } 63. Ne5 { [%clk 0:02:08] } 63... Bc1 { [%clk 0:01:14] } 64. Nf4 { [%clk 0:02:08] } 64... Bb2 { [%clk 0:01:13] } 65. Nf7 { [%clk 0:02:12] } 65... Bg7 { [%clk 0:01:01] } 66. Ne6 { [%clk 0:02:04] } 66... Bc3 { [%clk 0:00:44] } 67. Nxh6 { [%clk 0:02:12] } 67... Bd2 { [%clk 0:00:53] } 68. Nf7 { [%clk 0:02:20] } 68... Kg3 { [%clk 0:00:59] } 69. Ne5 { [%clk 0:02:18] } 69... Be3 { [%clk 0:01:06] } 70. Nd3 { [%clk 0:02:36] } 70... Bh6 { [%clk 0:01:10] } 71. Ndf4 { [%clk 0:02:32] } 71... Kh4 { [%clk 0:01:18] } 72. Nh5 { [%clk 0:02:37] } 72... Bc1 { [%clk 0:01:25] } 73. Nef4 { [%clk 0:02:42] } 73... Bd2 { [%clk 0:01:33] } 74. g5 { [%clk 0:02:46] } 74... Bc3 { [%clk 0:01:34] } 75. g6 { [%clk 0:02:53] } 75... Bh8 { [%clk 0:01:39] } 76. Nf6 { [%clk 0:02:56] } 76... Kg3 { [%clk 0:01:45] } 77. Ne6 { [%clk 0:03:05] } 77... Kh4 { [%clk 0:01:52] } 78. Nf4 { [%clk 0:02:57] } 78... Bg7 { [%clk 0:01:52] } 79. N4d5 { [%clk 0:03:04] } 79... Bh8 { [%clk 0:01:56] } 80. Nc7 { [%clk 0:02:43] } 80... Bg7 { [%clk 0:01:39] } 81. Nce8 { [%clk 0:02:52] } 81... Bh8 { [%clk 0:01:48] } 82. Kf4 { [%clk 0:02:59] } 82... Kh3 { [%clk 0:01:52] } 83. Kg5 { [%clk 0:03:02] } 83... Kg3 { [%clk 0:02:00] } 84. Nh5+ { [%clk 0:02:52] } 84... Kf3 { [%clk 0:02:06] } 85. Nef6 { [%clk 0:02:54] } 85... Ke3 { [%clk 0:02:09] } 86. Kh6 { [%clk 0:03:02] } 1-0