[Event "FIDE World Cup 2025"] [Site "https://lichess.org/broadcast/fide-world-cup-2025--quarterfinals/tiebreak-2-rapid-2/3p21FCMm/cAirCrRJ"] [Date "2025.11.19"] [Round "55.2"] [White "Esipenko, Andrey"] [Black "Shankland, Sam"] [Result "1-0"] [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 "C41"] [Opening "Philidor Defense: Lion Variation"] [StudyName "2025 World Cup"] [ChapterName "Esipenko, Andrey - Shankland, Sam"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/TDcaHygI/icyMVQsJ"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { [%clk 0:10:19] } 1... d6 { Again having to win on demand with the black pieces, Shankland decides this time that he can't ask the } { [%clk 0:10:20] } 2. d4 { [%clk 0:10:26] } 2... Nf6 { [%clk 0:10:29] } 3. Nc3 { [%clk 0:10:34] } 3... Nbd7 { [%clk 0:10:38] } 4. Nf3 { [%clk 0:10:41] } 4... e5 { The Philidor Defense is a popular, modern way to play aggressively as Black, with queenside pawn play to follow. } { [%clk 0:10:47] } 5. b3 { [%clk 0:10:47] } 5... c6 { [%clk 0:10:40] } 6. Bb2 { [%clk 0:10:54] } 6... Be7 { [%clk 0:10:29] } 7. Qd2 { [%clk 0:10:51] } 7... Qc7 { [%clk 0:10:09] } 8. O-O-O { [%clk 0:10:54] } 8... b5 { [%clk 0:09:56] } 9. Bd3 { [%clk 0:10:56] } 9... Bb7?! { [%clk 0:09:46] } (9... O-O { is better. The bishop is fine on the c8-square, since ... Ra8-b8 or ... a7-a5 is coming, meaning that the a8-rook does not need the c8-square, while the bishop is well-placed guarding against Nf3-h4-f5 from its current perch. } 10. g4 a5 { creates the kind of double-edged race that Black needs in a must-win game. After } 11. g5 Nh5 { Black doesn't look any worse for wear, either. } 12. a4 Nb6 13. axb5 Bg4! { Here's another, more aggressive, point of the bishop staying on the c8-square. } 14. Qe3 Nf4 15. Rhg1 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 exd4 17. Qxf4 dxc3 18. Bxc3 cxb5 $15) 10. g4! { Taking the initiative. } { [%clk 0:10:19] } 10... h6 { [%clk 0:09:31] } (10... a5 11. g5 Nh5 12. a4 $16 { Compared to the 9. ... 0-0 line considered above, Black has far less play here without the ... Nd7-b6 and ... Bc8-g4 maneuver. }) 11. Rhg1 { [%clk 0:10:04] } 11... a6 { [%clk 0:08:48] } 12. h4 { [%clk 0:09:41] } 12... g6 { [%clk 0:08:14] } 13. Qe3 { [%clk 0:08:03] } 13... O-O-O { [%clk 0:07:08] } 14. Kb1 { [%clk 0:07:37] } 14... Kb8 { Play is remaining symmetrical while White keeps a slight space advantage, which is exactly what he wants out of a game where all he needs is to not lose. } { [%clk 0:06:26] } 15. g5 { [%clk 0:05:19] } 15... hxg5 { [%clk 0:06:35] } 16. hxg5 { [%clk 0:05:29] } 16... Nh5 { [%clk 0:06:40] } 17. Ne2!? { [%clk 0:05:38] } (17. a4 { was more ambitious, but not necessary. }) 17... c5?! { This ends up further stabilizing the position, which is in White's favor. } { [%clk 0:06:13] } (17... exd4 18. Nfxd4 Rhe8 { would give Black some play against the e-pawn, and } 19. c4!? { would be the only way to keep an initiative, and it is at least a double-edged move. } 19... c5 20. Nc2 Bf8 21. Nc3 Bg7 22. cxb5 d5 $132) 18. dxe5 { [%clk 0:05:04] } 18... Nxe5 { [%clk 0:05:32] } 19. Nc3 { [%clk 0:05:02] } 19... Rhe8 { [%clk 0:04:53] } 20. Be2 { [%clk 0:05:11] } 20... Bf8?! { [%clk 0:04:22] } (20... Nd7 { was the most active rerouting. } { [%cal Gd7b6] }) 21. Nxe5 { [%clk 0:04:23] } 21... dxe5 { [%clk 0:04:26] } 22. Rxd8+ { [%clk 0:04:00] } 22... Rxd8 { [%clk 0:04:31] } 23. Bxh5 { [%clk 0:03:55] } 23... gxh5 { [%clk 0:04:40] } 24. Nd5 $16 { White has fully stabilized the center. Black has to take unnecessary risks now, and goes on to lose as a result. } { [%clk 0:03:58] } 24... Bxd5 { [%clk 0:04:39] } 25. exd5 { [%clk 0:04:07] } 25... Rxd5 { [%clk 0:04:14] } 26. Qf3 { [%clk 0:04:06] } 26... Rd8 { [%clk 0:03:59] } 27. g6 { [%clk 0:03:26] } 27... fxg6 { [%clk 0:03:54] } 28. Rxg6 { [%clk 0:03:33] } 28... Ka7 { [%clk 0:03:10] } 29. Qxh5 { [%clk 0:03:24] } 29... c4?! { Not sound, but forced given the match state. } { [%clk 0:02:29] } 30. Bxe5 { [%clk 0:02:55] } 30... Qc5 { [%clk 0:02:39] } 31. Qh7+ { [%clk 0:02:37] } 31... Qe7 { [%clk 0:01:31] } 32. Qxe7+ { [%clk 0:02:31] } 32... Bxe7 { [%clk 0:01:40] } 33. Rg7 { [%clk 0:02:33] } 33... Rd1+ { [%clk 0:01:47] } 34. Kb2 { [%clk 0:02:40] } 34... Rd7 { [%clk 0:01:56] } 35. bxc4 { [%clk 0:02:35] } 1-0