[Event "FIDE World Cup 2025"] [Site "https://lichess.org/broadcast/fide-world-cup-2025--finals/game-1/ccpVN6xj/YazTCF2Q"] [Date "2025.11.24"] [Round "60.2"] [White "Esipenko, Andrey"] [Black "Yakubboev, Nodirbek"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2681"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [WhiteTeam "FIDE"] [WhiteFideId "24175439"] [BlackElo "2689"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [BlackTeam "Uzbekistan"] [BlackFideId "14203987"] [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 "B45"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation, Exchange Variation"] [StudyName "2025 World Cup"] [ChapterName "Esipenko, Andrey - Yakubboev, Nodirbek"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/TDcaHygI/q1vOH49D"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { [%clk 1:30:57] } 1... c5 { [%clk 1:30:55] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 1:31:09] } 2... Nc6 { [%clk 1:31:16] } 3. d4 { [%clk 1:31:20] } 3... cxd4 { [%clk 1:31:38] } 4. Nxd4 { [%clk 1:31:44] } 4... Nf6 { [%clk 1:31:54] } 5. Nc3 { [%clk 1:32:07] } 5... e6 { [%clk 1:32:19] } 6. Nxc6 { [%clk 1:32:31] } 6... bxc6 { [%clk 1:32:43] } 7. e5 { [%clk 1:32:56] } 7... Nd5 { [%clk 1:33:06] } 8. Ne4 { [%clk 1:32:51] } 8... Bb7 { [%clk 1:33:22] } 9. Bd3!? { This is not entirely a new move, having been tried by GM Fabiano Caruana in 2021 and more recently by GM Wang Hao last year. But it is a rare one. The bishop was thought to belong on the e2-square, away from ... Nd5-b4 chases. } { [%clk 1:33:44] } (9. Be2 { is far more popular, and even 9. c4 has been tried a good bit. }) 9... Qc7 { [%clk 1:17:21] } 10. f4 { [%clk 1:32:42] } 10... Nb4! { It is better to ask White's bishop its intentions right away. } { [%clk 1:16:05] } (10... c5 { looks logical and has been tried more often, but it is not as good. After } 11. c4 Nb4 12. Bb1 { White enjoys a better diagonal for the bishop and the c2-c4 move for free. GM Josh Friedel has reached this position as early as 2005 in Friedel – Boor, ICC, 2005. }) 11. Be2 { [%clk 1:30:11] } 11... c5 { Only now, when there's no c2-c4 and Bd3-b1. } { [%clk 1:15:04] } 12. Bf3 { [%clk 1:30:33] } 12... Bd5?! { Taking the d5-square away from the knight is a new idea, and it did not work out well for Black in this game. } { [%clk 1:02:12] } (12... c4! { is thought to be the equalizer, as seen in Stojanovic – Vukic, Tuzla, 2019. }) 13. O-O { [%clk 1:26:06] } 13... Be7 { [%clk 0:57:08] } 14. c3 { [%clk 1:21:28] } 14... Nc6 { [%clk 0:54:31] } 15. Be3 { [%clk 1:09:10] } 15... O-O { [%clk 0:51:00] } 16. Ng3 { [%clk 1:00:15] } 16... Bxf3 { [%clk 0:44:22] } 17. Qxf3 { [%clk 1:00:07] } 17... d5 { [%clk 0:35:41] } 18. exd6 { [%clk 0:56:03] } 18... Bxd6 { [%clk 0:35:59] } 19. f5 { White enjoys pressure on the isolated c-pawn as well as play on the kingside. } { [%clk 0:46:52] } 19... Bxg3 { [%clk 0:31:07] } 20. Qxg3 { [%clk 0:46:57] } 20... Qxg3 { [%clk 0:31:28] } 21. hxg3 { [%clk 0:47:25] } 21... c4 { [%clk 0:27:52] } 22. fxe6 { [%clk 0:40:58] } 22... fxe6 { [%clk 0:28:09] } 23. Rxf8+ { [%clk 0:37:48] } 23... Rxf8 { [%clk 0:24:32] } 24. Rd1 { White claims that Black's structural problems are enough to play against. The engine disagrees, but the result of this game does not. } { [%clk 0:37:32] } 24... Rb8 { [%clk 0:08:43] } 25. Rd6 { [%clk 0:30:14] } 25... Ne5 { [%clk 0:08:58] } 26. Rxe6 { [%clk 0:29:44] } 26... Ng4 { [%clk 0:08:22] } 27. Bc1 { White is now up a pawn with the inferior minor piece. } { [%clk 0:28:56] } 27... Rd8 { [%clk 0:06:18] } 28. Kf1 { [%clk 0:25:32] } 28... Kf7 { [%clk 0:06:42] } 29. Re2 { [%clk 0:22:37] } 29... Rd5 { [%clk 0:03:07] } 30. Ke1 { [%clk 0:13:09] } 30... Ne5 { [%clk 0:02:45] } 31. b3! { Untangling the queenside as quickly as possible. } { [%clk 0:12:29] } 31... Nd3+ { [%clk 0:02:04] } 32. Kd1 { [%clk 0:12:09] } 32... h5 { [%clk 0:00:53] } (32... Nxc1+ { was necessary, as White's bishop is about to get into the game. After } 33. Kxc1 Rd3 34. Rf2+ Ke6 35. Rf3 { White still enjoys the winning chances thanks to the extra pawn, but } 35... Rd5 $16 { offers chances for Black to hold. }) 33. Bd2 { [%clk 0:12:08] } 33... Ra5 { [%clk 0:00:46] } 34. Be3 { [%clk 0:11:12] } 34... a6 { The game is getting away from Black here. } { [%clk 0:00:52] } 35. bxc4 { [%clk 0:08:17] } 35... Re5 { [%clk 0:00:44] } 36. Bd4 $18 { Now, the bishop is not so bad. } { [%clk 0:04:46] } 36... Rg5 { [%clk 0:01:12] } 37. Kc2 { [%clk 0:04:18] } 37... Rxg3 { [%clk 0:00:36] } 38. Be3 { [%clk 0:04:09] } 1-0