[Event "FIDE World Cup 2025"] [Site "https://lichess.org/broadcast/fide-world-cup-2025--quarterfinals/game-1/5vdfH3Tr/eCXGFE1M"] [Date "2025.11.17"] [Round "50.4"] [White "Yakubboev, Nodirbek"] [Black "Donchenko, Alexander"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2689"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [WhiteTeam "Uzbekistan"] [WhiteFideId "14203987"] [BlackElo "2641"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [BlackTeam "Germany"] [BlackFideId "24603295"] [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 "E60"] [Opening "Indian Defense: Anti-Grünfeld, Alekhine Variation"] [StudyName "2025 World Cup"] [ChapterName "Yakubboev, Nodirbek - Donchenko, Alexander"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/TDcaHygI/uTUglr20"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] 1. d4 { [%clk 1:30:49] } 1... Nf6 { [%clk 1:30:53] } 2. c4 { [%clk 1:31:14] } 2... g6 { [%clk 1:31:17] } 3. f3 { [%clk 1:31:08] } 3... c5 { The early f2-f3 and e2-e4 set-ups are not considered the most testing against the Benoni, so it makes sense to transpose after 3. f3 into this structure. } { [%clk 1:30:53] } 4. d5 { [%clk 1:31:29] } 4... d6 { [%clk 1:31:14] } 5. e4 { [%clk 1:31:52] } 5... Bg7 { [%clk 1:31:37] } 6. Ne2 { [%clk 1:31:32] } 6... e6 { [%clk 1:28:18] } 7. Nec3 { [%clk 1:22:42] } 7... exd5 { [%clk 1:22:56] } 8. cxd5 { [%clk 1:22:58] } 8... a6 { [%clk 1:23:01] } 9. a4 { [%clk 1:22:40] } 9... Nh5 { [%clk 1:18:42] } 10. Qe2 { An important inclusion. } { [%clk 1:21:03] } (10. g4 Qh4+ { is one idea, when } 11. Kd2 Nf4 12. Kc2 g5 13. Na3 h5 $14 { leads to an interesting position. }) 10... Bd4 { Stopping Qe2-f2 in event of ... Qd8-h4+. } { [%clk 1:09:16] } 11. g4 { [%clk 1:00:44] } 11... Qh4+?! { This one error early in the first classical game gave White a serious advantage. } { [%clk 1:04:40] } 12. Kd1 { There is no ... Nh5-f4 with the king on the d1-square instead of the d2-square, so what is Black's knight doing! Did Donchenko possibly mix up his lines here? } { [%clk 1:01:03] } 12... Nf6 { [%clk 1:03:31] } 13. Kc2 { [%clk 0:59:31] } 13... Nfd7 { [%clk 0:57:17] } 14. Bf4 { [%clk 0:37:31] } 14... Qf6 { [%clk 0:49:30] } 15. Be3 { Plus, the powerful bishop does not get to stay on the board unopposed. } { [%clk 0:36:38] } 15... Ne5 { [%clk 0:38:01] } 16. Nd2 { [%clk 0:35:52] } 16... Qh4 { [%clk 0:34:07] } 17. Bf4 { [%clk 0:26:46] } 17... h5 { Black is still unable to develop his queenside pieces, making thrusts like this less threatening. } { [%clk 0:26:24] } 18. Bg3 { [%clk 0:26:35] } 18... Qe7 { [%clk 0:26:49] } 19. gxh5 { [%clk 0:24:45] } 19... Rxh5 { [%clk 0:26:59] } 20. h4 { [%clk 0:22:20] } 20... Ra7?! { Again, desperately trying to generate any play. } { [%clk 0:18:30] } 21. a5 { [%clk 0:17:12] } 21... b5 { [%clk 0:17:18] } 22. axb6 { [%clk 0:17:19] } 22... Rb7 { The point of 20. ... Ra7, trying to untangle this way. } { [%clk 0:17:47] } 23. Bxe5 { [%clk 0:09:53] } 23... Bxe5 { [%clk 0:17:23] } 24. Nc4 { [%clk 0:10:13] } 24... Rxh4?! { [%clk 0:07:33] } 25. Rxh4 { [%clk 0:10:35] } 25... Qxh4 { [%clk 0:08:00] } 26. Nxe5 { [%clk 0:10:51] } 26... dxe5 { Black's position is just disastrous, with holes everywhere. } { [%clk 0:08:28] } 27. Qe3! { [%clk 0:11:15] } 27... Rxb6 { [%clk 0:07:18] } 28. b4! { [%clk 0:11:39] } 28... Nd7 { [%clk 0:02:02] } (28... Rxb4 29. Qxc5 $18 { was the point. }) 29. bxc5 { [%clk 0:11:50] } 29... Rb4 { [%clk 0:02:31] } 30. c6 { [%clk 0:09:15] } 30... Nb6 { [%clk 0:03:00] } 31. Be2 { [%clk 0:07:15] } 31... Qh2 { [%clk 0:03:04] } 32. d6 $18 { Even a good Benoni is still a Benoni. One errant check and Donchenko's Candidates dreams were dashed. } { [%clk 0:03:41] } 32... Be6 { [%clk 0:01:21] } 33. d7+ { [%clk 0:03:05] } 33... Bxd7 { [%clk 0:01:30] } 34. cxd7+ { [%clk 0:03:11] } 34... Nxd7 { [%clk 0:01:59] } 35. Rxa6 { [%clk 0:03:05] } 35... Kf8 { [%clk 0:01:50] } 36. Rd6 { [%clk 0:03:01] } 36... Rb7 { [%clk 0:02:01] } 37. Qd2 { [%clk 0:02:07] } 37... Nc5 { [%clk 0:00:41] } 38. Qd5 { [%clk 0:01:52] } 38... Rc7 { [%clk 0:01:00] } 39. Rxg6 { [%clk 0:01:36] } 39... Ne6 { [%clk 0:00:38] } 40. Qd6+ { [%clk 0:01:04] } 40... Re7 { [%clk 0:01:07] } 41. Rg4 { [%clk 0:28:02] } 41... f6 { Black was lost, but this accelerated the end. } { [%clk 0:29:21] } 42. Qb8+ { [%clk 0:26:38] } 42... Re8 { [%clk 0:29:31] } 43. Rg8+ { [%clk 0:27:01] } 43... Kxg8 { [%clk 0:29:56] } 44. Qxe8+ { [%clk 0:27:25] } 1-0