[Event "FIDE Grand Swiss 2025"] [Site "Samarkand, Uzbekistan"] [Date "2025.09.15"] [Round "11.13"] [White "Sevian, Samuel"] [Black "Predke, Alexandr"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2692"] [BlackElo "2609"] [Variant "Standard"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/sabinafoisor"] [FEN "1R6/5p2/1P3kp1/7p/7P/6P1/1r3P2/4K3 b - - 0 43"] [ECO "?"] [Opening "?"] [StudyName "2025 FIDE Grand Swiss"] [ChapterName "Sevian, Samuel - Predke, Alexandr"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/V6oU1CPk/srAFT0pC"] [SetUp "1"] [Orientation "white"] { Sevian fought to the end in his final game, taking advantage of one mistake from his opponent. } 43... g5?? { Black missed a resource in the variation included below, and thought more drastic measures needed here. } (43... Ke5! { was the most accurate way to hold the position. White could try } 44. f3 { or } (44. b7 { would fail to } 44... Kf6 { or 44. ... Kf5, when, either way, White has no checks. But now }) 44... Kd6 { sees Black's king reach the b-pawn. } 45. Rb7 Ke5 { or } 46. Kd1 (46. Rxf7 Rxb6 { is a drawn three-versus-two rook-and-pawn endgame, and }) 46... f5 47. Kc1 { holds after the accurate } 47... Rb5! $10 { when Black's drawing mechanism is ... f5-f4 to disconnect White's pawns before the king can activate. } 48. Kc2 { Contrast this position with the game variation. If Black could only shuffle the king and rook, White would win as in the game. But, here, } 48... f4! { throws a wrench in White's plans. } 49. gxf4+ Kxf4 50. Rf7+ Kg3 { gives Black counterplay, and } 51. b7 Kxh4 $10 { is going to make it hard for White to chase Black's rook away now that Black has kingside passers. }) 44. hxg5+ Kxg5 45. f3! { Now, White's position is winning. Black has no way to go after the pawns, allowing White's king to begin harassing Black's rook. } (45. b7? Kf6 { would, again, hold, as would 45. ... Kf5. }) 45... Kf6 46. Kd1 { White begins chasing the rook off the seventh rank. } 46... Ke7 47. Kc1 Rb5 48. Rb7+ Ke6 49. Kc2! { Perfect technique. } (49. Kd2? Rb3 { keeps White's king restricted. }) 49... Rb4 (49... Kf6 50. Kc3 Rb1 51. Kc4 Rb2 52. Kc5 Rc2+ 53. Kd6 { , e.g., would win, with the king finding sanctuary on the b8-square. }) 50. Kc3 Rb1 51. Kc4 { The rook had to stay on the b-file, and now White's king is no longer pacified. } 51... Rc1+ 52. Kd3 Rb1 53. Kc4 Rc1+ 54. Kd3 Rb1 55. Kc3 Kf6 56. Rb8 Ke6 57. Kc4 Kd6 (57... Rc1+ 58. Kb5 Rb1+ 59. Kc6 { sees White's king take shelter in front of the b-pawn. }) 58. Rh8 { Switching gears! } 58... f6 (58... Rxb6 { loses to } 59. Rh6+ Kc7 60. Rxb6 Kxb6 61. Kd5 $18) 59. Rf8 { Black has too many weaknesses. } 59... Ke7 60. Rb8 Kd6 61. Kd3 f5 62. Ke3 Rb4 63. Rh8 { Now, Black has no way to hold the position. } 63... f4+ 64. gxf4 Ke6 65. Rb8 Rb3+ 66. Kf2 Kd7 67. f5 h4 68. f6 Rb2+ 69. Kg1 Rb1+ 70. Kh2 { 1-0 White wins. } 1-0