[Event "FIDE Grand Swiss 2025"] [Site "Samarkand, Uzbekistan"] [Date "2025.09.14"] [Round "10"] [White "Woodward, Andy"] [Black "Maghsoodloo, Parham"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2557"] [BlackElo "2692"] [Variant "Standard"] [Annotator "Foisor Sabina"] [ECO "E04"] [Opening "Catalan Opening: Open Defense"] [StudyName "2025 FIDE Grand Swiss"] [ChapterName "Woodward, Andy - Maghsoodloo, Parham"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/V6oU1CPk/vjDmJCbr"] [Orientation "white"] { Andy’s win over Maghsoodloo was particularly impressive considering Parham's start to this event, so I couldn’t leave it out of my notes. His growth over the past few years has been remarkable, and I’m excited to continue following his chess journey. } 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 a6 6. O-O Nc6 { Up to this point, the players followed the topical theory in the Catalan. Here, however, Andy chose to play the more rare } 7. Qc2 { This gives up a different pawn in the attempt to gain faster development against Black's king, which remains in the center for quite a bit longer. } (7. e3 { , defending the d-pawn, is more common, and play continues } 7... Bd7 8. Qe2 b5 { when } 9. b3 { gives White compensation due to the open files and diagonals. }) 7... Nxd4 8. Nxd4 Qxd4 9. Nd2 c3 { Black follows the typical plan of returning a pawn to slow down White's development. At the same time, it helps with gaining time for his own development. } (9... Be7 { was the alternative which allows } 10. Nxc4 O-O 11. Be3 Qd8 12. Rfd1 Nd5 13. Bd2 Qe8 14. e4 Nb4 15. Bxb4 Bxb4 16. e5 $44 { and White should have plenty of compensation for the pawn. }) 10. bxc3 Qc5 11. Rb1 (11. a4 { doesn't create too much panic, as Black can find a better place for the queen. } 11... Qh5) 11... Bd6 12. c4 Qh5?! { Parham may have felt the pressure of ... Nf6-e4, and felt that the queen needed to be placed more securely, but this delayed his development further. } (12... O-O { was necessary } 13. Ne4 Nxe4 14. Bxe4 Qh5 { and now and Black is okay. }) 13. Ne4 Nxe4 14. Bf3! { This was a gorgeous intermezzo that was likely missed by Parham, and that's why castling on the previous move was necessary. } 14... Qa5 15. Bxe4 { Now, the h7-pawn isn't protected by Black's queen anymore, delaying Parham's hopes of castling once again! } 15... c6 16. Rd1! { With each turn that Black fails to complete his development, White gains momentum to bring more pieces into the game. Black is now also struggling to take out his c8-bishop and a8-rook. } 16... Be7 17. Bb2 Qg5 18. h4 Qh6 { Now that both g7 and h7 are protected, Black is getting ready to castle, but White continues to improve the position of his pieces in a dominant fashion, restricting Black's development on the queenside. } 19. Be5! f6 20. Bc7 { The next sequence, is in my opinion, a true Karpov-style masterpiece in positional play! } 20... f5 (20... O-O 21. c5! $16) 21. Bg2 O-O 22. Qc3 a5 23. c5 Bf6 24. Qc4 Qg6 25. e4 Qf7 26. Bd6 e5 27. Qc2 { It is difficult to find a way for Black to do anything, so Parham attempts to give back the pawn. } 27... Be7 28. Bxe5 a4 29. Bd6 Bxd6 30. cxd6 Be6 31. e5 f4 32. d7? { One small mishap, and the balance could have tipped the other way... } (32. Rd2 { White could continue his improvement as follows: } 32... fxg3 33. fxg3 a3 34. Rb4 $18) 32... fxg3 33. fxg3 Bxa2?? { Black misses the opportunity to preserve equality. } (33... Bf5 34. Be4 Bg4 35. Bxh7+ Kh8 36. Rd6 Bxd7) 34. Rxb7! { And now it is all over for Black! } 34... Bb3 35. Rxb3! { A nice way to finish the game! } 35... axb3 36. Qxc6 Qf2+ { The final attempt to try to support the b-pawn, but White's d-pawn is more powerful! } 37. Kh2 b2 38. Qd5+ Qf7 39. Qxa8 { 1-0 White wins. } 1-0