[Event "World Senior Team Chess Championship"] [Site "Struga"] [Date "2023.09.26"] [White "Lexy Ortega"] [Black "Igor Novikov"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2410"] [BlackElo "2513"] [Annotator "Lang,JJ"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B53"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Chekhover Variation, Zaitsev Defense"] [StudyName "World Senior Team Chess Championship 2023"] [ChapterName "Lexy Ortega - Igor Novikov"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/VlG0lWar/e8JWQQtA"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Bb5 Qd7 6. Qe3 Nf6 7. O-O e6 8. h3 a6 9. Be2 Be7 10. c4 O-O 11. Nc3 Qc7 12. b3 b6 13. Ba3 Rd8 14. Rac1 Qa7 15. Rfd1 Bb7 16. e5 dxe5 17. Bxe7 Nxe7 18. Nxe5 Nc6?! { Black's desire to contest the central knight is logical, but after 19. f4, White's grip on the center is solidified. } (18... Nf5! { was more energetic, forcing the queen to f4 as to better contest the knight. } 19. Qf4 h6 20. b4 g5 21. Qh2 Qb8 $14 { when White will never manage to achieve a grip on the center. }) 19. f4 Rab8 20. Na4 Ba8 21. Rxd8+ Nxd8 22. Rd1 { Black's pieces are in disarray, while White's forces continue to make simple, improving moves. } 22... Qc7 23. Qd4 Nc6 24. Qd6 Qc8 25. c5 Ne8 (25... bxc5 26. Bxa6 Qe8 (26... Qxa6?? 27. Qxb8+ $18) 27. Nxc5 $16) 26. Qd7 Nxe5 27. Qxc8 Rxc8 28. Nxb6 (28. fxe5 { was probably simpler. }) 28... Rxc5 29. Rd8 Bc6 30. fxe5 Kf8 31. Rc8 Rc1+ (31... Rxe5 { would simplify into an equal material endgame where White would have a lasting initiative after } 32. Bxa6 (32. Rxc6? Rxe2) 32... Bb5 33. Bxb5 Rxb5 34. Rb8 Rf5 35. b4 $16) 32. Kh2 Ke7 33. Bf3 { But now, Black is losing material by force. } 33... Bxf3 34. Rxc1 Bb7 35. Nc4 f6 36. Nd6 { 1-0 White wins. } 1-0