[Event "Round 5: Donald Johnson - Jason Wang"] [Site "https://lichess.org"] [Date "2023.04.01"] [White "Donald Johnson"] [Black "Jason Wang"] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/NingunaBroma"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B48"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation, English Attack"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/YXupbgpo/DE0fYyYj"] [Orientation "white"] { [%evp 0,78,21,32,53,60,74,27,40,40,45,39,60,93,71,50,76,74,79,49,66,45,43,48, 50,-139,-76,-87,-87,-88,0,69,64,63,69,69,70,103,79,102,103,94,102,53,68,77,82, 81,78,67,71,78,96,98,92,62,67,90,80,77,68,26,17,-74,-68,-80,-97,-88,-91,-75, -75,-133,-147,-173,-161,-252,-220,-213,-215,-351,-285] } { Annotations by FM Sharvesh Deviprasath } 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Qf3 { A trendy line being played against the Taimanov recently. } 7... Ne5 8. Qg3 h5 9. h4 Nf6 10. O-O-O d6 11. Kb1 b5 12. Bxb5+!? { After this very messy opening, Donald chooses this thematic Sicilian sacrifice as it wasn't clear how white should proceed in development. } 12... axb5 13. Ndxb5 Qb8 14. Bf4 Bd7? (14... Nfd7 { This was one of Black's only moves to keep a significant advantage. That said, it's very hard to see, as his pieces are all clumsy in the back ranks. }) 15. Nxd6+! Bxd6 16. Rxd6 Qxd6 17. Bxe5 { Very impressive calculation from Donald, realizing even though he's down a rook, the amount of pawns and attacking potential more then make up for it! } 17... Qe7 18. Bd6 Qd8 19. e5 Bc6 20. exf6?! (20. Qxg7 { An insane line where Black can basically resign if White finds it: } 20... Rg8 21. exf6 Rxg7 22. fxg7 Kd7 23. Bf8!! { The move he probably missed when calculating this variation. }) 20... Qxf6 21. Be5 Qg6 22. Qxg6 fxg6 { Although he is still much better, Johnson gave up most of his advantage and allowed Jason back into the game. } 23. f3 Kf7 24. Rd1 Ra5 25. f4 g5! { Very great understanding by Jason to give himself winning chances with the h-pawn. } 26. hxg5 Rxe5 27. fxe5 Bxg2 28. g6+ Ke7 29. Rd2 Bc6 { This position is crazy! White is up two pawns but practically anyone is taking Black: that h-pawn with the bishop is too fast. } 30. Ne2 h4 31. Nf4 h3 32. Rh2 Rf8 33. Rxh3? (33. Ne2 Rf1+ 34. Nc1 Rh1 35. Rxh1 Bxh1 { This is what Johnson must have been scared about, but objectively it gives him much better chances to stay in the game. }) 33... Rxf4 34. b3 Rg4 35. c4 Rxg6 36. b4 Rg2! { Jason was very accurate in converting this smoothly. } 37. Rc3 Be4+ 38. Ka1 g5 39. a4 Rc2 40. Rg3 Rxc4 41. Rxg5 Rxb4 42. Rg7+ Kd8 43. Ra7 Bb7 44. Ka2 Kc8 45. Ka3 Re4 46. Ra5 Bd5 47. Rb5 Bc6 48. Rc5 Rxa4+ 49. Kb3 Ra6 50. Kc3 Kd7 51. Kd4 Ra4+ 52. Kd3 Rb4 53. Ra5 Ra4 54. Rc5 Rb4 55. Ra5 Rb5 56. Ra7+ Bb7 57. Kc4 Kc6 58. Kd4 Rd5+ 59. Kc4 Rxe5 60. Ra1 Re4+ 61. Kd3 Rh4 62. Ke3 Kd6 63. Ra5 e5 64. Rb5 Bc6 65. Rb4 Rxb4 { Another huge scare for Wang, but I guess that's the theme for the Co-Champions this year! } 0-1