[Event "U.S. Girls Chess Championship 2023"] [Site "St Louis"] [Date "2023.07.14"] [Round "1"] [White "Liu, Kelsey"] [Black "Yip, Carissa"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "1997"] [BlackElo "2369"] [Annotator "Lang,JJ"] [Variant "From Position"] [ECO "?"] [Opening "?"] [FEN "8/1r4p1/p2p1b1p/1p1k4/8/2PKB1P1/PP5P/5R2 w - - 0 35"] [SetUp "1"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/ZBuAQUT7/fxld0JAc"] [Orientation "white"] { Annotations by JJ Lang } 35. Bxh6 { Yip has managed to equalize Liu's Richter-Rauzer, but the position did not provide either side with many chances to fight for a win. Here, Liu finally decides to trade into the pure rook ending. Black's h-pawn will be weak, but the open e- and f-files will allow Black's rook to activate if she ever goes after it. } 35... Bxc3 36. bxc3 gxh6 37. Rf5+ Kc6 38. Rf8 Rg7 { I will include the rest of the game because there are countless examples of the 400-point rating favorite grinding down the underdog in a purely drawn endgame, so this should serve as a testament to Liu's resilience and a model for other players to follow. } 39. Ra8 Kb6 40. Rd8 Kc6 41. Ra8 Kb6 42. Rd8 Rg6 43. Kd4 Kc7 44. Rh8 Kc6 45. Rc8+ Kb7 46. Rd8 Kc7 47. Rh8 Rg4+ 48. Kd5 Rg5+ 49. Kd4 h5 50. Kd3 Rd5+ 51. Ke4 Rc5 52. Kd3 Kb6 53. h4 Rf5 54. Ke4 Rc5 55. Kd3 Ka5 56. Rh6 Rf5 57. Ke4 Rc5 58. Kd3 Rf5 59. Ke4 Rc5 60. Kd3 Rf5 { 1/2-1/2 The game is a draw. } 1/2-1/2