[Event "1000 GM"] [Date "2022.11.06"] [White "GM Jianchao Zhou"] [Black "IM John Daniel Bryant"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2526"] [BlackElo "2663"] [Variant "From Position"] [ECO "?"] [Opening "?"] [StudyName "1000GMs Hollywood"] [ChapterName "Jianchao Zhou - John Daniel Bryant"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/ZQ372yTp/rctCdm99"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [FEN "r1r3k1/3b1p1p/1p1n1n1P/3p2p1/PppP2P1/1P2PP1N/2B1N1K1/2R4R b - - 0 1"] [SetUp "1"] [Orientation "white"] 1... b5 { We pick up here on a last round battle between two titans, both of whom I've faced multiple times. Playing White is the strong Chinese Grandmaster Jianchao Zhou, an opening afficanado and calulating machine. Playing Black is SoCal's native son GM-elect John Daniel Bryant, a solid and combative player who always plays interesting games. In this unbalanced endgame Black has just played 28...b5. } 2. a5 Rxa5 3. Nxg5 Ra2 { We pick up here on a last round battle between two titans, both of whom I've faced multiple times. Playing White is the strong Chinese Grandmaster Jianchao Zhou, an opening afficanado and calulating machine. Playing Black is SoCal's native son GM-elect John Daniel Bryant, a solid and combative player who always plays interesting games. In this unbalanced endgame Black has just played 28...b5. } 4. Kg3 cxb3 5. Bd3 { Here's something we don't see every day, Black has tripled and isolated pawns on the b file! Tripled pawns are not necessarily rare, but they are rarely this menacing! Black is completely winning. } 5... Rxc1 6. Nxc1 Ra1 7. Kg2 b2 8. Nb3 Rxh1 9. Kxh1 Nc4 10. Kg2 Nxe3+ 11. Kg3 Nd1?! { Black's first misstep. John targets an important c3 square, but the Knight is better placed on c4 where it also denies White's Knight d2. } 12. Kf4 Bc8 13. Nd2 Nc3 14. Nb1 Be6 (14... Nxb1 15. Bxb1 Kf8 { Is close to winning for Black according to engine analysis, although it is hard to see exactly how Black wins. } 16. Ke5 (16. Nxh7+ Nxh7 17. Bxh7 f5! { Because of this theme White cannot grab the h7 pawn, so he is stuck doing nothing while Black improves. }) (16. Ke3 b3 17. Kd2 b4) 16... Ke7 17. Bc2 b3 18. Bb1 Nd7+ 19. Kf4 (19. Kxd5 Bb7#) 19... Nf8 { And Black can continue to tinker with good winning chances }) 15. Ke3 Nxb1 { Incorrectly timed. } 16. Bxb1 b3 (16... Kf8 17. Kd2 { Now White's King is too close to the pawns }) 17. Kf4 b4 18. Ke5 Nd7+ 19. Kd6 Nb6?? { The losing move in what had become a drawn endgame. } 20. Ke7 Nc4 21. Bxh7+ Kh8 22. Bd3! { The only winning move. } 22... Na3 23. Nxf7+ Bxf7 24. Kxf7 b1=Q (24... Nc2 25. g5 b1=Q 26. g6 { With forced mate would be a beautiful end to the game. }) 25. Bxb1 Nxb1 26. g5 { John resigns since White's g-pawn carries the day. Certainly a disheartening loss from what was a very unique and winning endgame. Credit to Jianchao though for stubborn defense and siezing his moment when opportunity came knocking. } 1-0