[Event "Vegas Chess Festival 2024"] [Site "Las Vegas"] [Date "2024.06.08"] [Round "7"] [White "Durarbayli, Vasif"] [Black "Nyzhnyk, Illya"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2618"] [BlackElo "2576"] [Annotator "IM Sandeep Sethuraman"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B84"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation"] [StudyName "2024 National Open"] [ChapterName "Durarbayli, Vasif - Nyzhnyk, Illya"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/dEPIOQ6M/SeaYjjoP"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 { The classical Najdorf. Just about a week ago, at the Chicago Open, Durarbayli had tried this line with an early h2-h4 against me, but understandably, he plays something more principled against Nyzhnyk. } 6... e6 7. Be3 Qc7 8. Qd2 Nc6!? { This, it seems, is the first deviation from main theory, as the knight often prefers the d7-c5 route in these types of positions. } 9. O-O-O Be7 10. f4! { Durarbayli doesn't miss a beat, taking space in the center and hinting at ideas of either g2-g4 or a timely e4-e5 break. } (10. g4! { was another interesting idea. These types of early pawn pushes have become commonplace in the Najdorf. } 10... h6 11. h4 Bd7 12. g5 { and it's easy to see how Black's position can quickly fall apart: } 12... hxg5 13. hxg5 Rxh1 14. Rxh1 Ng8 15. Rh8 { is simply depressing. }) 10... Nxd4 11. Qxd4 b5!? { Nyzhnyk will no go quietly into the dark night. This move is all too logical, making space for the bishop on b7 and hoping for a quick ... Ra8-c8. However, it allows for White to seize the initiative. } 12. e5! { Durarbayli doesn't need to be told twice! } (12. Rhe1? { Something quieter would immediately relinquish any advantage: } 12... Bb7 13. Bf3 O-O { and Black is already looking to be better, with ... Ra-c8 and a potential ... e6-e5 break looming. }) 12... dxe5 13. Qxe5 (13. fxe5 { was another appealing option. } 13... Nd7 14. Bf3 Bc5 15. Qd2 Bxe3 16. Qxe3 Bb7 17. Bxb7 Qxb7 18. Rd4 { where White's rook will easily swing to g4 or h4 once Black castles. }) 13... Qxe5 14. fxe5 Nd5! { Great players know when to give up positional assets for dynamic ones, and here, Nyzhnyk recognizes that he can't allow too big a lead in development. } (14... Nd7 15. Bf3 Rb8 16. Bc6 { would make the black pieces almost immobile. }) 15. Nxd5 exd5 16. Bf3 Be6 17. Bxd5 O-O-O (17... Bxd5 18. Rxd5 h5! { might have been worth a try. } 19. Rhd1 Rc8 { and Black has an unpleasant task ahead, but at least for now, there aren't any clear entry points for the rooks. }) 18. Bxe6+ fxe6 19. Rhf1 Rhf8 20. Rxd8+ Kxd8 21. Rxf8+ Bxf8 { Now we reach this endgame, where Black's light-squared pawns give him fair chances to hold, but White's pawn majority on the queenside and potential passed pawn ensure a thorough grind ahead. } 22. Kd2 Kd7 23. c4! { I would have played Kd2-d3 automatically in this position, but Durarbayli recognizes the importance of initiative and immediately threatens to take on b5 and create a passed a-pawn that would drag the black king far away from the kingside pawns! } (23. Kd3 Kc6 24. c4 { looks like it transposes, but in the game, Durarbayli opts for another option made available by the inverted move order. }) 23... Kc6 24. Kc3 { Now the king's threat to step to the b4-square ties down the black bishop to defense along the diagonal. } 24... a5?? { Nyzhnyk tries to force things, but endgames are difficult even for the best of players, and this relinquishes the light-square hold that had given Black hopes of resistance. } (24... Be7 25. b3 Bf8 { and it's not really clear how White should make progress. The only idea seems to be } 26. cxb5+ axb5 27. a4 Be7 28. Bd4 Bf8 29. Kd3 Bb4 { , when I think Black should be able to hold this by sitting tight. }) 25. cxb5+ Kxb5 26. a4+! { Black resigned after this move, fixing the pawn on a weak dark square and forcing back the black king back. } 26... Kxa4 { If } (26... Kc6 27. Kc4 Be7 28. Bd2 Bd8 29. h3 g6 30. b4! { and the a-pawn will ensure victory. }) 27. Kc4 { with unstoppable mate. } 27... g6 28. Bc1 Be7 29. b3# { 1-0 White wins. } 1-0