[Event "Women's World Cup 2025"] [Site "Batumi, Georgia"] [Date "2025.07.01"] [Round "36.1"] [White "Koneru, Humpy"] [Black "Lei, Tingjie"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2536"] [BlackElo "2557"] [Variant "Standard"] [Annotator "WGM Sabina Foisor"] [FEN "8/6R1/4kp2/2p4P/2Pp1PP1/5K2/7r/8 b - - 0 50"] [ECO "?"] [Opening "?"] [StudyName "Women's World Cup"] [ChapterName "Koneru, Humpy - Lei, Tingjie"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/fB3lLxYD/Gb68my6Q"] [FEN "8/6R1/4kp2/2p4P/2Pp1PP1/5K2/7r/8 b - - 0 50"] [SetUp "1"] [Orientation "white"] { In the second game of their match, Humpy missed a few huge opportunities in the following endgame and let go of the win numerous times. This could have cost her the spot in the final, as the tie-breaks could have easily gone Lei's way. In their first encounter, the players had a relatively balanced game. So, from a psychological perspective, getting into a rook endgame could make one relax that a draw could be achieved. However, being a pawn down Black needs to be cautious. In the following position } 50... Rh3+?? { was played, but it allows White a winning idea. } (50... d3 { had to be played instead to advance the passed pawn and force White to make its rook passive. } 51. Ra7 d2 52. Ra1 f5! { The right moment to trade some pawns! } 53. Kg3 Re2 54. Rd1 fxg4 55. Kxg4 Rg2+ 56. Kf3 Rh2) 51. Kg2 Rh4 52. Kg3 Rh1 53. Ra7? (53. Rg8 { is important, as now White is able to stop the d-pawn from behind rather than the side. } 53... d3 54. Rd8 Rd1 55. h6 Rh1 (55... d2 56. h7 Rh1 57. Rxd2 Rxh7 58. Rd5 Rc7 59. Kf3 $18 { now that Black's counterplay (the passed d-pawn) is gone, White can focus on keeping Black's rook passive to defend the c-pawn and bring the king into the game to e4 followed by f5 and then bring the king to d5 to win the c-pawn. }) 56. Rxd3 Rxh6 57. Rd5 $18 { and the c-pawn falls and with it the game. }) 53... Rg1+ 54. Kf3 Rf1+ 55. Ke4 Re1+ 56. Kd3 Re3+ 57. Kd2 Rg3 58. Rg7 Rh3 59. Rc7 Rg3 60. Rxc5 Rxg4 61. h6 Rh4 62. Kd3 Rxh6 63. Kxd4 Rh1 { The sequence up until here was almost flawless, but now it is important for White to keep Black's king cut off from the c-pawn. } 64. f5+?? { After this, Black managed to bring the king in front of the c-pawn and save the game! } (64. Rd5! { was the only way. The move f4-f5 can be played the next move and White should be able to win without much trouble. } 64... f5 65. Kc3 Rc1+ 66. Kb4 Rb1+ 67. Kc5 Rf1 68. Rd4 Rc1 69. Kb5 $18) 64... Kd6 65. Rd5+ Kc6 { Now Black is able to hold White's c-pawn with the king and defend the f-pawn or simply gave checks that restrict White from advancing. The players agreed to a draw a few moves later. } 66. Rc5+ Kd6 67. Rd5+ Kc6 68. Ra5 Rd1+ 69. Ke4 Re1+ 70. Kd3 Rd1+ 71. Ke2 Rd4 72. Ra6+ Kd7 73. Rxf6 Rxc4 74. Kf3 Ke7 75. Ra6 Kf7 { Draw. } 1/2-1/2