[Event "FIDE Candidates Tournament"] [Date "2022.06.26"] [Round "8.4"] [White "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Black "Radjabov, Teimour"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2793"] [WhiteTeam "France"] [BlackElo "2753"] [BlackTeam "Azerbaijan"] [Annotator "Aagaard"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C50"] [Opening "Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Normal"] [StudyName "2022 FIDE Candidates - Annotated by GM Jacob Aagaard"] [ChapterName "Firouzja, Alireza - Radjabov, Teimour"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/fhBzjnqz/srE7jlKQ"] [Orientation "white"] { The longest game of the day was a grubby fight in the Italian. Both players had their chances, although the little chance for Radjabov was rather fleeting, but also the easiest to grab. A good draw. } 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. h3 h6 6. c3 d6 7. Nbd2 a6 8. b4 Ba7 9. a4 Be6 10. Bxe6 fxe6 11. O-O O-O 12. Re1 Qe8 13. Nf1 Nh5 14. Ra2 Nf4 15. Kh2 $14 { A typical position in the Italian that attracts so many players to this opening these days. There are so many different options for both players that opening preparation often becomes less forcing and less theoretical, and there is a real chance to outplay the opponent. The same was the case in this long game, where both players had a few chances - where we shall dip in and out. } 15... Qf7 16. Be3 Bxe3 17. Nxe3 Kh8 18. Ng4 Ne7 19. Ng1! $14 { The black pieces are being repelled. } 19... Neg6 20. g3! Nh5 21. Kg2 $16 Nf6 22. Nf3 Qd7 23. Nfh2 Qc6 24. Qb3 Rae8 25. h4 Nh5 26. Re3? (26. d4 $16 { was the right moment for this push. }) 26... b5? (26... Nhf4+! 27. gxf4 exf4 28. Rh3 h5 $15 { Black will regain the piece with damage done to the white pawn structure. }) 27. Nf3 $16 Qd7 28. Qd1 Nf6 29. Nfh2 (29. Nxf6 Rxf6 30. axb5 axb5 31. Rc2 $16 { would prepare h4-h4 and d4-d5. }) 29... Qc6 30. Ra3 Kh7 31. Kg1 Rf7 32. axb5 axb5 33. d4 Ref8! $14 { Firouzja has mismanaged his advantage and little of it is left by this point. } 34. Ra2 Qc4 35. Rb2 Ra8 36. Rf3 Raf8 37. Re3 Ra8 38. Nxf6+ gxf6 39. Nf3 Ne7 40. Nd2 Qc6 41. dxe5 fxe5 42. Rf3 Rg7 { White has slightly outmaneuvered his opponent, but here loses the way again. } 43. Kh2?! (43. Qb3 Ng6 44. Kf1! $16 { would bring the king to better pastures. }) 43... Qe8 44. Qb3 Qg6 45. Ra2 Rxa2 46. Qxa2 Qg4 47. Re3 Rf7 48. f3 Qg6 49. Nf1 Qf6 50. Qf2 Rf8 51. Nd2 Ra8 52. Nb3 Ng6 53. Na5 Rg8 54. Re1 Qf7 55. Nb3 Qd7 56. Ra1 Rg7 57. Nd2 Ne7 58. Qe3 Ng8 59. Nf1 Nf6 60. Qe2 Nh5 61. Qf2 Qc6 62. Qe3 Qc4 63. Nd2 Qc6 64. Rg1 Qa8 65. Nf1 Qd8 66. Qf2 Qe8 67. Ne3 Nf6? (67... Qf8! { with the idea ...Rg7-f7 would have given Black the necessary counterplay. }) 68. Qe2 $14 Qh5 69. Kh3 Kh8 70. Ng4! { Black's knight is better. White's structure is better. } 70... Qg6 71. Nxf6 Qxf6 72. Ra1 Qg6 73. g4 Qf7 74. Qe3 Kh7 75. Ra5 Qd7 76. Qd3 c6? { A weakening, automatic move. } (76... Qf7 { and Black would have been fine. The key idea was } 77. Rxb5 h5 78. g5 Qf4 { and ...Rg8-f7. }) 77. Ra1? (77. Kg2! Rf7 78. h5 { would have kept a strong structural advantage. } 78... Rf8 79. Qe3! Rf7 80. Ra2 { White is winning. The ideas are Ra2-a7, if allowed, or Ra2-a6 and Qe3-b6. }) 77... Qf7 78. Qe3 Qf6 79. Kg3 Rc7 80. Rd1 Rd7 81. Rd2 d5 82. Re2 Rf7 83. Kg2 Kg8 84. h5 Kh7 85. Qd3 Kg7 86. Re3 Qf4 87. Re2 Kf6 88. Qd1 Kg5 89. Re1 Kh4 90. Rh1+ Kg5 91. Re1 Kh4 92. Rh1+ Kg5 93. Re1 { 1/2-1/2 The game is a draw. } 1/2-1/2