[Event "US Open - Invitationals"] [Site "Middleton, WI, United States"] [Date "2025.07.31"] [Round "5.7"] [White "Putnam, Liam Henry"] [Black "Li, Eric Yuhan"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2562"] [BlackElo "2448"] [Variant "Standard"] [Annotator "Foisor,Sabina"] [WhiteClock "0:31:56"] [BlackClock "0:08:26"] [ECO "B94"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation"] [StudyName "125th US Open Rds 1-4 and Invitationals"] [ChapterName "Putnam, Liam Henry - Li, Eric Yuhan"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/foytapOs/Ovat1mrp"] [Orientation "white"] { This is the kind of preparation one dreams of having. I am simply impressed by Liam's decisions in this game. I can only assume that he had this line planed through, as the queen sacrifice is not necessarily something one would do without a clear idea that there is at least a draw in the pocket! } 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. Bc4 Qb6 8. Bb3 e6 9. Bxf6 Nxf6 10. Qd2 Nd7 11. O-O-O Nc5 12. Rhe1 Bd7 13. Nf5!? O-O-O?! (13... Nxb3+ 14. axb3 exf5 15. Nd5 Qc5 16. Re3 $13) 14. Nxd6+ Bxd6 15. Qxd6 Nxb3+ 16. axb3 Qxf2 17. Rf1 Qe3+ 18. Kb1 Bb5 19. Nxb5!? Rxd6 20. Nxd6+ Kb8 21. Rxf7 Rd8 22. Ka2! Qe2 (22... Ka8 23. Rd3 Qe2 24. Rxg7 Qxc2 25. Rc3 Qd2 26. Nxb7 Rd7 27. Rxd7 Qxd7 28. Nc5 $13) 23. Rd4 Qxc2?? (23... Ka8 { leads to some engine lines where it is White that seems to be the one still having mating nets! } 24. c3 Qxg2 25. Nb5! Rg8 26. Nc7+ Ka7 27. Rb4 Qxh2 28. Nxe6 Rb8 29. Nd8 $13) 24. Rxb7+ Ka8 25. Rb6 Ka7 26. Rdb4 Qxg2 27. Nc4 Qg1 28. Rxe6 Rd1 29. Re7+ Ka8 30. Nb6+ Kb8 31. Nd5+ Ka8 32. Nc7+ Ka7 33. Nb5+ Kb6 34. Na7+ Kc5 35. Rc4+ Kb6 36. Rc6+ Ka5 37. Re5+ { 1-0 White wins. } 1-0