[Event "125th US Open - 2025"] [Site "Middleton, Wisconsin"] [Date "2025.07.29"] [Round "03"] [White "Zhang, Mulan"] [Black "Titus, Andrew"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "1965"] [BlackElo "2385"] [TimeControl "6000+30"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B24"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Closed"] [StudyName "125th US Open Rds 1-4 and Invitationals"] [ChapterName "Zhang, Mulan - Titus, Andrew"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/foytapOs/ZT81739F"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] { US Open R3: Upset } 1. e4 { [%clk 1:40:58] } 1... c5 { [%clk 1:40:57] } 2. Nc3 { [%clk 1:41:26] } 2... Nc6 { [%clk 1:40:55] } 3. g3 { [%clk 1:41:51] } 3... g6 { [%clk 1:41:17] } 4. Bg2 { [%clk 1:42:18] } 4... Bg7 { [%clk 1:41:41] } 5. d3 { [%clk 1:42:41] } 5... e6 { [%clk 1:30:28] } 6. Be3 { [%clk 1:43:04] } 6... Nd4 { [%clk 1:30:17] } 7. Nf3 { [%clk 1:38:37] } 7... Ne7 { [%clk 1:25:33] } 8. O-O { [%clk 1:34:52] } 8... Nec6 { [%clk 1:24:51] } 9. Qd2 { [%clk 1:31:18] } 9... h5 { [%clk 1:20:33] } 10. h3 { [%clk 1:29:29] } 10... Rb8 { [%clk 1:18:54] } 11. a4 { [%clk 1:26:32] } 11... a6 { [%clk 1:18:53] } 12. Nh4 { [%clk 1:20:37] } 12... Bf6 { [%clk 1:17:14] } 13. Nf3 { [%clk 1:20:54] } 13... b5 { [%clk 1:16:22] } 14. axb5 { [%clk 1:14:30] } 14... axb5 { [%clk 1:16:34] } 15. Ne2 { [%clk 1:03:15] } 15... Nxe2+ { [%clk 1:10:51] } 16. Qxe2 { [%clk 1:03:38] } 16... Bxb2 { [%clk 1:11:12] } 17. Rab1 { [%clk 1:04:04] } 17... Bd4 { [%clk 1:09:13] } 18. Nxd4 { [%clk 1:01:14] } 18... cxd4 { [%clk 1:07:40] } 19. Bf4 { [%clk 1:01:26] } 19... e5 { [%clk 1:07:53] } 20. Bd2 { [%clk 1:01:52] } 20... h4 { [%clk 1:05:58] } 21. f4 { [%clk 1:00:36] } 21... hxg3 { [%clk 1:04:48] } 22. f5 { [%clk 0:53:02] } 22... gxf5 { [%clk 0:49:39] } 23. exf5 { [%clk 0:50:37] } 23... d5 { [%clk 0:45:46] } 24. Qg4 { [%clk 0:43:55] } 24... Ne7?? { An over-optimistic defense. } { [%clk 0:42:33] } (24... Kf8 { was likely the best choice, or at least }) (24... Qh4!? { was worth a shot, but after } 25. Qf3 Ne7 26. Bb4 $13 { White has some serious initiative as compensation for the pawns. }) 25. Qg7 { [%clk 0:40:45] } 25... Rh5 { [%clk 0:41:00] } (25... Rg8 26. Qxe5 { was unacceptable for Black. }) 26. f6! { [%clk 0:29:54] } (26. Qxe5 Bxf5 { might have been Black's idea behind 25. ... Rh5, although } 27. Rbe1 { is still winning for White. }) 26... Be6 { Black realizes that the knight cannot move. } { [%clk 0:36:30] } (26... Nc6 27. Qg8+ Kd7 28. Qxf7+ $18 { and the hanging h5-rook isn't even the worst of Black's problems, with mate coming shortly. }) 27. fxe7 { [%clk 0:27:40] } 27... Qxe7 { [%clk 0:36:55] } 28. Bb4 $18 { White did not need many more turns to convert. } { [%clk 0:28:04] } 28... Qg5 { [%clk 0:37:15] } 29. Qf8+ { [%clk 0:18:22] } 29... Kd7 { [%clk 0:37:44] } 30. Rxf7+ { [%clk 0:18:37] } 30... Bxf7 { [%clk 0:37:59] } 31. Qxf7+ { [%clk 0:19:05] } 31... Kc8 { [%clk 0:37:53] } 32. Qe8+ { [%clk 0:17:47] } 32... Kc7 { [%clk 0:37:52] } 33. Ba5+ { 1-0 White wins. } { [%clk 0:18:04] } 1-0