Rapport, Richard(2740)
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Giri, Anish(2764)
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1.e4c52.Nf3d63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3Nc66.Bg5g6!?A rather unusual response to the Richter-Rauzer attack: playing the precise move it was designed to discourage.7.Bxf6exf68.Bb5Bd79.Bc4Bg710.Nxc6Bxc611.O-OO-O12.Qd3Rc813.Nd5...Clearly, a downside to this position for Black is the inability to control the thematic d5-square. But, in return, Black has the bishop pair, an opportunity to break open the center with ...f6-f5, and generally flexible play.13....Re814.c3Bd715.Bb5Bc616.Bc4Bd717.Rfe1!...Giri shows that he is up for the fight, electing to continue the game rather than be content with second place. Of course, it turns out that he would have still tied for first after repeating moves, but that would have been an odd thing to gamble on here.17....f518.Bb3fxe419.Rxe4Bf520.Rxe8+Qxe821.Qd2Be622.Rd1Qd723.h3b524.Qf4Rc525.Ne3Be526.Qe4Kg7?!27.f4...27.Bxe6!?fxe628.Ng4!A powerful knight, threatening to capture on e5 due to the pin, and also probing weaknesses around the kingside.Qc729.Qe3There is no good way to cover the h6-square.Kf730.Nh6+Kf8But perhaps White does not have anything concrete here, explaining why White was not sold on this line.27....Bf628.g4h629.Bd5?!...29.Bxe6!fxe630.h4!The point is now Black has no good options.Kf7(30...Bxh4??31.Qd4+!Kf732.Qxc5+−)31.h5gxh532.Qh7+Bg733.g5±29....Bxd530.Nxd5Rc431.Qf3Qe632.f5gxf533.Nf4Qe534.Nh5+Kg6??The most decisive move of the tournament. Superficially, this move looks best, if not forced, as the king steps in to help cover the f5-pawn. However...35.Rxd6!Kg535...Qxd6??36.Qxf5#36.Rd5Qe1+37.Kg2Be738.Rxf5+Kh439.Qg3+!...A lovely point: White still threatens mate with Rf5-h5 after the queen trade. Black resigns rather than play out:39....Qxg3+40.Nxg3Rc541.b4!The key point, as now the rook cannot leave the fifth rank, but capturing on f5 loses the bishop to a fork.1-0